"You decide, actually Iâm not picky at all. Anything is fine." Ji Yuzhi had just caught a hint of admiration in his eyes for her, and her heart fluttered slightly, her face a bit flushed.
Hu Xiangyong nodded and ordered a few dishes.
When the dishes arrived, he seemingly asked casually, "Did you see Chiang Xiao today? How is she considering my proposal?"
Knowing he would ask about this, Ji Yuzhi wasnât surprised, but thinking about Chiang Xiaoâs answer, she worried he might be displeased.
"What, did she refuse?" Before Ji Yuzhi could respond, Hu Xiangyong already spoke up after seeing her expression.
Ji Yuzhi nodded.
"Yes, she said she doesnât like her portrait being hung on the wall for many strangers to see," Ji Yuzhi said. "However, she didnât completely refuse. She said if itâs just painting the scenery from the photo, she can do it for fifty thousand dollars."
Fifty thousand dollars.
Hu Xiangyong smiled.
"It seems that Miss Xiao Chiang is quite capable of making money. I wonder if her fiancé would feel inferior."
"Fiancé?" Ji Yuzhi was surprised, "Chiang Xiao is already engaged?"
"You didnât know?" Hu Xiangyong glanced at her, saying, "Unexpected, right? But Miss Xiao Chiangâs fiancĂ© is not an ordinary person. He comes from a wealthy background, although heâs in decline now, but he still has great prospects, already an Officer."
"Supervisor Guard?"
"Yes."
Ji Yuzhi genuinely didnât know about this, but now hearing that Chiang Xiao is engaged, doesnât this mean she also truly knows how to choose a man?
So, could her impression of Hu Xiangyong also have some merit?
"What are you thinking?" Hu Xiangyongâs voice snapped Ji Yuzhi back to reality.
Ji Yuzhi shook her head, "Nothing, nothing, I was just thinking about why Chiang Xiao got engaged so young."
"So, this girl is not ordinary, right?" Hu Xiangyong chuckled lightly.
Ji Yuzhi couldnât resist speaking up for Chiang Xiao, "Actually, come to think of it, itâs not very unusual. Iâve heard that rural girls marry early; many have children by eighteen. Chiang Xiao is just engaged."
"Ah." Hu Xiangyong was noncommittal, then asked casually again, "What did Xiao Chiang say about me?"
Initially, Ji Yuzhi instinctively wanted to answer his question, but somehow the words got stuck, and she held them back.
Just before leaving, she could tell Chiang Xiao was sincere about what she said.
"She didnât say much, just wanted me to tell you she doesnât want to paint her portrait, but she can do the landscape painting and asked for your thoughts."
"Just like that?"
"Yes, just like that. It seems Chiang Xiao is not one to talk a lot, not the chatty type of girl," Ji Yuzhi said.
Hu Xiangyong nodded, "Thatâs true."
After leaving the art academy, Chiang Xiao went to District Three Hospital.
District Three Hospital indeed looked much smaller than the General Alliance Hospital sheâd been to before, and the buildings seemed quite old. The stairways were worn down and potholes were visible, with no attention given to the minor damages, while the serious ones were haphazardly patched with cement, not even leveled properly.
There were some patients coming and going in the hospital, whom all couldnât help but take a second look at her.