Chapter 22: You Must Go See a Doctor!

Jiang Jingming seemed caught off guard by this response. After a brief pause, he said, "I'll go upstairs to pack my things first."

He turned and headed upstairs, though his lips curled into an uncontrollable smile. Watching him disappear around the corner, Sang Yu tapped her own head. "Goodness, what was I even saying?"

Half an hour later, sitting in the car, Sang Yu felt incredibly awkward just thinking about what she had said over breakfast. The silence in the car was stifling.

"Um, don't you have to go to work?"

It was Monday, and by all accounts, Jiang Jingming should be heading to the police station. In the original story, it seemed he was there almost every waking moment.

"I'll go in the afternoon."

"Oh." Sang Yu nodded.

The air grew heavy with silence once more. She decided it would be better to pretend to sleep; otherwise, it was just too awkward. Before she knew it, the pretense turned into real sleep.

The moment the car stopped, Sang Yu woke up.

"Are we here?" the young woman asked, her voice soft and hazy with sleep.

"Yes," Jiang Jingming replied.

Sang Yu got out of the car and stretched. Jiang Jingming didn't leave until he had carried everything He Xiulan had prepared for them into the house.

Refreshed from her nap in the car, Sang Yu felt full of energy—just enough to finish the draft she had been working on. If she had time, she might even try her hand at something new. That way, she could earn even more money. Her dream was simple: earn enough money to buy property, and when she got older, she would just wait around to collect rent. A few houses in Hai City, a few in the capital—just thinking about it felt wonderful.

Spurred by this vision, Sang Yu felt even more motivated. She spent the entire afternoon in her room, not stepping out once.

...

"When are you planning to leave?" Song Jiajia asked, looking at Lu Hao, who was lying on the bed.

This was the third time she had asked today. Lu Hao was beginning to feel impatient. Ever since he decided to venture into business, he had stopped going to work. Never mind whether he would actually go through with the business or not; even if he didn't, he still had a few thousand yuan in his pocket. It was enough to last him a while.

"What's the rush? Business is something you have to take slowly," Lu Hao said with a look of annoyance.

Song Jiajia was growing anxious. She had hoped Lu Hao would get out there and start making money soon so that she could become the wife of a wealthy man as quickly as possible. But now, Lu Hao showed no signs of making a move. How could she not be worried?

"But, how many days has it been already?" Song Jiajia said, displeased.

"You're not the one doing business, do you think it's that simple?" Lu Hao snapped.

Noticing his frustration, Song Jiajia softened her tone. "I know, Brother Lu, I’m just a bit anxious. After all, that money was borrowed from my parents, and my father is quite concerned about it."

*Borrowed?* As if he would ever pay back what had been given to him. That was what he thought, but he said, "I know, Jiajia, but this really can't be rushed. Tell you what, I'll go out later and scout things out properly. Once I've figured out the ropes, I'll set off."

Seeing that Lu Hao was taking it to heart, Song Jiajia felt a bit more at ease. "Okay, Brother Lu, I believe in you."

She leaned into Lu Hao’s arms, her hand gently tracing his chest. The man was instantly distracted. He flipped over and pinned her beneath him. Song Jiajia was half-reluctant and half-willing, and it was all over in ten minutes. She really had to put seeing a doctor on her schedule.

...

"Knock, knock, knock! Is anyone home?" A sudden rapping at the door interrupted Sang Yu as she was preparing dinner.

She went to open the door and found a stranger standing there—a middle-aged woman.

"Hello, may I ask who you are?"

"Oh, you must be that boy Jingming’s wife, right?" The woman smiled kindly; she didn't look like a bad person at all.

"I am," Sang Yu replied with a smile.

"You’re a real beauty," the woman said warmly.

"Anyway, I live right next door. You can call me Auntie Pang. I just brought over some vegetables from my garden. I hope you don't mind," Auntie Pang said.

Sang Yu felt an immediate sense of fondness for her. She didn't look particularly "fat," but her face was slightly round, giving her a look of good fortune. She seemed friendly and easy to get along with.

"Thank you, Auntie Pang, you're too kind." Sang Yu looked at the vegetables in her hands. They looked fresh and delicious.

"I was actually just thinking about planting some greens in the yard soon. These look wonderful—you really have a green thumb," Sang Yu said, her voice sweet. She figured that whenever she got tired from drawing, she could rest by tending to some vegetables or flowers. It would keep her from getting too bored, especially since there were no smartphones in this era to pass the time.

"Oh, you child, you’re such a sweet talker! If you want to plant vegetables, just let me know, and I’ll teach you."

"That would be great! Thank you, Auntie Pang," Sang Yu said, smiling.

"Don't mention it," Auntie Pang waved her hand dismissively.

"Auntie Pang, I’m just making dinner. Why don't you come in and eat with us?" Sang Yu offered.

"No, no, it's already prepared at home, they're waiting for me. I just came to drop off the greens. I'll be going now." Auntie Pang had simply realized that Jiang Jingming wasn't alone anymore. She had been away in her hometown taking care of matters when they got married, so she had come to drop off some vegetables and, incidentally, get a look at Jiang Jingming's wife.

"Alright, I won't keep you then. I’ll invite you over for dinner another time. By the way, Auntie Pang, my name is Sang Yu. You can just call me Xiao Yu."

"Alright, alright, I'll be heading off then." Auntie Pang laughed heartily.

"Take care on your way," Sang Yu said, waving.

After Auntie Pang left, she closed the door. Looking at the vegetables still dripping with water, she thought they looked wonderfully fresh. Perfect to cook for dinner.

That evening, Jiang Jingming returned on time for dinner again. Sang Yu was beginning to doubt the contents of the book she had read. It claimed he was never home, but he returned like clockwork every day.

"These vegetables were a gift from Auntie Pang next door. They're quite good, you should try some," Sang Yu said, pointing to the dish.

Jiang Jingming replied, "Okay."

"By the way, I want to plant some vegetables in the yard."

Jiang Jingming said, "Fine by me. You don't have to ask; this is your home, too."

Sang Yu’s heart gave a sudden jolt. She had been here for nearly half a month now. Even though Jiang Jingming and his family were kind, she had never felt a sense of belonging. She felt like she didn't truly belong in this place. Even though she didn't show it, she felt a lack of reality deep down. But Jiang Jingming’s words brought her a sudden, fleeting sense of peace. He said this was her home.

"What's wrong?" Seeing her silent and motionless, Jiang Jingming looked at her in confusion.

Sang Yu looked up, met his gaze—which held a hint of concern—and shook her head. "I'm fine. Thank you."