Chapter 8: Strike While the Enemy is Vulnerable

If it weren't for her mother always monitoring her social circle, Liang Zhouyue would never post such things.

But once she did post something, the ensuing interrogations were relentless, almost demanding she set a date for marriage and childbirth right then and there.

She was truly exhausted—not only did she have to put effort into nurturing a romantic relationship, but she also had to consider her family's feelings. Despite being the most important person, she lived like a tie that bound them all together.

Liang Zhouyue replied briefly and ended the conversation with her mother. Since it wasn't yet time to discuss marriage, there was no need to put more thought into it.

...

On Monday, Liang Zhouyue still had an English class for the finance department. She went to the cafeteria early to avoid being disturbed by Jiang Li.

However, she didn't expect that just after she and Fang Zirui had found a place to sit down, a tall and thin figure passed by, emanating a faint cold fragrance, giving the impression of a 'salty' young man, cool and tranquil.

Liang Zhouyue looked up, her eyes showing caution. For some reason, she couldn't muster the authority of a teacher in his presence and had fallen to a point where he could manipulate her mood.

She had thought that Jiang Li was just passing by, but to her surprise, he deliberately sat down next to Liang Zhouyue and her companions.

Fang Zirui had not taught the finance department and had heard of Jiang Li, but she hadn't had private contact with him. Now that she saw him, she had no reason to initiate conversation.

Jiang Li didn't know Fang Zirui but he knew Liang Zhouyue and greeted her very naturally, "Mr. Liang, you really came for breakfast?"

In the presence of Fang Zirui, even if Liang Zhouyue wanted to avoid any impropriety, she didn't show it on her face and responded indifferently, "I eat breakfast every day, I just had something to do that day, so it was postponed."

She knew he was being sarcastic about her lying to him the previous Monday.

Jiang Li raised his eyebrows meaningfully, "Well, since I've run into two teachers, let me treat you today as a welcome for Mr. Liang's teaching in my class."

Liang Zhouyue certainly wouldn't accept a student's offer to treat her, it had nothing to do with personal issues but was about her professional ethics.

"It's better if you don't. Just buy your own." She declined politely.

Yet Jiang Li was quite stubborn, bringing up past events and using the box of cigarettes from Friday night to argue, "A pack of cigarettes is one hundred, treating you to a cafeteria meal is cheap, consider it repaying you."

Had he not mentioned the cigarettes, it would have been fine, but as soon as he did, Liang Zhouyue immediately thought of Friday night's event and pressed, "I sent you taxi fare, why didn't you accept it?"

At the time she hadn't noticed, only to find the next day that the money had automatically returned to her account, the system showing he hadn't accepted it.

Jiang Li casually acknowledged it with a languorous, lazy tone, "I didn't do it for the taxi fare, don't you understand?"

It was obvious that what he wanted was her WeChat.

The conversation had clearly escalated to a point beyond Liang Zhouyue's control. To prevent Jiang Li from continuing with more ambiguous comments, Liang Zhouyue stood up, looked towards Fang Zirui whose expression was already puzzled, cleared her throat, and said, "He says he's treating us; let's go pick something together."

She didn't want to chat with Jiang Li when a third party was present—it was too dangerous. At the same time, she was worried Fang Zirui might start asking Jiang Li questions that could embarrass her.

Liang Zhouyue's long dress brushed against Jiang Li's legs as she stood. He looked down and a faint aroma of traditional medicine wafted to his nose.

Was she taking medicine?

Learning this new piece of information, Jiang Li heaved a deep breath, stood up, and followed the steps of the two women toward the breakfast counter.

He had arrived a bit early, and although the cafeteria had laid out a dazzling array of breakfasts, not many students who got up early for class had arrived yet; there were just a few scattered about, giving Jiang Li no need for concern.

Fang Zirui was the first to notice Jiang Li coming over. She nudged her with a raised arm and whispered a reminder, "Jiang Li is coming."

