Chapter 49: Memories Part 1

Being sick made people weak.

Very weak.

When no one cared for her, Shi Sui would just pop a pill and call it a day. But once she realized someone did care, she milked it for all it was worth, wishing the illness would drag on a little longer, just a bit longer. That way, she could cling to Jiang Ruoning without letting go, and Jiang Ruoning wouldn’t truly have the heart to shove her away too forcefully.

She remembered their freshman year, when winter set in and Shi Sui caught a cold. Shi Sui called her every day with a cough in her voice. Jiang Ruoning took her to the hospital for medicine, and after two days, the fever broke, but the coughing lingered. Worried that Shi Sui might cough herself into pneumonia, she called Qin Guilan to ask how to make steamed pears. She recalled that whenever Qin Zheng had a cold and cough, Qin Guilan made them for her, and they worked wonders.

That day, she bustled in the kitchen for an entire afternoon. The finished product wasn’t pretty and was overly sweet—she couldn’t quite get the rock sugar ratio right—but Shi Sui devoured every bit that day, including the test batches.

Miraculously, the next day, the coughing stopped.

Shi Sui said, “This is the power of love.”

“What power of love,” she replied. “It’s clearly my brilliant cooking skills! I nailed it on the first try!”

Shi Sui nodded vigorously and snuggled closer. “My wife is the best. Here’s your reward.”

“No way, your cold isn’t fully gone yet. Don’t infect me!” She pushed Shi Sui away, but Shi Sui laughed and insisted on stealing a kiss before relenting.

Jiang Ruoning turned her face away, breathing in fresh air that cleared her head a little. The car was dim, with a wall ahead and privacy-tinted windows blocking out almost all light. The enclosed space made the already heated atmosphere even more intimate.

It also meant Jiang Ruoning didn’t push Shi Sui away right away.

Shi Sui stayed buried in her arms as they both caught their breath. After a long moment, Jiang Ruoning opened the car door and stepped out, her expression solemn as if nothing had happened—though her face was unusually flushed, redder than Shi Sui’s, who was the one running a fever.

It was half an hour later when they finally went upstairs. The private room was on the upper floor. As the elevator arrived, a server offered to escort them, but Jiang Ruoning said, “We know the way. We’ll head over ourselves.”

The server smiled and stepped back.

Jiang Ruoning led Shi Sui to the door. Through the crack, she heard teasing voices. “I bet they won’t show up tonight.”

Qu Lele shot her a sideways glance. “When are you going to quit this betting habit of yours?”

“What’s wrong with it?” Zhou Yueqing said. “This is just adding some fun to life. You wouldn’t get it. Hey, anyone want to bet? I say they won’t make it tonight. Loser drinks this whole bottle of wine.”

She pulled out a bottle of red wine with a grin. “My prized vintage.”

Ye Yu said, “You drink it yourself.”

Zhou Yueqing replied, “What, scared of Sister Man? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.”

Ye Yu held out her phone. Zhou Yueqing glanced down. “What?”

“Call Sister Man,” Ye Yu said. “If she says yes, I’ll drink.”

“Boring,” Zhou Yueqing huffed. “Henpecked.”

Ye Yu pretended to jab her with the corkscrew!

Zhou Yueqing turned to Qin Zheng. “Where are you two lovebirds?”

Qin Zheng said, “I’m driving.”

Zhou Yueqing pouted, but Yun An defused it by raising her glass. Zhou Yueqing beamed. “That’s more like it.”

She poured Yun An a full glass, then one for herself. “Alright, if they don’t show in ten minutes, I win.”

Yun An smiled. “Deal.”

Outside the door, Jiang Ruoning and Shi Sui stood waiting. Shi Sui reached for the handle, but Jiang Ruoning pulled her back. She looked down at Jiang Ruoning.

“Wait a bit before we go in,” Jiang Ruoning said.

Shi Sui got it. “You want Yun An to lose?”

Caught out, Jiang Ruoning’s already flushed face burned hotter. “It’s not about making her lose. I just want her to experience the dangers of the world!”

Shi Sui let out a soft chuckle.

Jiang Ruoning whipped her head around. “What’s so funny?”

“You used to love pranking Yun An,” Shi Sui said.

“Libel! When did I ever?”

“Remember that holiday when we went fishing? You hid the earthworms and made her search for half an hour.”

Jiang Ruoning rolled her eyes, surprised Shi Sui remembered something so old. “I was mad at the time. Who asked her to badmouth me in front of you?”

Shi Sui paused at that.

Jiang Ruoning was focused on the sounds inside and missed the shift in her expression. She only felt the gaze from beside her growing hotter, as if it could see right through her. For no reason, it reminded her of what happened in the car. Annoyed, she snapped, “Control yourself!”

Shi Sui lowered her eyes, her lashes shadowing the light in them. As the ten minutes neared, she couldn’t hold back a cough. Jiang Ruoning slowly turned to look at her. Suddenly, the door swung open. Qu Lele peered out at them. “When did you two get here?”

Jiang Ruoning forced a smile. “Just now.”

Shi Sui followed behind her.

Qu Lele said, “You’re late.”

Jiang Ruoning replied, “Taking care of a patient. Couldn’t be helped.”

Qu Lele tsked. “You, taking care of a patient?”

Jiang Ruoning caught the odd tone in her voice and faltered. “Uh, she’s my work superior. It’s only right.”

Everyone exchanged knowing looks.

Jiang Ruoning sat down stiffly, caught between greetings and teasing. She neither wanted to stay nor leave. Zhou Yueqing piled on: “Latecomers drink a penalty shot.”

She reached to pour for Jiang Ruoning.

