Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 328 New Home, Can't Family Members Be Bringed?

In mid-April, the chill of spring had faded in Beijing, and the sunshine was just the right warmth.

In the spacious apartment of Oceanwide Residence, Jiang Qing lived a leisurely yet efficient life.

The company's affairs are running smoothly and efficiently. He handles remote meetings, email approvals, and key decisions with ease, without having to be tied to Luyang every day.

He originally planned to return to Luyang, but he's staying here for the time being.

The spacious room was well-organized and full of life. On the small table next to the dark gray reading chair, the science magazine was still on the page discussing the latest developments in quantum computing.

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

On the morning of the 16th, Jiang Qing arrived at Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport.

The arrival hall was bustling with people. He stood in a prominent position, his eyes precisely scanning the surging crowd.

Just after eight o'clock, a familiar slender figure came into view.

He wore a black baseball cap pulled low, large sunglasses covering most of his face, and a matching mask covering his entire face. He was wrapped in a slightly loose light brown trench coat and pushing a small carry-on suitcase.

But Jiang Qing recognized her immediately by her gait and the angle at which she tilted her head slightly when peeking through the gap in her sunglasses.

The girl had obviously spotted him too. From a distance of more than ten meters, she raised her arm high and waved it vigorously, instantly quickening her pace until she was practically jogging while dragging her suitcase.

The hem of her trench coat billowed as she ran, like a bird returning to its nest, rushing into his open embrace with the wind.

"Hello, hello, Jiang Qing!"

Zhou Ye tilted his head back, his sunglasses slipped down his nose, revealing a pair of bright, sparkling eyes filled with a joyful smile that even a long flight couldn't erase, reflecting his image.

Jiang Qing caught her steadily, wrapped one arm around her waist, and used the other to remove her sunglasses and mask, revealing her delicate face, which was flushed.

He gently ruffled her soft hair, his voice tinged with laughter.

"Have a safe trip? Are you hungry?"

"Got it! But the airplane food was awful, I was starving!"

Zhou Ye wrinkled his nose, snuggled against him, and looked up at him with a look of dependence and contentment.

"I missed you, so I flew over as soon as filming wrapped up!"

"Well, let's go."

Jiang Qing took her carry-on suitcase, and with his other hand took her hand, their fingers intertwined.

"I'll take you to get something to eat."

"Uh-huh!"

The girl's eyes narrowed into slits as she laughed.

In the underground parking lot, Zhou Zhengkai and Chen Duo waited by the car.

Upon seeing the two, he immediately greeted them with a smile.

"Mr. Jiang, Ms. Zhou."

"Brother Zhou, Assistant Chen!"

Zhou Ye responded in a very good mood.

The car drove smoothly out of the airport.

The rear partition slowly rises, creating a private little space.

Zhou Ye immediately nestled into Jiang Qing's arms as if he had no bones, wrapped his arms around his waist, rested his head on his shoulder, and sighed contentedly.

"It's so much more comfortable this way. Working from dawn till dusk on set, I barely get any sleep, and now I have dark circles under my eyes!"

Jiang Qing looked down at her, his fingertips gently brushing across the faint bluish-green color under her eyes.

"Are you exhausted? Take a good rest for the next few days after filming wraps up."

"Ok!"

Zhou Ye nodded vigorously and found a more comfortable position in the crook of his neck.

"But seeing you makes me feel less tired."

She chattered on about the fun things that happened in the last few days of filming, how the director praised her for being in good shape, how amazing the veteran actors she was acting opposite were, and how terrible the boxed lunches on set were... Her voice was as light and cheerful as leaping musical notes.

The car navigated through Beijing's congested morning rush hour.

Zhou Ye rambled on for a while, then, looking at the street scene flashing past the window, he suddenly remembered something and asked curiously.

"Hey Jiang Qing, which hotel are we staying at this time?"

Jiang Qing looked down at her, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"You'll find out soon."

Zhou Ye blinked in confusion, but didn't delve into it, and continued to lean against him, chatting idly.

The car continued until it entered a quiet residential area and parked in its designated underground parking space.

Zhou Ye followed Jiang Qing out of the car, into the elevator, and watched as Jiang Qing pressed the button for the top floor.

"Huh? A serviced apartment?"

