Chapter 6: The Beautiful Boss Lady

  It may be an illusion, but Zhang Jialian still made a keen observation that when he mentioned going back to his hometown tomorrow, Li Jun's eyes lit up involuntarily, and even the anxiety in his heart seemed to disappear instantly tonight.

  But after blinking, Li Jun still looked melancholy, however, as if he had put down some burden in his heart, and spoke fluently: "Then come to my house for lunch tomorrow, I'll treat you."

  Such a proposal is not easy to refuse, but Zhang Jialian was really eager to return home, it's a matter of life and death, can't be taken lightly: "No need, Li Ge, the car back home is at 12:30, there's no time for dinner."

  Li Jun didn't seem disappointed, but rather as if he had made up his mind: "Well, since the timing isn't right, let's just do it tonight. It's already so late and the dormitory doors are closed, why don't you come to my place for a couple of drinks? Let's just consider it an early celebration."

  Facing Li Jun's enthusiasm, Zhang Jialian naturally couldn't refuse anymore. The other person was also being kind-hearted, and if he hesitated again, wouldn't that turn a friend into an enemy? He then nodded his head in agreement: "Alright, Brother Li, I'm troubling you."

  "No trouble, no trouble." Li Jun made up his mind and finally regained the flavor of that sunny handsome guy. However, it seemed that there was a hint of excitement in him, which Zhang Jialian found strange but wouldn't ask impolitely. Moreover, he wasn't worried either, after all, he didn't have anything worth Li Jun's attention, unlike some people who would sell their kidneys and organs after ten years.

  The Scholars' Bookstore was just south of the school gate, and Li Jun's home was right above it. The place wasn't big, but the location was great, and having a house here was considered a comfortable life. At some point in time, Zhang Jialian's dream was simply to have a place to live in Shanghai. Now thinking about it, human desires are truly never satisfied. When one gets a certain level of satisfaction, they will start fantasizing about an even higher level of satisfaction. This is a double-edged sword; if used properly, it can drive social progress, but if the wrong mindset forms, it will make people insatiably greedy and without limits.

  Li Jun knocked on the door, and soon it was opened by a woman of about 24 or 25 years old. She had a beautiful oval face, delicate features, and smooth white skin. What was most captivating were her bright and expressive eyes, which seemed to convey all sorts of emotions. This was Li Jun's wife, Yang Jiali, the famous "Xishi" of the Scholars' Bookstore.

  "Xiao Zhang, you're here? I heard that tomorrow morning, the assignment notice will be issued?" Yang Jiali looked at Zhang Jialian with concern and asked, her voice was soft and sticky, with a sweet and charming tone unique to Jiangnan women, as if it could stir up people's hearts.

  "Isn't that so? The 12:30 train, as soon as he got the notice, Little Zhang was preparing to head back to his hometown." Li Jun said hastily, but no matter how Zhang Jialian listened, he felt that today's Li Jun was a bit strange.

  "So soon? Isn't the graduation ceremony still a few days away? Are you coming back home after that?" Yang Jiali asked in puzzlement, although she hadn't attended college herself, her family lived near the university and was used to seeing the various craziness and reluctance of the students during their farewell parties.

  Zhang Jialian smiled slightly and sighed, saying: "No, there's something urgent at home. I'll take the notice and graduation certificate tomorrow and leave." He didn't want to attend the graduation ceremony, these classmates who had been through thick and thin would become partners and connections on the road ahead, but if he attended the graduation ceremony, he wouldn't be able to thank Teacher Xie. This choice was a no-brainer for Zhang Jialian.

  True friendship won't change just because of missing a graduation ceremony, but if you return too late, it could mean the loss of a life. Which is lighter and which is heavier, it's self-evident.

  "Yes, yes, Xiao Zhang, you sit down quickly. Jia Li, you chat with Xiao Zhang for a bit, I'll go get some midnight snacks, just consider it a farewell gift for Xiao Zhang." Li Jun said with a smile, looking somewhat nervous.

  Yang Jiali pursed her red lips, and with a glance at Li Jun, she smiled lightly: "It's rare that you've made midnight snacks, can we still eat them? Or should I go make some instead?"

  But unexpectedly, Li Jun waved his hand repeatedly and refused, saying: "No, no, no, I'll do it myself, you rest for a while, rest for a while." After speaking, he didn't wait for Yang Jiali to respond, and flashed into the kitchen.

  Yang Jiali smiled slightly and said, "Today is really a change of nature. In the past, you always called yourself 'Junzi yuan hou chu', it seems that Xiaozhang's face is bigger after all." Now she can't follow him into the kitchen and leave Zhang Jialian alone in the living room, this is not the way to treat guests.

  "Ah, that's the charm of your sister-in-law! Li Ge, this is called 'thick accumulation and thin emission'. Hmm, I'll give you one more chance to love her." Zhang Jialian also secretly worried about Li Jun's unusual behavior today. Although he couldn't understand why he was being remembered by Li Jun, his actions were too abnormal today. However, despite his worries, Zhang Jialian wasn't afraid at all, with the powerful "Time Reversal" in hand, what was there to fear?

