While having breakfast, Xu Mian thought it over and eventually opened her mouth to suggest, “Regarding your stomach, why don’t you let Doctor Xu regulate and treat it for you?”
The Doctor Xu she mentioned was Jiang Yuanchuan’s childhood friend, Xu Jizhou. The Xu family was a traditional Chinese medicine dynasty. Starting from Xu Jizhou’s grandfather, they had practiced medicine for generations, and both Xu Jizhou’s father and Xu Jizhou himself had inherited the old man’s mantle.
The last time Jiang Yuanchuan’s gastritis flared up, Xu Jizhou wanted to treat and regulate his condition, but Jiang Yuanchuan refused. Even Xu Mian could not persuade him.
This time, Xu Mian did not hold much hope of convincing him either. To her surprise, she heard the man readily answer, “Alright.”
Xu Mian raised her eyes in surprise to look at him. The man’s eyes were gentle: “You care so much about my health, so of course I cannot make you sad. I have to obediently listen to my wife.”
His tone carried an inexplicably pleasing edge, and he even reached out across the dining table to cover Xu Mian’s slender hand.
The reason Jiang Yuanchuan had not wanted to undergo traditional Chinese medicine treatment previously was simply that he really did not want to drink traditional Chinese medicine.
Xu Jizhou had said he would need to drink traditional Chinese medicine for at least a month, three times a day. The mere thought of that unswallowable, bitter taste made his scalp go numb.
The Jiang family and the Xu family were neighbors. Whenever he fell ill as a child, he drank traditional Chinese medicine prescribed by the Xu family. Furthermore, after his mother gave birth to his twin younger brothers, her body was severely weakened and depleted, so Xu Jizhou’s grandfather treated her. For several years, the entire house was filled with the smell of traditional Chinese medicine.
As a result, he had a lingering trauma regarding traditional Chinese medicine, and he had once sworn that he would never drink it again in this lifetime.
As for why he agreed to the treatment now, it was naturally because undergoing treatment allowed him to keep a tight hold on Xu Mian. She would definitely take the initiative to call and remind him to take his medicine, and she would also accompany him to see the doctor.
Ji Yuanhang’s return filled him with a deep sense of crisis. He had to use every trick in the book to tie his wife down securely. From her body to her heart, he wanted to lock everything tight, not giving Ji Yuanhang even a sliver of an opportunity.
Xu Mian naturally did not know the dark calculations in his heart. She only knew that his willingness to see a doctor was a good thing. Regardless of how long she and he could walk together in the future, she hoped he would be healthy and safe.
Remembering something, she asked him again, “Did you smoke yesterday? Didn’t Doctor Xu tell you not to smoke?”
Yesterday on the phone, she had heard the sound of a lighter.
“I didn’t smoke.”
The corners of Jiang Yuanchuan’s lips could not stop rising because Xu Mian had noticed that subtle, fretful action of his on the phone.
As long as she showed even a tiny bit of care and concern for him, his heart blossomed with joy.
“I wanted to smoke, but then I remembered you don’t like it, so I didn’t.”
Every word he spoke was aimed at pleasing her, and Xu Mian did not want to argue with him anymore either.
“Then make an appointment with Doctor Xu, and I will go with you when the time comes.”
“Alright.” It was rare for Jiang Yuanchuan to be so proactive about seeing a doctor. “How about going this afternoon?”
He was set on keeping Xu Mian by his side today. If possible, he did not want her to leave his sight for even a second, lest Ji Yuanhang find another opportunity to approach her.
Xu Mian paused briefly, but ultimately nodded: “Sure.”
She had originally made plans with Su Can to rent the downstairs office space today, but since she had to accompany Jiang Yuanchuan to see the doctor now, her plans had to be temporarily put on hold.
Right after breakfast, Xu Mian called Su Can immediately to tell her about the situation. After a long hesitation, Su Can chose to answer calmly, “Got it, then let us talk about it another day.”
After hanging up the phone, Su Can rolled her eyes hard. That fellow Jiang Yuanchuan was definitely faking illness.
However, since Xu Mian believed him, it was not good for her to say much either. This was probably what people called being blinded by care.
Because Jiang Yuanchuan had annoyed her last night, she had originally wanted to remind Xu Mian that Jiang Yuanchuan was faking his illness, but considering the big picture, she chose to say nothing.