She looked at the elevator and made guesses.

Jiang Qing didn't say anything, but simply led her out of the elevator and stopped in front of a heavy entrance door.

He pressed his finger on the fingerprint lock, and with a soft "beep," the door opened.

Zhou Ye was gently pushed through the door by Jiang Qing.

The entryway is spacious and bright, and the interior decoration is a simple and elegant modern style with clean lines and a calm color scheme.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows is a vast city skyline.

"Wow……"

Zhou Ye opened his eyes wide in surprise and turned to look at Jiang Qing.

"This...is this?"

Jiang Qing pushed her suitcase in, closed the door, leaned against the door frame, and raised an eyebrow at her with a smile.

"New house. It was just finished not long ago, and you've arrived just in time."

"You bought it?!"

Zhou Ye's voice suddenly rose, filled with immense joy, like a small firecracker that had been lit. He immediately let go of his hand and jumped inside.

She walked barefoot on the smooth, cool floor, curiously darting from one room to another.

The walk-in closet in the master bedroom was spacious enough, and she nodded in satisfaction.

Several guest rooms were still empty, and she tilted her head, thinking that she could put a beanbag chair and a projector in them.

The bookshelves in the study were already filled with many books. She picked one out to look at it, then put it down as if it were a mystery.

What attracted her most was the huge viewing balcony. She ran over, her face almost pressed against the glass, overlooking the bustling scenery of Beijing, and excitedly turned back to shout.

"Jiang Qing! The view from here is amazing! The night view must be incredible!"

"Hmm, it's not bad."

Jiang Qing followed slowly behind her, watching her flit about like a happy little bird in its new nest, a tolerant smile always on his face.

"here!"

Zhou Ye pointed to an empty space next to the sofa in the living room.

"You could put in a huge plush rug! It would be so comfortable to walk on barefoot! The color should be warm, like off-white or light gray?"

She was making plans on her own, her brows slightly furrowed.

"And that corner, we can put a record player there! And a few big green plants! Oh, over on the balcony, we should put two comfortable lounge chairs for sunbathing..."

She gestured excitedly, her eyes sparkling, full of all sorts of whimsical ideas for decorating her new home.

Jiang Qing sat on the large, dark gray sofa in the living room, her arms draped over the backrest. Her gaze followed the busy and cheerful figure, and she felt that the quiet space she had been alone with for days was instantly filled with her vitality, making her feel warm and cozy.

"It's all up to you."

He replied with a smile, his voice full of affection.

"Do whatever you want, it's up to you."

"Uh-huh!"

The girl's smile was so wide that her eyes disappeared.

At noon, Jiang Qing kept her promise to "fill her stomach" and cooked the meal herself.

In the open kitchen, he worked nimbly, preparing each dish with ease.

Zhou Ye wasn't idle either; he would sometimes go over to watch him chop vegetables, sometimes help hand him a plate, and chatter away while ordering food.

"I want sweet and sour pork ribs! And shrimp and scrambled eggs! With lots of scallions!"

The meal was served: a simple four dishes and a soup, all delicious and visually appealing.

The two sat in the bright restaurant, sunlight streaming through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows onto the dining table.

Zhou Ye ate with his eyes narrowed, praising the food generously.

"Delicious! Jiang Qing, your cooking skills have improved again! Even better than a five-star hotel chef!"

Jiang Qing served her food, and seeing her eat with satisfaction, her eyes were filled with smiles.

In the afternoon, Jiang Qing took her for a walk around the neighborhood to familiarize her with the environment.

Supermarkets, convenience stores, cafes, tree-lined community parks... Zhou Ye linked arms with him the whole way, full of enthusiasm and a desire to explore the new environment.

As evening fell, the two arrived at a private room in a restaurant, which offered a great deal of privacy.

Pushing open the door, I found the room already bustling with activity.

"Oh! You two have arrived!"

Guo Qilin's signature hearty laughter rang out.

"Ye Zi! President Jiang!"

Spicy Sheep waved enthusiastically.

However, she has now changed her name to Li Jiaqi.

"Please sit down! We've been waiting for you!"

Li Xueqin pulled out the chair next to her.

Wang Sulong smiled and raised the teacup in his hand.

"Congratulations on wrapping up filming, Ye Zi! Dr. Jiang, it's nice to see you again."

