She seemed to hear mockery or sarcasm in his tone; she couldn't tell anymore.
She said those things at the hospital, and she's the one hiding now; she can't deny it.
"I'm just not used to having someone else sleeping next to me right now, is that a problem?"
She raised her wet eyes, feigning pitifulness, and looked at him. This gave Cheng Ran an urge to hug her tightly, but he was afraid of scaring her, so he quickly withdrew his arms.
"Ahem... I'm sorry."
He just wanted to tease her, but he almost made her cry, leaving him, a grown man, at a loss for what to do.
"It's okay, go to sleep."
Jiang Wanqing slowly lay down, a smile playing on her lips. Her past life's experience told her that being too proactive wouldn't yield good results, while not being proactive would mean missing opportunities.
Therefore, knowing when to advance and retreat is the wise choice. Cheng Ran is indeed an exceptional man, and she doesn't mind having some kind of relationship with him. However, the most skillful hunter always appears as the prey.
She wanted him to gradually realize that it was he who wanted her to stay, rather than that she was forcing him to stay...
The next morning, Jiang Wanqing went to the canteen to get breakfast. As she walked along the corridor in front of the family compound, she passed a house. She was walking along just fine and was about to get home when suddenly a basin of hot water was splashed at her.
She was startled, and the lunchbox she was holding fell to the ground, spilling her breakfast.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, Wanqing. Who knew you'd be passing by my house? This pot of hot water just happened to splash right on you."
The person who splashed the water came out of the door carrying a basin. At first glance, wow, wasn't that the woman who was bitten by the dog yesterday? Jiang Wanqing frowned, feeling very uncomfortable being soaked.
"Sister-in-law, you have such good eyesight! The water just happened to splash right on me. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were waiting for me to walk by," Jiang Wanqing sneered.
The woman said the water was piping hot, but when it was splashed on Jiang Wanqing, she didn't feel that it was boiling water, although it was hot. Doesn't that prove that the woman was waiting for her?
"Don't you dare slander me. Why did you choose to walk through my house instead of taking such a wide road? Who are you trying to blame?"
The woman stood with her hands on her hips and her chin raised to the sky, looking every bit the shrew. This immediately reminded Jiang Wanqing of Jiang Xiu's mother; they were practically identical.
"Sister-in-law, who is your husband?"
"What? You're digging into my background now? Let me tell you, even if you take this to the higher-ups, I'm still in the right. I'm just splashing water in front of my own house, what business is it of yours?"
Her house was close to the entrance of the passageway, so even if there were other routes, most people would still take this one. She had calculated this carefully. Jiang Wanqing had no personal grudges against her, and she wouldn't be so foolish as to ruin her husband's reputation and future. Since it wasn't ruining, then it was helping.
Jiang Wanqing looked up at her and continued, "Since you're in the right, I was just asking who your husband is so we can have more contact and improve neighborly relations. What are you so guilty about?"
The woman's expression changed, and she snorted, "Who said I'm guilty? What difference would it make if I told you? My husband, Lao Liu, used to be Cheng Ran's brother-in-arms. We were in the same rank back then. Even if he's a battalion commander now, he can't erase that connection! And..."
She sized up Jiang Wanqing's shapely figure, which was clad in her soaked clothes, and spat.
"Don't even think about making a move on my husband, Lao Liu. He only likes simple and practical women like me, not a slutty, shameless hussy like you!"
Tsk, jealousy in her career plus petty jealousy between women has turned her into this state; Jiang Wanqing can only sigh.
But there are many people and eyes in the family compound. The Liu family has definitely been here longer than her. If a fight breaks out, it's hard to say who will take their side. Maybe someone like Qiao Hongmei will also get involved, giving others ammunition to use against her.
Jiang Wanqing wrung out the water from the corner of her clothes and chuckled twice.
“I understand what Sister Liu said. I will pass on your words to my son Cheng Ran. Sister Liu is taking advantage of our kindness, after all, she is a brother who has risked his life for us. Let him not hold it against her. The higher-ups also said that he is now a key person under their care. So what if it affects his recovery? It's not a big deal. We should be understanding with our brothers, right? Is it okay if I relay this message?”
Jiang Wanqing maintained a smile on her face without uttering a single curse word, nor did she show any sign of anger. Yet, her words highlighted the rank difference that she cared about most.
She was both anxious and angry, and quickly grabbed Jiang Wanqing, who was about to leave.
"Explain yourself clearly! What kind of skill is it to tattle on others!"
"Oh? Didn't you say you'd be in the right even if we reported it to higher authorities? Don't worry, all you did was spill the breakfast I made for Cheng Ran. He won't starve if he misses a meal, he'll just have low blood sugar. Oh, and there's also the side effects of taking medication on an empty stomach. I'll report all of that truthfully. It's fine, you're in the right, what are you afraid of?"
"You...you're twisting the truth! It's just a box of breakfast, I'll compensate you. Come with me, I have plenty of steamed buns at home, take them to Cheng Ran!"
Well, these people aren't exactly vicious, they're just a bit disgusting. They can talk things out peacefully, but they always end up making up a rudimentary version of palace intrigue.
Jiang Wanqing took several steamed buns and a bowl of porridge from the Liu family, which made Liu's wife furious but helpless.
Before leaving, Sister Liu gritted her teeth and spoke to her in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"Don't get too cocky. With Cheng Ran looking half-dead, who knows how long he can hold onto that position? My Lao Liu is number one, so you better watch out!"
"Heh, Sister Liu, I'll remember what you said. Then we'll wait and see." Jiang Wanqing took the steamed buns home.
When she got home, she opened the door and saw Cheng Ran looking at her nervously.
Her hair and clothes were wet. He vaguely heard snippets of the argument outside, but his legs made it impossible for him to go out.
Who bullied you?
She handed him a steamed bun: "Have this to tide you over for now."
"Why are your clothes wet?" he asked again.
"Sister Liu said it was an accident, and I've already argued with her about it."
"Liu Chang's wife?"
"Oh? So her husband's name is Liu Chang. She said you two are sworn brothers, it seems it's true?"
"Yes, Liu Chang is a good person. His wife is the one who was knocked down by the dog yesterday. Seeing that he is getting old, his family found her for him, just to give him a companion."
In Cheng Ran's eyes, public matters are public matters and private matters are private matters. Liu Chang's wife's actions will not affect his opinion of him, but that does not mean he will not ask Liu Chang to go back and properly restrain his wife.
"That's somewhat similar to our situation, isn't it?"
"How is it similar?" Cheng Ran put down the steamed bun, his face displeased: "There's no comparison. Liu Chang's wife is far inferior to you."
She blinked, momentarily confused. Was this a compliment?
"Go change your clothes, you'll easily catch a cold if you stay wet."
"Um."
Jiang Wanqing went into her room to change clothes, unaware of what Cheng Ran had done. That very evening, Liu Chang and his wife came to apologize...
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