Chapter Eighty: Staying the Night

At this moment, Cheng Jiu was the only man present. With the two girls chatting away, he was left out of the conversation. Since he had nothing to contribute, he sipped water and glanced at his phone, making no effort to disturb them, quietly sitting to the side.

Cheng Hui was sweet-tongued, calling her “sister-in-law” over and over, fully treating her as family now.

Xin Gan had no siblings, only cousins, and among her relatives, she was the youngest and the most doted upon. In recent years, the only cousin she still kept in touch with was Shen Ruxin; the others no longer lived in Yongcheng, and a few families had even emigrated overseas.

Now, she had gained a little sister—one with a sweet mouth and mischievous charm, impossible not to like. All things considered, she was truly happy about it, and liked Cheng Hui very much.

Cheng Hui talked so much that her throat began acting up and she started to cough repeatedly.

Xin Gan offered her a bowl of pear soup with rock sugar to soothe her throat and asked, “You mentioned before you’d had surgery on your throat—what kind of surgery was it?”

“A vocal cord operation. I had a polyp in my throat, pretty big, so I had surgery,” Cheng Hui explained, pointing at her neck. “Recently, I’ve been shouting slogans so much my tonsils got inflamed—again. They just recovered and now they’re swollen all over.”

Cheng Jiu commented coldly from the side, “If it keeps happening, go to the hospital. Don’t be so stubborn.”

Cheng Hui protested, “I’m not being stubborn. I just want to wait until military training is over before getting checked. I told Mom already.”

Cheng Jiu moved the spicy dishes away from Cheng Hui and served her lighter fare like stewed winter melon and tofu stuffed with meat, admonishing, “Your throat is a mess and you’re still eating spicy food—do you have a death wish?”

Cheng Hui dared not talk back, so she made a silly face at Xin Gan, imitating her brother on purpose.

After the meal, Cheng Hui needed to return to school. She pouted and begged Cheng Jiu to drive her back. Since she was his sister and the sun was blazing, he didn’t refuse; he glanced at Xin Gan for her opinion, and made a point to tell her, “I’ll take her back to school first, then we’ll head home.”

Xin Gan, of course, had no objections.

Still, she felt respected, because Cheng Jiu always consulted her and made sure to inform her of his plans. It was a sign—he truly cared about her feelings.

All the way to the school, Cheng Hui chattered endlessly, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Brother, when sister-in-law came to Beiyu to find you, I heard you two weren’t exactly getting along. Is that true?”

Cheng Jiu replied irritably, “Why are you gossiping? Where did you even hear that?”

“He Chuan told me,” Cheng Hui replied, not shying away from Xin Gan’s presence. She wanted to see her usually strict brother lose his composure.

At the mention of He Chuan, Cheng Jiu smirked, “Speaking of him, why aren’t you clinging to him these days?”

Cheng Hui pouted, “I’m done with him. He’s been acting weird and annoying me. I have no idea what’s gotten into him.”

Xin Gan, sitting in the front passenger seat, glanced back but said nothing.

Cheng Jiu asked, “Did you upset him?”

Given Cheng Hui’s personality, it wasn’t surprising if she’d made someone mad.

But Cheng Hui would never admit the real reason she and He Chuan fell out; he’d been picking on her nonstop for no apparent reason, always with a sour face and saying odd things. It wasn’t as if having a crush was a crime—and besides, He Chuan was fooling around with Tang Huaihuai too. She hadn’t even gotten angry about that, so what right did he have to be upset?

Cheng Hui quickly denied it. “Me? I’m so well-behaved, so considerate.”

Cheng Jiu scoffed, “You think I just met you today?”

Cheng Hui deflated. “Fine, then let me ask you, do you know Tang Huaihuai?”

“What about her?” Of course Cheng Jiu knew her.

“He Chuan’s been spending a lot of time with her lately, ignoring me. So I’m ignoring him too. You’re still the best, blood is thicker than water, after all.”

