Come To My Side

7

Guan Xi didn't go to the office today, nor did she return back to her home.

Having nowhere else to go, she later had her assistant, Yang Qing, bring her notebook over to Jiang Suizhou's house and resumed writing the France travelogue that had been left unfinished previously. The travelogue she wrote is similar to a travel guide, but with far more practical details and cultural description.

Guan Family is leading in many industries, as well as owning numerous business branches.

Following grandfather, Guan Hong, retirement, the Guan is now being managed by his children and grandchildren.

Guan Hong has three sons, the eldest has two sons, the youngest has a son and a daughter. While the middle child, Guan Xinghao, has one daughter, Guan Xi…..wait, it should be two now.

Guan Xinghao expertise in the tourism industry and has taught Guan Xi plenty of stuff about it. Of course, though Guan Xi did learn it, she hardly ever took this work seriously, she was accustomed to getting pampered by her father and tend to become lazy on things she didn't have interest in.

However, despite her laziness, she's actually pretty smart.

For instance, previously when she was interested in travelling and liked to fly around the world, she easily turned herself into a well-known travel blogger just by playing around.

When Jiang Suizhou's company launched 'U-Road Travel' a few years back, she was bored with nothing to do and registered an 'U-Road Travel' guide account.

The first post she issued was a travelogue about her trip to Turkey, there she gave details of her experience, made a complaints about hotels that are actively promoted by influencers, checked out the less-popular places, and recommended various ways that she found practical to enjoy their stay.

At first, eldest lady Guan might appear to be too demanding and criticised everything.  But contrary to popular belief, her pointers are sharp, accurate, hard to refute and even made people relate to her. Thanks to that, her ID stands out in the sea of peaceful and calm bloggers.

After doing it for some time, Guan Xi found it fun. She visited a few more countries one after another and passionately wrote a travelogue when she returned. At that time, she turned herself into the most popular blogger at 'U-Road' trending section. 

But Guan Xi's laziness got the best of her, once the novelty of writing a travelogue wore off, she lost interest and stopped posting as regularly anymore.

This travelogue post she wrote today is for last month's trip.

In the middle of writing the travelogue, Auntie Zhen gave her a call. 

Auntie Zhen asked when will she return home while secretly informing her that Guan Ying personally cooked at home tonight, and among it was her mom's favorite dish, potato beef brisket. 

There's no way Guan Xi wouldn't know that potato beef brisket is Wei Shaomin's favorite homemade dish. In the past, she once specially took a two hours trip and waited at a private restaurant whose chef is known to make the best potato beef brisket. 

For Wei Shaomin, she carefully made sure the food stayed warm and drove another two hours trip back. 

Wei Shaomin was very happy back then, telling her it must've been quite a trouble and she has worked hard. 

She didn't want to bother her, there's no need for her to trouble herself, that her wishing for Mom's happiness is already enough. 

But this time….. Mom must be much happier, right? 

After all, it was personally cooked by that girl. 

Guan Xi hung up the call and thought she should probably go home to at least show her face, but her mind was suddenly filled with the image of them making dumplings together last night. 

Never mind, she won't be coming home today. 

She can go home and strengthen her position next time, she can compete for their favor another time…….Guan Ying just returned, letting her have a few days won't mean much. 

Guan Xi tried to numb herself, once she managed to force herself to calm down, her face gradually drooped down again. 

"Potato beef brisket…..isn't it just potato with beef, anyone can make such a simple thing." 

****

Jiang Suizhou was on his way to his subsidiary company, sitting in the car's backseat while looking at the phone in his hand when he received a message from Guan Xi.

[Baby, when are you coming back?] 

He stared at that eye-catching 'baby' and called out his assistant's name.

The assistant on the passenger side, Zhou Hao, turned around, "Mr. Jiang, is something the matter?"

Jiang Suizhou asked, "Has Guan Xi called you recently? Is there anything she wants to buy?" 

Zhou Hao thought about it and shook his head,"Miss Guan has not asked me to contact any brand or want to buy any special edition item for some time now."

"Nothing of recents?" 

Zhou Hao nodded his head affirmatively.

Jiang Suizhou stopped talking, bowing his head to send Guan Xi a reply. 

Acting clingy but didn't buy anything, it's definitely a build up for something big. 

Jiang Suizhou: [You're still at home?] 

Guan Xi: [Yeah, I'm waiting for you, what time will you be back? ]

Jiang Suizhou: [Around six o'clock.]

Guan Xi : [Alright then~ I'll wait for you to come home for dinner~]

Jiang Suizhou: "......"

Looks like it will be something really big. 

Jiang Suizhou has a good sense of time, if he said six o'clock, then it won't be too far off. 

He arrived home at six past ten. The moment he opened the door, he was welcomed by a surge of burning smell. As he walked in following the smell, his eyes fell on the kitchen that was billowing in smoke. And surrounded within that miasma**, a woman's back is currently bustling about, making a clattering noise from the pots and pans. 

(**a highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor.) 

Jiang Suizhou was taken aback when recognized it to be Guan Xi's silhouette, he immediately went in to pull her out, "What the hell are you doing, where's Auntie?"

Guan Xi: "I gave her the day off, I'll cook tonight."

In a split second, Jiang Suizhou's expressions went rigid, "You know how to cook? Who are you planning to poison, me?"

Guan Xi raised her index finger and shook it, "It won't poison you, the only reason you'll die is because of how delicious it tastes. Look, it's done."

