Meng Shang heard her voice from both his left ear (on the phone) and his right ear (in person). He looked up in surprise and saw none other than the person he was waiting for, sitting on the public bench near the doctors' office.
"Surprise? Touched?" Jiang Ruoqi stood up with a smile and teased the speechless Meng Shang. "Oh no, I feel like you're so moved you'll love me forever!"
Meng Shang's heart pounded. "Smooth talker."
But she was telling the truth.
Jiang Ruoqi reached out as if to hug Meng Shang, but just as he stepped forward, she pulled her hands back. "Forget it. Not appropriate at work. I'll hug you when we get home."
Meng Shang shook his head, helpless. "When did you get here? How long have you been waiting?"
"Not long. Ada's flight was at 9 PM. We got to the airport at 7, and I headed back right away. New Year's Eve traffic in Xinhai is really bad. I got here around 9." Jiang Ruoqi checked the time. "Waited two and a half hours. Looking at it that way... seems kind of long."
"Teacher, you're back!" Gu Huai, who was on night shift, heard the commotion and came out of the office. Seeing Jiang Ruoqi standing face to face with Meng Shang, he quickly explained, "This lady wouldn't say which patient's family she was. She insisted on finding you and has been waiting for a while."
Jiang Ruoqi blinked, pursed her lips, and smiled, waiting for Meng Shang to explain.
Meng Shang stepped forward and gently put his arm around Jiang Ruoqi. "She's not a patient's family member. This is my wife, Jiang Ruoqi. She's here to pick me up from work."
"This is Gu Huai, my colleague."
Jiang Ruoqi greeted him generously: "Hello, Dr. Gu. I came in a rush today. Next time, I'll treat you to some wedding candy."
"Ah, Meng? I... this..." Gu Huai was flustered, gesturing between Meng Shang and Jiang Ruoqi.
After a moment, he finally composed himself and waved his hands nervously: "No, no need to be polite. I'm a student of Director Meng's. Just call me Xiao Gu."
"Alright, Dr. Gu." Jiang Ruoqi looked up at Meng Shang. "Change your clothes, and we'll go home?"
"Mm, wait for me a bit more." Meng Shang nodded, then glanced at the dazed Gu Huai and sighed slightly. He pushed him toward the office. "Stop daydreaming. Do your duty well and guard the first peaceful night of the new year."
Gu Huai suddenly remembered something and turned to wish Jiang Ruoqi well: "Happy New Year, Teacher's Wife!"
Jiang Ruoqi found their interaction amusing. Her eyes curved in a smile, bright even in the midnight hospital corridor. "Happy New Year, Dr. Gu."
The wish came a bit early; it wasn't quite the New Year yet.
At least, when Jiang Ruoqi and Meng Shang walked hand in hand to find their car in the parking lot, there were still three minutes left until the New Year's bell tolled.
I can still be the first to wish Jiang Ruoqi a Happy New Year, Meng Shang consoled himself.
With Meng Shang there, Jiang Ruoqi returned to the passenger seat. Riding was always more comfortable than driving, and she wasn't going to compete for independence in this regard.
Meng Shang started the engine and turned on the AC. There was only one minute left until midnight.
He didn't rush to drive off, as if wanting to count down the last few seconds in the car for a sense of ceremony.
Jiang Ruoqi watched as Meng Shang pulled out his phone and fumbled for something.
The atmosphere was too quiet, so she spoke first: "I was going to ask if you missed me, but then I realized we've only been apart for a day. Seems a bit short."
"I missed you." Meng Shang took Jiang Ruoqi's hand resting on her knee, feeling its usual coolness turn warm. "I missed you so much I couldn't sleep well, and I even dreamed of you."
"What about you? You said you'd dream of me. Did you?"
"Dreams aren't something I can guarantee." Jiang Ruoqi felt guilty. Last night, exhausted, she had slept soundly without a single dream.
So she decided to strike first: "Dr. Meng, you've learned to be bad. Before, you used to blush when I said things like that."
"Staying by President Jiang's side, I have to improve, don't I?" Meng Shang had indeed honed his verbal artistry, speaking flawlessly. Even Jiang Ruoqi couldn't find fault.
She stopped talking, quietly sulking. But Meng Shang squeezed her palm and checked the time on his phone for the countdown.
"Twenty seconds left." Meng Shang leaned in close to Jiang Ruoqi, cheek to cheek, his voice landing by her ear. "Actually, I'm really glad that for our first year, we can be together."
"I'm not big on ceremony, but... five, four, three..."
Meng Shang didn't finish the countdown. Jiang Ruoqi kissed him proactively, staying true to her style.
Occasional separation really did help deepen feelings. They both realized that a brief period of getting used to each other had already made loneliness unbearable.
So a simple kiss turned into an intense emotional release, heating up the atmosphere rapidly.
Meng Shang was especially proactive tonight. Even though Jiang Ruoqi had initiated, she ended up being the one with her cheek held, being kissed step by step backward until her head hit the headrest.
She thought she heard excited cheers outside the car window, but it didn't seem real. Only in the boundless darkness of her mind did fireworks suddenly rise and burst, falling in a shower.
After what seemed like a long time, Meng Shang finally stopped, rubbing his nose against hers.
Jiang Ruoqi's waist was unsupported, making sitting uncomfortable, so she adjusted forward. But instead of retreating, Meng Shang leaned in again and gave her lips a gentle peck.
Jiang Ruoqi's eyes widened, signaling him to behave.
Her irritated expression was just like a fuming Meng Yuanbao.
Meng Shang pulled back but still held her hand. "It's midnight. Jiang Ruoqi, it's a new year."
"Happy New Year."
He still looked at her, his tone affectionate and solemn.
Jiang Ruoqi wanted to respond, but before she could speak, she felt Meng Shang hold her left hand and slip something onto her finger, starting from the fingertip.
She raised her hand. The ring fit perfectly, its diamonds dazzling in the dim light.
Wasn't this... the design she had asked Sophia to help her look at before?
Jiang Ruoqi realized something and looked up at Meng Shang. Their eyes met, and they both laughed at the same time.
She curled her fingers and then opened her palm. Meng Shang understood and leaned in, placing his own men's ring in her hand.
The ring slid over the first and second knuckles, stopping at the base of her ring finger.
Jiang Ruoqi held Meng Shang's hand and interlocked their fingers.
"Happy New Year, Meng Shang."