Chapter 179: Pursuing Jiang Lai: Each by Their Own Ability

Jiang Lai asked her, "What's the difference between keeping it and not keeping it?"

Fu Youqing said meaningfully, "Of course there's a difference, and a big one."

Jiang Lai was no ordinary person; her identity and her abilities could help not only Shen Xun but also Star Universe Technology.

If Shen Xun could keep this marriage intact, the Fu Family people wouldn't keep hounding him over his affair.

If not, Shen Xun's days ahead would be difficult whether at Star Universe Technology or at the Fu Family.

One misstep and he would fall from the clouds into the mire.

If Shen Xun fell on his own, so be it, but if the Fu Family got the news too late, it would be hard to take precautions.

Especially since her father was about to arrange for her to join the Fu Family's brand department.

If Shen Xun's scandal blew up, it would be smashing the Fu Family's brand.

Even though Fu Youqing didn't spell out the difference specifically, Jiang Lai had heard no shortage of analysis from Ke Zhongyu and understood the entanglements involved.

She said, "I've divorced Shen Xun."

Fu Youqing's eyes suddenly widened: "Divorced? Just signed? He agreed to sign?"

That couldn't be possible.

Shen Xun indeed wouldn't sign; before knowing her identity, he'd figured to keep her around to continue serving the whole Shen Family household, and after knowing her identity, her uses only multiplied.

She could help Shen Xun with both family and career, so he'd be even less willing to let her go.

Jiang Lai was immensely grateful that she had quietly settled the divorce before her identity went public, otherwise who knew how much trouble it would have spawned.

"The milk tea is getting cold." Chi Grandma spoke up at just the right moment, then said to Jiang Lai, "Those who abandon me are like yesterdays, which cannot be kept."

Jiang Lai smiled: "Chi Grandma, I know."

Chi Grandma nodded: "Good child."

Fu Youqing was still reeling from the fact that Jiang Lai and Shen Xun had already divorced—Shen Xun actually agreed? And hid it so well.

She thought about telling her father, but wasn't sure what Jiang Lai's "divorced" actually meant.

In the past, divorced meant divorced, but nowadays, a divorce included a one-month cooling-off period in between; if they didn't go together to get the divorce certificate after the cooling-off period, then they weren't divorced.

Fu Youqing still wanted to ask, but Chi Ce stopped her: "Fu Daxiaojie, I invited you here to drink milk tea."

Then he turned his head and leaned close to her ear to whisper, through gritted teeth: "President Ke knows Jiang Lai is here. If you make her uncomfortable with your questions, President Ke won't just kill me, he won't let you off either."

Fu Youqing immediately dropped the thought of pressing further.

Ke Zhongyu always struck hard; most people couldn't bear it.

"Then let's drink milk tea." Fu Youqing took a couple of sips, picked up her phone and snapped a photo, saying she was sharing it with friends, but actually sent it to her younger brother.

【Come quick, your goddess is here too】

Shen Xun didn't have what it takes and let Jiang Lai, this piece of gold, slip through his fingers, so she'd let her brother do it!

Right after she sent the message to her brother, Chi Ce's message also came through.

【I saw it. Why did you tell Young Master Fu to come over?】

Fu Youqing: 【Didn't you already see it? Told him to come pursue the goddess】

Chi Ce: 【President Ke likes Jiang Lai. Didn't you notice last time on the cruise?】

Fu Youqing: 【So what? Each by their own ability】

【Maybe my brother will win her over before President Ke. He has more time, he's younger, he has better stamina】

Chi Ce: "..."

He silently took a screenshot, originally intending to send it to Ke Zhongyu, that living devil, but feared the living devil would burn Fu Daxiaojie with his fury.

And so.

【President Ke, Young Master Fu has come to Chi Family Medical Clinic. He likes Jiang Lai】

He could only help this much.

