"What, are you jealous?"
"You've been busy all day, you two get some rest early. The bedding and pillows are all freshly changed, I prepared them a couple of days ago. Qiqi, did you bring clothes? If not, let Meng Shang take you to buy new ones."
"I have some, I have some, Mom, don't worry about me."
Jiang Ruoqi followed behind the busy Meng Shang's mother, wanting to lend a hand, but Yun Dan's personal style was completely different from the temperament she displayed on the surface; she was extremely brisk and efficient.
"Does Grandma need someone at night? How about Meng Shang and I go keep her company, and you two rest for a day."
"No need." Ms. Yun waved her hand. "In principle, the hospital does not allow family members to stay overnight. We've also hired a nurse for when Grandma gets up at night. But for Old Meng's sake, we can manage one night on the small couch. Tonight, Meng Shang's uncle is here, so we can go early tomorrow morning to relieve him."
Meng Shang also has an uncle; they met briefly at dinner.
Jiang Ruoqi nodded and said, "Mom, don't bother. Meng Shang and I can tidy up ourselves."
"It's fine. I don't get much chance to busy myself at home. When you're here, I'm more than happy to keep busy." Ms. Yun finished tidying the bed in Meng Shang's room, put her hands on her hips and looked around. Seeing Jiang Ruoqi nearby but not Meng Shang, she couldn't help asking, "How could Xiao Shang leave you here to tidy up alone? Where did he run off to?"
"There was a call from the hospital. He went to answer it." Jiang Ruoqi pulled Yun Dan to sit on the bed. "Your room is spotless. I just need to organize my own things. Don't worry about him."
"How can he not worry? That won't do." Yun Dan lowered her eyes and patted Jiang Ruoqi's hand. "When a couple runs a household, it's not right for only one person to take care of it. Not to mention anything else, just look at our family."
"Meng Shang's father he..."
At dinner, Meng Shang's father took a moment to meet with them. He wore a crisp pine-green shirt, standard for military doctors, with an emerald green tie. His stature and expression matched Jiang Ruoqi's impression of soldiers as upright and serious.
His aura was so strong that Jiang Ruoqi stumbled a little when she called him "Dad."
Seeing Jiang Ruoqi's hesitant expression, Yun Dan smiled. "You don't understand? I didn't understand when I was young either. I just thought since we were married, since he was busy with work, I'd take on more of the household. But over time, my mindset changed. Before marriage, I was also a key training target at my unit. Why should I be trapped by trivial household matters? I was unwilling, and I wanted fairness and equality. So I handed Meng Shang over to his grandmother and threw myself into work as well."
"Who would have thought that Xiao Shang would eventually become a doctor? Before he started a family, he could do whatever he wanted. But now that you're married, you've made such a big sacrifice for him. When it's time to make him do things, you should..."
Yun Dan was just sharing intimate words with Jiang Ruoqi. She had always worked in civil affairs, a job that required communicating with all kinds of people.
For her, connecting with people was not difficult. But after this brief time together, she found herself especially fond of Jiang Ruoqi. It was as if... she could see her former spirited self in her, so she couldn't help but offer advice from the perspective of someone who had been through it.
Even though she clearly knew that Meng Shang and his father were completely different in personality and behavior.
"What are you saying about me?" Meng Shang leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, looking at Jiang Ruoqi and his mother with a smile. Who knows how long he had been eavesdropping?
"We're saying that no matter how busy you are with work, now that you're married, you can't always be away from home. Help Qiqi share the load when things come up. Got it?"
Yun Dan was not flustered by her son overhearing; instead, with that gentle and graceful face, she confidently scolded Meng Shang.
Their mother-son relationship was quite good. First, Yun Dan was naturally outspoken and carefree; second, compared to Meng Gaofan, she had spent more time with Meng Shang.
"Don't worry, I'm not like my dad." Meng Shang understood what his mother was hinting at and even threw shade at his father, who cared more about the public than the family.
