Cecilia Gu hesitated for a moment. "That's not necessary, is it?"
Alex smiled and said, "You don't have to worry about delaying the schedule. This Fujian Roundhouse is Mrs. Jiang's personal property, gifted to the CEO a few years ago. It's a private asset."
Rona Muir couldn't help but sound a little jealous. "Rich people really make you want to hit them sometimes!"
Cecilia Gu couldn't help but laugh. "You're rich too."
"Compared to Charles Yin, how am I rich?" Rona Muir sighed. "The Fujian Roundhouse is a cultural icon here, with a unique architectural style. I knew Charles had properties all over the world, but I never expected he’d own a roundhouse too. Tsk tsk tsk, jealousy is splitting my atoms."
Alex kept his flawless smile. "Back when Mrs. Jiang married our former CEO, she’d traveled all around the world."
"The Mrs. Jiang you mentioned—is that Charles Yin’s mother?" Cecilia Gu finally realized, feeling a strange sense of awe toward this woman, as if something had happened between them before.
Maybe it was just an instinctive reaction between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
"Exactly." Alex replied with a smile. "She’s the eldest daughter of the Jiang family."
Rona Muir asked curiously, "Alex, you all used to call her Mrs. Yin, so why do you call her Mrs. Jiang now?"
Alex answered politely, "That's because Miss Cecilia Grant—the second daughter—still isn't fully familiar with the Yin Family's traditions, so that's why we address her this way."
Cecilia Gu understood.
The reason Alex used that form of address.
In China, women usually take their husband's surname after marriage, like Mrs. Yin or Mrs. Jiang.
But if the woman's family is especially prestigious, people may continue to use her maiden name, like Mrs. Jiang, to show respect and highlight her background.
Alex used this title to remind Cecilia Gu of Mrs. Jiang's distinguished background.
Cecilia Gu deeply appreciated Alex's attention to detail.
Alex always subtly reminded Cecilia Gu about important details, even in the smallest matters.
But he never made anyone feel uncomfortable.
No wonder he became Charles Yin’s chief assistant—he truly deserves it.
Rona Muir understood. Ever since Cecilia Gu lost her memory, she knew nothing about the Yin Family, so Alex was helping her piece together her understanding bit by bit through these small things.
Thinking about this, Rona Muir couldn't help but glance at Alex and wonder what kind of wife such a clever man would find.
Who could possibly win over someone as clever and enigmatic as Alex?
At that moment, Xiao Wang approached Cecilia Gu and reported, "Miss, the latest satellite images show showers in about three hours, with winds at level six to seven and an 80% chance of rain. We need to find a place to stay soon!"
Cecilia Gu hesitated again. Alex glanced unobtrusively at Xiao Wang before saying, "If you don't want to go, I can arrange a hotel right now. We've already booked a chain hotel under the Yin Group, but it's only three and a half stars—not five—since a five-star hotel doesn't make much sense here."
Their destination wasn't the city center, but a small county town on the outskirts.
Indeed, there's no need for a five-star hotel in a small county town.
On the contrary, budget hotels are more suitable for the locals and travelers passing through.
Cecilia Gu hesitated, but she still longed to see the Fujian Roundhouse (Earthen Building). She said, "Let's go to the roundhouse, then. We all have cars, so getting out and about will be easy."
Alex smiled and nodded, "Yes, I'll arrange everything right away."
"Xiao Wang, go with Alex," Cecilia Gu said, not wanting Alex to do all the work by himself.
"Okay," Xiao Wang replied simply, slinging her backpack and following Alex to the car. They went ahead to prepare the place.
After they left, Cecilia Gu couldn't help but say to Rona Muir, "Rona, I can't explain it, but I feel like I've been here before. There's this vague feeling that I once met someone in a place like this. He told me he liked me and wanted to spend his life with me."
Saying this, Cecilia Gu couldn't help but tap her head. "I must be losing it. This is my first time here, yet I have these feelings! I'm totally nuts!"
Rona Muir hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back. In truth, Cecilia Gu and Charles Yin really had visited a similar place before.
Well, that's their business. She decided not to get involved.
"If you can't remember, don't force it. You'll just wear yourself out," Rona Muir said. "Charles Yin is really attentive to you. Whenever you travel, he has Alex accompany you. Alex is one of his best assistants—he'd rather deal with some inconvenience at work just to have him by your side. It's good, though. With Alex guiding your three assistants, they'll get up to speed quickly and the adjustment period will be much shorter."
"Alex really is capable," Cecilia Gu replied with a smile.
Praised by Cecilia Gu, Alex sped along the road with Xiao Wang, arriving at the roundhouse ahead of everyone else.