As a best friend, if she heartlessly sowed discord, Xu Mian probably would not have lasted five years with Jiang Yuanchuan.
Xu Jizhou was the same age as Jiang Yuanchuan, except that Jiang Yuanchuan’s birthday was at the beginning of the year while Xu Jizhou’s was at the end.
Jiang Yuanchuan had been married for five years and had a daughter. Xu Jizhou had been married for three years and currently had no children. Unlike Jiang Yuanchuan, who had married the girl he loved, Xu Jizhou was in a family alliance marriage.
Xu Jizhou’s wife, Cen Xi, was an heiress to a conglomerate, outstanding, wise, and capable.
Xu Jizhou had been accompanied by medicine since childhood, possessing a gentle, elegant, rational, and quiet demeanor. On the other hand, Jiang Yuanchuan worked in the business world, carrying a natural aura of authority and dominance that controlled the entire room.
Just as Xu Mian accompanied Jiang Yuanchuan into the consultation room, her phone rang. Seeing that it was a call from her mother-in-law, Shu Ying, she mentioned it to Jiang Yuanchuan, turned around, and went outside to answer the call.
Xu Jizhou felt Jiang Yuanchuan’s pulse. Not long after placing his fingers, he cold-hummed, “If you had come a little later, your illness would have cured itself.”
Jiang Yuanchuan’s expression remained calm. Since Xu Mian was not here anyway, it did not matter that his fake illness and play for sympathy were exposed.
Xu Jizhou raised an eyebrow and asked, “How come you thought of getting treatment this time?”
Jiang Yuanchuan replied perfunctorily, “Health is the capital of revolution.”
Xu Jizhou signaled him to switch hands for the pulse check, casually teasing him, “What is this? Realized that you are an old cow eating young grass?”
Jiang Yuanchuan was ten years older than Xu Mian. What else was it if not an old cow eating young grass?
It was only because they were childhood friends who grew up together that he could make such jokes with Jiang Yuanchuan. Anyone else would have angered Jiang Yuanchuan long ago, as the age gap between him and Xu Mian was his sensitive spot.
Of course, he did not spare Xu Jizhou either: “How much better are you than me? It is just the fifty-step runner laughing at the hundred-step runner.”
Xu Jizhou’s wife was five years younger than him. What was the difference?
Xu Jizhou laughed, pressing his fingers on the wrist a bit deeper: “Your body indeed needs proper regulation. The internal heat inside you is burning very strongly.”
Jiang Yuanchuan snorted and said nothing. How could it not burn strong? Ever since he received Ji Yuanhang’s text message that day and learned that Ji Yuanhang was eyeing Xu Mian like a hawk, fire had been pent up in his heart.
“Exaggerate my condition a bit later, so Xu Mian pampers me more.”
In front of his close friend, Jiang Yuanchuan made no secret of his intention.
Xu Jizhou’s expression was somewhat contemptuous, but he still agreed: “Fine, I will fulfill your wish.”
While they were talking, Xu Mian finished her call and returned. Just as Jiang Yuanchuan wished, Xu Jizhou described Jiang Yuanchuan’s condition as somewhat severe, and worry surfaced on Xu Mian’s face as she listened.
Finally, Xu Jizhou emphasized one last point, directing his words at Jiang Yuanchuan: “In addition, it is best to exercise moderation in bedtime matters. From a medical perspective, excess is not a good thing.”
Xu Mian’s face instantly burned with intense embarrassment. Sure enough, what people said about having no privacy when seeing a traditional Chinese doctor was entirely true!
Because of this incident, Xu Mian did not want to speak a single word to Jiang Yuanchuan after leaving the hospital.
Jiang Yuanchuan wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his arms to coax her: “Xu Jizhou is a doctor. What is there to be embarrassed about in front of a doctor?”
Xu Mian glared at him: “Is he just a regular doctor? He is also your friend!”
He was a friend so familiar that they met frequently and even had dinner together as families occasionally. Xu Mian felt embarrassed to death.
It was all his fault.
Every day he somehow had so much enthusiasm for that matter; she was truly afraid she might die from it one day!
Wasn’t a man’s desire supposed to weaken gradually as he aged? How come over these five years he showed no sign of weakening at all?