Chapter 110 - 109: All Women Are Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 110: Chapter 109: All Women Are Sherlock Holmes

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. "Aunt Li, it’s Jiang Xia. Please open the door." Jiang Xia supported Wang Ming as he knocked on the security door.

A few seconds later, the slapping sound of slippers on the floor came from inside the apartment.

Li Weiya opened the door. Seeing her swaying, drunken son and Jiang Xia, she quickly stepped aside. "Why did you drink so much? Hurry and come in."

Jiang Xia felt a little embarrassed. He was, after all, the one who had asked Wang Ming out to eat. Although the reason Wang Ming got drunk was a breakup, in a parent’s eyes, it was still his fault.

After all, no parent wants to see their child drunk.

"I’m really sorry, Aunt Li. We just kept drinking and it went to our heads."

"Mom, it’s... it’s not Old Jiang’s fault. I... I drank it myself. It has... nothing to do with him." Wang Ming swayed as he steadied himself. He struggled to open his eyes to look at his mom, patting his chest as he spoke.

"Alright, alright, ever the loyal friend. Hurry up and take a shower, then go to your room and sleep. I’ll go get you some clothes." Li Weiya frowned slightly as she looked at the mess on him.

Wang Ming nodded heavily and grunted, "Mmm..."

He got his bearings, then staggered toward the bathroom.

"Are you sure you can stand?" Jiang Xia glanced at him, worried that the guy’s legs would give out in the middle of his shower and he’d take a nasty fall. "I’m worried," he asked.

"I’m fine, Old Jiang. I’m not even drunk," he said as he walked into the bathroom and closed the door. The sound of rushing water followed.

A little while later, Li Weiya came out with a change of clothes for Wang Ming. Hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom, she called out loudly, "Ah Ming, the clothes are on top of the washing machine. Get them yourself."

"...Oh."

"Aunt Li, I should get going now. I’m really very sorry about this." Jiang Xia scratched his head, embarrassed.

"It’s fine, it’s fine, Xiao Xia. Have a glass of water first. There’s actually something I wanted to ask you." Li Weiya waved her hand dismissively, took out a disposable paper cup, filled it with water, and handed it to him.

"Okay, go ahead."

Li Weiya thought for two seconds and said, "I heard from Ah Ming that the twelfth episode of your *Cat and Mouse* is already done? That was pretty fast."

"To be precise, it’s already been officially submitted to Yu Du TV Station, a full five days ahead of schedule. Ah Ming’s contribution was indispensable." Jiang Xia paused, then smiled. "And likewise, thank you so much for your careful guidance, Aunt Li."

Li Weiya was taken aback for a moment, then covered her mouth and chuckled. "It was nothing. I’m just happy to see Ah Ming grow so quickly. Speaking of which, you’re the one who’s really given him his big break."

"I wouldn’t say that. The main thing is that Ah Ming’s drawing skills are very solid."

"Once the animation airs, I imagine a lot of companies will approach you. You have to be careful when negotiating contracts. Don’t fall into any traps," she said.

Jiang Xia nodded. "I know. If I’m ever really not sure, I’ll consult a lawyer."

"That’s good. Your company has a lot of potential. There are many temptations out there. Don’t let short-term gains blind you," Li Weiya reminded him.

"Aunt Li, don’t you worry. I’m not in a hurry for money right now. I wouldn’t sell even if someone offered tens of millions." Jiang Xia smiled. ’With an IP like *Cat and Mouse*, forget tens of millions—you couldn’t trade it for hundreds of millions.’

"Speaking of which, shouldn’t you be expanding your studio this summer? As long as *Cat and Mouse* can successfully break out of its niche, you’ll have a steady stream of funds flowing into your account."

Li Weiya continued, "Your current team is just too bare-bones. It can’t handle the heavy responsibility of commercializing *Cat and Mouse*. If you can maintain the release schedule of one episode a week, the show’s popularity will remain high."

"Aunt Li, I’ve thought carefully about what you said, but I’m not in a rush for now. I plan to move the studio to the university and see if we can produce another ten episodes in the remaining two months. Only then will I consider expanding the team."

"Mm, since you have your own plan, I won’t say any more."

Li Weiya smiled faintly. "I wish Qitian Animation Company all the best."

"Hahaha, thank you for your kind words, Auntie."

"By the way, you guys didn’t actually drink that much at your get-together today, did you?" Li Weiya smiled.

She could tell at a glance that there was something strange about how drunk her son was. Even the company’s boss wasn’t that drunk, so how could Wang Ming have had so much to drink?

Jiang Xia scratched his somewhat itchy back and pursed his lips. "We had a few, but I didn’t expect Ah Ming to be such a lightweight."

"I’m his mother. I know exactly what Ah Ming’s tolerance is like. Last time he only got tipsy, not like this, where he’s teetering on the edge of a blackout."

Li Weiya sighed softly. "Can you tell me what really happened to him?"

"Well..." Jiang Xia scratched his head. He couldn’t bring himself to snitch. "Auntie, why don’t you wait until Ah Ming wakes up tomorrow and ask him yourself?"

"You’re really not going to tell me?" Li Weiya raised a delicate eyebrow.

"Ah Ming is my brother. I won’t say." Jiang Xia shook his head firmly.

"Fine, then I’ll just guess."

Li Weiya hesitated for a moment, then said slowly, "Ah Ming was in a relationship, but he got dumped. So he was heartbroken and drank himself into a stupor, and then you brought him home."

Jiang Xia was dumbfounded. ’She could even guess that?’

Seeing the expression on his face, Li Weiya knew she was more or less correct.

"I observed his face carefully just now. His eyes are red and have tear tracks. He’s clearly been crying."

"Also, he’s been secretly on the phone a lot lately, and he’d mysteriously hang up whenever he saw me."

"On top of that, I asked you, and you refused to say anything, determined to keep a secret for your brother."

"Then there’s the fact that the college entrance exams are over and results are about to be announced. He clearly did well, but he hasn’t been very happy."

"And today was your get-together. He left the house happy but came back looking completely dejected."

"Putting all these factors together, the only possible reason for him to get this drunk tonight is that Ah Ming had his heart broken."

After hearing Li Weiya’s analysis, Jiang Xia was completely convinced. It really was like the saying goes: when it comes to matters of the heart, every woman is a Sherlock Holmes.

His own mom was the same way.

"Since you’ve already guessed it, Auntie, you should still ask Ah Ming for the details yourself tomorrow," Jiang Xia said helplessly.

Li Weiya glanced at the bathroom. "He won’t tell me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be asking you."

Seeing Jiang Xia still hesitating, she continued, "To be honest, now that the college entrance exams are over, I’m not against Ah Ming being in a relationship. But he’s so heartbroken right now, and as his mother, I’m very worried about how he’s feeling."

Jiang Xia took a deep breath. ’On one hand is my brother, and on the other is my wife’s best friend. If I let Li Weiya get involved, it might force Shen Ying to leave the company.’

"Auntie, all I can tell you is that Ah Ming has accepted it and is moving on. He won’t be dating anyone for a while and will be focusing wholeheartedly on his career from now on."

...