Chapter 742: Chapter 40: The Cannon Fodder Best Friend of the Abused Heroine

Lu Zhixing indifferently withdrew his gaze.

"You don’t need to speak these empty words in front of me. If you have any other thoughts, I will make you pay the price."

Just as he finished speaking, Jiang Lai walked out with a set of pajamas.

Lu Zhixing turned his face, his eyes softened and gentle, always carrying a hint of a smile when he looked at Jiang Lai.

"Dinner is ready, tidy up and get ready to eat."

Jiang Lai handed the clothes to Zhao Zhaozhao.

"What do you say? Sit down and eat something together?"

Zhao Zhaozhao shook her head.

"I’m tired, I want to rest first."

"The second room on the left is empty."

"You eat, I can manage on my own."

After Zhao Zhaozhao returned to the room, she quietly closed the door, and was startled by the opulence of the bedroom the moment she turned on the light.

Clearly, it was decorated with the same extravagant style as the outside; whether visible or not, everything was meticulously and expensively arranged.

Even though it was just a guest room, the mattress was of a top brand costing hundreds of thousands, and the guest slippers beside the bed were the kind she used to envy when she passed by the store counter.

She couldn’t imagine how wealthy Jiang Lai was.

Then she looked at herself.

No matter what she wanted, she had to see Fu Lihan’s mood.

Although he was generous, his generosity was premised on satisfying his own material needs first.

But Lu Zhixing was obviously different; he cared more about Jiang Lai than about her.

In comparison, Zhao Zhaozhao only felt like a joke herself.

What she had to strain to reach, Jiang Lai received effortlessly sitting still.

Why couldn’t such a life be hers?

Why was it that Jiang Lai had such good fortune, not only born into a wealthy family but also cared for deeply by Cai Xian, who supported her education and bought her a house?

Zhao Zhaozhao couldn’t understand.

So she could only stand by the window and cry alone.

This time Fu Lihan tormented her terribly, and after she slapped him, she fled.

But he would come looking for her again.

When he finds her, should she go back with him?

Zhao Zhaozhao’s mind was in a tangle.

In the past, she would have rushed to Fu Lihan without hesitation.

But now, after seeing Jiang Lai’s life, thinking back to her own, it wasn’t a life fit for any human.

So when facing Fu Lihan, her instinctive reaction was to escape.

Where to run?

Jiang Lai’s place was the best choice.

She didn’t believe Jiang Lai would ignore her, seeing her drenched and without refuge.

Sure enough, Jiang Lai opened the door.

This house was truly wonderful, it gave her a sense of home.

If only this were actually her home.

With such a beautiful dream, Zhao Zhaozhao fell asleep. During this time, she felt like she was among the clouds, clearly awake but in a pleasant daze, straining to lift her eyelids, blinking, the overhead light made her pause.

Until she realized she was in Jiang Lai’s home.

Upon opening the door, she smelled the aroma of bread; in the kitchen, a middle-aged woman in a qipao was slicing bread.

Her hair was in a bun, her demeanor was gentle, her face showing age yet full of intellectual depth.

Luo Susa smiled at Zhao Zhaozhao.

"You must be Zhaozhao, I’ve heard Lai Lai mention you. Have you washed up? If so, come eat."

Zhao Zhaozhao stared blankly at Luo Susa’s kind and gentle smile, reminded of her mother, who was loud and liked to scold, with only a primary school education, lacking cultural refinement. As a child at parent meetings, Zhao Zhaozhao envied Jiang Lai’s mother the most.

Cai Xian was clearly an intellectual, having graduated from a renowned university, and whenever Jiang Lai excelled academically, Cai Xian would have the opportunity to speak on stage, confidently engaging with thousands below her at ease.

Jiang Lai already had such a good mother.

And now, she had an even better one.

"Auntie, let me help you, what if you cut yourself with that sharp knife? Let me do it, I often do this at home."

"Do you also enjoy baking bread?"

"Yes, when alone and bored, I cook or bake. Auntie, this bread smells so good, I’m truly envious of Jiang Lai having such a wonderful mother like you."

Luo Susa squinted and smiled, her amiable demeanor prompted Zhao Zhaozhao to step forward and take the plate.

"Auntie, let me handle this. You’ve been working hard since early morning, go take a rest."

"Thank you, Lai Lai has truly made a good friend."

Zhao Zhaozhao lowered her head and smiled shyly.

"From now on, whenever Auntie cooks, I can help. What does Auntie like to eat? Let me show my skills at lunch today."

"So capable, huh? We’ll discuss lunch later, let’s eat breakfast first."

As the bread was baked and sliced, Zhao Zhaozhao then went on to heat milk, fry eggs, and wash fruits, preparing breakfast for four by herself.

Lu Zhixing had arrived early, and Zhao Zhaozhao handed breakfast to him.

"Mr. Lu, do you have any dietary restrictions?"

"No, thank you."

"No need to thank me. You are Jiang Lai’s brother, and to me, Jiang Lai’s brother is like my own brother, so it’s my duty to do this."

Lu Zhixing responded calmly, lowering his gaze.

"Where is Jiang Lai?"

"She hasn’t woken up yet, it’s almost nine, should I call her?"

"No need, she usually sleeps until nine-thirty in the morning."

Zhao Zhaozhao sat down, looking at Lu Zhixing and Luo Susa across from her. Their plates were the new Hermès tableware, each costing tens of thousands, perfectly matched before them.

The inherent noble aura made Zhao Zhaozhao feel out of place with them.

Yet at this moment, it was very peaceful; everyone focused on their own tasks, and for a brief instant, Zhao Zhaozhao felt like she was part of this family.

Thinking this, she silently lifted her head to glance at Luo Susa.

The woman before her was someone she knew.

When she first joined the company, during the corporate culture training in the sales department, they introduced the company’s vice president, and the large screen displayed a photo of Luo Susa.

At that time, everyone was amazed that such a beautiful and youthful woman was the company’s vice president.

Recalling her sharp and elite persona in the photo, and looking now at her gentle, motherly figure, it was worlds apart.

Zhao Zhaozhao never dreamed she would one day dine with the group’s general manager and vice president.

Lu Zhixing sipped his coffee while reading the newspaper, and Luo Susa also enjoyed a cup of coffee, occasionally smiling at her phone.

"Auntie, what would you like for lunch?"

"For lunch... let’s have some stir-fried reed shoots with shredded pork, and a few light dishes, without cilantro or ginger."

"Does Auntie not like cilantro or ginger?"

"Lai Lai doesn’t eat them."

The mention of Jiang Lai made Zhao Zhaozhao confront the truth.

The two people before her were Jiang Lai’s family.

Calming her emotions, Zhao Zhaozhao looked again at Lu Zhixing.