Grandma’s clinic was fairly well equipped with medical supplies and medicine. At the very least, they had anti-inflammatory drugs available.
After stitching up Lu Tingyao’s wound, Jiang Wanxi put him on an IV drip.
Giving an IV was rather troublesome in this era, especially since the needles weren’t disposable. Fortunately, she had spent enough time familiarizing herself with the clinic recently. Otherwise, she really wouldn’t have been very skilled at it.
After all, administering injections and IVs had always been a nurse’s job in her previous life. As the second-best cardiac surgeon in her department, why would she have personally handled IVs for patients?
By the time Jiang Wanxi finished tidying up the room, she discovered that Lu Tingyao had already fallen asleep.
In his sleep, the coldness and sharpness that usually surrounded him had disappeared. His sharply defined features seemed much softer now, while his lips were slightly pale from excessive blood loss.
Looking at him, Jiang Wanxi suddenly felt the urge to fall in love.
She had died in her previous life without ever experiencing a romantic relationship.
Back then, she hadn’t had the luxury of dating freely. Her time, energy, and even her youth had all been devoted to studying and working.
But now, she had time.
She had energy.
She was young and beautiful.
So why shouldn’t she experience love?
And since she had happened to meet someone who made her want to fall in love, why shouldn’t she bravely pursue him?
That’s right!
Tomorrow, she would ask whether he already had someone he liked.
Once the IV was finished, Jiang Wanxi removed the needle and went home to sleep, her heart filled with excitement.
But when she woke up the next morning, all her excitement—and her budding romance—had vanished.
The man was gone, leaving the room empty.
She couldn’t even ask where he had gone. Those weren’t questions she had any right to ask.
All she knew was that his name was Lu Tingyao.
Other than that, she knew absolutely nothing about him.
Her romance had ended before it had even begun.
How tragic…
Lu Tingyao’s departure left Jiang Wanxi feeling dejected.
However, she didn’t allow herself to remain trapped in those negative emotions for too long.
For the next few days, she simply allowed herself to feel whatever she wanted to feel. It was a habit she had developed in her previous life and also a form of self-protection.
But she knew she wouldn’t let herself continue like this forever.
Her experiences had taught her that life would always be filled with challenges and difficulties. As long as she persevered, new hope and opportunities would eventually appear.
After giving herself a few days, she pulled herself together and returned to her usual strong and optimistic self.
She reminded herself that no matter what difficulties she encountered, she had to face them bravely.
Only then could she continue growing and moving forward.
In the blink of an eye, school started again, and Shen Menglan also returned to work.
Fortunately, she was only a high school teacher and had strong family backing, so the ongoing political movement hadn’t affected her.
During this period, however, something happened that thoroughly disgusted Jiang Wanxi.
She hit Xie Jin’an.
That evening, Jiang Wanxi was walking home from her grandmother’s place when she noticed someone ahead of her repeatedly walking a little way before stopping.
Since they were inside the residential compound, she didn’t think the person was particularly suspicious.
When they reached one of the residential buildings, the man stopped completely, seemingly waiting for someone.
Jiang Wanxi paid him no attention and was about to walk past when he suddenly called out to her.
“Comrade Jiang Wanxi, why have you been following me?”
Jiang Wanxi stared at him in astonishment.
Under the dim yellow streetlamp, she studied his face for several seconds before finally remembering who he was.
Xie Jin’an.
Was there something wrong with this guy?
Jiang Wanxi ignored him and walked straight past.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her wrist.
Caught off guard, she lost her balance and nearly fell to the ground.
Jiang Wanxi’s temper instantly flared.
As soon as she regained her footing, she grabbed him and threw him over her shoulder.
Xie Jin’an slammed into the ground so hard that his head spun. It felt as though every organ in his body hurt.
Jiang Wanxi couldn’t be bothered with this lunatic and immediately turned to leave.
Looking at the wrist he had grabbed, she felt thoroughly disgusted, almost to the point of nausea.
Xie Jin’an struggled to his feet and blocked her path.
“Jiang Wanxi, stop using these tricks to get my attention. I’ll never like you. The person I like is A’Yu, no matter what her background is. Please stop interfering with us. I—”
Slap! Slap!
Before he could finish, Jiang Wanxi slapped him twice across the face.
She couldn’t even be bothered to waste words on him.
She simply turned around and left.
What terrible luck.
Unfortunately, she had underestimated just how shameless Xie Jin’an could be.
