Chapter 41
That evening, she dined with the Xiao family. Xiao’s father looked after her, asking if the food was to her liking and if work was busy, telling her she could speak up about anything bothering her.
Jiang Cha ate slowly. When asked if everything was alright, she set her spoon down gently. “Uncle, nothing is bothering me. Xiao Yun is… quite good to me.” After saying this, she stood up abruptly. “I’m finished. I’ll go wash my hands.” Then, she vanished from the table.
The perceptive Xia He noted, “Does it feel like my nephew’s wife is a bit off?”
Xiao Jingliang nodded. “They’ve had a falling out.”
Xiao Qing struck while the iron was hot. “I heard that to pass her internship, Xiao Yun doesn’t get home until after eleven every night, and even when she’s back, they sleep in separate rooms. They must be fighting.”
Xiao Jingliang was well aware of the separate rooms. He frowned. “They sleep apart for now only because Xiao Yun returns late and Jiang Cha is a light sleeper. I already know this; you don’t need to say more.”
Xiao Qing’s expression darkened. Her wife, Li Huan, added, “Could it be she met someone at the hospital…?”
“Nonsense! Xiao Yun wouldn’t dare!” Xiao Jingliang erupted. His roar startled everyone. His wife, Duan Hong, soothed him. “Liang, Huan’er’s suspicion isn’t without reason. If it’s true, we should investigate.”
Xiao Jingliang brushed her hand away, feeling suspicious. He truly wasn’t sure if his daughter was messing around outside. He sighed. Xia He quickly smoothed things over. “Brother-in-law, don’t worry. I’ll ask Cha-cha later. I’m free tomorrow, so I’ll drop by to see how Xiao Yun is doing at school.”
Xiao Jingliang nodded. “You’re thoughtful. You’re her aunt and the closest to her. If you go, she won’t be suspicious.”
In the bedroom, Jiang Cha left the door slightly ajar, watching the gap intently. Hearing footsteps, she immediately lay down and pulled up the covers.
“Jiangjiang,” Xia He knocked. “Are you asleep?”
Jiang Cha acted groggy. “Not yet, Auntie.”
Xia He entered and saw her rubbing her eyes. “What is it, Auntie?”
“I came to chat,” Xia He sat by the bed. “It’s been almost two months. Are you used to it here?”
Time had flown by. Jiang Cha reflected, “It’s been very good.”
“Mhm. Xiao Yun hasn’t spent much time with you lately because of her internship. If you’re lonely, you can find me. My room is right across from yours.”
Though it was “across,” it was dozens of meters away. Walking over was a chore.
Jiang Cha maintained a calm face. “I know Yunyun’s internship is hard; I don’t mind. It’s just… sleeping alone, I’m a bit afraid of the dark. This place is so big.” She gripped her sleeve anxiously. “But I’ll get used to it.” She looked at Xia He with a hint of grievance.
Xia He’s mouth hung open. “You’re afraid of the dark? Does Xiao Yun know?”
Afraid of the dark and sleeping in separate beds? This won’t do!
Jiang Cha shook her head. “I didn’t tell her. It’s not a serious problem.”
“Not serious? No wonder your complexion is poor; you must not be sleeping well. Don’t worry, when Yunyun gets back tonight, I’ll make sure she stays with you.”
A faint smirk touched Jiang Cha’s lips, a glint of triumph in her eyes. She quickly composed herself. “There’s no need. It might affect her internship.”
“The internship isn’t as important as you. Don’t worry, I’m her aunt. She listens to me.”
Xiao Yun had lost her mother young, and Xia He, her mother’s youngest sister, had been sent to live with them to look after her. They were close; in a way, Xiao Yun saw Xia He as a mother figure, though Xia He was young enough to be a confidante.
“I didn’t raise her well because I was young then, too,” Xia He sighed. “I was eighteen when I went to college and twenty-two when I returned. She was already thirteen and soon went to a boarding school. I was busy with Xiao Yu, and I failed her. I didn’t guide her thoughts properly during her puberty.”
