Chapter 228: The Sense of Incongruity Around Gu Yinxue

"Dean Mom, let's hold off on the tea," Jiang Lai said, looking at Ke Zhongyu and the others. "They haven't had a proper shower or a proper night's sleep these past few days."

Especially Ke Zhongyu—during the three days at the county hospital, not only was there no clean, comfortable hotel that met his standards, there were also endless online meetings.

Jiang Lai saw him on three occasions alone.

Once, wearing earbuds at the end of the hospital corridor, his tall figure upright, a slight furrow between his brows.

Once by the flowerbed downstairs outside the hospital—it must have been urgent for him to take the call in front of others, after which he strode away to find a quiet corner.

And once sitting in the car, leaning slightly back, the cold light from the laptop illuminating half his face—one half in shadow, the other in light, the contours sharp and defined, his gaze toward the screen still carrying that same imperious look as always.

And that was only what Jiang Lai saw. Who knew how much Ke Clan business Ke Zhongyu had handled in places she couldn't see.

When the decision was made to transfer hospitals to the city, Jiang Lai had already booked the most luxurious hotel in the city.

She sent the reservation details to Secretary Cen.

Ke Zhongyu left, leaving only Dean Tang and Jiang Lai in the hospital room, along with Ping'an, whose complexion was gradually improving.

Ping'an not only started calling her "Sister," but also started calling out "Dean Mom."

Dean Tang teared up with emotion and said to Jiang Lai with a smile, "This time Ping'an really has become your little brother."

The children at the orphanage all called Dean Tang either "Dean Tang" or "Grandma Dean." Before Ping'an, only Jiang Lai had called her "Dean Mom," and now there was one more.

Jiang Lai felt a deep sense of guilt toward Ping'an in her heart. She nodded and said, "That works too. Dean Mom, you've gained a son late in life."

Dean Tang held Ping'an's hand, patting the back of it as she said, "Ping'an, oh Ping'an, after what we've been through, we'll all be safe and sound from now on."

Jiang Lai also sat down, a faint smile appearing on her face as she looked at Ping'an.

Dean Tang said, "You've been back for a week now. Do you need to hurry back? You must be quite busy."

Jiang Lai hadn't been idle this week either. While keeping Ping'an company at the hospital, she had also handled quite a few emails.

But classified data wouldn't be mentioned in emails, and some problems the researchers encountered couldn't be accurately resolved online—she did need to go back and deal with them.

"The day after tomorrow," Jiang Lai said, looking at Ping'an and explaining earnestly, "Sister's work is very busy, so I have to go back first. But I can come see you on the weekend. With Dean Mom here, and Doctor Chi here, you'll get better soon."

Ping'an nodded, very well-behaved.

Dean Tang heard her mention Chi Ce and asked, "Are you and President Ke really just friends? After I got his business card I looked him up—it scared me. A man of gold and jade, exalted and noble. Let alone being eight poles apart, you probably couldn't reach him in eight lifetimes."

"Not only did he go with you to find Ping'an, he even sent his own people to help you."

Dean Tang was just short of saying outright that Ke Zhongyu was interested in Jiang Lai.

Jiang Lai fell silent for a moment. "Actually, calling it 'friends' isn't quite accurate either. I'm his client."

Dean Tang: "…"

"You mean you went from a business relationship to being friends."

Jiang Lai didn't deny it, but explained further: "What I mean is, the contractor is resolving the client's worries so she can devote herself fully to the collaborative project."

Dean Tang smiled without saying a word, wearing an expression that said, "Look how much I believe that."

Jiang Lai pressed her lips together and said no more.

She changed the subject: "Is Gu Yinxue still over at the orphanage?"

"She already left," Dean Tang said. "Right after you departed, she said she got a call from home and had to rush back to B City. I don't know if something urgent happened in her family."

Jiang Lai thought to herself that perhaps Ke Zhongyu's appearance had stimulated her.

On second thought, Gu Yinxue didn't seem like the type to be so emotional.

A bit strange.

"During the time Gu Yinxue was at the orphanage, aside from asking about the history and notable alumni, was there anything else unusual?" In total, Jiang Lai had only met Gu Yinxue three times, and she didn't understand why she kept feeling that something was off about Gu Yinxue—that she always exuded a kind of incongruity she couldn't quite articulate.

Dean Tang thought for a moment and said, "Would her absolute refusal to eat spicy food count? Not a single bite. Or rather, she didn't eat any of the food here at all. Every day she took a cab to buy bread and water. She said she wasn't used to the food."

"You'd call her a picky person, yet she was able to stay in the orphanage's small room, play with the kids, even teach them about cameras, and act as the cafeteria auntie serving food to the children."

"She seemed like someone who goes with the flow of local customs, yet when it came to food, she refused to adapt. We're used to eating rice; she said she only eats wheat-based food."

From Dean Tang's description, Jiang Lai felt the sense of incongruity around Gu Yinxue grow even stronger.

Seeing her deep in thought, Dean Tang asked, "Is there something between you two? She didn't come to G Province for you, did she? I remember she said she has congenital heart disease. That means she's not suited for our high-altitude region, yet she came anyway."

Jiang Lai said, "Ke Zhongyu's mother, Ms. Nian, and Gu Yinxue's father are childhood friends who grew up together. The Nian Family and the Gu Family are old family friends."

She thought for a moment and said, "Gu Yinxue likes Ke Zhongyu."

Dean Tang had a sudden realization, then in the next second became melancholy.

"A Lai."

Jiang Lai rarely heard Dean Mom call her that—only when she was very young, and when Dean Mom would say to the children, "your Sister A Lai."

Jiang Lai said seriously, "Dean Mom."

"I don't know what exactly happened between you and Mr. Shen, or what's going on between you and President Ke, but hearing what you just said, and combining it with President Ke's family background, I…"

"I'm suddenly very worried."

"Maybe it's because I'm just an ordinary person with no worldly experience. Hearing that you're entangled with someone from a family at the very top of the pyramid, my first reaction is fear."

"The adult world is complicated enough as it is, and when family backgrounds are involved, it only gets more complicated. But I—I'm just the dean of a small orphanage. A Lai, I couldn't even help you when you divorced Shen Xun. If you get entangled with these important figures and I can't be your backing, what then?"

Dean Tang reached up and smoothed her hair, her brows filled with worry—just like any ordinary parent worrying about their child's future.

How could Jiang Lai not feel it.

"Dean Mom, you don't need to worry. My focus right now is entirely on the research project. I don't have the mind to think about anything else." Her eyes lowered slightly. "Besides, Ke Zhongyu…"

An image of Ke Zhongyu flashed through her mind. Jiang Lai ultimately didn't finish the sentence. She took Dean Mom's hand and smiled faintly. "You're overthinking it. Even if it's not because I'm his client, it's because I'm his own little sister's good friend. Nothing more."

At the hospital room doorway.

Ke Zhongyu, who had suddenly turned back halfway, heard every word the two of them said with perfect clarity.

He wanted to say.

It's not because you're the client, and it's certainly not because you're Ke Zhongying's good friend.

There is something else.

All are different.