Chapter 468 - 223: On What Grounds, Zhou Yan?

Chapter 468: Chapter 223: On What Grounds, Zhou Yan?

"I want to see my new crayons!" Zhou Momo ran behind the counter, brought out the new box of crayons Xia Yao had given her, and placed it on a cleared-off table. She carefully opened it, unable to hold back a gasp of amazement. "Wow~~ So many crayons! Such beautiful colors!"

The little one was overjoyed. She couldn’t wait to grab her drawing book, flip to a new page, pick a crayon, and start drawing.

Zhou Yan thought for a moment, then also went over to the counter. He opened the square box he hadn’t gotten around to unpacking yet. Inside was a black, square wallet. The leather felt incredibly soft and comfortable to the touch. In the corner was a small, golden metal "Shanghai" tag. It looked understated yet exquisite.

"Oh, a Shanghai-brand wallet! I saw one last time at the department store, and it was so expensive!" Mrs. Zhao leaned in for a look and exclaimed in a low voice, "Xia Yao is too kind, giving us such a valuable gift again."

"I know," Zhou Yan agreed with a nod. The wallet was quite refined. He could just slip it into an inner pocket when he went out, which would be very convenient.

"We can’t just keep accepting her gifts. She already bought us so many things last time. You need to go to the department store and buy her something in return, so we don’t look like we’re just taking advantage." Mrs. Zhao looked at Zhou Yan with a serious expression. "Remember, when you’re buying a gift for a girl, get something exquisite and pretty."

’A gift?’ Zhou Yan paused, taken aback. He really didn’t have any experience buying gifts for girls.

But what his mom said made a lot of sense. The principle of exchanging gifts was all about reciprocity.

Xia Yao had brought gifts for his whole family, a very thoughtful gesture. He really should give her one in return.

’But what should I get her?’

Zhou Yan mulled it over for a while but couldn’t come up with any ideas. He decided to just go lie down on the chair by the door and rest for a bit.

"Brother~~ Look!" Zhou Yan was shaken awake by Zhou Momo. He opened his eyes and saw a drawing in front of him.

In the drawing, two young women were walking arm in arm along a riverbank, holding a little girl’s hand. It was clearly Xia Yao and Duan Yu Yan with Zhou Momo.

The drawing was remarkably lifelike; she had even drawn the watch on Duan Yu Yan’s wrist.

’A watch.’

Zhou Yan’s gaze fixed on the drawing. ’Xia Yao doesn’t seem to wear a watch.’

As for the return gift, he suddenly had an idea.

"Finished with work?" Just then, a clear, pleasant voice sounded from the side.

Zhou Yan turned his head. Xia Yao had arrived at some point without him noticing. He stood up and said, "Yeah, we’re closed for the lunch rush."

"Yaoyao, look." Zhou Momo presented the drawing as if it were a treasure.

Xia Yao studied it seriously and nodded. "A new drawing from Momo. Your use of color has improved, and the lines are great too. It looks like you’ll really like the new crayons."

"Mhm, there are so many colors! I love them so much," Zhou Momo said, nodding her head.

"If you like them, draw as much as you want. I’ll buy you more later," Xia Yao said with a smile.

Zhou Momo threw her arms around her. "Yaoyao, you’re such a good person."

"I can buy them for her next time. This is too much for you to spend," Zhou Yan spoke up, a little embarrassed.

"No, this is a little promise between me and Momo." Xia Yao smiled faintly, but her tone was firm.

Hearing this, Zhou Yan smiled too and changed the subject. "Did you get your onboarding paperwork done?"

"It’s all done. They even assigned me a dorm room." Xia Yao flashed a key she was holding in her hand. "I need to drop my bag off at the dorm first, then go buy some daily necessities."

Zhou Yan said, "Then let me go with you. If you have a lot to carry, a bicycle will be more convenient. Besides, you’re not familiar with Suji."

"Do you have time?"

"The shop is quiet in the afternoon." Zhou Yan went inside, took one of the wicker baskets off the back of his bicycle, and pushed it out the door.

"I..." Zhou Momo piped up, coming closer.

Before she could finish, Mrs. Zhao had already picked her up and carried her away. "You keep drawing."

"Oh." Zhou Momo obediently agreed, picking up her crayons and continuing to color.

Xia Yao sat on the back seat, pinching the corner of Zhou Yan’s shirt. A smile played on her lips as she said, "You’ve added so many new dishes to the menu. Every single one I ordered at lunch today was delicious, especially the fish-fragrant shredded pork and the braised vegetables. I even ate an extra bowl of rice."

"Is that so? The fish-fragrant shredded pork is definitely popular with the factory women. The braised dishes are a recipe I learned from my grandmother. She nurtured this pot of master brine for over ten years before she was finally willing to pass it down to me," Zhou Yan replied with a smile.

"Deng Hong and Yuyu didn’t come. I’m going to write them a letter tonight and tell them all about your delicious food. That big glutton Deng Hong will definitely regret not coming with me."

Xia Yao’s tone was cheerful and a little smug. The wind blew through her long hair, and her beautiful cheeks seemed to glow in the sunlight.

Zhou Yan was smiling too.

The street vendors, who had been gathered together shooting the breeze, stared at the scene, a little stunned.

"A talented man and a beautiful woman. The two of them look just like movie stars," one of the girls exclaimed.

"Zhou Yan is so lucky..." The others sighed with emotion. They were tired of saying how envious they were.

"What’s your internship position this time?"

"The marketing department at the Jiazhou Textile Factory. I’ll be involved in brand building and marketing. As for the specific tasks, I’ll have to wait until work starts tomorrow to see what my supervisor arranges..."

"So the textile factory is planning to really boost its public profile?"

"Last time Professor Su led a team for a site visit, he specifically mentioned branding for Jiading Brocade. The factory took it very seriously and specially formed a department to push the project forward. But because they lack experience in this area, progress has been slow."

"That’s great. Even though the textile factory’s business is booming right now, Jiading Brocade was once world-famous. If they can build up that brand, they’ll be able to differentiate themselves from other silk mills and turn it into a direct competitive advantage."

"Professor Su said something similar last time." Xia Yao’s eyes lit up. "No wonder Professor Su likes you so much. You really get it."

"I was just talking off the top of my head..."

The two of them chatted idly all the way. They hadn’t seen each other in over a month, yet they were like old friends who had known each other for a long time.

The letters that had traveled back and forth between Mountain City and Jiazhou had kept them updated on each other’s lives, so they didn’t feel like strangers.

When they talked about certain things, they shared a knowing smile.

Zhou Yan first took her to the supply cooperative, where they bought an enamel basin, a towel, soap, and other daily necessities.

As for larger items like a quilt and a thermos, Meng Anhe had already told her she could just get them directly from her aunt’s place.

"The internship is only for a month or two. It would be a waste to buy them separately," Xia Yao said with a smile.

"True," Zhou Yan nodded.

’Save where you should, spend where you must.’ Xia Yao’s attitude toward spending was quite similar to his.

Zhou Yan took her to the dormitory building for single female employees. He took her things out of the wicker basket, put them all into the enamel basin, and handed it to Xia Yao.

Xia Yao took the things, looked into his eyes, and smiled. "Zhou Yan, I’m so happy to see you again."

Zhou Yan looked at her. Her clear eyes were filled with a smiling tenderness, as gentle as water. A strand of hair, tousled by the wind, fell across her forehead. It couldn’t hide her beauty; instead, it added a touch of disheveled charm, making her seem even more alive than the painting by his bed.

"Me too."