Cheng Jiu realized Cheng Hui and He Chuan really were on the outs, though he didn’t know exactly why—maybe it was because of Tang Huaihuai?

When they arrived at the school gate, clusters of freshmen in bright green military training uniforms were everywhere. Cheng Hui, in her rush, had tucked her T-shirt into her waistband, showing off her slender waist. It was so hot that she untucked her shirt in the car and said, “Thanks, bro. I’m off. Take care of yourself, don’t run around too much—you just got out of the hospital, remember to rest.”

She waved enthusiastically at Xin Gan. “Sister-in-law, I’m leaving! Please help me keep an eye on my brother and make sure he rests.”

Cheng Hui hopped out, but after a few steps, remembered something she hadn’t had a chance to tell Cheng Jiu. She bowed her head, pulled out her phone, and started typing a message to him.

Back at her dorm, her roommates dragged her in with excitement. “We’re getting a new counselor and she’s gorgeous! I just saw her in the classroom—she’s stunning.”

Cheng Hui boasted, “How gorgeous? Got a photo? Let me see.”

“She joined our WeChat group! Her profile pic is right there.”

Her roommate pulled up the group, found the new counselor’s profile, and showed her.

Cheng Hui was stunned. Damn it, talk about a narrow escape from one’s nemesis.

…

That afternoon, the new counselor showed up for their class—dressed sharply, hair in a high ponytail, makeup flawless, a parasol in hand as she gracefully stood before the assembled students to introduce herself.

“Hello, everyone. Nice to meet you. I’m your new counselor, my name is Tang Huaihuai. We’ll be spending the next four years together, so if you ever run into any difficulties—academic or personal—you can always come to me.”

The boys, never having seen someone so striking, erupted in excitement. Someone bold shouted, “Counselor, do you have a boyfriend?!”

Then the whole group joined in, egging each other on.

Tang Huaihuai, unfazed, smiled slightly. “That’s not really any of your concern. A teacher’s private life is just that—private.”

The boys booed playfully, but that didn’t stop them from showering her with compliments.

Tang Huaihuai basked in the attention, her gaze singling out Cheng Hui in the crowd, her smile carrying a subtle meaning.

Seeing her, Cheng Hui felt a storm of complicated emotions and her spirits sank.

…

Cheng Jiu watched as Cheng Hui bounced her way into the campus, unable to help smiling at her antics.

Xin Gan caught this and asked, “Is this how you two always get along?”

Retracting his gaze, Cheng Jiu was happy to share. “More or less. There’s a big age gap though—I was in college when she was just starting middle school or even elementary. She’s been spoiled at home, so she acts up sometimes. I’m strict with her, but He Chuan isn’t. She prefers to play with him.”

Xin Gan nodded. “I see.”

Just then, Cheng Jiu’s phone buzzed. Seeing it was a message from Cheng Hui, he read it, pressed his lips together, his brow furrowing briefly before relaxing again. He put his phone away without saying anything.

…

On their way home, they passed a shopping mall. Cheng Jiu went in to buy kitchenware—pots, pans, bowls—moving with practiced ease, clearly at home in the kitchen. Xin Gan could cook, but wasn’t particularly skilled. When she’d studied abroad, most of her meals were in the cafeteria or just bread and cold Western food—anything to fill her stomach. She could make a sandwich or pasta, but not much else.

At the register, worried about a repeat of the morning’s trouble, Cheng Jiu told her to wait by the exit while he paid.

Xin Gan waited obediently by the door.

When Cheng Jiu finished, he came over and took her hand naturally, fingers interlacing, and said softly, “Let’s go home.”

Back at his place, he went to tidy up the kitchen, insisting she relax on the sofa and watch a movie.

The table was still covered in the snacks she’d picked out that morning. She’d originally planned to visit Coco and bring the snacks for her, but clearly Cheng Jiu wanted her to stay and wasn’t letting her leave.