“It’s not your fault, Auntie,” Jiang Cha said.
Jiang Cha listened to her, feeling deeply confused. Was the Xiao Yun she knew the same person described? The gap was enormous.
“She has a sister?” Jiang Cha asked.
“A half-sister. Her mother died early too; it’s quite pitiful. She’s studying abroad and will be back soon,” Xia He said with a smile. “Xiao Yu is very obedient, much easier to handle than Xiao Yun.”
After a silence, Xia He realized she’d gone off-topic. “Xiao Yun is changing for the better now, since she met you.”
Jiang Cha didn’t overthink it, just asked: “Did she have puppy love before?”
“Puppy love?”
“Mhm. What kind of girls did Xiao Yun like?” Jiang Cha leaned back, watching her.
“Before?” Xia He got excited. “I caught her once.”
Jiang Cha sat up straight. “What was she like?”
Xia He tried to find descriptors, but: “Beautiful, cold, and fragile.” Not a single word fit Xue Ning.
“Strange. Xiao Yun told me she likes the ‘cute’ type,” Jiang Cha remarked.
“People’s tastes change with age. But you reminded me—that girl from her puppy love days actually looked a bit like you.”
“Me?” Jiang Cha was startled. “Like me?”
“Mhm. But it’s been years. I don’t know if she’s changed. Xiao Yun had a one-sided crush, but the girl didn’t like her back and went abroad. Xiao Yun cried for three days until her eyes were swollen like peaches. I think since then, she claimed to like ‘cute’ girls to spite that memory, but honestly, when she looked for an Omega, she still found someone like you!”
Jiang Cha cupped her face, acting shy. “Auntie!”
Xiao Yun returned at 10 PM. She was about to enter the study when she saw a figure. Xia He turned around with a smile. “Xiao Yun! You’re back. I prepared a midnight snack for you in the study.”
Xiao Yun held her breath. Something is fishy.
In the study, Xia He watched her eat. After a while, she said, “This room is too small for that bed. Pack your things and go back to your bedroom.”
“No, Auntie. I’m busy with my internship; I need to study.”
“You can’t work yourself to exhaustion. Go to sleep.” Xia He walked to the small bed and picked up the quilt. “Your wife is afraid of the dark. Go stay with her.”
“Huh?”
Jiang Cha is afraid of the dark? Xiao Yun didn’t have time to process this. She stepped in and grabbed the quilt back. “Auntie, I have my written exam tomorrow. I must study late tonight. You wouldn’t let your niece study in the cold without a blanket, would you?”
She began a tearful performance, using “soft and hard” tactics until she reclaimed the bedding. “I know Dad is worried about us being in separate rooms, but I love her so much, how could I disturb her sleep in the middle of the night?”
Xia He looked swayed. “What you say… makes sense.”
Xiao Yun ushering her out. “So, Auntie, please look after my wife. When my internship is over, I’ll definitely move back.”
Jiang Cha’s plan failed. She realized that since their marriage was fake and Xiao Yun supposedly had an affair, it was natural she didn’t want to share a bed. I’m overreacting, she thought.
The next day, she had no schedule, but Xiao Yun was taking her final internship exam. Jiang Cha sat on the bed reviewing ad offers. Xia He knocked and entered. “Jiangjiang, let’s go pick up Xiao Yun. Her exam ends today.”
Xiao Yun’s internship was ending. Jiang Cha had promised her a celebratory dinner. She couldn’t skip it. She decided to dress up—not just a little, but to the nines. She had lost once to a “cute” person; she wouldn’t allow it again. She wanted the most glamorous makeup and the most seductive look, like a blooming rose that outshines a pale jasmine.
“Hmph, no taste,” Jiang Cha muttered, curling her hair into waves. She wore a black velvet camisole dress under a Chanel red plaid coat, fifteen-centimeter heels, and flame-red lipstick. She was satisfied with her reflection.