Ke Zhongyu was busy in a meeting and couldn't receive the message right away. Fu Youlin not only received the message immediately, but after finishing the documents Shen Xun had instructed him to review before leaving, he rushed right over.

Fu Youlin stood before Jiang Lai, his smile slightly shy, bearing two shallow dimples.

A sunny boy.

Fu Youqing introduced them: "This is my younger brother Fu Youlin. He happened to be passing by, so I asked him to come wait for me and we'll head home together."

"We meet again, Jiang Lai." Fu Youlin's bright puppy eyes sparkled; even though he was thrilled inside, he maintained the proper boundaries and politeness.

Jiang Lai's impression of him wasn't bad.

"Young Master Fu."

"I called you by your name, so you can just call me by mine."

Chi Ce muttered beside them: "A younger man not calling her 'jie'—his mind's a bit wild."

Fu Youqing responded in a low voice: "Don't you think a cool beauty like Jiang Lai is perfect for a little human sun like my brother?"

Fu Youlin sat down beside Jiang Lai.

Jiang Lai was about to continue trying the other milk teas; just as she reached out, Fu Youlin reached over and said, "Let me."

Quite attentive.

However, toward Fu Youlin, Jiang Lai remained consistently indifferent in expression; instead, she earnestly wrote up an electronic report on the milk tea flavors.

"Doctor Chi, these are some of my impressions and thoughts after trying each flavor of milk tea."

Chi Ce was astonished: "Are all of you in research like this?"

Fu Youqing: "Don't look at me, I don't do research."

"May I take a look?" Fu Youlin asked politely, and after getting Jiang Lai's permission, he photographed the contents on her phone.

Chi Ce pulled out his phone: "Let me take a photo too."

After taking it, he sent it to Ke Zhongyu.

President Ke, I just asked her to come try the new product; she used her phone to write me a report. From now on, when you're together, you can't argue using a PPT?

Ke Zhongyu finally picked up the phone; the message popped up just then. For a moment Ke Zhongyu didn't know whether to reward Chi Ce for saying they'd be together, or to scold Chi Ce for saying whatever about arguing.

Upon opening the chat interface, there was actually another message.

Did Fu Youlin go to the Chi Family Medical Clinic?

Ke Zhongyu's gaze darkened as Ke Zhongyu looked toward Secretary Chen: 'What other meetings are coming up?'

Secretary Chen: 'The international meeting has been postponed to 9 p. m.'

Ke Zhongyu: 'Hmm.'

Ke Zhongyu stood up and left.

……

Fu Family Group

Shen Xun managed to field the questions from the Fu Family senior leadership with narrow escapes, relieved that the Sino Semiconductor project was ahead, and the higher-ups didn't press too hard on Elder Shen's patent project.

The Fu Family director asked Shen Xun, and Shen Xun, citing Elder Shen's recent busyness, kept putting it off.

After leaving the Fu Family building, Shen Xun finally dared to catch their breath.

'Head back to Star Universe.'

'Okay, President Shen.' The temporary driver drove toward Star Universe Technology.

On the way, Shen Xun skillfully swapped a SIM card, intending to keep messaging Jiang Lai, when Qiao Chuan called.

It seems there is news about that child.

Qiao Chuan said on the phone, 'President Shen, the person has been found; the child's name hasn't changed, just gained a surname, now called Zhang Ping'an.'

To make sure there was no mistake, Qiao Chuan sent Shen Xun a photo of Zhang Ping'an.

Shen Xun opened it and saw that the child had grown taller, appearance unchanged, but was wearing oversized, old clothes—worse than when at Fuli Yuan—and face was chapped from the cold.

Moreover, a fifteen-year-old boy was playing football in the alley with a bunch of kids only a few years old.

Shen Xun furrowed their brows: 'Is that them? What's going on? Not going to school? No clothes at home?'

Qiao Chuan: 'I've inquired; they live with their paternal uncle's family, making six people in total, crammed into a tiny rental unit. All three children need to go to school, but the neighbors say they're slow-witted, they have a disability, so they didn't send them to school.'

