When Song Jiang came down from the director’s office, everyone she passed by instinctively stepped aside to make way for her.
She kept her head lowered, her back slightly hunched, and hurried toward the exit.
Someone in the crowd called out, “Mrs. Liang, if Doctor Liang is watching from heaven, he would definitely want you all to move forward.”
Song Jiang raised her head. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying. She opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word. Instead, she bowed deeply to everyone.
“Xuyou is in your care now. I, Song Jiang, thank all of you, my brothers and sisters.”
After another deep bow, Song Jiang hurried out of the hospital.
A Jeep was already waiting in the open space outside.
Dean Yang personally helped Song Jiang into the back seat before asking Shen Xu to step aside for a word.
“Since Battalion Commander Chen is away on a mission, we’re afraid something might happen again. So we had no choice but to go along with the situation and let Comrade Song Jiang believe that you’re Doctor Xu’s partner.”
Shen Xu’s expression darkened.
“Dean Yang, you really are something. You actually made me play the fake boyfriend.”
Dean Yang had already heard that Colonel Shen had quite a temper, so he hurried to smooth things over.
“Ah, well, what else could we do? Comrade Song Jiang isn’t in a very stable mental state. If we tell her Battalion Commander Chen isn’t here, she might refuse to leave. And if she stays, we’d have to assign two soldiers to guard her every day. Doctor Xu wouldn’t even be able to go home and would have to keep working overtime at the hospital.”
Apparently, something in those words hit the right spot, because Shen Xu reluctantly hummed in acknowledgment.
“I’ll only play the fake boyfriend this once.”
“Yes, yes. We definitely won’t ask you next time.”
Dean Yang quickly pulled out an aluminum case.
“Colonel Shen, there are three doses of sedative in here. If Comrade Song Jiang has another episode on the way, give her one injection. If that doesn’t suppress it, give her two.”
“Fine. If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”
Dean Yang still wasn’t reassured and reminded him again, “Make sure you accommodate Comrade Song Jiang’s temperament. Don’t provoke her.”
“I know what I’m doing.”
Shen Xu sat in the driver’s seat and started the vehicle.
Dean Yang remained worried and leaned against the window.
“Should I send two more people with you?”
Song Jiang knew exactly what Dean Yang was worried about.
“My son died in a car accident. I won’t let someone else’s son suffer the same fate.”
Dean Yang was speechless.
What was he supposed to do? Hearing Song Jiang say that only made him even more worried.
Shen Xu didn’t give him any more time to agonize over it. He stepped on the accelerator, and the Jeep sped away.
Inside the car, the two remained silent.
Halfway there, Song Jiang finally spoke.
“If my son had driving skills like yours, he definitely wouldn’t have gotten into that accident.”
“I’ve driven tanks and fighter jets. Your son can’t compare with me.”
Song Jiang looked at him.
“I used to wonder whether you were truly sincere about Xiao Yao. Now I believe you.”
Shen Xu looked utterly confused.
He had only said one sentence. How had Song Jiang somehow understood all that?
But then again, it was normal that he couldn’t keep up with the thoughts of someone who wasn’t mentally well.
“In the future, you and Xiao Yao must treat each other well. Don’t ever mistreat her just because she’s a widow.”
Shen Xu expressionlessly replied, “Okay.”
He certainly wouldn’t mistreat Xu You. As for Chen Qingsong, though, he had no idea.
Seeing Shen Xu’s cold expression, Song Jiang assumed he was still bothered—bothered that she had caused such a scene at the hospital and embarrassed him as well.
She wanted to make up for it.
“Actually, my son and Xiao Yao never really consummated their marriage.”
Screech—
The Jeep came to an abrupt stop.
Fortunately, both of them were wearing seat belts. Seeing Shen Xu’s expression change dramatically, Song Jiang knew she’d said the right thing.
“When they first got married, Xiao Yao happened to get her period. Later, their teachers took them to Beijing for an academic exchange, and they were gone for three months. When they came back, I fell ill. They were both busy with work and had to take turns taking care of me. During the four months they were married, they never actually became husband and wife…”
“Stop!!! I don’t want to know that much!!!”
