Chapter Sixty-One: Tell Your Boyfriend, I Want to Pursue You

Halfway through the dinner, Jiang Yunzhou suddenly received a call from Shen Tingxiao.

“Hello.” Jiang Yunzhou covered the receiver and found a relatively quiet corner. “Calling me at this hour—what’s the matter?”

Shen Tingxiao’s voice on the other end was cold and hard: “Did you forget something?”

“What?” Jiang Yunzhou’s mind went blank for a moment, then she remembered. “You’re transferring back today? I thought…”

“Yunzhou, little beauty!” Ian suddenly draped his arm over her shoulder from behind, the scent of alcohol heavy on him. “Tell your boyfriend I’m going to pursue you! I challenge him to a duel!”

Jiang Yunzhou felt her head ache. She turned to Ian, trying to push him away. “Ian, you’re drunk. Go sit over there!”

Someone came from behind to pull Ian away. “Come on, let’s keep drinking!”

Jiang Yunzhou was temporarily freed. She pressed the phone to her ear again. “Which hospital are you at? I’ll come see you.”

“Where are you?” Shen Tingxiao’s tone was low and pressing.

“I have a school gathering tonight,” Jiang Yunzhou replied, not noticing the change in his mood. “It’ll be over soon. Send me the address and I’ll come pick you up.”

“The location of the gathering.”

Jiang Yunzhou paused. “Are you going to have Ge Xingjing pick me up? No need, I can make it myself.”

“Stop wasting words. The location.” Shen Tingxiao’s voice was icy as he repeated himself.

Frowning slightly, Jiang Yunzhou sensed something was off, but didn’t think too much about it. She sent Shen Tingxiao the location.

She spoke quietly, “But it might get late by the time I finish here. I don’t know if the hospital still allows visitors…”

Tap tap tap.

The call was abruptly ended.

Half an hour later, the meal was nearly finished, and those who drank were a bit tipsy.

Milt suggested, “Let’s call it a night for now. Remember to report to school tomorrow.”

The group dispersed.

Jiang Yunzhou stepped out, standing by the restaurant entrance, and messaged Shen Tingxiao: Which hospital are you at? I’d like to visit you.

It was late—she wondered if fruit baskets were still available.

Across the street, a discreet Maybach was parked, but Jiang Yunzhou didn’t notice it.

Ge Xingjing glanced at Shen Tingxiao through the rearview mirror. His face was dark, every inch radiating the words “keep away.”

There was no need for a second look—Shen Tingxiao was clearly in a bad mood.

“Mr. Shen,” Ge Xingjing said carefully, “Miss Jiang is out.”

Shen Tingxiao’s face was shrouded in darkness, his expression unreadable.

…

Just as Jiang Yunzhou left the dinner, the classmate who had confessed to her latched onto her.

He was a bit drunk and insisted on escorting her home.

“Sorry, I can manage on my own,” Jiang Yunzhou politely refused.

They barely knew each other—she only remembered his name, Ian.

“Just making friends,” Ian pressed closer, reeking of alcohol. “We’re classmates. I have a driver—it’s convenient to take you.”

Jiang Yunzhou was annoyed, but since he hadn’t crossed any real line, she forced herself to be patient. “I really can take care of myself.”

Ian moved even closer. Jiang Yunzhou retreated until her back was pressed against a pillar.

“Let me take you home, little beauty.” He reached out to grab her wrist.

At that moment, a hand suddenly appeared and pushed Ian away.

Shen Tingxiao pulled her behind him. “Stand aside.”

“You… how are you here?” Jiang Yunzhou was slightly stunned.

He strode toward Ian, bent over, grabbed his collar, and lifted him up, fist clenched, ready to swing.

“Wait!” Jiang Yunzhou realized what he was about to do and hurried forward, grabbing his hand. “Shen Tingxiao, he’s my classmate and drunk. He didn’t mean it.”

With that, she dragged Shen Tingxiao away.

Ian seemed dissatisfied, cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted after her, “Yunzhou, I won’t give up! I’ll keep pursuing you!”

It was still busy on the street at this hour.

The crowd was lively, and many people looked over, some even jeering.

Jiang Yunzhou wished she could cover her ears and run.

“Where’s your car?” she asked, tugging at Shen Tingxiao.

In response, Shen Tingxiao gripped her wrist tightly and walked quickly, nearly dragging her as he pulled her into the car.

The door shut.

Shen Tingxiao placed his hands on either side of her head, trapping her between himself and the seatback. The car was unlit, making it impossible to see his expression.

Jiang Yunzhou could only sense that his tone was somehow wrong.

“Jiang Yunzhou,” Shen Tingxiao’s voice was heavy, “you seem quite popular.”

“You…” Jiang Yunzhou’s heart raced, thundering in her chest. “Are you jealous?”

Shen Tingxiao was silent for a moment, then raised his hand and pinched her chin, his voice deep and elusive. “Should I be jealous?”

“N-no, I don’t think so,” Jiang Yunzhou replied, uncertain. She swallowed and reminded him, “Shen Tingxiao, we’re only married by agreement.”

Damn agreement marriage!

Shen Tingxiao’s gaze darkened.

At that moment, Jiang Yunzhou felt he was somehow uncontrollable and found herself worried. “Shen Tingxiao, I’m starting school tomorrow. My major is directing.”

“And then?”

“If you can’t accept my normal social life, I think… this marriage…”

Shen Tingxiao ground his teeth. He pressed her lips fiercely before withdrawing his hand and releasing her from the confinement. “Of course you have the right to socialize. But Ian doesn’t understand boundaries—he touched you several times when you clearly didn’t want him to. That’s not what a normal person does.”

Jiang Yunzhou knew that, but Ian was her classmate, and she wasn’t a shareholder in the school.

Even if she were, she couldn’t expel someone who hadn’t actually done anything wrong.

“I’ll make it clear to him,” she said, troubled. “But once we’re married, he should give up.”

Shen Tingxiao’s face was still gloomy. “What if he doesn’t?”

“Huh?” Jiang Yunzhou hadn’t even considered that possibility.

In her mind, any reasonable person would keep their distance once they knew their crush was married.

“I’ll arrange for someone to accompany you to school,” Shen Tingxiao said immediately.

“Bodyguards?” Jiang Yunzhou protested. “Isn’t that a bit much? If I show up with bodyguards, won’t it be obvious?”

Shen Tingxiao gazed at her deeply, no longer mentioning the previous topic. “I’ll take you home.”