The village was close to a scenic area.
Not too far, not too close—just right.
After getting out of the car, Xiao Wang looked at the building and couldn't help but mutter, "Such a bizarre structure... Is Mr. Yin really interested in this?"
Alex got out of the car carrying a suitcase, glanced at Xiao Wang, and said, "Mr. Yin has seen all sorts of unusual buildings—what's one more?"
"True," Xiao Wang nodded, quickly grabbing her own suitcase and following Alex inside.
The Fujian Roundhouse (Earthen Building) was already perfectly prepared, just waiting for its owner to move in.
Alex said to Xiao Wang, "This is the best and largest room—it's for Mrs. Charles Yin."
"Okay," Xiao Wang responded obediently.
Alex pointed to the well in the courtyard. "This well is for special use. The water has been tested and is safe. But Mrs. Charles Yin's drinking water is delivered spring water."
[System message skipped as instructed.]
"Okay," Xiao Wang replied with a smile.
Alex pointed to several rooms nearby. "These are just storage rooms. You can ignore them. If you need anything, just ask the staff. Since you're not familiar with the things here, it's better not to touch what you don't understand."
"Okay," Xiao Wang nodded obediently.
Alex asked, "Xiao Wang, is 'okay, got it' the only thing you know how to say?"
"Okay, got it... yes," Xiao Wang replied, looking at Alex in confusion.
Alex raised his eyebrow, speechless. "Forget it. Come with me to the room."
With that, Alex turned and walked toward the room, saying as he went, "This roundhouse was originally bought by our CEO's mother, Mrs. Yin—the eldest daughter of the Jiang family—before her marriage. Later, she gave it to Charles Yin. Aren't you curious why she gifted this roundhouse to him?"
Only then did Xiao Wang ask, "Why?"
Alex paused, then said, "Back then, the CEO and Mrs. Charles Yin's romance was connected to the roundhouse. The CEO once performed a courtship dance in a building like this. After Mrs. Charles Yin lost her memory, the CEO asked Mrs. Yin for this place and comes here every year to reminisce."
Suddenly, Alex turned around. "Do you know Mrs. Charles Yin—watch out!"
Because Alex turned so suddenly, Xiao Wang was caught off guard and stumbled toward the stairs.
Alex reacted quickly, grabbing Xiao Wang and pulling her back.
Xiao Wang couldn't help but fall right into Alex's arms.
Alex was knocked against the wall and instinctively wrapped his arms around Xiao Wang's waist, holding her steady.
Xiao Wang was completely stunned.
She really hadn't meant for this to happen!
She honestly wasn't trying to throw herself at Assistant Alex or flirt with him!
Ahhh, she really didn't have any such intentions!
Frightened, Xiao Wang tried to push Alex away, but his grip on her waist tightened instead, holding her even closer.
Alex was momentarily stunned, then subconsciously tightened his hold before saying in a husky voice, "I know you're grateful for all my explanations, but you don't need to be this polite."
Xiao Wang froze, then realized what Alex meant and protested, embarrassed, "I'm not! It was just an accident..."
Alex chuckled softly. "Really? I thought you were planning to thank me with your body for teaching you so much."
Xiao Wang's ears turned bright red. She quickly struggled out of Alex's embrace and glared at him, "I am not!"
Alex let go, but his fingertips still tingled from the warmth of Xiao Wang's touch.
Such an innocent young lady.
Alex didn't say anything more, and Xiao Wang tried her best to act like nothing had happened. She asked, "So... what happened next?"
"As Mrs. Charles Yin's assistant, you should've known all this already," Alex replied, acting as if nothing had happened. "But you were busy with revenge, so we didn't inform you earlier. Now you can be prepared. In a few days, the CEO will come here to celebrate the holiday with Mrs. Charles Yin."
"Holiday? What holiday?" Xiao Wang asked instinctively.
Alex gave her a reproachful look. "Of course, it's their anniversary. I'll send you a list of all the important dates—make sure you remember every one. Got it?"
"Mm-hmm," Xiao Wang nodded repeatedly. "I'll remember."
"Come in." Alex opened the door. "This is Mrs. Charles Yin's room. The room next door is for the CEO. On either side are your room and mine. As special assistants, it's our duty to take care of the CEO and Mrs. Charles Yin. Understood?"
Just as Xiao Wang was about to respond, she looked up and saw Alex reach out to gently brush her messy hair aside.
Xiao Wang couldn't tell if it was her imagination, but she felt that Assistant Alex was especially patient with her.
He wasn't like this with Wendy or Coco Shen.