How could a fake boyfriend like him possibly be told all of this?!
Besides, he had originally planned to pass some of these words on to Chen Qingsong. How was he supposed to explain this now?!
Song Jiang nodded.
“Fine. As long as you understand. In the future, make sure you treat Xiao Yao well. Don’t ever let there be a rift between you two.”
Shen Xu agreed and continued driving.
After delivering Song Jiang to the Liang family, Shen Xu also arranged accommodation for them at a guesthouse.
He agonized over it for half the night, but eventually went out and bought some local specialties from Beijing.
Fine.
He might as well see things through to the end.
Early the next morning, Shen Xu took the Liang family and Song Jiang to the earliest train bound for Shanghai. He even placed half a sack of local specialties by their feet.
He had arranged sleeper berths for them and explained the situation to the train conductor.
“I bought you some egg noodles. If you get hungry, just make some instant noodles. Don’t try to save them.”
Song Jiang nodded.
“You should go back. Once you do, take good care of Xiao Yao. When you two get married, remember to send me a letter.”
Liang’s father was also a university professor. Because he was considered an intellectual during those turbulent times, he was frequently called away for political study sessions. Otherwise, Song Jiang wouldn’t have been able to sneak out on her own.
“Comrade Shen, you should go back. I can take care of my wife. And after you return, tell Xiao Yao not to send us any more money. It’s too much money for us. We can’t keep it safe.”
Shen Xu glanced at the patches on Liang’s father’s clothes and silently nodded.
After the train departed, Shen Xu remained standing there.
He didn’t move until a child suddenly bumped into him.
With lightning-fast reflexes, he grabbed the child’s arm and lifted him up.
“Pickpocket?”
“Where are your accomplices?”
Shen Xu swept his gaze around the station and immediately spotted several accomplices.
He handed the child over to a burly man nearby, then chased after the others.
It wasn’t until the police called the base to commend him that the Old Commander learned that while Shen Xu had gone to escort someone to the train station, he had also happened to take down a pickpocketing gang operating there.
After Song Jiang left, Xu You sat in the office for a long time before coming out with an expression as calm as usual.
She left work at her normal time and returned to her dormitory, only to discover that Song Jiang had washed all her bedding.
Xu You lay down on the bed, and the familiar warmth she hadn’t felt in a long time reached her nose again.
The next morning, Xu You was once again awakened by the sound of people playing basketball.
She sat there in a daze for a while before slowly getting out of bed.
She pushed the door open and went to wash up. When she finished, she realized someone was standing outside.
It was Shen Xu.
Shen Xu had spent the previous night in Beijing catching people and had only returned to the base that morning.
He hadn’t even gone home to catch up on sleep. Worried that Xu You might be thinking about what had happened, he had come straight to the basketball court.
“Sleep well last night?”
Shen Xu stared at Xu You’s messy hair, suppressing the urge to reach out and smooth it down.
“Mm.”
Xu You was a beat slow to respond. She closed her eyes and thought for a moment before figuring it out.
Shen Xu had come to collect his thanks.
“Thank you for yesterday, Colonel Shen. I caused you quite a bit of trouble.”
After saying that, Xu You even bowed deeply to show her sincerity.
The corners of Shen Xu’s mouth curved upward.
“So polite?”
“Thanks accepted. I’m leaving.”
Seeing that Xu You had slept well, Shen Xu knew he’d made the trip for nothing.
Perhaps he was getting old and had started worrying about things that weren’t his business.
Shen Xu returned to the basketball court to pick up the ball. Just as he straightened up, he saw Fang Zhiyang.
Fang Zhiyang caught the basketball and bounced it against the ground.
“Brother, don’t get too deeply into character. She’s Chen Qingsong’s girlfriend. Chen Qingsong will be back in a couple of days.”
Shen Xu gave Fang Zhiyang a faint glance.
“Exactly which of your two eyes saw me getting into character, genius?”
“Good. Because if you do, you’re destined to get hurt.”