Tang Wanqiao looked at Jiang Xiaoli and Chen Jing and nodded, "I will."

After the police left, Jiang Xiaoli tried to ease the tension, "You don't need to thank me. You didn't see it, but yesterday Chen Xiaojing cried her eyes out, looking like she was going to die for you."

Chen Jing awkwardly rubbed her nose. "Qiao Qiao, I thought you stood me up when you didn't show up yesterday at noon. I even cursed you in my heart. Don't blame me."

Tang Wanqiao forced a smile and said in a hoarse voice, "Thank you all, thank you so much."

Jiang Xiaoli inserted a straw into the blanket and put it to her mouth so she could take a couple of sips.

"Really, you're welcome. You were the first customer who patronized my spicy snack business back in high school. I'm just returning the favor."

Tang Wanqiao opened her mouth, but didn't say anything more about thanking her.

She didn't know how to express her feelings at the moment she was saved, overwhelmed by the gratitude she felt.

Around noon, Mr. and Mrs. Tang arrived at the ward, looking travel-worn.

The moment they saw their daughter, both of their eyes welled up with tears.

Tang's mother wanted to touch her daughter's face, but seeing the large bruises, she was afraid of hurting her, so her hand remained hesitantly in the air.

Tang's father put down his luggage, and just as he was about to bow to Jiang Xiaoli and the other man, she stopped him.

"Uncle Tang, there's no need for that. We're still young and can't accept such a heavy thank you."

Mr. Tang breathed a sigh of relief, "Our Qiaoqiao is lucky to have classmates like you!"

Tang's mother also said, "Yes! Good people will always be rewarded!"

After a night of tossing and turning, Jiang Xiaoli was so sleepy that her eyes were drooping. She pulled Chen Jing aside and said goodbye to the three of them before leaving.

After seeing Chen Jing off in a taxi, just as she was about to hail a ride home, a familiar Mercedes-Benz beeped twice.

It was Zong Jiayu.

She opened the car door and got in. "What are you doing here?"

Zong Jia leaned over and fastened her seatbelt. "My girlfriend didn't come home last night, of course I have to be concerned. It's inconvenient for me to go upstairs, so I can only wait here."

Jiang Xiaoli nodded, "It is indeed not very convenient."

Zong Jia reached into the back seat and took a bag. "I've prepared some food. Let's eat something first."

As she munched on her hamburger, she said, "Humans are truly diverse creatures. There are scum who deserve to be boiled in oil and thrown into hell, and there are angels like Ah Yu."

Zong Jia chuckled softly, "An angel? I'm honored."

Jiang Xiaoli quickly finished a hamburger, took a sip of cola, and said, "Ayu, let's get our marriage certificate after my birthday."

"Screech—" Zong Jia pulled the car over to the side of the road. "Little Pear, what did you just say?"

She couldn't help but burp, "Once I turn 20 after my birthday, I can get our marriage certificate."

Zong Jia frowned. "Little Pear, why did you suddenly..."

Jiang Xiaoli interrupted him, putting her arm around his and saying, "There's nothing sudden about it. I just feel that finding Mr. Right among so many people in the world is a very difficult thing. Now that I've found him, what's there to hesitate about?"

Zong Jia excitedly hugged her and tried to kiss her, but she covered his mouth and pushed him away.

"I didn't sleep or brush my teeth all night!"

"Hehe." Zong Jia chuckled and started the car again. "I don't care."

Jiang Xiaoli pouted and rolled her eyes. "I do care!"

When she got home, she took a shower and went to sleep. When she woke up, it was already 3 a.m.

She saw a sticky note on the bedside lamp, turned over and took it down to look at it; it was Zong Jiayu's handwriting.

[To my fiancé: There's food at the restaurant. Just heat it up in the microwave. See you in the morning. —From your fiancé.]

Jiang Xiaoli chuckled twice, "So Comrade Xiao Zong cares so much about titles and ranks?"

She rolled around in bed twice before getting up to heat up her food, which was all her favorite dishes, doubling her joy.

A person who has had a good night's sleep and a full stomach looks at the clock in the living room. It's 4 a.m. How boring.

She rolled her eyes, then casually threw on a coat, tiptoed out of the door, closed it, and went downstairs in one smooth motion.

While asleep, Zong Jia suddenly felt something moving in the blankets.

He groggily opened his eyes, pulled back the covers, and saw a little head pop out. The little girl's bright, sparkling eyes were saying hello to him.

He couldn't help but chuckle softly, resting her head on his arm. "Awake?"

Jiang Xiaoli hummed twice, "I'm full and I miss you."

Zong Jia's eyes were full of smiles. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "Want to chat or stay with me and sleep a little longer?"

She thought for a moment and said, "It's only 4 o'clock, let me sleep a little longer."

"Okay." Zong Jia hugged him closer and adjusted his sleeping position.

But how can someone who has just slept for more than ten hours straight fall back asleep?

She nestled in his arms like a caterpillar.

Suddenly, the whole world spun around her, and she was pinned down by someone.

"Little Pear, if you can't sleep, let's have a heart-to-heart talk."

Jiang Xiaoli felt a little guilty. "Hehe, isn't this position a bit inappropriate for a heart-to-heart talk?"

Zong Jia kissed her lips with a hoarse voice, "This is the right way to talk."

The longer they spent together, the more skilled Zong Jia became at heart-to-heart talks, even someone as quick-witted as Jiang Xiaoli couldn't resist him.

After a long while, she lay in Zong Jia's arms and poked his chest, "Did you secretly sign up for a fitness class behind my back?"

"No, Little Pear, it's because you've been slacking off. When was the last time you went for a morning run?"

Jiang Xiaoli pursed her lips and remained silent.

The habit of running is formed, and so is the habit of not running.

She wanted to stop for three days after stopping for one day, and for a week after stopping for three days. Her last morning run was two months ago.

Zong Jia pinched her cheek. "Shall we go for a run later?"

Jiang Xiaoli's eyes widened. "A little while? Running?"

As she stretched her aching thighs, she began to give up, saying, "Just kill me."

Zong Jia, with his good temper, began to give her a full-body massage. "If you're not going to run, what would you like for breakfast this morning?"

She was quite interested in this. She lay on the bed and started ordering, "I want mushroom and chicken congee, steamed buns with potato and red bean paste filling, and cold seaweed salad!"

"Okay, I'll go buy it. You can rest for a bit."

She stretched her neck and got out of bed. "Never mind, let's go to the restaurant to eat. I want something else."

Zong Jiayu dressed her up like a round, chubby rice dumpling. "I felt like I was inside a shell."

Zong Jiayu tucked the scarf into her collar, saying, "It's seven or eight degrees below zero outside right now. It's not worth catching a cold."

Jiang Xiaoli gave in. She took the zongzi, which was a size bigger than her, and the two walked to the "Guizhi Baozi Shop," a 24-hour shop across the street from the apartment complex.