Chapter 25: A Fake Smile
“I’m fine.” Jiang Su’s lips curved into a smile, a hint of amusement in his clear eyes; under the warm light, he was as clean and beautiful as a painting.
Huo Qingyan was momentarily captivated.
Seeing that he didn’t speak for a long time, Jiang Su asked with concern, “Are you too tired recently? We don’t have to go to the hot spring resort; I don’t really want to go.”
He was incredibly gentle and considerate.
Huo Qingyan should have felt satisfied with such a gentle and considerate Jiang Su.
But his first feeling wasn’t satisfaction, but rather, irritation.
He inexplicably felt Jiang Su’s smile was fake.
He even felt that Jiang Su’s cursing during their argument was more vibrant and appealing than his current gentle and considerate demeanor.
“Let’s go to the hot spring resort the day after tomorrow.” Huo Qingyan suddenly lost his appetite and, dropping those words, got up and left the table.
Jiang Su watched Huo Qingyan’s back until he disappeared around the corner of the stairs.
Then, he lowered his head and continued eating.
…
When Jiang Su went upstairs after dinner, he found Huo Qingyan wasn’t in the bedroom but in the study.
He didn’t disturb Huo Qingyan in the study but went straight to wash up and go to bed.
He slept soundly and woke up in the morning.
The space beside him was empty.
The bedsheets were unwrinkled, as if no one had slept there.
Jiang Su got up and looked around.
No one was in the study or downstairs, and Huo Qingyan’s usual Maybach wasn’t in the garage.
In other words, Huo Qingyan had stayed in the study all night and left for the company early in the morning.
As a gentle and considerate partner, Jiang Su called Huo Qingyan.
The call was immediately disconnected.
Jiang Su calmly called Zhou Fu.
Zhou Fu answered much faster than Huo Qingyan; he picked up after three rings.
“Mr. Jiang.”
Zhou Fu’s voice sounded deliberately lowered, likely in an unsuitable place to take a call.
Jiang Su asked directly, “Has Huo Qingyan arrived at the company?”
“Mr. Huo…” Zhou Fu glanced at Huo Qingyan, who was helping Lin Siyue pack, and lied, “Yes, Mr. Huo has already arrived at the company.”
Jiang Su had known Zhou Fu since he started working for Huo Qingyan.
Zhou Fu was meticulous and his words and actions were impeccable.
Therefore, Zhou Fu’s pause just now was not without reason.
Jiang Su thought that if he guessed correctly, Huo Qingyan should be at the hospital now.
Jiang Su continued calmly, “He left without breakfast. Please remind him to eat.”
Zhou Fu replied, “Mr. Jiang, you’re too kind. It’s my duty.”
Jiang Su chuckled softly, “Special Assistant Zhou is so dedicated; no wonder you’ve been by his side for so many years.”
The “him” referred to Huo Qingyan.
Only after hanging up did Zhou Fu vaguely feel that Jiang Su had implied something.
But after thinking for a long time, he couldn’t figure out what Jiang Su meant.
Maybe he was overthinking.
When he returned to Huo Qingyan, Huo Qingyan was zipping up Lin Siyue’s suitcase.
Seeing Zhou Fu come over, Huo Qingyan picked up the suitcase and handed it to Zhou Fu.
Zhou Fu held the handle of the suitcase and said, “Mr. Huo, Mr. Jiang called just now and asked me to remind you to eat breakfast.”
Huo Qingyan responded with an emotionless “Mm.”
When Jiang Su called him earlier, he had hung up directly.
Jiang Su always did this; if he didn’t answer, he would call Zhou Fu.
Lin Siyue, behind them, also heard Zhou Fu’s words.
He had heard that Huo Qingyan had been going home for dinner recently.
Pretending not to hear Zhou Fu’s words, he said with a smile, “I’m all packed. Let’s go.”
…
After briefly packing for the hot spring resort, Jiang Su went to his grandmother’s house.
As soon as he entered, Aunt Zhao came to greet him.
Aunt Zhao was very happy to see Jiang Su and reached out to take his coat, “Young Master!”
“Thank you, Aunt Zhao.” After handing her his coat, Jiang Su asked, “Where’s Grandma?”
“She’s asleep.” Aunt Zhao took his coat and walked inside, “It must be because it’s so cold; she’s been quite sleepy lately.”
“I’ll go see Grandma.” Jiang Su said and walked upstairs.
His grandmother was sleeping soundly; Jiang Su stayed for a while but she didn’t wake up.
Aunt Zhao heard Jiang Su coming downstairs and came out of the kitchen, “Young Master, what do you want for lunch?”
Jiang Su replied, “I’ll make lunch.”
“That won’t do!” Aunt Zhao disagreed.
Jiang Su had spent a lot of time at his grandmother’s house when he was little; Aunt Zhao practically raised him.
She naturally wouldn’t let Jiang Su cook.
Jiang Su smiled and persuaded, “I want to cook for Grandma; she’ll be happy.”
Hearing this, Aunt Zhao nodded.
But she still followed him into the kitchen, wanting to help him.
Once in the kitchen, she realized Jiang Su didn’t need her help at all.
Watching Jiang Su skillfully chop and wash vegetables, Aunt Zhao’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper.
Whether at the Jiang family or his grandmother’s, Jiang Su was always the youngest.
When he was little, Jiang Su was fair and delicate, beautiful like a little girl, and very lovable. His older siblings vied for his attention, and even a small bump or scrape would cause them great distress.
Let alone letting him into the kitchen.
“Aunt Zhao, please watch the soup on the stove. I’ll go see if Grandma’s awake…”
Turning around, Jiang Su noticed Aunt Zhao’s unhappy expression.
Jiang Su’s expression faltered: “What’s wrong, Aunt Zhao?”
“Nothing. Go check on Grandma.” Aunt Zhao lowered her head and wiped her face, as if she had been crying.
Jiang Su stared at her for two seconds before going upstairs to see his grandmother.
His grandmother was awake and putting on her coat.
As soon as she saw Jiang Su, she smiled, “Little Seven is here?”
Jiang Su helped her put on her coat, speaking softly, “I’ve been here for a while. I’ve already made lunch.”
The smile on his grandmother’s face faltered slightly before she said happily, “Then I’m going to have a feast today.”
When they went downstairs, Aunt Zhao had already set the table.
Jiang Su asked Aunt Zhao to sit down and eat with them.
As they ate and chatted, Jiang Su told his grandmother about his upcoming trip to the hot spring resort with Huo Qingyan.
There was a moment of silence in the dining room.
After a moment, his grandmother asked kindly, “How many days will you be gone?”
“Two or three days. We’ll be back before New Year’s Eve,” Jiang Su said.
“That’s good.” His grandmother chuckled and repeated, “That’s good.”
After that, his grandmother served Jiang Su more food, muttering, “Our Little Seven needs to eat well and sleep well. You’ve gotten thinner…”