The sun was blazing hot, and the village dogs were too lethargic to bark, lying in the shade with their tongues hanging out.
The woman stood at the doorway: "Really, there's no need. Just having a meal together is fine."
Father Ji frowned deeply: "Absolutely not. For a child's birthday, we have to buy a cake. How can we not buy a cake?"
Perhaps Father Ji had forgotten—he had never bought a cake for his own children before.
The woman smiled and looked at the two awkward children beside her: "Say thank you to Uncle Jiang, quickly."
The two children glanced at Father Ji and hid behind the woman.
The woman frowned tightly: "Why aren't you talking again..."
Father Ji quickly interrupted her: "Don't scold them. Today is the child's birthday—you're not allowed to say anything to them."
Father Ji coaxed the children behind the woman, raising an eyebrow: "Right? Mom is so mean, scolding you on your birthday."
The woman watched this scene and laughed out loud: "They're closer to you than they are to me."
Father Ji said a few more things, then immediately headed to the city to buy a cake.
The rumors about Father Ji and the woman had been circulating for a while, but by now, Father Ji was completely immune to the village gossip.
He hummed a tune, hopped on his motorcycle, and drove straight to the county town.
That damn woman Ji Fangyun really thought that by keeping the kids away from him, he'd have no way. If he, Jiang Dayong, wanted children, plenty of women would bear them for him.
He bought the most expensive cake, wanting to make a good impression.
After all the trouble he'd gone through, she'd better let him touch her today.
Just as his mind wandered, a piercing screech of brakes suddenly rang out.
"BANG!!!"
Before Father Ji could react, he was violently slammed to the ground. Everything around him went silent. The cake shattered into pieces.
He tried to get up, but his entire body wouldn't move. People covered their mouths, staring at him. He felt a warm trickle spreading from the back of his head.
Father Ji watched the police officer running toward him, his eyelids growing heavier and heavier, until he finally slipped into darkness.
Once was enough, and then there was the second time.
Zhou Chiye's daily routine in the hospital had become waiting for Ji Zhaoxi to visit him. After she came, he'd have someone send her home.
"How have these past few days been?" Mother Zhou yawned.
Zhou Chiye stared absentmindedly at the ceiling: "Pretty good."
Mother Zhou: ...
"Is that girl your 'younger brother'?" Mother Zhou suddenly asked.
Zhou Chiye coughed, saying nothing.
Mother Zhou immediately understood.
So that's why he'd suddenly asked her for those skincare products.
Seeing him looking so down now, he was probably waiting for that girl.
A knock suddenly sounded at the door.
A moment later, a head peeked in. Ji Zhaoxi froze for a second when she saw Mother Zhou: "Auntie."
Mother Zhou smiled: "You're here."
"Are you hungry after school? Have a little something to fill your stomach first."
Ji Zhaoxi stood awkwardly to the side: "Thank you, Auntie."
Zhou Chiye's face turned slightly red. He coughed, looking at his mother: "Mom."
Mother Zhou rolled her eyes in exasperation.
She smiled at Ji Zhaoxi: "Auntie will be off now. You two talk."
As soon as Mother Zhou left, Zhou Chiye relaxed a bit, though he still wasn't entirely at ease.
"Hungry?"
Ji Zhaoxi shook her head, pulled up a stool, and sat down beside Zhou Chiye.
"Auntie will bring dinner soon. Eat before you go," Zhou Chiye said stiffly.
"Mm-hmm!"
The atmosphere in the ward settled into silence.
Afraid Ji Zhaoxi might feel awkward, Zhou Chiye clumsily searched for topics: "Did the school cat get spayed?"
Ji Zhaoxi nodded: "The cat club took it."
Zhou Chiye was incredibly nervous, but didn't know what else to talk about. What was he supposed to ask? Ask what she'd done at school lately? Whether the teacher had praised her? Or if anyone had been picking on her?
Useless mouth—say something!
In the end, he still didn't know what to say. He felt completely drained, and when his wound brushed against the pillow, he winced in pain.
Seeing him break out in a cold sweat from the pain, Ji Zhaoxi held out her hand. In his agony, Zhou Chiye grabbed it tightly.
He'd been wanting to hold her hand for ages!
"Uh, did you bring that doll?" Zhou Chiye asked awkwardly.
Last time, he'd mentioned he couldn't sleep. Ji Zhaoxi said that hugging her doll helped her fall asleep and suggested he try it.
Then Zhou Chiye asked if she could bring her doll over...
Honestly, he still didn't know why he'd asked that back then. But the thought had just popped into his head, so he blurted it out.
It was really sketchy... but he still asked...
Ji Zhaoxi hesitated: "I brought it, but I haven't washed it this week."
Actually, she was lying. She hadn't washed that doll in two months...
She had several other dolls at home, but this one was her favorite.
Zhou Chiye didn't know what he imagined, but his face instantly flushed scarlet. He held back: "That's fine. It's like you're keeping me company."
Ji Zhaoxi pulled the squished doll out of her bulging backpack. Zhou Chiye hugged it to his chest, his face red. The doll still smelled like her.
Realizing this, Zhou Chiye's face grew even redder. Even after Ji Zhaoxi left, his cheeks were still flushed.
Late that night, when it was quiet, Zhou Chiye showed no signs of sleepiness. He hugged the doll and took a few deep breaths, his face burning bright red.
When he'd heard Ji Zhaoxi say she hadn't washed the doll, his first thought had been: good thing she hadn't.
So dirty...
But that was truly what he thought at the time.
Zhou Chiye held the doll up in the air, staring at its shiny eyes, his ears reddening.
"Ji Zhaoxi... do you like me?"
His face blazed all the way down to his neck. His eyes flickered. "You said yes. I heard you."
Zhou Chiye placed the doll beside him, squeezing and hugging it, his heart swelling with contentment.
Her doll was as cute as she was.
Moonlight streamed through the window. Ji Fangyun walked out, laughing with a few coworkers. Ever since the new boss had taken over, their workload had decreased significantly, and the night shift paid much better than before.
Just then, her phone rang. Ji Fangyun frowned at the unfamiliar number and hung up.
The phone rang again. Hesitantly, she answered.
"Who is this?"
A pleasant female voice came through.
"Hello, is this Ms. Ji Fangyun? We regret to inform you that the insured, Mr. Jiang Dayong, was involved in a severe traffic accident today and has passed away despite rescue efforts."
Ji Fangyun's eyes widened as she shrank into a corner to listen.
"According to our records, you are the beneficiary of this policy. Based on the compensation terms, we will transfer five hundred thousand yuan to your account..."
Ji Fangyun clamped her hand tightly over her mouth, trying to suppress the laughter rising in her throat, but her shoulders shook uncontrollably.
Jiang Dayong, Jiang Dayong—in your whole life, you finally did one good thing...