"Not like? Not like what?" Yun Dan's gaze swept over the simple silver ring on Jiang Ruoqi's slender, fair finger, then landed on Meng Shang's bare ring finger. "I can understand you young people not wanting a wedding, but where's your wedding ring?"
Meng Shang was momentarily stunned, then seemed to realize something. His gaze unconsciously drifted toward Jiang Ruoqi.
He didn't say a word in defense. Seeing his reaction, Ms. Yun understood everything. She was almost heartbroken: "You didn't even buy Qiqi a new ring, did you?"
It was only then that Meng Shang noticed that Jiang Ruoqi was wearing a ring on her left ring finger. It was a silver diamond-patterned band, no discernible brand, but exquisitely crafted, good enough to be a wedding ring or a pair.
"I forgot..."
Jiang Ruoqi quickly interrupted, casting a glance at Meng Shang to signal him not to act rashly. "He didn't forget. We do have a pair of rings. But Meng Shang is a surgeon. He's had surgeries scheduled the past few days, and he can't wear rings in the OR. Maybe he took it off and got too busy to put it back on."
It was a perfectly reasonable excuse, leaving no room for rebuttal, as if she had prepared it in advance. Meng Shang realized belatedly that she had known all along.
"Don't listen to him. Those are all excuses. His dad said the same thing to me back then." Yun Dan snorted twice. "Don't be too considerate of men. If he cares, how could he not manage such a small thing? He could even tie it around his neck with a string."
Jiang Ruoqi laughed helplessly. It seemed that as a doctor's family member, Meng Shang's mother was experienced and couldn't be fooled.
Unable to save Meng Shang, she had to switch sides and join forces with Meng Shang's mother, fabricating further: "You hear that? When we get back, hurry up and find the wedding ring and put it on. Unless you're in surgery, don't take it off."
Meng Shang understood and nodded cooperatively, but he also took note of the ring issue in his heart: "Got it."
Ms. Yun Dan watched the young couple's interaction with satisfaction, and the inexplicable anxiety in her heart finally eased at this moment.
She didn't plan to be the glowing lightbulb between them, so she stood up and pushed Meng Shang into the room. "Alright. You two tidy up. I'm going back to my room. Rest early. Tomorrow after you visit Grandma, you still have to drive back to Xinhai for work."
"You too, Mom. Get some rest. I'll cook with Meng Shang tomorrow morning." Jiang Ruoqi also stood up.
"Let Meng Shang do it. You rest." Yun Dan raised her hand and patted Meng Shang again. "The breakfast shop at the entrance of the neighborhood is gone. If you want to buy something ready-made to cheat, you'll have to cross the street to the one at the intersection. You know that?"
Meng Shang was also helpless about Ms. Yun's nature of worrying about every little detail. "Don't worry. Go sleep now."
After seeing off Meng Shang's mother, the bedroom space suddenly felt open. Jiang Ruoqi smiled brightly as she watched the mother-son interaction; her expression alone conveyed her interest without needing words.
Meng Shang closed the door and pulled Jiang Ruoqi into a light hug. "Grandma and my mom—they all really like you. You've been busy all day. You worked hard."
Jiang Ruoqi raised her head, looking as if she deeply agreed. "Of course. I'm so likable and articulate. Isn't it only natural to like me?"
Meng Shang laughed again, took Jiang Ruoqi's hand, and squeezed it in his.
"That smile of yours is very suspicious. Explain." Jiang Ruoqi pulled away and reached up to grab Meng Shang's collar.
"Mm... I think what you said is absolutely correct." Meng Shang's hand covered his own collar. "Indeed, no one could dislike you."
Jiang Ruoqi glanced at him, let go of his collar, and hummed twice without speaking.
But Meng Shang took the opportunity to hold her hand, rubbing the ring finger where she wore the ring and lowering his head to look. Her already slender fingers were further elongated by the nude nail polish.
The ring on her ring finger was loose, obviously a size too big. It hung loosely on the last knuckle; if it weren't for the bone, it would slip off with a flick.
"I'm sorry, I didn't even think about the ring." Meng Shang felt guilty. "If I forget something in the future, can you remind me directly?"