Gu Che froze for a moment, his hand covering the spot on his cheek where she’d kissed him. He lowered his gaze, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. In the entire year they’d been dating, they’d barely held hands a handful of times.
Yet now, she had actually kissed him.
“Yezi, you…”
Jiang Ye clung to his arm, swaying it back and forth as she pouted. “So, in your eyes, is your girlfriend less important than money?”
“N-No, that’s not it…”
The Su family *had* approached him about tutoring, but the pay was nowhere near what he’d claimed—just ten yuan a month.
He’d asked around among other Tsinghua students and found that even basic living expenses cost at least a dozen yuan per semester. Waiting for Jiang Ye had nearly drained his savings.
“Yezi, you know… my parents aren’t in good health, so…”
The moment Gu Che mentioned his “parents,” Jiang Ye’s patience snapped. She released his arm, her earlier sweetness replaced by cold irritation.
In her past life, marrying into the Gu family had been nothing but suffering.
His parents might have been frail, but they’d lived well into their seventies and eighties. Once, she’d complained to Gu Che’s mother about his affairs.
His mother’s exact words: *”My Ah Che is a capable man. So what if he fools around outside? If you can’t take it, just divorce him.”*
Gu Che was taken aback by her sudden shift in mood. Staring at her icy expression, he hesitated. “Wh-what’s wrong? Are you mad at me?”
“No.”
“Then… did I say something wrong?”
Jiang Ye forced herself to smooth out her expression and took a deep breath. “How about I ask my brother to pay you instead? It won’t be much, though.”
Gu Che’s eyes lit up. “Th-that wouldn’t be appropriate, would it?”
“You’re right. Maybe we should just forget it?”
His smile stiffened instantly. He’d only been trying to sound modest.
His gaze lingered on her, a strange feeling creeping over him. Something about her had changed—he just couldn’t pinpoint what.
…
That afternoon.
Yu Qing returned in Xue Li’s car, her face radiant with joy as she carried a few gifts. “Wen Ci, I’m back!”
Originally, she’d planned to accompany Wen Ci to visit Huo Jingyuan, but after Xue Li’s persuasion, she decided not to intrude on the couple’s time.
Her stay at the Xue family estate had been eye-opening. Before, her medical knowledge had been limited to the small scope of the Northwest. Now, with her horizons broadened, she wanted to apply to medical school!
Her skills were undeniable, but she still needed the academic credentials to match.
Suddenly, Yu Qing noticed the chubby boy sitting in the living room and frowned. “Who are you? Why are you here?”
Wen Yaozu, seated beside Xiao Chuan, pressed the boy down when he tried to greet Yu Qing. Xiao Chuan recognized the pretty older sister—she’d even given him clothes before.
“Who are *you*?” Wen Yaozu shot back.
Yu Qing blinked. “You first.”
“Ladies first.”
Yu Qing: “…”
Upstairs, Wen Ci heard Yu Qing’s voice and descended leisurely, her gaze sweeping past the empty space behind her. “Xue Li didn’t come in?”
“He had things to do.”
Wen Ci nudged Yu Qing playfully with her elbow as she reached the bottom step. “So, how was your stay at the Xue family estate?”
She’d been worried Xue Li would sweep Yu Qing off her feet!
“I’m taking the medical school entrance exams next year!”
Wen Ci’s eyes curved in amusement. “That’s great.”
Though the 1980s didn’t yet strictly enforce medical licensing, regulations would tighten over time. Even skilled “barefoot doctors” wouldn’t be allowed to practice without certification.
“Don’t you think I’m being delusional?”
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