Xia He’s eyes lit up. “Jiangjiang, you’re too beautiful today. Xiao Yun will be head over heels.”
6:00 PM. The exam results were about to be posted. All the interns stood in the hallway. Xiao Yun came out of the restroom and heard gossip.
“Do you think that Second Miss Xiao Yun will pass?”
The interns under Xu Min were talking behind her back. “If she passes, dead frogs can come back to life. I went to school with her; she can’t even tell reagents apart.”
“She has such a beautiful wife but stays at the hospital all day to mess around with Teacher Xue. Guess she got tired of delicacies and wanted a home-cooked meal.”
“Do you think Xue Ning likes her?”
“Who knows? Why else would Xue Ning be so good to her? Xiao Yun has money; maybe Xue Ning wants to be a mistress.”
Xiao Yun couldn’t take the insult to her teacher. Cold-faced, she strode forward and grabbed the male Alpha speaker by the collar, pinning him against the wall with her knee pressed into his ribs.
“What did you just say?” Xiao Yun arched an eyebrow coldly.
“Miss Xiao… I was wrong!”
“Giving up so fast? No fun. I asked, what did you just say?” Her knee pressed harder. “You shouldn’t have insulted my teacher.”
Nearby, a red and white figure froze. Xue Ning rushed over. “Stop it!”
Xiao Yun’s fingers trembled. She dragged the Alpha toward Xue Ning. “Apologize to the teacher!” She had worked so hard for Xue Ning’s help, and she wouldn’t let her reputation be dragged through the mud because of her.
Xu Min arrived, having heard of the “trouble.” He saw his chance to fire her. “Intern Xiao, fighting in a hospital? You really chose the right place. If you injure someone, we don’t even need an ambulance to the ICU.”
“I didn’t hurt him,” Xiao Yun said coldly. “But Director Xu, why don’t you manage the foul rumors in this school?”
“Rumors? You were about to break Intern Zhang’s ribs!” Xu Min pulled back the man’s shirt to reveal two red marks. Xiao Yun was suddenly on the defensive.
“I didn’t say that,” Xiao Yun explained. “But for him to insult me and my teacher, he should be fired. How can Zhongshan Hospital keep such a person?”
Xu Min countered, “I’ll handle him, but you, Miss Xiao, are a hidden danger. You won’t pass the exam anyway, and you have violent tendencies.”
“I don’t have violent tendencies; it was self-defense. And the results aren’t out yet—how do you know I failed?”
Xue Ning walked in with a printout. “The results are out, Director. Please look at your student’s scores before you give orders.”
Name: Xiao Yun
Part A (Theory): 100
Part B (Practical): 98
Total: 198
The crowd gasped. “She got a 198? I thought she couldn’t tell reagents apart?”
Xu Min was shocked. Xiao Jingliang said she was useless, yet she scored a 100 on a computer-monitored theory exam with no chance of cheating.
Xiao Yun was furious. “I know you’re biased. You can say I’m bad, but you cannot slander my teacher. Without Teacher Xue, I wouldn’t have this score. To turn our hard work into something filthy… it’s disgusting.” She turned to Xu Min. “Director, I know you were asked to do this, but I passed. Take back what you said.”
Xu Min stammered. The Alpha she pinned rubbed his chest. “She said she’d break my ribs! How can someone so violent be a doctor?”
The atmosphere grew heavy. Xiao Yun felt dizzy. She had been studying late for days, and her blood sugar was low. The people around her began to blur like paper cutouts. She tried to steady herself.
Through the blur, a red rose seemed to bloom—a figure with a pleasant scent and the sound of sharp footsteps walked toward her.
Jiang Cha stood by her side, supporting her swaying body. She held up her phone. “She didn’t say that. I recorded the whole thing. If you continue to slander her, I’m calling the police.”
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