Shen Xun: 'Autism does not equal stupidity.'

Qiao Chuan continued: 'I also heard that the Zhang family took them in and then got a disability certificate for them, so they receive a monthly disability subsidy; I haven't investigated the details yet.'

The more Shen Xun listened, the tighter their brow furrowed. This child has severe autism; even at Fuli Yuan they didn't speak to anyone, only approaching Jiang Lai when she visited—though they didn't speak, they would follow her wherever she went.

The year before last, when they went to Fuli Yuan, they happened to meet relatives coming to complete procedures to take them away; it was the first time the child spoke, calling Jiang Lai 'sister.'

Jiang Lai, feeling soft-hearted, wrote her phone number on a slip of paper, folded it, and placed it inside the peace talisman that the child wore around their neck.

The peace talisman had a waterproof plastic layer on the outside; Director Tang, after obtaining the talismans for the children, worried they'd get wet, so Director Tang didn't let them remove that transparent plastic layer.

The phone number was placed inside.

Jiang Lai repeatedly told them to call that number if they were unhappy.

To avoid losing the paper, Jiang Lai taught them to memorize it; after about half an hour they finally managed to recite it, albeit with some stumbling.

Ping'an also counts as a small worry for Jiang Lai; last year when she returned to Fuli Yuan she even asked Director Tang about them, but the children's records at Fuli Yuan cannot be viewed freely—whether relative or lawyer, one needs authorization to access them.

So they never knew Ping'an's whereabouts, but Ping'an was definitely somewhere in G Province.

Qiao Chuan asked, 'President Shen, what should we do next?'

Shen Xun signaled for Qiao Chuan to go approach Ping'an; as long as Jiang Lai's name is mentioned, Ping'an will obey.

Not long after, Qiao Chuan made a video call, and Ping'an's face appeared on the screen.

Qiao Chuan had expected to see Jiang Lai's Ping'an, but only saw Shen Xun, and a flicker of loss crossed their eyes.

'Ping'an, do you still remember me? I am Jiang Lai's husband; when you left Fuli Yuan, I was also by her side.' Shen Xun lowered their voice, afraid to startle them.

Ping'an nodded after a long while.

Shen Xun exhaled in relief and told them, 'Jiang Lai has changed her number; I'll give you a new phone number, and if you want to reach her, just call this new number.'

Shen Xun gave Qiao Chuan a look, signaling that later they should leave their own phone number for Ping'an.

Qiao Chuan nodded.

Shen Xun asked again, 'Ping'an, do you want to go to school?'

Ping'an's eyes lit up.

It seems they do.

Shen Xun smiled gently: 'Take that older brother beside you back with you; they'll help you sort out the school situation.'

Ping'an nodded.

Qiao Chuan gestured for Ping'an to wait nearby, then stepped to the side to await further instructions.

Shen Xun: 'Change the phone number inside their peace talisman to mine, then have them memorize it again.'

Send them to a special school; for now don't let them stay with the Zhang family—figure out how to convince the Zhang family yourself, and also make arrangements with the school.

Also, take them to buy a down jacket and warm shoes; once that's done, come back.

After hanging up, Shen Xun happened to arrive at the company; going upstairs they discovered Fu Youlin wasn't there, and after asking the front desk learned that Young Master Fu had left early.

Shen Xun let out a heavy sigh, preparing to call Fu Youlin, when they first saw Fu Youlin's profile picture flashing on the Discover page.

They clicked to view it.

A Moments post with a location tag showed six cups of milk tea and four people's hands—it was a live picture.

Shen Xun opened the live feed and heard someone shout Jiang Lai's name inside.

After listening carefully twice, it was indeed Jiang Lai's name.

It was Fu Youqing who shouted.

Are Jiang Lai and the Fu family siblings at the Chi Family Medical Clinic?

Shen Xun rushed out of the company, not even having time to call the temporary driver.