Wearing her new house slippers, she paced the living room, watched a bit of the movie, but couldn’t sit still and went to find him in the kitchen.

Cheng Jiu was washing dishes, his movements efficient. Without turning, he asked, “What’s up?”

Standing in the doorway, Xin Gan gazed at his broad back and said softly, “I want to help you.”

“No need. I’ll be done soon. Go sit down.”

She felt awkward doing nothing while he worked alone. After a moment’s hesitation, she went in, grabbed a clean cloth, and started drying the dishes.

Cheng Jiu smiled, watching her profile for a while without a word.

Once they’d finished, he washed his hands, then took hers and pulled her close, holding her hand under the tap as if she couldn’t even wash her own hands, insisting on doing it for her.

By the time he was done, her ears were bright red—luckily her hair covered them so he couldn’t see.

He sat with her on the sofa, arm around her waist, remote in hand. “What do you want to watch?”

“Anything’s fine.”

They were sitting very close; his arm rested around her waist. Her clothes were form-fitting, emphasizing her curves, and she wore a faint, lovely perfume.

Cheng Jiu cleared his throat, forcing himself to look away. “What kind of movies do you like?”

“I watch everything, not picky.”

He asked in a low voice, “Romance films?”

Most girls liked romance movies, especially the really romantic ones. Back in college, when he dated, he’d gone to the cinema a couple of times and always watched romances, though he’d found them dull and usually fell asleep before the opening credits finished.

But now, sitting with Xin Gan, the idea of a romance film suddenly seemed right. He scrolled through several genres, settling on an obscure French romance and hit play.

Xin Gan suddenly asked, “Have you seen this before?”

“No.”

She shifted, grabbed a cushion to hug, and relaxed against the sofa—his arm still around her, not letting go.

Such simple physical closeness didn’t bother her. After all, they were already married, just hadn’t had the wedding yet. If things got more intimate, she didn’t think she’d resist—there was no point being coy now.

She wasn’t particularly conservative; she could accept this.

Lost in their own thoughts, neither really followed the movie. Twenty minutes passed, then the scene shifted—on screen, the leads shared a passionate kiss, the camera lingering.

Xin Gan thought it was a bit ridiculous that they were here watching a romance movie together, of all things.

Cheng Jiu, on the other hand, seemed unbothered, expression neutral, as if truly engrossed.

Before long, Xin Gan felt sleepy. It was nearly three in the afternoon, the curtains half-drawn, the room dim and cool with the air conditioning. She relaxed and soon drifted off against his shoulder.

When Cheng Jiu noticed she’d fallen asleep, he turned down the volume, carefully moved her so she could lie down on the sofa, then went to the bedroom for a thin blanket to cover her.

With some free time, he took his phone to the balcony and called Cheng Hui. She picked up quickly, her voice lowered, “Bro, you called?”

“What did your message mean?”

“Oh, I wanted to ask—bro, do you have a woman over in Beiyu?”

Cheng Hui was on break from training, taking the call secretly.

“Where would I get a woman? What have you heard now?”

“Don’t lie to me just because sister-in-law’s not around. One time I called you late at night, and a woman answered your phone. Why would a woman have your phone at that hour?”

“So, what did she say?”

“I don’t know, sister-in-law took over after that. You should ask her. And don’t say I’m not on your side—if you start messing around, I won’t acknowledge you anymore.”

Cheng Jiu snorted, “Did Xin Gan mention anything to you after?”

“No, she must have kept it to herself. You should find a chance to explain.”

“Got it,” Cheng Jiu replied perfunctorily.

…

After thinking it through, Cheng Jiu returned to the living room and sat in a single armchair.

The place had been unoccupied for so long it felt lifeless, the decor stark and cold.

Xin Gan slept until after four, waking up with a start, disoriented until she saw the movie still playing and remembered where she was.

From the bathroom came the sound of running water—Cheng Jiu was showering. She walked to the door, paused at the sound.

The water stopped abruptly. A moment later, Cheng Jiu’s voice called her name through the glass, “Xin Gan?”

