When everything settled down, under the strong insistence of the whole family, Jiang Fuyue began her “recuperation life.”
She still remembered that day, she was carried out of the laboratory like a little chick by Han Shen.
“…Uncle?” At the time, Jiang Fuyue was completely dumbfounded.
What kind of operation was this?
Did she not want face?
Xu Kaiqing and old Peter were stunned at first, but after hearing how she addressed the newcomer, they began to laugh quietly and unkindly.
Han Shen: “How many calls has the family made? You said you’d come back, but you’ve practically grown roots in the lab. The old master said, even if we have to tie you up, we’re bringing you back today.”
Jiang Fuyue felt inexplicably guilty and said in a small voice, “I was planning to go back… but I suddenly had a flash of inspiration and got a new idea, so I wanted to finish it first.”
During the process of replicating the experiments related to Tosaki Kawashima, Jiang Fuyue discovered quite a few new findings. When she reorganized them, it seemed she had touched upon something new related to immunology.
She couldn’t wait to explore the results. She even turned down a date with Xie Dingyuan, immersing herself in experiments day and night, forgetting both time and, cough, going home.
That was why Han Shen personally came to arrest her.
“I really don’t know what kind of boyfriend Xie Dingyuan is. He finally gets some free time but doesn’t take his girlfriend out to relax, just leaves you alone in the lab without asking anything, not even a shadow of him.” After speaking, Han Shen snorted coldly to show his dissatisfaction.
“Well, you’ve wronged him, it was me who didn’t go.”
“If he can’t even get you to agree to a date, it just proves he’s lacking ability. Still unqualified.”
Jiang Fuyue: “…” What kind of accusation was that?
“I think he just has no way to deal with you. Then why be a boyfriend at all? Yueyue, your uncle has better candidates, how about we change one?”
At that moment, Xie Dingyuan, who was in the middle of a video meeting, suddenly sneezed. Why did the back of his neck feel chilly?
The entire conference room on the other end fell silent.
He waved his hand. “Next. Continue.”
Back here, Jiang Fuyue immediately shook her head. “No, no, no changing.”
Han Shen curled his lips and dragged his tone: “You really protect him…”
Jiang Fuyue wasn’t embarrassed at all and said openly, “He treats me well, so I protect him. What’s the problem?”
Han Shen: “…” No problem, just a little sour.
In the end, Jiang Fuyue got into Han Shen’s car, which sped all the way toward home.
Xu Kaiqing and old Peter stood at the lab entrance, watching the car disappear into the distance.
Xu Kaiqing withdrew his gaze and let out a long breath. “She finally went back.”
Peter: “We should go rest too…”
“Go, go, go, hurry!”
The two quickly packed up and left without looking back, as if afraid Jiang Fuyue might return.
Heaven knew, competing in diligence with a young person, especially one more talented than you, was pure torment!
Peter: “I told you not to compete with her, but you wouldn’t listen. The key point is she doesn’t even know you’re competing, what’s the point? You even dragged me into becoming a model worker too. Exhausting…”
Xu Kaiqing: “Shut up! Your Chinese keeps getting better, look at that nonstop chatter…”
Their voices gradually faded as the sunset stretched their shadows long across the ground.
…
As soon as Jiang Fuyue arrived home, Little Mang was the first to run out.
“Woof woof, ” biting her clothes like a little resentful dog: why did you come back so late?
Jiang Fuyue rubbed its head and received affectionate nuzzling in return.
The old master Han Qishan followed closely behind, moving briskly, not at all like someone who needed a cane.
“Nannan* is back!”
*colloquial term of endearment
Han Ke and Han Heng also stepped forward.
“It’s good you’re back. You’ve worked so hard, rest well at home for a couple of days.”
Han Shen: “Alright, don’t just stand outside. Let’s go in.”
Dinner had already been prepared, an entire table of dishes, all Jiang Fuyue’s favorites.
Han Ting came in from outside holding a basketball, drenched in sweat. He had been about to run upstairs, but suddenly stopped and turned toward Jiang Fuyue.
“Sis! You’re back?!”
His expression was excited, his tone joyful.
Han Shen: “Go upstairs and change first. Wash off that stink, you’re eating soon.”
Han Ting ran upstairs, and in less than five minutes he had showered, changed clothes, and come back down clean.
