“Teach her,” Lady Qiao said as she walked in from the doorway; she wanted to see how Zhu Shanshan would handle it.
Lady Qiao didn’t mind Zhu Shanshan learning some nursing skills. If Qiao Xudong really hadn’t recovered yet, and Zhu Shanshan was willing to spend more time by his side, that was fine too.
Although Lady Qiao allowed Zhu Shanshan to spend some time alone with Qiao Xudong every day, that didn’t mean she completely trusted her. Lady Qiao still needed to check on Qiao Xudong herself. Lying motionless in bed, she worried he might be mistreated by caregivers or servants.
“Shanshan, you may certainly give Xudong a leg massage,” Lady Qiao said. “But you must learn the proper technique—you can’t just massage haphazardly. There’s a specific way to apply the right amount of pressure.”
“Yes,” Zhu Shanshan replied, standing there with her head slightly bowed.
Zhu Shanshan knew her family background wasn’t good enough in Lady Qiao’s eyes, so she resolved to do more to prove herself. Just in case… This was Zhu Shanshan’s best chance to get close to Qiao Xudong, and she wanted to give herself that opportunity.
Of course, if Qiao Xudong never regained consciousness, Zhu Shanshan might not choose to stay with the Qiao family for the rest of her life. Zhu Shanshan knew that even if she lived as a widow for the rest of her life, it wouldn’t do much good—it would only be a sacrifice on her part.
Old Master Qiao would never let Zhu Shanshan live as a widow for the rest of her life, but the people in the Zhu family might very well force her to do so. Zhu Shanshan didn’t want the Zhu family to rely too heavily on the Qiao family. If it really came to that, she thought she would surely leave the Qiao family after waiting just a few more years.
Zhu Shanshan turned to look at Qiao Xudong. She had never been one to act on emotion, but now that this opportunity had presented itself, she wanted to give it a try.
Lady Qiao glanced at Qiao Xudong. She said nothing more but turned and walked away. Lady Qiao’s heart ached; how she longed for her eldest son to wake up soon and call her mother.
At the Qiao Group building, Qiao Yitong briefly discussed with Murong Yuchen’s secondary personality how to arrange the office—how many rooms to partition off and the need for a restroom.
The two stepped out of the office, which was still completely empty. It would take some time for Qiao Yitong to find someone to finish the renovations. The walls and such were already painted; all that remained was to install the glass partitions, put up some blinds, add some wallpaper, and the lighting didn’t necessarily need to be replaced.
For some parts, she would hire specific professionals to handle the installation, while other items she could buy herself.
Qiao Yitong planned to buy a bunch of stuffed animals to put in her office. Men might not be too fond of those things, but many young girls love them—and Qiao Yitong herself really liked them, too.
When Murong Yuchen’s primary personality emerged, he was already standing in the stuffed animal store with Qiao Yitong. Since the secondary personality insisted on coming along, Qiao Yitong obliged him.
“Is it cute?” Qiao Yitong held a fluffy stuffed animal up to her cheek and showed it to Murong Yuchen.
“It’s cute,” Murong Yuchen replied.
“That’s such a bland response,” ” Qiao Yitong said, shoving the plush toy into Murong Yuchen’s hands. “This is for you. It’s soft and feels great—just looking at it lifts your spirits.”
Murong Yuchen quickly grabbed the plush toy, afraid it might fall to the ground.
Qiao Yitong went back to pick out other stuffed animals. Since Murong Yuchen had come over, she didn’t mind letting him foot the bill. These cute, high-quality stuffed animals weren’t exactly cheap, but they were still within Qiao Yitong’s budget.
“What are you just standing there for? Aren’t you going to pay?” Qiao Yitong said. “If you’re going to be with me, are you really going to make me pay?”
Qiao Yitong said this on purpose. “With your lack of discernment, you still want a wife? Don’t you think you’re better off single?”