A hand blocked Jiang Ruoning’s glass. Shi Sui looked at Zhou Yueqing. “You drink yours first.”

Zhou Yueqing glanced at her own full glass and groaned. “Back then, I got bullied by you two couples. Now, still getting bullied by you two couples. You haven’t changed a bit.”

Jiang Ruoning jumped at the implication. “Nonsense!”

Zhou Yueqing chuckled. “Fine, fine, my bad.”

Fine, call it nonsense if you want. Anyway, she loved this vibe—it felt like slipping back into the old days. Who didn’t miss those vibrant, youthful times, especially when they’d been so bright? Abroad, Zhou Yueqing’s life had been all study, study, study. After meeting Qin Zheng and the others, this “social butterfly” suddenly lost her eagerness to make new friends. Qu Lele said it was because her tastes had been spoiled; she’d grown used to such intense friendships, and new ones couldn’t compare. People rarely opened up completely to friends right from the start.

Thank goodness they were young and reckless back then. At twenty-six now, even if they met, it would be hard to spark such deep bonds.

That was the most sensible thing Qu Lele had ever said, in Zhou Yueqing’s opinion.

So she wanted to cherish it more.

She tossed back the glass in one go. “Downed it!”

Qu Lele gave a thumbs-up. “Badass.”

Zhou Yueqing urged, “Your turn.”

Jiang Ruoning poured herself a small glass. Shi Sui, with her cold, got hot fruit juice instead. She took a sip and winced, her brows knitting like they could squash a mosquito. Curious, Jiang Ruoning asked, “That bad?”

Shi Sui nudged the glass toward her. Jiang Ruoning instinctively took a sip. The juice was already tart, and heating it made it taste like aged vinegar—but with a hint of fresh sweetness.

Hard to describe.

Jiang Ruoning pushed it away in disgust and sipped some red wine to clear her throat.

Shi Sui asked, “Good?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “Want me to get you milk?”

Shi Sui cradled the glass. “Can’t have milk with a fever.”

She sipped again, her expression smoother this time. Jiang Ruoning watched her lips touch the rim—exactly where she’d just drunk. They’d kissed countless times, yet this tiny thing still made her blush.

So useless, she thought.

Jiang Ruoning averted her eyes and tuned into Zhou Yueqing. “After the New Year, I’m back for good. Mom’s giving me an agency to run. Any artists you recommend? Send ’em my way.” She stressed, “Female only.”

No one responded.

Zhou Yueqing whined, “Respect me!”

Qu Lele said, “Talk after you’re back and running the company. No empty promises now.”

“Empty promises? I’m serious! Ye Yu, come join?”

Ye Yu, no longer flustered by her pursuits, handled it smoothly. “Nah.”

Zhou Yueqing huffed. “Ningning, you come. You’d be a founding member. Best terms ever!”

Shi Sui didn’t know Zhou Yueqing had switched targets. Jiang Ruoning dodged. “I’m going to the bathroom.”

Zhou Yueqing called, “I’ll come with!”

Jiang Ruoning shoved her playfully, and they left amid laughter. Shi Sui watched her back when a voice cut in: “What’re you thinking?”

She turned. Ye Yu had slid over with a glass. She claimed not to drink, but Zhou Yueqing had goaded her into a few sips, tinting her cheeks. Shi Sui said, “Nothing.”

Ye Yu asked, “Wondering if Ruoning’s had a good few years?”

Shi Sui had wondered. When she left, she’d learned from Zhou Man that Jiang Ruoning had lost her memory. Zhou Man asked if she wanted to visit the hospital. That night before flying out, she’d snuck out alone, stood outside Jiang Ruoning’s room, and watched her whine to Qin Zheng: “My head hurts so much. I want something sweet.”

Then Jiang Ruoning sighed, “I’m one tough cookie. Surviving this means good fortune ahead. I’ll definitely blow up big!”

That night, she stood outside till dawn. When the nurses did rounds, she left the hospital—and them—behind. She’d thought amnesia would make Jiang Ruoning carefree and happy. Shi Sui asked Ye Yu, “What was with the anorexia?”

Ye Yu shook her head. “No idea.”

During Jiang Ruoning’s anorexia phase, Shi Sui was abroad. She’d heard from Qin Zheng and the others. At first, everyone thought she was dieting for her figure, so she ate less. Then she stopped eating altogether. Later, they found out she vomited everything up. Jiang Qin panicked most. Jiang Ruoning had just left the hospital and needed nutrition, but she couldn’t keep anything down. She wasted away to barely seventy jin. In a video call, seeing that skeletal frame left her speechless in shock.

Work wrapped up, and she flew back. That night, she took Jiang Ruoning for meds. At the door, Jiang Ruoning said, “Ye Yu, I feel awful.”

She burst into inexplicable tears. “I feel so awful.”

“Where?” she asked.

Jiang Ruoning’s voice was hollow. “My heart hurts.” She clutched her chest. “It hurts here. Can’t breathe.”

She lined up the best doctors, but no heart issues showed. Still, Jiang Ruoning grew listless, uninterested in everything, a shell of her former lively self—like a walking corpse.

Ye Yu said, “She wasn’t doing well.”

Shi Sui turned to her, eyes misting faintly. This didn’t match what she’d imagined. Ye Yu continued, “Later, when Aunt Jiang got sick, Ruoning cared for her a while. The symptoms eased. With meds from the hospital, her body recovered.”

Ye Yu accused, “It’s all your fault.”

Shi Sui hung her head in guilt.

Ye Yu said, “Your fault. These years, she couldn’t even date.”

Shi Sui stared. “She never dated?”