She truly admired Zhou Jianghao.
Zhou was beautiful, with excellent skills. Though she looked young, there was something about her that inexplicably put people at ease.
“Doctor Zhou, I’m serious,” Pei Shulan said earnestly. “Are you interested in joining our Pei Dental Hospital? The pay is high, the benefits are great, and promotions are no problem at all.”
With that, she handed over a prepared business card. “This is my family’s dental hospital. Take a look, and feel free to contact me anytime.”
Tan Qingya’s face darkened as she snatched the card away.
She didn’t toss it in the trash, though. When it came to Zhou Jianghao’s career, she wouldn’t interfere—she would respect her wife’s own decisions.
“Remember to accept my friend request, Doctor Zhou,” Pei Shulan called out before leaving.
Watching Pei Shulan’s retreating figure, Tan Qingya turned to Zhou Jianghao, her tone firm. “You’re going to add her back.”
“I’m still thinking about it.” Zhou Jianghao lowered her head, her gaze falling on the business card in Tan Qingya’s hand. “I’ve looked into this hospital before.”
It was the most renowned dental specialty hospital aside from City Hospital. If she couldn’t get into City Hospital, this would be her second choice.
Both places had their pros and cons.
City Hospital had little competition among colleagues, straightforward relationships, fixed hours with minimal overtime, double days off, and full holidays.
Pei Dental Hospital was highly competitive, with long hours, frequent overtime, rotating night shifts, and no hope of weekends or holidays—but the salary was top-tier, with plenty of room for advancement. If you had the talent, promotions were a given.
Not to mention Pei Shulan extending an olive branch right to her.
If she were on her own, she’d choose City Hospital without hesitation. But she wasn’t just herself anymore; she was Tan Qingya’s wife. What would people think if, ten or twenty years from now, she was still just an ordinary doctor at City Hospital?
On the other hand, going to Pei Dental Hospital meant promotions and raises, but far less free time—and less time spent with Tan Qingya.
Her brows furrowed tighter the more she thought about it, her head starting to ache.
Seeing Zhou Jianghao like this, Tan Qingya sighed inwardly. She suddenly regretted that Tan Corporation had no involvement in dentistry, but for now, she just asked, “Tell me your thoughts.”
Zhou Jianghao fell silent for a moment before shaking her head. “I’ll think about it some more.”
“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself,” Tan Qingya reassured her. “Just think about whether you like City Hospital—what you like about it, what you don’t.”
“Don’t worry about the perks or my relationship with Pei Shulan. Go with what you want.”
She could tell Zhou Jianghao actually enjoyed her current job. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have joined her colleagues for team-building that day.
“Mm, I’ll give it serious thought.” Zhou Jianghao nodded emphatically, but seconds later, her brows furrowed again as realization dawned. “But her approaching me like this out of nowhere—is she trying to use me to get under your skin again?”
“Not likely.” Tan Qingya knew Pei Shulan well enough. She glanced at the business card before placing it in Zhou Jianghao’s hand. “Handing over her card means she values your talent.”
It had nothing to do with personal feelings.
Even so, the thought of this persistent nuisance sticking in Zhou Jianghao’s mind irritated Tan Qingya to no end.
“Alright, banish her from your head.” She patted Zhou Jianghao’s head and put on a stern face. “No more thinking about her today.”
When Tan Qingya put on that stern expression, she looked much more aloof. It held little intimidation for Zhou Jianghao anymore, but she nodded cooperatively anyway. “Won’t think about her. Only you.”
“Sweet talk,” Tan Qingya huffed, though she didn’t bother hiding the smile in her eyes.
Even knowing it was just flattery, she couldn’t help it—she was only human, and she loved hearing it.
In the afternoon, Tan Qingya planned to take Zhou Jianghao back to the apartment.
“You haven’t even eaten New Year’s dinner, and you’re heading out to work again?” The Old Madam looked deeply displeased.
This wasn’t the first time Tan Qingya had skipped family New Year’s dinner. In recent years, she’d always been out alone for one reason or another. She’d thought that getting married this year might finally settle her down, but they hadn’t even made it to evening before she was ready to bolt.
“No way.”
Tan Qingya clicked her tongue. It was New Year’s—no way was she working when even her employees were on holiday.
She leaned close to the Old Madam’s ear and whispered, “Cut me some slack and let me and Little Hao have a quiet celebration.”
There was no chance of a real New Year at the Tan Family home.
She didn’t mind; she just found it boring. But Zhou Jianghao always seemed so tense here, like she was constantly on guard against everyone.
Even Tan Qingya herself didn’t feel like these people were family—let alone her wife.
She stood, her gaze toward the Old Madam softening with warmth. “I’ll bring Little Hao to see you again next time.”
The Old Madam fell silent.
It was her daughter who had married, but she felt more like the one who’d sent off a daughter.
Fine, as long as the kids had a home and were happy, it didn’t matter who married whom.
“Go on, then.” She waved them off, her eyes landing on Zhou Jianghao. She quickly called after them, “Wait!”
She beckoned the housekeeper over, took two red envelopes from him, and handed them to Zhou Jianghao. “Little Hao, this is from Mom for both of you. Hold onto it.”
The envelopes didn’t look thick, and Zhou Jianghao breathed a sigh of relief as she took them. “Thank you, Mom.”
But as soon as she held them, something felt off.
They were stiff—not like they were filled with cash.
She couldn’t open them right there, though, and Tan Qingya was already pulling her toward the door. She had to suppress her curiosity for now.