“My sister is already single.” ” Murong Yuchen said, “Our family can’t afford to have both my sister and me single.”
Murong Yuchen was telling the truth; their grandparents were always telling them to find a partner sooner rather than later. Murong Ya used to not pressure Murong Yuchen, but ever since she found out he liked Qiao Yitong, she’d been urging him to settle down.
“……” Qiao Yitong looked at Murong Yuchen.
Murong Yuchen paid the bill. He saw all those stuffed animals, but he didn’t tell Qiao Yitong she couldn’t buy them, nor did he call her childish.
“I’ve never been in a relationship before. If there’s anything you need, just let me know,” Murong Yuchen said.
“You have to figure it out on your own—think for yourself about what to do. If I told you everything, wouldn’t that just mean I’m forcing things on you?” Qiao Yitong said. “What’s the point of that? Is dating just a one-woman show? Come on—you’re the one who asked me to be responsible for you. Why should I have to be responsible for you? You’re not pursuing me; you’re not giving me any face.”
Qiao Yitong knew who her official love interest was, but knowing was one thing; not knowing was another. Now that she knew, Qiao Yitong had other options. Once she was in the thick of it, this was a real world. Qiao Yitong had never treated these people as two-dimensional characters—not before she awakened her past-life memories, and not even after.
For all she knew, she, Qiao Yitong, might be a two-dimensional character in some author’s story herself—so why call others two-dimensional?
“Fine, I’ll pursue you,” Murong Yuchen said.
Qiao Yitong’s hand holding the bag paused for a moment, and she turned to look at Murong Yuchen.
“What’s wrong?” Murong Yuchen asked, puzzled. “I’ve already paid.”
Murong Yuchen had just taken out his wallet—he’d already settled the bill.
“Nothing.” Qiao Yitong had simply sensed a subtle change in Murong Yuchen; she knew he didn’t switch personalities on a whim.
As the author, Qiao Yitong actually didn’t know exactly when Murong Yuchen would switch personalities either. She was simply observing his facial expressions and movements to see if the Murong Yuchen of now was different from the one just a moment ago.
“Do you want to go back to work at the office?” Qiao Yitong asked.
“Let’s have lunch together,” Murong Yuchen said.
Murong Yuchen wasn’t oblivious to everything; he was hoping to spend a little more time with Qiao Yitong. They could easily go have lunch first, and then he could drive her home.
Qiao Yitong didn’t refuse; since Murong Yuchen was picking up the tab, she was certainly going to go.
With Qiao Xudong still unconscious, Qiao’s grandfather tried to find Qiao Xunan but learned that Qiao Xunan wasn’t at the company. Qiao’s grandfather asked Qiao Xunan’s assistant what on earth Qiao Xunan had gone off to do.
“Tell me the truth!” Old Master Qiao’s face was stern.
Qiao Xunan’s assistant hadn’t expected Old Master Qiao to drop by at this hour; Qiao Xunan had gone to the airport. Since Shi Zhuojing was returning today, there was no way Qiao Xunan wouldn’t go to the airport.
Even if the assistant concealed the truth now, Old Master Qiao would likely find out eventually.
“Before President Nan left, he didn’t say where he was going,” the assistant could only say.
Uncle Qiao knew full well that the assistant was lying; there was no way this assistant didn’t know what Qiao Xunan was up to. This could only mean that Qiao Xunan wasn’t out on official business—he had gone out for personal matters.
His second son simply couldn’t measure up to his eldest son!
The eldest son was the one best suited to lead the Qiao Group!
Old Master Qiao was deeply disappointed in Qiao Xunan; he suspected Qiao Xunan had gone for the sake of that girl from the Shi family.
Back then, before Shi Zhuojing left to study abroad, she broke up with Qiao Xunan, leaving him utterly drunk.