They were all old acquaintances from Peach Blossom Village, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.

Zhou Ye sat down next to Jiang Qing and greeted everyone happily. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and chatter as they talked about their recent lives and reminisced about embarrassing incidents in the dock.

The conversation inevitably turned to the upcoming second season of Peach Blossom Village.

"Yezi, Dr. Jiang, are you really not coming?"

Guo Qilin, gnawing on a piece of pork rib, asked indistinctly,

"Everyone misses you guys! The audience is really clamoring for you! Without the two of you, the studio just doesn't feel the same."

"that is!"

Li Jiaqi immediately agreed.

"If you don't come, Yezi, who will argue with Sister Meng? If President Jiang doesn't come, who will teach us all those high-level concepts?"

Li Xueqin also smiled and looked at Zhou Ye.

"Really not coming? What a great opportunity to relax."

Zhou Ye was picking up a piece of fish when he heard this. He put down his chopsticks, glanced at Jiang Qing naturally, and then turned to everyone with a frank and slightly sweet smile on his face and a clear voice.

"If he doesn't go, it'll be so boring for me to go alone! Besides..."

She paused, her tone softening slightly.

"I also want to spend more time with him."

After saying that, she gently nudged Jiang Qing next to her with her shoulder, not feeling embarrassed at all.

"Ouch!"

Li Jiaqi exaggeratedly covered her chest.

"This dog food is so sweet it's killing me!"

Guo Qilin also shook his head with a smile.

"Okay, okay, I understand, it's the honeymoon phase!"

Wang Sulong joked with a smile.

"Dr. Jiang is so charming that she has our Yezi completely under her control."

Jiang Qing was teased by everyone, but she just picked up her water glass, took a sip, and explained with a smile, her expression unchanged.

"The company has been quite busy this year, with several key projects underway, so I haven't been able to spare the time."

He spoke calmly and gave very good reasons.

After all, he couldn't just say that Thirteen was already capable of self-iteration and evolution, and no longer needed to collect emotional data through its surroundings.

"That's a shame."

Li Xueqin expressed her understanding.

"However, if you two are free, you're welcome to come to the film set anytime! Just consider it a visit, and you can stay for a day or two, right? Everyone misses you."

"Yes, yes!"

Li Jiaqi's eyes lit up.

"Come on, come on! I promise you'll be treated to the best food and drinks!"

Guo Qilin and Wang Sulong also extended invitations.

Jiang Qing looked at everyone's warm smiles, then glanced at Zhou Ye's expectant eyes beside her, smiled, and didn't rule out anything.

"Okay, we'll see how things go. I'll definitely visit everyone when I have time."

"It's a deal!"

The group happily raised their glasses.

As the conversation progressed, the topic turned to the villagers who had already been confirmed to participate in the second season.

Li Jiaqi counted on her fingers.

"And Sister Meng! She's definitely coming too! But it seems like the new movie she's filming with Ye Zi, 'All or Nothing,' hasn't finished filming yet, so she might have to join the crew a few days later."

"Yes, Sister Meng is the female lead, and she has a lot of scenes. She probably won't be able to come until she finishes filming."

Li Xueqin added.

"Yezi is quick! It seems she misses our Dr. Jiang very much."

Wang Sulong joked.

Upon hearing the names "Meng Ziyi" and "All or Nothing," Zhou Ye's hand, which was picking up food with chopsticks, paused almost imperceptibly.

She subconsciously raised her eyelids and quickly glanced at Jiang Qing beside her.

Jiang Qing picked up her teacup, her expression unchanged, as if she had only heard about a friend's work arrangements.

He gently blew on the tea foam, took a sip, and naturally continued the conversation.

"Yes, she mentioned it, it will probably be a few days later."

His tone was so casual, as if he were talking about the weather.

Zhou Ye withdrew his gaze, lowered his head, and focused on stirring the soup in the bowl with a spoon. His long eyelashes drooped down, concealing the subtle emotions that flashed across his eyes.

She didn't participate in the topic anymore, but just listened quietly as the others continued to discuss the arrangements in the dock.

Dinner ended in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

After bidding farewell to their enthusiastic old friends, Jiang Qing and Zhou Ye returned to the Panhai Family.