It wasn’t until they were in the car that she couldn’t resist tearing one open. “I just had a feeling…”
Her words cut off abruptly when she saw what was inside.
No wonder it felt so thin and hard…
It was a card.
“What is it?” Tan Qingya hadn’t waited for her to finish. She turned, saw Zhou Jianghao staring blankly at the card, and waved a hand in front of her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Why did the Old Madam give me a card?” The envelope suddenly felt red-hot in her hand. “Is there a ton of money on it?”
“It’s her way of showing affection.” Seeing that this had spooked her, Tan Qingya explained, “She always puts cards in the New Year’s red envelopes for me and Yanxi.”
The Old Madam insisted on giving them every year, saying they’d always be kids in her eyes.
“Then should I prepare a big gift in return?”
The card felt far too heavy to hold.
“Just accept it—no need to think about owing favors. She’s not an outsider; she’s our mom, our family. No need to be so formal.”
Zhou Jianghao paused at those words. Yes, she’d lost Zhou Qiu as family, but gained another.
“I’ll take it, then.” She nodded and shook the other unopened envelope. “This one’s yours.”
She had no idea why the Old Madam had handed them both over to her.
“You keep it.” Tan Qingya held back a laugh. “She’s giving me a subtle reminder.”
Zhou Jianghao blinked in confusion. “A reminder?”
“Tan Family tradition: once you’re married, hand over the purse strings to your wife. When we get home, I’ll turn over all those cards to you.” Tan Qingya feigned distress. “From now on, I’ll be waiting for my wife to dole out pocket money each month.”
“You don’t have to give them to me.” The pressure was mounting.
“If I don’t,” Tan Qingya said, “then when the Old Madam shows up accusing me of not treating you like a real wife and gives me an earful, you’ll have to step in and defend me, right?”
“Uh…” Imagining the Old Madam’s formidable presence, Zhou Jianghao clutched the envelopes tighter and backpedaled quickly. “Fine, I’ll hold onto them for you.”
Zhou Jianghao’s earnest about-face was too adorable. Tan Qingya stifled her laughter and teased, “Then please take good care of me from now on, Little Doctor Zhou.”
True to her word, the moment they got home, she gathered up all the cards and handed them over to Zhou Jianghao.
“How much should I give you each month?” Zhou Jianghao had no clue, staring at the stack of cards until her head spun.
“Up to you.” Tan Qingya was just as inexperienced. Seeing Zhou’s furrowed brow, she suggested, “Or base it on my performance?”
Zhou Jianghao’s eyes lit up. “What if I only give you a little?”
“I won’t perform that poorly.” Tan Qingya brimmed with confidence, pinching her wife’s cheek. “And you won’t be that harsh with me, right?”
This soft-hearted girl would only worry she wasn’t giving enough—never the other way around.
But unexpectedly, Zhou Jianghao didn’t commit. She said seriously, “Not necessarily. You’d better watch yourself and prepare for the possibility of no pocket money—or even deductions.”
Hm?
Tan Qingya paused.
Did Zhou Jianghao actually plan to dock her allowance?
After a beat of silence, she sighed. “What can I do? You’re my wife.”
Little Beauty came wagging its big tail, rubbing frantically against Zhou Jianghao’s leg.
Tan Qingya glanced at it. “Hm? Already mastered the art of buttering up the head of the household? Trying to steal affection from your mom?”
Little Beauty huffed and ignored her, rubbing Zhou Jianghao even more enthusiastically. It shoved its head right into Zhou Jianghao’s hand, all fawning and begging for pets.
Tan Qingya: “…”
This Silly Dog.
Hadn’t she ever seen it act so fawning before? Such a majestic and fierce German Shepherd—weren’t you ashamed of yourself?
Yet Zhou Jianghao seemed to completely fall for it. Tan Qingya watched with a frown as Zhou Jianghao set the card aside and began petting Little Beauty’s big head.
Now that she thought about it, Zhou Jianghao and Little Beauty didn’t resemble each other in the slightest.
Zhou Jianghao would never act so ingratiating.
Who knew who this Silly Dog took after.
“Ah.” Zhou Jianghao suddenly remembered something. “I knitted a New Year’s sweater for Little Beauty.”
With that, she hurriedly pulled out the sweater she’d finished knitting a few days earlier. It was a bright red little dog sweater that looked utterly adorable. She sat down on the floor, scooped Little Beauty into her arms, and slipped it onto him.
“Happy New Year, Little Beauty.”
Tan Qingya: “…”
After a long silence, she suppressed her emotions and asked in a seemingly casual tone, “Is this the New Year’s gift you prepared for Little Beauty?”
“Mm.”
Little Beauty was fairly cooperative, and the size Zhou Jianghao had knitted fit him perfectly. Gazing at Little Beauty in the bright red sweater, Zhou Jianghao looked up, a smile lighting her face. “How does it look?”
Little Beauty clearly loved his new outfit, his tail wagging like a propeller.
“The sweater is great—beautifully knitted,” Tan Qingya said with a smile. “But Little Beauty doesn’t suit it at all. It looks so weird on him.”
With that, she squatted down beside them and tugged at the sweater Little Beauty was wearing. It really was quite stretchy, she had to admit.
Unobtrusively comparing her own figure to Little Beauty’s, Tan Qingya’s eyes brightened slightly. “Haven’t you noticed? Compared to Little Beauty, this sweater would look much better on me.”