She had barely arrived home and hadn’t even had time to drink a sip of hot water when Xie Jin’an came chasing after her.
He had even brought his mother.
The moment Xie Jin’an’s mother entered the house, she got straight to the point and pointed at Jiang Wanxi.
“Menglan, is this the daughter you brought back from the countryside? As expected, what kind of decent upbringing can a countryside family provide? She’s savage and unreasonable! Just look at what she did to our Jin’an!”
Jiang Wanxi stared speechlessly at the Xie mother and son, whom Jiang Yu had welcomed into the house.
She was truly at a loss for words.
“Auntie, the moment you walked through the door, you started insulting me just because I came from the countryside. What? Do you look down on rural people?”
Jiang Wanxi raised her eyebrows.
“Do you realize you’re creating class divisions? Does your family know that you’re engaging in class discrimination?”
“You… you!”
Zheng Huijuan’s heart skipped a beat at being called “Auntie.”
This girl was far too good at catching people by their words. The accusation she had just thrown at her was no small matter.
Left with no other choice, Zheng Huijuan quickly seized on the fact that Jiang Wanxi had hit her son.
“What a sharp-tongued girl! Just answer me this—were you the one who hit my son?”
“Yes, I hit him. So what?”
Jiang Wanxi looked at her coldly.
“A male comrade blocked my path late at night and even put his hands on me. Didn’t he deserve to be hit? And after getting beaten, he ran home to complain to his mother? What is your son, a three-year-old child?”
“Nonsense! My son would never do such a thing!”
“Oh?”
Jiang Wanxi sneered.
“Then ask him whether he blocked my way. Ask him whether he grabbed my wrist.”
“I have serious reason to suspect that your son had improper intentions toward me. Hitting him was self-defense. You should be thanking your lucky stars that I didn’t go to the Public Security Bureau and report him for behaving like a hooligan. Yet you actually have the nerve to come here and confront me?”
“You were following me! That’s why I grabbed you—to warn you to stop following me!” Xie Jin’an protested, his face and neck turning red.
Although his face was already red from the beating.
Jiang Wanxi was so angry that she laughed.
“What evidence do you have that I was following you? And why would I follow you in the first place?”
“It was late at night, yet instead of being at home, you suddenly appeared behind me and followed me all the way downstairs to my building. If that isn’t stalking me, what is? I’ve already told you—I will never like you.”
Jiang Wanxi stared at him as though she were looking at an idiot.
“A brain is a wonderful thing. Please remember to bring yours with you when you leave the house.”
“First, I didn’t suddenly appear behind you. I was coming home after visiting my grandparents and spending time with them on behalf of my parents.”
“Second, I don’t even know where you live.”
“Third, does your family own the road? Am I not allowed to walk on it? Since you claim that building is your home, then surely you should know my house is farther down the same road. Is there something wrong with me passing by?”
“Fourth, I barely even knew your name. Why in the world would I like you? Do you think you’re a ten-yuan note or something, so everyone who sees you has to love you?”
“If there’s something wrong with your head, go get it treated. Stop standing in front of me and flattering yourself.”
Jiang Wanxi was genuinely stunned by Xie Jin’an’s ridiculous behavior.
He was like an old peacock spreading its tail feathers, completely convinced that everyone admired him.
He had come over late at night just to ruin her mood.
If she had known he would be this annoying, she would have hit him a few more times.
Xie Jin’an was completely dumbfounded by her verbal assault.
How could this be?
This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.
Jiang Wanxi was supposed to like him!
Could she really be acting this way just to attract his attention?
Yes.
That had to be it.
“Jiang Wanxi, stop trying to use these tricks to get my attention. I’ve already told you, it’s useless.”
Shen Menglan had originally wanted to spend some time chatting with her daughter, but the mother and son had suddenly knocked on their door.
The moment they entered, they started accusing her daughter, and their words were downright unpleasant.
Then she looked at Xie Jin’an.
Both cheeks were bright red, his appearance was disheveled, and just looking at him made her feel uncomfortable.
She used to think this young man wasn’t bad and that he was a decent match for A’Yu.
But after seeing him today, she realized he had absolutely no sense of responsibility.
He had been beaten by a girl, yet he still had the nerve to run home and complain to his mother.
Wanwan had already made it clear that she barely knew him, but he stubbornly insisted that she liked him.
Could Wanwan actually be right?
Perhaps there really was something wrong with this boy’s head.