News from Taiwan

Chapter 49 Hope for Breaking the Stalemate
After waiting for a while without receiving a reply from Lu Qing, Jiang Guier impatiently placed her phone on the center console.

She was somewhat lost and didn't know where to drive, so she drove aimlessly through the streets.

She drove from the Central Ring Road to the North-South Elevated Road, heading towards the suburbs of Baoshan.

The noise from the road and the sweltering heat were kept out by the car windows.

As Jiang Guier watched the navigation screen, the destination of the old house drew ever closer, but she only felt a tightness in her chest.

Is there no one around her who can understand and support her?

Angry.

The car's Bluetooth suddenly rang, and the three characters "Shen Huaizhou" popped up on the screen the instant the sound came on.

Jiang Guier gripped the steering wheel tightly. She suddenly remembered that she had arranged to meet with the other party to discuss cooperation, but all she wanted to do now was hang up the phone.

This person always seems to appear when she's at her most vulnerable. Could he also be a spy planted by her mother?
She was about to hang up when she accidentally pressed the answer button.

"Ms. Jiang, are you driving? Is it a convenient time to talk now?"

Shen Huaizhou's voice came through the speakers, gentle and without a trace of weakness. He could clearly hear the sound of wind coming from the receiver, indicating that he was driving and the car windows were not closed properly.

Jiang Guier's newly done manicure rubbed against the leather steering wheel, the champagne-colored cat-eye brick pattern shimmering. "Yes, is there something you need while driving?"

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the basic white Ralph Lauren shirt she had placed on the passenger seat.

Since I had worn Shen Huaizhou's clothes back earlier, I couldn't just return a worn garment alone, so I bought another shirt as a thank-you gift. It had been sitting in the car for a while, and I hadn't taken it with me. Seeing it now was particularly jarring.

She suddenly realized that Shen Huaizhou's appearance was quite coincidental; he was introduced by Lin Wan and was a dangerous person. So she added a deliberate distance to her tone, "You're looking for me now... my mother. Is there anything you want to say to her?"

"To deliver a message?"

Shen Huaizhou was somewhat puzzled, and paused in his speech, "I have never met President Jiang, so how could I be passing on a message?"

"Really? I thought my mom had already contacted you." Jiang Guier stepped on the brakes, and the car stopped at a crossroads in the suburbs, with the traffic lights in the distance flashing on and off.

She raised her hand and tugged at the collar of her shirt, revealing the Cartier necklace around her neck. Her eyes were fixed on her face in the rearview mirror as she mentally counted down, hoping the other person would make a mistake.

1.2.3...

"Miss Jiang has misunderstood."

Shen Huaizhou's voice remained calm as he sat on a recliner in his studio, waiting for the water on the tea table to boil. "I haven't submitted the subsidy application from President Jiang yet, so he won't contact me at all."

Shen Huaizhou keenly sensed something was amiss and added, "I have no interest in getting involved in Miss Jiang's family affairs. As for work matters, we keep our distance."

"I hope so, it would be best if that were the case." Jiang Guier's tone was somewhat unpleasant.

The two fell silent on the phone, and the only sound in the car was the in-car aromatherapy diffuser continuously emitting white steam.

"Miss Jiang..."

Shen Huaizhou's voice rang out again, sounding slightly gentler. "I'm sorry, I didn't expect you to be in such a bad mood today. There might be something you misunderstood, but don't worry, I'm absolutely honest with you. As for the purpose of my call, it's to discuss that matter with you. Should we reschedule?"

"Go ahead and say it," Jiang Guier said, unsure whether she was disappointed or relieved, but she didn't have any expectations. "A friend of mine is going to Taiwan next week to handle a project, so I asked him for help."

Shen Huaizhou said seriously, "You told me a couple of days ago that you were sure the letter was from Taiwan Province. I'd like you to provide some basic information, such as your name and previous address, which might be helpful."

"Your friend went to Taiwan..."

Jiang Guier's eyes widened suddenly, her hands pressed firmly on the edge of the steering wheel, and she exerted force with all her might. Her pupils contracted instantly, and her previously chaotic thoughts seemed to be cleaved open by a beam of light.

Yes! Taiwan!
Why didn't she think of that before!
The reason her mother was so relentless, uniting with those around her, was to isolate her and leave her helpless, ultimately forcing her to study abroad.

She had no way to break the deadlock before, but now there is a ready-made one. She can try to go to Taiwan to find her great-grandfather, and the situation can be completely reversed!
She was overjoyed and looked up at her reflection in the rearview mirror. The light in her eyes was frighteningly bright, but the smile only lasted for a second before she suddenly became wary again.

Why should he help me?

"Mr. Shen, why do you suddenly want to help me?" Jiang Guier deliberately slowed down her speech.

"We're friends, aren't we? I've remembered your problem and it's exactly what I need to do to help you, so why not?"

Jiang Guier's wariness slowly turned into inquiry. You can't judge a book by its cover; she didn't know what the other person was really thinking.

What she thinks is just her opinion; perhaps the truth is not so.

She chose to trust Shen Huaizhou's character.

"I definitely can't find the address. I can only try to find my great-grandmother's place to see if she has any old things left. If she does, I'll send them to you later. As for the names... I'll probably have to look for them too."

Jiang Guier paused and then said, "However, Mr. Shen, there is something I still need to say upfront. I am very grateful for your help, but I do not want my mother to be involved in this. Otherwise, our cooperation could be terminated at any time, unilaterally."

She deliberately emphasized the last three words of her sentence.

Shen Huaizhou understood immediately; so that was the problem.

"Okay, I promise you."

With his phone down, Jiang Guier couldn't see the smile on his face, but she could hear that his voice sounded a little more relaxed.

“I’m on my way to the old house right now. If there’s any new information, I’ll keep you updated.”

“Okay, Ms. Jiang, I’m at the studio. You can come anytime if you need me.”

Jiang Guier hung up the phone, not taking it to heart.

I silently thought to myself, "Why did I contact you? Just to see your cold face?"

I have no interest.

She parked the car, opened the door, and her gauze dress fluttered as she got out, billowing as she strode forward.

Shen Huaizhou warmed the white porcelain cup and poured himself a cup of tea. The tea was light, and after taking a sip, he felt that something was missing. After a moment of contemplation, he searched the tea tray and found a white porcelain cup with the same pattern. He poured half a cup of tea into it.

He gently touched the empty teacup with his hand, then slowly brought it to his mouth. Even through the rising steam, you could see his relaxed expression.

(End of this chapter)