Xia Guifang's mother moved into the villa to specifically take care of her daughter, and Wang Xiaoqiang also decided to stay at home for a half month to accompany Xia Guifang.

That day, having eaten at home, Wang Xiaoqiang was returning to the villa when, on the road, he unexpectedly saw Jiang Xiaoxin. Having not seen her for six months, Jiang Xiaoxin seemed like a different person, her face etched with sorrow and melancholy. She looked much more mature, no, it would be better to say she had aged a few years, which was a stark contrast to her former appearance.

"Little Xin," Wang Xiaoqiang's heart tightened when he spotted Jiang Xiaoxin. He called out to Jiang Xiaoxin and then walked toward her. It seemed as if Jiang Xiaoxin was intentionally avoiding Wang Xiaoqiang. As he approached, she turned away,

Wang Xiaoqiang grew even more skeptical and circled around to face Little Xin. At that moment, he saw that Jiang Xiaoxin was crying.

"Little Xin, what happened to you?"

Jiang Xiaoxin silently wept without responding. Wang Xiaoqiang, noticing they were alone, then pulled Jiang Xiaoxin to the banks of the Shibalih River outside the village.

Jiang Xiaoxin looked around, and seeing that it was already dusk and the riverbank was deserted, she suddenly hugged Wang Xiaoqiang and started crying loudly.

"Little Xin, what happened?" Wang Xiaoqiang gently comforted her, stroking her shoulders.

"Brother Qiang, I've let down your expectations, I dropped out of school…sob…" Jiang Xiaoxin said guiltily.

"Dropped out? …Why did you drop out?" Wang Xiaoqiang pushed Jiang Xiaoxin away and asked in astonishment.

"My dad had an accident at the construction site and broke his leg. The surgery needs a lot of money, and I don't want to be a burden on my family anymore…" Jiang Xiaoxin explained.

"A family emergency… why didn't you tell me about it,"

"Brother Qiang, you manage such a big company and are so busy, how could I dare to distract you…"

"Sigh…" Wang Xiaoqiang sighed and decisively said, "Little Xin, say no more, how much is needed for your dad's hospitalization? And your tuition, I'll cover it all. That includes your future educational expenses, I'm taking care of all of it."

"Little Qiang, my dad refuses to let me use someone else's money," Jiang Xiaoxin bit her red lips, "I also don't want to use your money…"

"Cut it out, you and your father are both stubborn. What's wrong with using my money? Once you graduate from university and start earning, you can pay me back then. I won't charge you interest; surely that's okay…"

"Little Qiang, I really don't plan to continue studying," Jiang Xiaoxin sadly shook her head, "What's the use of just any university degree nowadays unless it's from a prestigious university with excellent grades? Otherwise, even finding a job is tough…"

"…" Wang Xiaoqiang was at a loss for words. Indeed, what Jiang Xiaoxin had pointed out was a reality. With many university graduates flooding the market, finding any job was easy, but securing a good one was indeed challenging.

"Little Qiang, let me work for you. Your business has grown so big, and now you are even expanding overseas. Running back and forth, wouldn't you be more relaxed with someone to share the burden…?" Jiang Xiaoxin stared intently at Wang Xiaoqiang, hopeful.

Wang Xiaoqiang, indeed, needed manpower, especially someone educated like Jiang Xiaoxin. Hearing her proposal stirred him… "Are you truly giving up on your studies, even Grandpa Deyun agrees?"

"He didn't agree initially, but just today, I convinced him, and he acquiesced," Jiang Xiaoxin replied.

"Well then," Wang Xiaoqiang said… "If that's the case, you'll work with me. Inform your family, prepare, and follow me to the United States in half a month…" Wang Xiaoqiang declared decisively.

"Really, Little Qiang..." Jiang Xiaoxin couldn't believe it as Wang Xiaoqiang agreed, and that he would even take her overseas to work, feeling as if she was dreaming, "Am I dreaming…"

"Of course not. I just worry you might not adjust well to the foreign environment…" Wang Xiaoqiang said.

"I'm not afraid. I will overcome all difficulties," Jiang Xiaoxin lifted her fist, filled with aspiration.

"Alright, then it's settled. I'll start arranging your passport tomorrow," Wang Xiaoqiang declared… "Also, how much does your father need for his hospitalization?"

"The cost of my dad's hospitalization is being covered by the construction site foreman. Little Qiang, you don't need to worry about that…" Jiang Xiaoxin said.

"How about this, I'll give you a hundred thousand yuan as your future salary. Leave it to your family. After all, coming back to the country might not be so convenient for you in the future,"

Jiang Xiaoxin, used to being independent and with big dreams, didn't mind the inconvenience of not being able to return to the country and nodded in agreement.

Following Wang Xiaoqiang's instructions, Jiang Xiaoxin then began intensive English oral training.

Wang Xiaoqiang had to handle Jiang Xiaoxin's passport application and stayed at the Riverside Villa in the Provincial Capital for two days. At the villa, Xu Qingxue took care of Wang Xiaoqiang's meals and daily needs. For Wang Xiaoqiang, Xu Qingxue gradually learned how to cook. The beautiful director slowly became a "housewife," which was fortunate because their relationship was not very transparent. Otherwise, those men who saw Xu Qingxue as an idol and a dream lover would be utterly dejected.