He was holding a red booklet.
He walked shyly up to Jiang Fuyue, scratching his head. “Sis, I won an award in Olympiad math.”
Although it was only second prize at the city level, for someone who used to be a poor student, it was already more than satisfying!
Jiang Fuyue took it from him and opened it, it was an award certificate.
“Not bad. Keep it up.”
She didn’t say polite flattering words. “Not bad” was her evaluation of Han Ting; “keep it up” was her expectation for his future.
Those who knew Jiang Fuyue understood, Sister Yue never spoke nonsense, nor insincere words.
Han Ting grinned foolishly. “Hehe… it’s all because I did the papers you gave me… Sis, don’t worry, I’ll keep working hard!”
Han Shen looked at the red booklet and frowned. “You won an award? When? Why didn’t I know?”
Han Ting looked puzzled. “Why do you need to know?”
Han Shen: “…” Brat!
“Well… you didn’t ask…” Han Ting muttered softly.
“I didn’t ask, so you didn’t say?”
“Yeah!” Completely justified.
Han Shen: “Then your sister didn’t ask either, why did you say it to her?”
Han Ting looked disgusted. “Can you compare with my sister? The older you get, the less self-awareness you have…”
Han Shen: “?!” The kid was asking for a beating!
Seeing his father’s murderous glare, Han Ting quickly hid behind Han Qishan. “Grandpa, look at him! He’s definitely thinking about hitting me again!”
In the end, Han Qishan spoke: “Alright, what are you arguing about? Little Ting isn’t wrong, how can you compare with Yueyue?”
Han Shen: “?”
Han Ke: “Cough cough!”
Han Heng: Ah, the ceiling looks nice.
“Now immediately go eat!”
The family gathered around the dining table.
“Here, Nannan, eat this.”
“You worked hard dealing with Tosaki Kawashima, have a drumstick!”
“Chicken wings are more tender, eat two!”
“Sis, I’ll serve you rice… and another bowl of soup…”
Being enthusiastically fed every time she returned home had already become routine. The first time unfamiliar, the second time familiar, now Jiang Fuyue was completely calm.
No need to worry about anything, just lie flat and eat!
Anyway, everything they put in her bowl was her favorite.
After dinner, Jiang Fuyue accompanied Han Qishan on their usual walk for digestion. Han Ting also followed enthusiastically, walking Little Mang along the way.
Only then did Jiang Fuyue notice, Little Mang had gotten fatter again.
Its black-and-yellow fur was glossy, and its dog face had grown one size bigger.
Probably because Jiang Fuyue had come home today, it was extremely excited, rubbing here and sticking there, its tail wagging nonstop.
After the walk, the three people and one dog returned home.
Han Qishan had the servants bring out the chessboard, his hands were itching to play a few rounds with Jiang Fuyue.
Jiang Fuyue also became interested, unaware that her phone upstairs had already rung again and again…
This was the second time Han Ting had watched his sister play Chinese chess with Grandpa.
He brought a small stool and sat nearby to watch. Several times he wanted to speak, but Han Qishan stopped him each time with: “Spectators should not speak during a game.”
Fine, he wouldn’t speak. It wasn’t him who was going to lose anyway.
Sure enough, in less than two minutes, Han Qishan was already in check.
Han Ting: “I was just about to remind you, don’t move the knight. Move the elephant first, then the rook like this… you could’ve held out longer…”
Han Qishan snorted angrily. “Why didn’t you say it earlier?! Backseat strategist!”
Han Ting: “Didn’t you tell me not to speak while watching?”
“…” Did he? Probably not.
They played five rounds. Han Qishan lost four; the last one only because Jiang Fuyue subtly gave him a move.
“Not playing anymore.” Since he won the last one, that meant he won.
(If they continued, he might lose.)
Jiang Fuyue: “Little Ting, your turn?”
“Ah? Me?” His eyes widened.
Han Ting originally didn’t know how to play Chinese chess. It was only because he had seen Jiang Fuyue play once with Grandpa earlier that he went to learn the rules.
Jiang Fuyue nodded. “Play one round?”
“Well… okay! But I’m not very good, don’t laugh at me.”
Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow. Those two moves just now didn’t look like someone with poor skills…
Want to show your support? Go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! :)
