It took only about ten minutes to reach the nearest hospital. The place was quiet at that hour, with hardly anyone around. The doctor quickly treated Zhou Jianghao’s wound, and after picking up some medicine, they drove back.
“Don’t go to work for the next few days.” Tan Qingya frowned as she looked at Zhou Jianghao’s bandaged foot.
“I can manage.” Zhou Jianghao shook her head. It was just her foot that was injured, not her hands.
Tan Qingya stared at her for a few seconds but said nothing more. This girl was stubborn; it wasn’t the first time she’d realized that.
A moment later, Zhou Jianghao spoke up first. “President Tan, there’s a supermarket up ahead. Could we stop for a bit?”
“President Tan can’t,” Tan Qingya said with a glance at her. “But your wife can.”
With that, she pulled into a parking spot.
Unbuckling her seatbelt, she asked, “What do you need? I’ll go get it.”
“Slippers.”
Zhou Jianghao lowered her gaze, a little embarrassed.
Tan Qingya’s eyes softened slightly.
She curved her lips into a smile. “Got it.”
She didn’t mention that she’d already arranged for someone to send over her own things.
The supermarket wasn’t large, but they happened to have a big sale on slippers—a whole bin of them in bright, colorful varieties. Not wanting to keep Zhou Jianghao waiting, Tan Qingya picked the best of the bunch, selecting a few pairs.
Hmm—
They were all couple’s styles.
She also grabbed some vegetables for dinner and, before checking out, tossed in a few bags of snacks. By the time they left the supermarket, she was carrying a large, heavy bag stuffed full.
She stowed the bags in the trunk, then pulled out a carton of milk and a bag of chips. Opening the car door, she handed them to Zhou Jianghao. “Something to tide you over.”
Only then did Zhou Jianghao realize they hadn’t eaten dinner yet. She felt a sudden rush of panic.
Taking the items from Tan Qingya, she said awkwardly, “Do… do you have anything you want to eat?”
Tan Qingya glanced at her, amused.
Her first reaction had been one of relief—thank goodness Zhou Jianghao hadn’t called her President Tan.
“The patient doesn’t need to worry about that.” When Tan Qingya was in a good mood, her whole face lit up with a bright, elegant smile. “I’ll cook.”
“That would be too much trou—”
A hint of unease crept onto Zhou Jianghao’s usually cool features. Before she could finish, she felt Tan Qingya’s gaze on her and fell silent.
Then Tan Qingya smiled, her lips curving. “Do you know what I was just thinking?”
Zhou Jianghao hesitated and shook her head.
“I was thinking, if you call me President Tan again, I’ll lean in and kiss you to make sure it sticks.”
“…”
Tan Qingya watched Zhou Jianghao’s reaction with leisurely interest. Sure enough, her little face turned bright red. They hadn’t spent much time together yet, but she’d already noticed that Zhou Jianghao was nothing like her cool, serious exterior suggested.
She was very shy.
A little teasing was all it took to make her blush.
So cute.
They didn’t speak again for the rest of the drive. Tan Qingya drove quietly, as if the person who’d just threatened to kiss Zhou Jianghao hadn’t been her at all. As for Zhou Jianghao, she tore open the snack bag in an obvious attempt to cover up her embarrassment, stuffing chip after chip into her mouth.
The car filled with the careful crunching sounds of her eating.
They soon arrived at the residential complex. Tan Qingya unpacked a pair of the new slippers and simply left her high heels in the car.
The complex was lively now, with people out for evening strolls and square dancing.
Seeing Tan Qingya about to pick her up again, Zhou Jianghao couldn’t help saying, “Could we skip the hug this time?”
“Hm?”
Tan Qingya gave her a curious look.
Was she rejecting her?
Zhou Jianghao explained, “There are so many people around. Any little thing could spread through the whole neighborhood.”
Tan Qingya understood at once. But she glanced at Zhou Jianghao’s foot and then at the outdoors before making a suggestion. “Your foot makes it hard to climb the stairs. There’s a jacket of mine in the car—you could cover your head with it while I carry you.”
“…”
What was the difference between that and self-deception, like plugging one’s ears to steal a bell?
Zhou Jianghao looked up and tugged at the hem of Tan Qingya’s sleeve, which dangled at her side. “Just help me up instead.”
She paused, then added belatedly, “If that’s okay?”
Tan Qingya fell silent.
She stared at Zhou Jianghao’s hand gripping her sleeve, recalling that last sentence—delivered as if trying to cover it up but only drawing more attention. The tone had lost some of its usual distance; it was soft and warm, almost coquettish.
“Of course.” She smiled.
In the end, Tan Qingya carried the bulging bag in one hand and steadily supported Zhou Jianghao with the other as they made their slow way up to the building.
The area was bustling everywhere, but the two of them walking along didn’t draw any notice. That was, until they ran into Sister Liu on their way to the stairs.
“Hey— isn’t that Little Zhou?”
In the dim light, Sister Liu looked the beautiful woman supporting Zhou Jianghao up and down, her voice softening. “And who’s this?”
Goodness, what a face!
How could someone be so stunningly gorgeous?
“Hello.” Before Zhou Jianghao could respond, Tan Qingya greeted her. “I’m Little Hao’s wife.”
Zhou Jianghao froze.
She stared at Tan Qingya in shock.
The other woman’s expression was perfectly natural, as if she were simply mentioning what they’d have for dinner tonight.
But this was the first time Tan Qingya had called her Little Hao—and claimed to be her wife. Zhou Jianghao’s heart pounded uncontrollably in her chest.
Luckily, Sister Liu didn’t leave her floundering for long.
“Little Zhou, you’re married?!” Realizing what she’d heard, Sister Liu’s eyes went wide as she looked back and forth between them, her voice rising. “When did this happen? We’re still neighbors! How’d you keep it so quiet?”
“…”
Zhou Jianghao was at a loss, so she turned to look at Tan Qingya instead.
Tan Qingya, used to handling all sorts of situations, kept her expression calm, her eyes crinkling with a smile. “We’ll invite everyone for wedding wine when the time comes.”
“Oh! That’s perfect!”
Sister Liu’s face broke into a beaming grin.
Sensing Zhou Jianghao’s discomfort, Tan Qingya guided her a step aside. “Little Hao hurt her foot, so we’re moving slowly. You go on ahead.”
Even though her words were polite, the innate elegance in her every gesture carried an undeniable presence that made it impossible to refuse.
So despite Sister Liu’s clear desire to chat more, she stared at that beautiful face for a few seconds, smiled broadly, and hurried upstairs with quick steps.