Amidst all the smoke, Jiang Suizhou turned on the range hood. He lowered his eyes to look at the stuff on the plate, could not quite make out what it was,"What is this?" 

"Potato beef brisket." Guan Xi looked back at him and took off the thin silver-rimmed glasses he had on the bridge of his nose,"They're all fogged up, you can see better this way."

She sounded very satisfied with herself and seemed to be waiting for his compliments, but Jiang Suizhou obviously has no intention in doing so. 

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Guan Xi carried the plate to the dining table outside. Then she came back to grab a pair of chopsticks and pulled Jiang Suizhou out.

"Try it." She passed the chopsticks to Jiang Suizhou's hand.

Jiang Suizhou: "....give me a reason to move this chopstick." 

"For the first time in my life," Guan Xi pondered about it and said, "I cooked something by myself, isn't it so impressive?"

"I'm not moving my chopstick."

Guan Xi let out a light sigh and sat down beside him.

She murmured while fixing her gaze at the dish in front of her,"But I've worked really hard for this, if it doesn't taste good this time, I will make it better next time." 

Jiang Suizhou took a quick look at her. After all the tossing and turning in the kitchen, she had some stains on her face. The Guan Xi in his memories has always had an appallingly elegant face, not once did he ever see her allowing herself to be oily and dirty like this. 

Subconsciously, he stretched out his hand to wipe her cheek.

Guan Xi, whose mind is still focused on the dish, turned her head in confusion when her face was held. She was met with another hand following suit, Jiang Suizhou used one hand to hold her chin, while the other hand was wiping her face with his fingertip. 

"It's not something you need to do, why are you trying so hard?" He asked gently. 

Guan Xi froze for a moment, "But everyone else does."

"Who?"

"Just….some people."Guan Xi said,"If your dearest person personally cooks for you when you come home, don't you think you will love her more?"

Jiang Suizhou: "No, I'll just think she has nothing better to do and is looking for trouble."

"....."

"Now go wash your face. "Said Jiang Suizhou.

Guan Xi: "Are you sure you don't want to eat this? I worked hard for the whole afternoon for this."

"No."

Guan Xi glared at him, "You have no idea what you're missing out on."

She turned around and walked out of the dining room to wash her face.

Jiang Suizhou was left at the table staring at that strange plate of food in front of him, he was silent for a moment before picking up a small piece of meat with a chopstick.

A whole afternoon worth of hard work….

And this was it?

Jiang Suizhou knitted his eyebrows.

He looked at it for a long time then put it in his mouth, but at the second chew, his face changed and he immediately got up to throw it up.

She really plan to poison him!

****

Jiang Suizhou ended up having someone deliver food for them, after eating, Guan Xi went to sit on the living room carpet and continued writing her travelogue.

The sight of her being this focused was quite new for Jiang Suizhou.

"What are you working on?"

"A guide, I haven't posted one in a long time."

Jiang Suizhou was aware that Guan Xi had an account at 'U-Road Travel', since her account was pretty well-known, his subordinate had once brought her account as an exemplar during a meeting before.

However, if his memories serve him right, it's been quite a while since she last posted.

"Why the sudden interest in writing this again?"

Guan Xi: "I suddenly want to work hard."

Work hard, a word that didn't suit a Salted Fish like her.

Jiang Suizhou thought she was probably just doing it on a whim. But he suppose it was a good thing, her guide has attracted a lot of traffic for 'U-Road Travel' thanks to her distinct style.

"It's Song Li's birthday tomorrow, you'll come with me, right?"Said Jiang Suizhou.

Guan Xi: "It's the thought that counts, help me send a gift for him, I won't go."

"Come with me."Jiang Suizhou repeated.

Guan Xi looked back to glance at him,"Will there be a lot of people coming? Lots of girls?"

"Probably."

Guan Xi snorted,"Indeed, it's Song Li. That guy never lacks beautiful girls around him."

Jiang Suizhou: "That's why you should come with me, save me from trouble."

Guan Xi understood what Jiang Suizhou meant by trouble, those beautiful young lady love flesh of the monk Tang Seng** like him, he'll have to deal with all of that if she doesn't come. 

(**something highly attractive that every person wants a share of; something that is much coveted.)

"What good would that do for me?"Guan Xi asked out of habit.

Jiang Suizhou pulled her up from the carpet and sat her on his lap, "You've been building up for so long, what exactly is that you want?"

Guan Xi raised her eyebrows slightly and was a bit confused at the moment. But then it quickly dawned on her that she's been acting unusual lately. President Jiang must feel uneasy all over because he hasn't been cheated out of money.

What kind of weird masochism does Erguo have? She really have no intention to spend his money recently.

"Well.....actually, I'll still go even if I gain nothing from it. After all, you are my boyfriend."

Jiang Suizhou cast a look at her,"Guan Xi, please act normal."

Guan Xi: "…"

"Zhou Hao will deliver the latest model of this year's fashion show in your size to your place."

Guan Xi's eyes brightened up, "Chanel?"

"Yeah."

"Awesome!" Guan Xi felt her depressed mood was soothed today, she gave him a solid kiss on the cheek, "Baby you're so nice, love you love you."

Jiang Suizhou prefers Guan Xi who'll dance to the scent of 'luxury goods', he found the Guan Xi that cooks in the kitchen to be very frightening.

He cupped Guan Xi's i's face and went in to kiss her, "Don't cook again in the future."

".....why."

"Lives are at stake."