“Yes?”

He slipped on a bathrobe, not bothering to dry his hair, and opened the door—his hair still dripping, robe open at the chest, steam swirling around him.

“Awake? Hungry?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Want something to drink?”

“Hmm?”

“Let’s have something,” he said.

He changed into a T-shirt and linen trousers in the walk-in closet, towel-dried his hair, then went to the kitchen to make fresh juice.

“Thank you,” Xin Gan said automatically as she took the glass.

“No need to thank me.”

They sat together on the sofa. The afternoon sun still shone, but it wasn’t as harsh; Cheng Jiu squinted at the light through the window.

Xin Gan sipped her juice, then asked, “Are your injuries any better?”

“No problem.”

“But you just showered—the doctor said not to yet.”

“I’d stink if I didn’t.”

She frowned, “You should avoid the wounds—”

“It’s fine. I’m tough. Don’t worry.”

How could she not worry? But he just smiled, “If you don’t believe me, want to check for yourself?”

“Take off your shirt, let me look.”

He hesitated, then did as she asked.

The wound hadn’t fully healed; new skin was growing, but it still looked alarming. She’d never seen such an injury up close, and her heart clenched with worry. “Let’s go to the hospital later. If it gets infected, that’s not good.”

“It’s nothing. It’ll heal on its own.”

“This isn’t a small thing…” she muttered, frowning. “Do you feel dizzy or sick at all?”

Cheng Jiu could tell she was truly worried. He turned to look her in the eyes, “Are you that worried about me?”

She nodded, “Of course I am.”

He broke into a broad smile, eyes lighting up. Ignoring his wound, he leaned closer, “You’re worrying for nothing. It’s not a big deal.”

Now that he’d taken off his shirt, she noticed other old scars—no wonder he didn’t make much of his injury, he was used to it.

“Be more careful from now on,” she said quietly. “You’re not alone anymore.”

He tapped her nose, “I will.”

He hadn’t meant for her to see, but it was inevitable—better to show her now than later.

Once dressed again, she asked, “Are you going home tonight?”

“No.”

“Then…”

He saw through her thoughts. “You’re not going home either. Stay here tonight.”

…

Still, Xin Gan called home. “Mom, I won’t be back tonight, don’t wait up for me for dinner.”

Her mother was quick to guess, “You’re with Cheng Jiu, aren’t you?”

Embarrassed, Xin Gan mumbled a vague assent.

Her mother laughed, “He came to find you this morning, didn’t he? Since it’s him, why be embarrassed? Afraid I wouldn’t let you go out?”

“It’s not that…” Xin Gan protested.

“Alright, alright, I’m not a child. You two are married now—it’s normal to stay together. I’ll tell your dad. Take care of yourself, and don’t skip meals just to diet.”

After her call, Cheng Jiu’s gaze softened. “Watch some TV. I’ll make dinner.”

She hurried after him, “Let me help.”

…

Around seven in the evening, after a day’s training, the freshmen were dismissed. On their way out, Tang Huaihuai called Cheng Hui over.

The other students trickled away, leaving the two alone.

Cheng Hui’s face was cold as she looked at Tang Huaihuai without speaking.

Tang Huaihuai approached, arms folded. “What a coincidence. I didn’t expect you to be my student. When I saw your name on the list, I thought it was someone with the same name.”

“So, what do you want?”

“Nothing in particular—just saying hello. We’re old acquaintances, after all.”

Cheng Hui replied, “If you say so.”

“Come on, Huihui, just because my brother rejected you, you don’t have to hate me by association, do you?”

The mention of it struck a nerve, and Cheng Hui’s expression faltered.

Tang Huaihuai saw her reaction and gave a mocking smile. “Even if you dislike me, I still like you. And I know your brother—so for his sake, I’ll take good care of you.”

“Oh, and He Chuan cares about you, too. You have two brothers who love you. If you gain a sister as well, you don’t mind, right?”