Chapter 17: Learning from One's Mistakes

The next morning, Shen Mengxia was still lost in a pleasant dream when she was abruptly awakened by a commotion. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she opened the door to find the driver, Xiao Hu, holding breakfast and standing at the entrance, engaged in a lively argument with Jiang Zeyu.

“What are you two arguing about?” Shen Mengxia asked, still half-drowsy.

“Miss Shen, Mr. Fu instructed me to take good care of you. I just bought breakfast and brought it over, but Officer Jiang wasn’t happy about it, saying it can’t happen again.”

“If you don’t want to act like a spoiled child, you have to learn to take care of yourself and be independent, understand?” Jiang Zeyu said firmly before heading out to work.

Though Jiang Zeyu appeared somewhat cold on the surface, he was actually teaching her to grow in his own unique way. Perhaps his approach wasn’t gentle or nurturing, but through repeated trials and challenges, it allowed her to accumulate experience and gradually become stronger and more mature.

“Xiao Hu, you don’t need to bring me breakfast anymore. I can take care of myself. I’ll reach out if I need anything,” Shen Mengxia said resolutely. Seeing her determination, Xiao Hu said nothing more and left.

After Xiao Hu departed, Shen Mengxia looked at the breakfast on the table and silently vowed to change herself. From then on, she woke early each day, tidied her room, cooked her own meals, and no longer relied on others.

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Although Jiang Zeyu spoke with resolve, he couldn’t help but keep a discreet eye on Shen Mengxia. He noticed she was growing more confident and independent, which brought a faint smile of satisfaction to his heart.

One evening, after work, Jiang Zeyu returned home to find a table set with dishes.

“Why haven’t you eaten yet? It’s so late,” he said. Lately, besides being genuinely busy at work, he had intentionally come home late, afraid of becoming her test subject for taste.

“I waited specifically for you so we could eat together. Come try my cooking,” Shen Mengxia said happily.

Seeing her so pleased, Jiang Zeyu awkwardly sat down but hesitated to start eating.

“I know I’ve troubled you these past few days. As a token of thanks, I made this spread for you—please try it.” She even picked up a dish and offered it to him.

Stir-fried beef, sweet and sour ribs, braised fish, scrambled eggs with tomatoes—the flavors were quite good, and the presentation was appealing.

“Did you make all this yourself?” Jiang Zeyu asked, impressed. To achieve this level in just a few days, the Fu family’s eldest daughter must have worked hard.

“Officer Jiang, I have a favor to ask,” the young girl said plainly, lacking experience in asking for help.

That meal deepened their bond, and they enjoyed a warm, easy conversation.

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To better conceal the news of finding Shen Mengxia, Fu Yancheng only contacted Jiang Zeyu through his subordinate’s phone at fixed times after returning.

Shen Mengxia had been in Binhai for half a month. Having finally mustered the courage to ask Jiang Zeyu for help, she also inquired about the situation with the Fu family.

What she heard nearly made her furious. Jiang Zeyu relayed everything he had learned in detail.

“Miss Shen is very important to the Fu brothers. It seems I underestimated you when I called you a spoiled child,” Jiang Zeyu said with a teasing tone.

What had happened? The engagement banquet had been canceled by Fu Yancheng, which angered the Qiao family. They demanded an explanation from the Fu family. Fu Yancheng initially intended to negotiate a new date for the banquet, but Ye Huaiting refused outright.

Ye Huaiting insisted that since his younger sister was missing and her fate unknown, he would not marry or get engaged until she was found. With such a family crisis, he and Qiao Wanwan were still young and in no rush.

A scoundrel—he didn’t want the engagement himself but shifted all the blame onto her, making himself sound noble.

Rumor had it that Ye Huaiting vowed never to marry for the sake of Shen Mengxia.