Chapter 163: Volume 1 Chapter 163 Study Well, Make Progress Every Day (7)

Jiang Zhi was not surprised.

When Jiang Mu took an overnight train to another place, she already knew that the time to leave here was not long.

The boy on the sickbed seemed trapped in a nightmare, his brows furrowed, fine cold sweat beading on his forehead, the fingers gripping the IV line on the sheet tightened, the white sheet showing deep wrinkles.

Jiang Zhi approached, took hold of his tense hand, patted it reassuringly, and the boy reflexively grabbed her hand and refused to let go.

She glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, sat on the chair beside the bed, and let him hold her hand.

Until her pocket phone rang, outside the sky was gray and dim, the rainy season brought drizzle that pattered against the transparent window, audible in waves.

She sat up, checked the phone time—it was already five a. m.

The caller ID showed it was her mother.

Jiang Zhi glanced at the boy still asleep on the bed, got up, pulled her hand free from his grip, and walked out of the ward.

"Xiao Zhi, where are you? Mom didn't see you at home," came Jiang Mu's anxious voice from the other end of the line.

Jiang Zhi replied: "A classmate got hurt; I'm staying with him at the hospital."

Jiang Mu's tone panicked: "Are you okay?"

Jiang Zhi: "I'm fine, Mom. What's up?"

Jiang Mu hesitated, then said: "Send me the address; I'll come pick you up."

The call ended.

After sending the address, Jiang Zhi pushed open the ward door and saw the boy sitting on the sickbed.

His whole body was shrouded in shadow; the face beneath his buzz cut looked especially gloomy. When he heard the door open, he lifted his forehead, his pupil color merging with the darkness, yet deep in his eyes faint glimmers appeared.

"I told you to go to the internet café—why did you come out?" he suddenly asked.

Jiang Zhi thought and said: "The smoke in the internet café is too irritating."

Cheng Su raised his eyebrows and smiled, his expression brimming with youthful vigor.

This smile was different from his usual mocking cold laugh or sneer.

It was a genuine smile from the heart.

Jiang Zhi didn't know why he was laughing, but seeing him finally have the demeanor befitting his age made her feel glad for him.

As her pocket phone vibrated again, Jiang Zhi knew it was time to leave.

This meeting might be their last.

Jiang Zhi took out a notebook from her bag and handed it to him, saying: "The notes and questions on it are important; you must remember them all."

Cheng Su looked at the notebook in her hand and clearly remembered it was the one she used to jot down questions at the internet café.

He asked: "Why are you giving it to me?"

Jiang Zhi said: "I'm leaving."

Cheng Su stared for a moment, then suddenly leaned back, arms stretched overhead against the cold wall, his expression lax and weary, and said unhurriedly: "Just go, anyway if I pass the next exam you'll have to tutor me."

Jiang Zhi didn't know if he was pretending not to understand, she placed the notebook on the bedside and got up to leave.

"Where are you going?" a cold voice questioned from behind.

Jiang Zhi didn't turn back, answering lightly:

"A City."

Cheng Su snorted coldly, fingers clutching the sheets beneath him, eyes reddening, chest heaving, his voice hoarse: "Jiang Zhi, if you dare leave, I won't let you go!"

Jiang Zhi pressed her lips, after a few seconds stepped forward, pushed open the ward door and left.

Walking out of the hospital, she saw a black car parked by the roadside; Jiang Mu got out, opened her umbrella, and led her to the car.

"Xiao Zhi, get in the car; Mom will take you somewhere."

Jiang Zhi didn't ask, just got into the back seat; as the door closed, she faintly heard something and turned back.

Through the rear window she saw the buzz‑cut boy running in the rain, his stance unsteady yet determined as he chased after the car.

"Jiang Zhi!!"

Jiang Mu, who had started the car, saw this and wanted to stop, but Jiang Zhi stopped her: "Mom, drive!"

Jiang Mu felt reluctant, "But..."

"Drive!" Jiang Zhi said firmly.

Jiang Mu turned to look at her tense face, gritted her teeth, and started the car.

The car soon vanished into the rain and mist.

The boy's hoarse, exhausted voice carried through the heavy rain to her ears.

"I will come find you!!"

Jiang Zhi sitting in the back lowered her gaze and slowly exhaled.

She waited for him to come find her.

Jiang Mu in the driver's seat glanced at her through the front mirror, hesitated and asked: "Xiao Zhi, is he the classmate you mentioned?"

Jiang Zhi said: "Yes, it's him."

Jiang Mu licked her dry lips and said: "Mom has arranged your transfer, Xiao Zhi; from now on we'll live in Jiangcheng."

Jiang Zhi: "Okay."

Although she knew her daughter's character was cold and not good with words, Jiang Mu still couldn't help worrying.

Her daughter never asked why from beginning to end, behaving more mature than a teenager.

Those eyes and personality are very much like that person.

If it weren't for this hospital visit...

Jiang Mu let out a long sigh.

The car pulled up to the residence.

Jiang Zhi saw five bodyguards standing guard at the door, lined up imposingly, making passersby afraid to glance twice.

Those unaware thought they were illegal loan sharks.

They must have been sent by her cheap tyrant CEO dad, seemingly to protect her but actually to stop Jiang Mu from fleeing again.

To describe Jiang Mu and the tyrant CEO dad's tortured romance, even a million words wouldn't suffice.

Melodramatic, old-school painful literature.

Jiang Zhi got into the extended Lincoln heading back to the city, which took nearly three hours, arriving at the capital Jiangcheng A City.

Skyscrapers rose up outside the car windows, far more prosperous than the towns they'd stayed in before; the car stopped in a luxury villa district in the city center, where every inch of land is priceless, prices driven to astronomical levels by auction, and only affluent families reside there.

Before them stood a typical European-style villa from novels; the dark main gate opened from within, revealing a marble sculpture fountain, exuding luxury and opulence everywhere.

Following Jiang Mu into the hall, they saw the tyrant CEO's parents, two kind elderly people, and beside them sat a man in a custom black suit.

The man had a stern aura, handsome features, the typical male lead look, his collar buttoned to the top, extremely austere and cold.

Indeed, he was the legendary tyrant CEO dad.

"Xiao Zhi, call them Grandpa and Grandma." Jiang Mu took her hand and whispered the cue.

Jiang Zhi obediently called out twice.

The two elders beamed, especially the grandmother, who stepped forward happily and handed her a gift box: "I don't know what you like, but this is a gift Grandma prepared; I hope you'll like it."

Her words were gentle, giving a feeling of especial closeness.

The wicked mother-in-law and father-in-law she had imagined did not appear, which was somewhat unexpected.

Meanwhile, the tyrant CEO dad glanced at her lightly, his fingers resting on the table trembling imperceptibly.

He seemed quite nervous.

Jiang Zhi's expression mirrored his, especially her eyes, which looked as if carved from the same mold.

The grandmother liked her more and more, afraid she'd be scared, she restrained herself from reaching out to pat her head.

"Xiao Zhi, from now on this is your home."