Wang Xiaoqiang met with the company's saleswomen, Xia Mi and Zhang Tianyu, and gave them some instructions. The two girls, as usual, behaved irreverently in front of their boss, insisting on having a meal with him, and it was at a wooden cabin barbecue. The subordinates kept encouraging their boss to drink, and as a result, Wang Xiaoqiang ended up drinking a large amount of beer. Though the Five Elements Spirit Spring could alleviate the effects of alcohol, drinking bottle after bottle wasn't pleasant. Out of necessity, Wang Xiaoqiang pretended to be drunk, sprawling on the table. The two girls, feeling victorious, raised their fists triumphantly and then gave each other a high-five before, each on one side, they helped Wang Xiaoqiang up and took him all the way to Xia Mi's apartment.

Along the way, Wang Xiaoqiang intentionally swung his arms to brush against the two girls' chests, causing their hearts to thump wildly. However, seeing Wang Xiaoqiang in a drunken state, they didn't take it to heart.

Wang Xiaoqiang slept on the couch in Xia Mi's apartment for a while before waking up to look for Qiao Zhi.

Qiao Zhi's contributions were significant; after becoming the company's legal consultant, she managed to patent the company's vegetables, eggs, fish, and meat products and spare no effort in promoting the brand.

Wang Xiaoqiang planned to treat Qiao Zhi to a meal at the Junle Hotel. He dared not visit the Garden Hotel and Qingcheng Hotel anymore, fearing running into Wang Dakui and Xu Kunyou. They had settled their accounts in advance, always eating at his expense, and Wang Xiaoqiang felt bad about it, considering they were just workers earning at most two to three thousand a month, while he, Wang Xiaoqiang, made more in a day than they did in a year. How could he, as a boss, continue freeloading off workers?!

However, there aren't many grand hotels in the Provincial Capital besides those two, except for Junle Grand Hotel. There are a few others, but they are located on the outer third ring, which is quite far. Wang Xiaoqiang didn't want to go that far, so he decided to dine at the Junle Hotel.

Qiao Zhi had a car but for some reason didn't want to drive, making Wang Xiaoqiang drive her instead, and she insisted on sitting in the passenger's seat. When they arrived at the Junle Hotel, Wang Xiaoqiang parked the car, being careful to keep a low profile for fear of encountering Zheng Hua.

But Qiao Zhi was not as low-key. When they reached the entrance of the Junle Grand Hotel's lobby, Qiao Zhi deliberately, yet subtly, linked her arm with Wang Xiaoqiang's.

In fact, in today's open society, holding arms is really not a big deal. Far from it, in the hotel lobby alone, pairs and couples linked arms, and no one could claim they were all spouses or lovers!

However, Wang Xiaoqiang understood Qiao Zhi's temperament. He remembered their first encounter when Qiao Zhi was too lazy to speak a single word to him. Of course, she didn't dislike him at the time, and with any other man, she might not have given him a second glance. But after several interactions and meetings, Qiao Zhi had now started to willingly hook her arm through his, which gave him a strong sense of pride.

Actually, people like Qiao Zhi are quite simple or might even be described as foolish. She usually keeps people at a distance, is not easily approachable, and doesn't easily develop feelings for a man. But once she takes an interest in a man and develops feelings, she becomes intensely devoted and focused, and her emotions burst forth very powerfully. She might even go to great lengths for the love in her heart, sparing no expense.

Clasped by her soft arm and smelling the faint, gardenia-like scent emanating from her, Wang Xiaoqiang felt his heart floating and couldn't help but turn to glance at her. He saw a faint smile on her stunning face, a sweet, joyful, happy smile.

Although Wang Xiaoqiang wanted to keep a low profile, fearing an encounter with Zheng Hua, what he feared eventually happened. As soon as they entered the lobby, he saw Zheng Hua leaning on the counter and chatting with a guest service agent behind it. Since they were there to eat, naturally, they had to reserve a seat first, forcing Wang Xiaoqiang to pluck up his courage and approach the counter,

Thus, inevitably exposing himself to Zheng Hua's view.

"Ah? Isn't this Boss Wang... Zheng Hua exclaimed excitedly as if seeing a family member, "Boss Wang, you really are a rare visitor..."

As Zheng Hua looked his way, Wang Xiaoqiang felt unnaturally and tried to pull his hand from Qiao Zhi's arm. Qiao Zhi immediately released him, her pretty face turning red.

But Zheng Hua had already seen Wang Xiaoqiang and Qiao Zhi arm in arm, so he immediately assumed Qiao Zhi was Wang Xiaoqiang's girlfriend and very politely half-joked, "Ah, this lady, wouldn't happen to be your girlfriend, would she?"

Zheng Hua pointed at Qiao Zhi and laughed.

Qiao Zhi's face, clear as water and charming as a flower, blushed with a shy crimson, like a snow lotus blooming in the morning sun. Peerlessly beautiful!

Stunningly breathtaking!

Qiao Zhi's beauty, like a magnet, quickly captured the attention of the hotel lobby staff and guests, drawing all eyes to her. This breathtakingly pretty woman, whose demeanor was akin to that of a fairy, earned envious gazes from women and jealous, resentful looks from men. Although Qiao Zhi was not a frequent sight, she was, after all, a celebrity in River City. The name "Little Qiao" had even spread beyond the provincial capital, reaching neighboring counties and even aristocrats from Capital City, who would travel thousands of miles hoping for a chance to see her. Thus, at that moment, someone recognized Qiao Zhi.

"Ah? Isn't this the Qiao Family's second Miss? Ah, Little Qiao, I've finally met you..." a man's voice rang out, tinged with excitement and ecstasy.

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