Although she didn't know what had happened between Liang Zhouyue and Jiang Li, she sensed Liang Zhouyue's coldness towards him from their conversation—a bit abnormal. This was the first time she had seen Liang Zhouyue give someone the cold shoulder, especially a student she had just started teaching.

Strange.

Taking a cue from Fang Zirui, Liang Zhouyue just hummed lightly, "Hurry up and buy the food. We still need to go to the classroom for class."

She had her first class today, and so did Fang Zirui, but it was a large public lecture. She quickened her pace to buy hot porridge, and Jiang Li seized the opportunity to come to Liang Zhouyue's side with movements that were both evasive and caring, maintaining a respectful distance without overly close contact, and treated her with a smile, like a cat contented in the afternoon: "Eat more breakfast so that you don't run out of energy to lecture later."

Regardless of the intention, he was clearly showing concern. However, Liang Zhouyue suddenly reacted as if she was out of sorts, her voice clear and beautiful in objection, "As long as you don't cause trouble, I'll have the energy."

Hearing this, the six-foot-two Jiang Li slightly bowed his head with a low, chuckling voice that buzzed in her ears, "I'm young and don't know better. Are you 'driving'?"

What did he mean, if he didn't cause trouble, she would have energy.

"..."

Liang Zhouyue's charming little face instantly flushed red, and she raised her hand to rub her nose, her eyes darting away, "I'm not 'driving.'"

Her soft and tender beauty spoke with a lack of confidence as if she were cooing, her tone so gentle it stirred feelings of pity and indulgence.

Jiang Li's gaze deepened, and the corners of his lips slowly curved upward, "I know."

"..."

Liang Zhouyue awkwardly nodded, desperately wanting to explain but not knowing where to start. In the end, she ultimately did not bring up the embarrassing matter again.

"Are you sick?"

Jiang Li's sudden concern made Liang Zhouyue, still blushing, look up instantly, shame and confusion swirling in her eyes.

"No... I'm not."

She didn't understand why Jiang Li would ask such a question, catching her completely off guard and unprepared.

Getting an answer opposite to his assumption, Jiang Li subconsciously leaned in closer to sense the smell of traditional Chinese medicine he had just detected.

His approach made Liang Zhouyue realize the point of his words, and as she hastily retreated, she explained in a low voice, "I'm taking Chinese medicine to regulate my body, but it's not an illness, it's just... to get certain functions back to normal..."

She couldn't bring herself to say it was to regulate her menstrual cycle. Their relationship was too distant, and it just didn't seem right.

Jiang Li gave an "Oh" in response, his tone flat.

He straightened his back and retrieved a meal tray for her but did not hand it over. Instead, he held it steadily with one hand.

Jiang Li gestured to her with his chin, his voice brisk, "Pick whatever you want to eat. Try to eat your way back to the money spent on that box of cigarettes."

"..."

The thought of eating a hundred yuan worth of breakfast in the cafeteria was unimaginable for Liang Zhouyue. She feared that if she didn't burst, she would still be half-dead.

She reached out and picked up a thin egg pancake, placing it on the meal tray he was holding. Then she also took a warm cup of red date soy milk, concluding her breakfast selection.

Watching Liang Zhouyue's meager appetite, Jiang Li licked his lips helplessly, barely stopping himself from sighing, "Is this all you're eating?"

It was surprising how little the five-foot-seven woman ate.

Liang Zhouyue hummed in acknowledgment, "I prefer to eat small, frequent meals. It's a habit."

"..."

Jiang Li was skeptical, but said nothing more. He turned towards the checkout counter, but suddenly, Liang Zhouyue who was by his side grabbed his arm and asked, "Aren't you going to have breakfast?"

Lowering his eyes to the fair-skinned hand on his forearm, Jiang Li's eyes crinkled with a trace of amusement, his tone taking its time, "I don't have the habit of eating breakfast."

Liang Zhouyue was astonished, "Then why did you come to the cafeteria so early in the morning?"

The youthfulness-filled man slightly raised his brows, a smile spreading across the depths of his eyes, saying nothing, yet it was as if he had said everything.

Unfortunately, Liang Zhouyue only understood a little bit of that.