Old Master Qiao didn’t quite understand—it wasn’t as if Qiao Xunan couldn’t go after her. He could have studied abroad at the same school; even if they weren’t at the same school, they could have attended universities in the same city. As long as Qiao Xunan wanted to, they could have continued their relationship. Distance might be an issue for others, but it was absolutely no problem for the Qiao family.
Qiao Xunan could have flown over—it wasn’t as if he couldn’t.
Old Man Qiao believed Shi Zhuojing knew this too, yet she still insisted on breaking up with Qiao Xunan—which meant she must have had other motives. Old Lady Qiao didn’t pressure Qiao Xunan to break up with Shi Zhuojing; she believed that, given time, problems in their relationship were bound to arise sooner or later.
And right now, Qiao Xunan was still deeply attached to Shi Zhuojing.
Old Master Qiao and the others weren’t completely in the dark; it was just that, as elders, they felt it wasn’t appropriate to meddle in every matter.
“I’ll talk to him when President Nan gets back,” the assistant said, steel ing herself.
“No need!” Old Master Qiao remained stern-faced; he knew Qiao Xunan might not return today.
Qiao Xunan didn’t show up in front of Shi Zhuojing; he stayed in the car and didn’t get out.
Meanwhile, Jiang Wan’er went to see her mom. She’d decided to have her mom and younger brother move in with her.
“We’re all moving in?” Jiang’s mother asked in surprise.
“Yes, both you and your brother will move in with me,” Jiang Wan’er nodded firmly. “Mom, Mr. Nan isn’t coming over anymore—we’ve broken up. He gave me the apartment, so from now on, it’s mine. Mom, you’re still paying rent here. If you and your brother move in with me, we can save on rent.”
“Well…” Jiang’s mother sighed. “It’s all because of me that you’re in this situation.”
“Mom, let’s move over there,” Jiang Wan’er said self-deprecatingly. “Since I was with Mr. Nan back then, there’s no way to erase that part of my past.”
Jiang Wan’er knew what people would say about her, but she didn’t care. What mattered was that her mother was alive.
“Isn’t there a saying that goes, ‘People may laugh at poverty, but they don’t laugh at a kept woman’?” Jiang Wan’er said, trying her best to appear cheerful; she didn’t want to show her family just how sad and heartbroken she really was.
Jiang Wan’er had long imagined how her breakup with Qiao Xunan would play out. She’d run through all sorts of scenarios in her head, but she never expected Qiao Xunan to simply say, “Let’s break up,” so matter-of-factly. Jiang Wan’er had no room to resist—after all, she was the one being kept.
Once, Jiang Wan’er had told herself that Qiao Xunan, a filthy rich man like that, was no good, but in the end, she had fallen in love with him anyway. She couldn’t bear to part ways with him. Jiang Wan’er couldn’t let herself cry, nor could she let her eyes turn red. She had to let her family know that she was free, that she was happy, and that she wasn’t the least bit sad or upset.
From now on, her family could live happily together, and none of them would have to struggle as hard as they used to.
“Don’t say that. It wasn’t your choice—it’s all because Mom wasn’t good enough,” Jiang’s mother said. “Go ahead and move out. Go ahead.”
Jiang’s mother knew their family’s financial situation; Jiang Wan’er had indeed received a substantial sum from Qiao Xunan. But Jiang Wan’er still had to make a living in the future, and that money might not last forever. Jiang Wan’er only had a junior high school diploma; she’d worked odd jobs before—as a waitress in restaurants and the like—but she didn’t have many skills of her own.
“Sis, you should’ve broken up with him a long time ago,” said Jiang Wan’er’s younger brother, Jiang Jie, with his head of blonde hair. “He’s just after your body. He…”
“Aren’t we after his money too?” Jiang Wan’er cut Jiang Jie off. “When I work as a waitress, I don’t even make that much in a month. When Mom was sick, it was thanks to him that we were able to scrape together enough money for her surgery. Honestly, we should be grateful to him—he’s our family’s savior.”
“Sis!” Jiang Jie protested. “Have you fallen for him?”