  "Hey, Xiaozhang, you're a student union cadre and also a party member, how come you can't stay on campus or in Shanghai this time?" Actually, when Zhang Jialian announced his assignment result some days ago, Yang Jiali was also puzzled, but it wasn't suitable to ask questions at that time. Now, seeing that he's leaving tomorrow, if she doesn't ask, there won't be another chance, so the burning gossip fire finally burst out. You know, that's a big deal (breast).

  Zhang Jialian smiled and thought to himself, "Which young woman isn't nosy? Even Jiali can't avoid being curious. But it's not easy for her to keep her curiosity hidden in her heart for so long." He then said calmly, "Actually, there's nothing much to say, just a careless friendship." The desire to gossip can be satisfied, but the details cannot be revealed.

  "Ah?" Yang Jiali covered her tempting red lips, looking heartbroken. It was known that Zhang Jialian had not only prestige among students but also a strong sense of justice, yet he encountered such a thing near graduation, which was truly heartbreaking.

  "It's nothing, just consider it as paying tuition fees. Losing out is a blessing, isn't it?" Zhang Jialian carelessly waved his hand, but the pain in his heart was something that outsiders couldn't understand. Because the person who had framed him wasn't an ordinary friend, but his girlfriend! Yes, now she should be called his ex-girlfriend.

  Yang Jiali can understand such feelings, being framed by others is always so annoying, let alone being betrayed by a good friend, which makes people feel even more hurt.

  "It's okay, it's better to suffer a loss in school than in society, after all, you gain wisdom from experience." Yang Jiali consoled Zhang Jialian with great sympathy. She knew that such consolation might not be very effective, but she still wanted to do her best to comfort him. In the past four years, she had never seen Zhang Jialian look so lost, but she knew that no matter how strong he was, he was still human and needed someone to listen to his heart and vent his emotions. She really wanted to help him. Maybe this was the maternal instinct hidden in every woman's heart.

  Zhang Jialian nodded in agreement, saying: "Yes, Jiali sister, you're right. Thank you and Brother Li for taking care of me these four years. In the future, if I have the ability, I will definitely repay you." Ah, Zhang Jialian was an orphan. During his four years at university, apart from Teacher Xie sending money every month, he mostly relied on part-time jobs to support himself. However, Li Jun and his wife had also helped him a lot. He would remember those who treated him well in his heart, just as he would also remember those who treated him badly.

  "Look at what you're saying, aren't you being too polite?" Yang Jiali's face turned red with anger, and this beauty's anger was also quite charming. Zhang Jialian couldn't help but stare blankly for a moment, and when he saw this, Yang Jiali's cheeks also flushed with two red clouds.

  Just at this awkward moment, Li Jun walked out with several dishes: "Come on, try my craftsmanship, Little Zhang, we won't leave until we're drunk." The speed is really astonishing.

  "Alright! Brother Li, I'll definitely accompany you to the death." Zhang Jialian smiled and walked over, taking a few dishes from him and helping him serve the food. Yang Jiali saw this and also smiled as she snatched the dishes from Zhang Jialian's hands: "You kid, let our guest sit down properly over there, don't snatch the work that should be done by the host."

  Zhang Jialian burst out laughing and took the bowl and chopsticks from Li Jun's hands, saying with a smile: "Those who do not work shall not eat. I wouldn't dare go against the teachings of our predecessors."

  Li Jun didn't stand on ceremony, handing the bowl and chopsticks to Zhang Jialian after which he went to the refrigerator to fetch a few bottles of beer and also took out a bottle of juice: "Not getting drunk is not returning home is not getting drunk is not returning home, but we're drinking beer today, recently my skin has been allergic, can't eat white liquor."

  "That's alright, doesn't matter. When we drink, what's most important is the company, not the wine." Zhang Jialian smiled and took over the bottle to help him open it.

  Li Jun however opened the beer first and said with his head down: "In my house, you just sit there, I'll take care of everything."

  Zhang Jialian had no choice but to sit down and follow the host's lead.

  It's true, Li Jun's craftsmanship is quite good, and the few small dishes he made are very delicious, almost comparable to those in a restaurant. This surprised Zhang Jialian greatly, and he gave Yang Jiali a big thumbs up, exclaiming: "Sister Jiali, you're really lucky! Brother Li's skills are truly unmatched. I think you should open another restaurant next to your bookstore, it'll definitely be a hit. First, there's the divine bookstore, and now there's also exquisite cuisine, it's really a place that makes one forget to leave."

  "Look at you, so sweet-talking, I don't know how many girls have fallen for your tricks." Yang Jiali smiled slyly, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it. Every graduation season was a peak time for break-ups, and that time Zhang Jialian came to talk about being assigned back to his hometown, he came alone. To think that in the past, he never separated from his girlfriend who seemed like a goddess! And after that, Zhang Jialian only came and went alone. What's going on? Even an idiot could figure it out."

  Yang Jiali looked at Zhang Jialian with a worried expression, like a child who had done something wrong. Li Jun, on the other hand, seemed to have not noticed this and just continued drinking the wine in front of him.