Wen Ci might become the subject of gossip in the compound tomorrow, which could even affect her father’s promotion. The position of Minister was already attracting envious eyes.
Aiming for a higher position meant not a single misstep could be afforded.
Jiang Chen: “No other meaning. I need to get to work, I’m leaving first.”
Wen Ci lifted her foot and abruptly kicked Jiang Chen. Since he wasn’t willing to apologize, she would make him ‘apologize’ in her own way. Her expression was indifferent: “I will report today’s matter truthfully to Minister Jiang.”
She couldn’t be bothered to teach Jiang Chen a lesson herself.
Better to let his father educate him.
After being kicked, Jiang Chen was somewhat prepared. He staggered a few steps but ultimately didn’t fall. He glared angrily at Wen Ci, “Did you kick me on purpose?”
“I meant to do that.”
·
After leaving the Beijing military district, Xu Jinghe watched Wen Ci’s retreating figure and couldn’t help but frown. He remembered Huo Jingyuan writing in a letter that he had married Minister Jiang’s daughter after all.
But this woman before him wasn’t surnamed Jiang, but Wen.
And why did she seem to be at odds with Jiang Chen?
Unable to contain his curiosity, Xu Jinghe asked: “Sister-in-law, are you really Minister Jiang’s biological daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Then did you take your mother’s surname?”
Wen Ci shook her head: “No.”
Thinking that since Xu Jinghe was Huo Jingyuan’s childhood friend, there was no need to hide it from him, she said, “It’s neither too complicated nor too simple.”
Then, Wen Ci told him about her background.
After a while, Xu Jinghe’s eyes widened in astonishment after hearing her story.
From what he knew, Minister Jiang’s wife was also doing business in the north, and on a fairly large scale. Even though Wen Ci hadn’t grown up in the Jiang family, her perspective and insight were exceptional.
The two walked and talked as they headed to the hospital.
Huo Jingyuan was lying by the bed waiting. His face was contorted. Yesterday afternoon, he had forced the doctor to remove his stitches. They had given him anesthesia.
But moving still pulled at the wound, affecting his whole body.
Just as Wen Ci arrived downstairs, she ran into Huo Jingyuan’s attending doctor, who seemed to have a bellyful of grievances: “Regiment Commander Huo is really too much!”
“What happened?” Wen Ci asked.
“Yesterday afternoon, he forced us to remove his stitches. We couldn’t even stop him.”
Wen Ci frowned, “Did he get anesthesia?”
Yesterday morning, the doctor had said anesthesia wouldn’t be available for a few more days. Having stitches removed without it was unimaginably painful.
Doctor: “He did. He’ll be in pain all day today.”
Wen Ci breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as Huo Jingyuan had received anesthesia and met the hospital’s standards for suture removal, it was fine. But a cold glint flashed in her eyes—this damn man was so disobedient!
Upstairs, Wen Ci turned to Xu Jinghe with a gentle smile and said, “Please wait outside the door for a moment. I need to go in and have a word with him.”
Xu Jinghe nodded.
Wen Ci pushed the door open and entered, then closed it behind her. Her previously smiling face instantly darkened as she walked slowly to the bedside.
“Didn’t you bring Xiao Chuan?” Huo Jingyuan asked.
Completely oblivious to Wen Ci’s expression, he kept looking towards the door and asked puzzled, “Honey, didn’t I ask you to bring Xiao Chuan to see me?”
Seeing how spirited Huo Jingyuan looked, Wen Ci forced an awkward smile, narrowing her eyes slightly: “Huo Jingyuan, you’re quite something, huh?”
“?”
Wen Ci reached out and pinched the man’s ear,smiling a humorless, tight-lipped smile: “Who said you could get your stitches out without my permission?”
“I…”
Huo Jingyuan met Wen Ci’s glistening eyes and deflated. “Didn’t the doctor say it was okay to remove the stitches? I thought the sooner they’re out, the sooner I can go home.”
He was telling the truth.
Staying in the hospital, even with three meals delivered, was genuinely uncomfortable. He figured that removing the stitches earlier would mean going home sooner, and Wen Ci wouldn’t have to come visit him early in the morning anymore.
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