After a long day, washing away their fatigue, the two changed into comfortable loungewear and nestled into the large, soft bed in the master bedroom.

The bedding smelled fresh, like it had been sun-dried.

Jiang Qing's arms encircled Zhou Ye's slender waist, his palms habitually stroking her smooth back gently, carrying a hint of suggestive ambiguity.

After such a long time apart, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

He lowered his head and kissed her long hair, his breath warm. His other hand began to wander restlessly under the hem of her silk nightgown, slowly moving upwards along her waistline.

Zhou Ye's body tensed slightly, and his cheeks flushed instantly.

She suddenly raised her hand and, through the fabric of her pajamas, grabbed his large, mischievous hand.

"Jiang Qing..."

Her voice was a little strained, with a hint of coquettish reproach.

"Not today..."

Jiang Qing paused, looked up, and gazed at her in the dim light streaming in from the window.

The girl's cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were moist. She looked emotional, yet there was a hint of determination in her expression.

He raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

"Why? There's no announcement for tomorrow."

Zhou Ye's heart raced under his gaze. His eyes flickered, and he avoided the probing look, muttering under his breath.

"I...I made plans with someone to go to Universal Studios tomorrow."

She paused, as if afraid he would misunderstand, and quickly added something else.

"It was arranged a long time ago, and they've already bought the tickets."

Jiang Qing was genuinely surprised this time.

He propped himself up, looking down at the girl in his arms. His slender fingers gently pinched her delicate chin, forcing her to look up at him, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Universal Studios? Who did you make the appointment with?

He asked softly, his tone relatively calm, but the meaning in his eyes was quite clear.

Why didn't you take me?

Zhou Ye felt a little guilty under his gaze; his cheeks flushed, his eyes darted around, and his voice became even softer.

"You might not know her, but she's a friend I met while filming together before. Her name is Hu Lianxin. We've been planning to go for a long time. We were originally going to go at the end of last year, but I was in Luyang with you, so she's in Beijing these days and hasn't joined the crew yet..."

Her voice trailed off as she spoke, her fingers unconsciously clutching the sheets beneath her, like a child caught doing something wrong, yet with a hint of self-righteousness that said, "I already made plans with them."

Jiang Qing looked at Zhou Ye's guilty yet trying-to-explain expression, his watery eyes filled with the unspoken message of "I was wrong, but I'll do it again next time," and couldn't help but smile.

He released his grip on her chin, then flicked her smooth forehead lightly with his finger.

"Tsk, Zhou Xiaoye."

His tone carried a hint of helplessness.

"You've made new friends, so you're abandoning your family?"

He deliberately put on a disappointed look.

But in her heart, she thought that a place like Universal Studios was indeed more suitable for her to have fun with girls her own age.

Ouch! That hurts!

Zhou Ye exaggeratedly covered his forehead and pouted, but his eyes secretly showed relief because of his reaction, knowing that he had passed this test.

She immediately seized the opportunity, clinging to him like a koala, rubbing against his neck and acting coquettishly.

"How could I leave you behind! Next time! Next time we'll go alone! I promise! Tomorrow... tomorrow you should stay home and handle your work, or go hang out with Dalinzi and the others? I'll come back early after I'm done! Okay, Dr. Jiang?"

She tilted her little face up, her eyes sparkling, full of ingratiation.

Seeing her like this, Jiang Qing couldn't bring herself to continue lying to her.

He sighed, lay back down, pulled her closer to his chest, rested his chin on the top of her soft hair, and gave a muffled "hmm," which was his tacit consent.

"I knew you were the best!"

Zhou Ye immediately beamed, found the most comfortable position in his arms, closed his eyes peacefully, and whispered some instructions.

"I'm going to sleep now, you should too... go to sleep early..."

The voice gradually faded, filled with drowsiness.

She got up early this morning to catch her flight, and after all that hassle, she's exhausted.

Jiang Qing looked down at the peaceful sleeping face of the girl in her arms, her little face slightly flushed and her breathing even.

He shook his head with a chuckle, tightening his grip on her arm.

Fine, let her go have fun.

But this empty new home will probably be unusually quiet tomorrow.

He reached out and turned off the bedside lamp, then held her in the darkness and closed his eyes as well.

(End of this chapter)