Chapter 32: Fell Asleep While Kneading

Chen Jinlan would not believe it. "Pah! It must be that Lu Hao did something out there."

Liu Fenglan was not to be outdone. "Impossible! The police officer clearly said it was that贱… that wretch Song Jiajia's fault. If you don't believe me, ask our Xiao Ting."

Lu Ting had been hiding in the back, trying to keep a low profile, and had not expected her grandmother to drag her into the spotlight. She had thought there was no one in this world who could out-argue Liu Fenglan, but it turned out Song Jiajia’s mother was just as sharp-tongued.

Lu Ting felt a bit frightened. "I, I..."

"You dead girl, 'I' what? Speak up!" Liu Fenglan gave Lu Ting a hard pinch.

Lu Ting’s eyes welled up with tears from the pain, and she hurriedly said, "Yes, I did hear the police officer say that it was Sister-in-law who caused the trouble."

Just as Chen Jinlan was about to burst into a tirade, she heard Song Zhenhua roar angrily, "Enough! What are you arguing about? Aren't you embarrassed enough already?"

Chen Jinlan felt a lump of indignation stuck in her chest, unable to go up or down; she could only glare fiercely at Liu Fenglan and Lu Ting. Lu Ting kept her head down, not daring to utter a word.

Song Zhenhua suppressed his rage and said, "Call Sang Yu back."

At the mention of that name, Chen Jinlan’s temper flared. First, she had snatched the man who originally belonged to Song Jiajia, and now she had come to their door to snatch money. She wished she could strangle her!

"Why call her back? She’s bad luck!" Chen Jinlan said unhappily.

"If you don't call her back, you go to the police station and get Song Jiajia and Lu Hao out yourself!" Song Zhenhua retorted sharply.

Chen Jinlan opened her mouth. She had no such ability.

"Sang Yu is Jiang Jingming's wife now, at least. Make her find a way to get them out, otherwise, I can't afford to lose face like this!" Song Zhenhua said viciously.

Does that mean she has to beg that little wretch? Chen Jinlan was not happy about it.

"What are you still standing there for?!" Song Zhenhua urged.

"I don't have her home phone number," Chen Jinlan said reluctantly.

"Go to her house and look for her! You idiot!" Song Zhenhua really wanted to slap Chen Jinlan to death.

Only then did Chen Jinlan reluctantly head out.

Lu Ting tugged at Liu Fenglan’s sleeve. "Grandma, let’s go too."

"Go where? Can’t we just wait here?" She hadn’t expected her in-laws to live in such a nice place. The place where she lived was far inferior to this. In a few days, she would have to mention that she wanted to live in a house like this too.

Lu Ting felt that Song Zhenhua was not someone to be trifled with, and it would be best to leave quickly. She whispered in Liu Fenglan’s ear, "If we don't go, what if Elder Brother can't get out? What if they only let Song Jiajia out?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Fenglan immediately flew into a rage. "They wouldn't dare! We’re going too!"

The two of them quickly caught up with Chen Jinlan. The three of them arrived at Jiang Jingming’s home, but it was already dark. Chen Jinlan knocked on the door forcefully, but there was not a sound from inside.

Instead, they disturbed the neighbors. Auntie Pang walked out and looked at the three people at the door. "What are you doing? In the middle of the night?"

Chen Jinlan was in a bad mood, and upon hearing Auntie Pang, she snapped back, "What business is it of yours?"

Auntie Pang replied unhurriedly, "How is it not my business? You’re disturbing the peace by knocking like that, don't you know? We can call the police and have you arrested."

Other onlookers also chimed in, "That's right, it's the middle of the night, what are you making such a racket for?"

"Who cares about the police, we’re just looking for someone," Liu Fenglan said.

"If you’re looking for someone, why not come during the day? Why must you come at night?"

"Exactly. Knocking like that—what kind of people are you? Are you here to settle a grudge?"

"Leave quickly, you’re so noisy."

In the end, Chen Jinlan and Liu Fenglan did not find anyone and were driven away.

"What do we do now?" Liu Fenglan said anxiously.

"Grandma, let’s come back tomorrow," Lu Ting said.

"What do you mean come back tomorrow? Who knows what kind of suffering your brother is going through in there tonight? And you, I told you to go and take the blame for your brother, but you wouldn't," Liu Fenglan said, poking Lu Ting’s head hard.

Lu Ting lowered her eyes and did not answer, her heart filled with resentment. Her job had been given to Lu Hao, and now they wanted her to take the blame for him. Her grandmother only ever had Lu Hao in her eyes; there was no place for her as a granddaughter.

Chen Jinlan couldn't be bothered to listen to Liu Fenglan and turned to head home. She would just have to wait until tomorrow. Who knew where that little wretch Sang Yu had run off to? Once she found her, she would have to give her a piece of her mind.

...

Hospital.

Sang Yu was drawing, and Jiang Jingming was leaning against the hospital bed, holding a book. However, he hadn't taken in a single word. His peripheral vision was entirely occupied by Sang Yu’s focused expression as she drew. Because of the angle, he could only see her profile.

Her long, dark, beautiful hair was tied into a bun, revealing her entire face. She had fair skin and long, curled eyelashes. She bit her lip, her lively eyes fixed intently on her sketch, her pencil dancing wantonly across the paper.

Once a sketch was finished, Sang Yu lifted her head and stretched her neck. Because of the limited conditions, it was somewhat difficult.

Jiang Jingming closed his book and said, "You don't need to stay here with me tomorrow night."

"What?" Sang Yu didn't hear clearly.

"This place isn't suitable for you to draw, and I’m much better now. You don't need to keep me company here anymore." Although he was happy to have her, if it made her uncomfortable, he would rather not.

"It’s fine, I’m drawing wherever I am anyway," Sang Yu said dismissively. Although it was a bit tiring to draw here, it wasn't a big deal.

Jiang Jingming pursed his lips. "Come here." What exactly was she worried about? Was she worried she wasn't doing a good job?

Sang Yu was stunned for a moment, then walked over to him. "What is it? Do you want some water?"

He shook his head and gestured to the spot by the bed. "Sit down."

Sang Yu sat down, unsure of his intentions, when a warm, rough, large hand gripped her slender, soft neck. She shrank back instinctively.

"Don't move," his voice came to her ears, like a summer night’s breeze, or perhaps waves rolling in on the sea—casual, yet laced with a lazy charm.

"You don't have to..." Sang Yu said, feeling a bit awkward. He was still injured, after all.

"I’m only using one hand." So there was no need to worry about pulling his wound.

Since he said that, Sang Yu found it hard to say anything else. It would seem too pretentious if she refused.

The man’s hand was large, his palms somewhat rough; even through the thin fabric of her clothes, she could feel the coarseness of his fingers. It felt like a faint electric current, and Sang Yu felt a tingle spread throughout her entire body.

"If you don't want to go back, I’ll help you massage your neck and shoulders from now on. I used to do this often in the army to help the guys in my barracks relax," Jiang Jingming said.

"Thank you." Her voice was soft, without a hint of affectation.

Jiang Jingming curled his lips. He would slowly make his way into her heart, making her willing to show her most authentic self in front of him.

Must say, Jiang Jingming’s technique wasn't bad; Sang Yu actually started to feel sleepy.