"It's just a ring. There are so many things to worry about; this isn't a big deal." Jiang Ruoqi didn't want to talk much about the ring. "Besides, a marriage certificate is much more reliable than a ring."
"But I recently saw a lifestyle tip saying that maintaining an AA system after marriage can easily lead to relationship breakdown. So Dr. Meng, Director Meng, you should be the one not secretly buying things on your own. I earn money too!"
Meng Shang twisted Jiang Ruoqi's ring. "Yes, President Jiang dominates the workplace. As I said before, I found a good catch."
It was unclear whether he agreed or not, but Meng Shang kept staring at her hand, making Jiang Ruoqi extremely uncomfortable.
That little habit of hers, whether due to OCD or anxiety, made her hands—or rather, her fingers—not very attractive.
It was only through constant manicures that she maintained the only dignity of her nails, but the cuticles and hangnails weren't so fortunate. When she was anxious, she would tear them off layer by layer, bleed, scab, and repeat the process until soft calluses formed.
When she got her nails done, she was often asked if she was a nurse, because her hands were so rough from frequent washing.
In contrast, this one, who really needed to wash his hands often, had beautiful knuckles with blue veins, nails trimmed neatly, and healthy pink nail beds.
It completely satisfied all of Miss Jiang's preferences for hands.
In comparison, Jiang Ruoqi felt even more uncomfortable. She curled her fingers and tucked them into Meng Shang's palm.
But Meng Shang was sharp-eyed and noticed a scabbed spot. He caught her hand and asked, "What happened here?"
"I bumped it a couple of days ago. It's already healed." Jiang Ruoqi withdrew her hand, hid it by her side and rubbed it, then immediately changed the subject before Meng Shang could speak. "There's quite a lot of stuff in your room. Did you live here as a child?"
Meng Shang's home in Hangxiang was in the central area, fully equipped and not far from a prestigious high school—a standard school-district house. His room faced south, with a private bathroom to the right as you entered. By the window stood a desk and a bookshelf crammed full.
"Before high school, I lived with my grandmother. After high school, my dad exchanged his allocated house for this one, and I moved here."
"So the time span isn't that long either. If I want to see something private, I can't, can I?"
Jiang Ruoqi's gaze fell on a photo frame on the desk with a picture of three people—two men and one woman. She recognized the men: Meng Shang and Su Yansheng. The girl... she seemed somewhat familiar, but she wasn't sure.
Meng Shang turned around to block Jiang Ruoqi's view and flipped the photo frame face down. "What do you want to see?"
"What are you nervous about? It's not like you're the only one with an ex. I don't mind."
Jiang Ruoqi wrapped her arms around Meng Shang's waist, trapping him in front of the desk so he couldn't escape forward or backward. "Do you want to hear? I'm generous. I can tell you all about it."
"I don't want to hear. I don't want to know." Meng Shang raised his hand and pressed it against Jiang Ruoqi's forehead, refusing bluntly.
This was a bit inconsistent with his recent obedient attitude toward her. Jiang Ruoqi deliberately provoked, "What, are you jealous?"
"...Mm." Meng Shang paused, turned his head away, and hummed a low note.
Jiang Ruoqi's eyes instantly lit up. "Admitting it so readily doesn't quite fit the marriage-first-later-love trope. According to the rules, we should be more businesslike, more physical, not this quickly coming to mutual affection."
Indeed, it hadn't reached mutual affection, at least not for this chattering little liar in front of him.
Meng Shang couldn't really listen to what Jiang Ruoqi was saying; his eyes were only on the person in his arms. "Aren't you tired of talking so much?"
"Not tired."
"You are tired. Rest a bit." Meng Shang lowered his head and lightly touched Jiang Ruoqi's lips. "Rest a bit."
A soft kiss, brief and fleeting.
Jiang Ruoqi suddenly froze, feeling as if she had been brushed off, yet also feeling that given Dr. Meng's rigid behavior, this gesture was already a big step forward in recognizing his own advantages and trying to seduce her.
But before she could praise him, she tasted a mint candy sweetness on her lips.
The mint lemon flavor was from the candy she had given him to stay alert while driving. Jiang Ruoqi had reason to suspect that Dr. Meng had just gone to eat a mint candy with a heavy burden on his mind.
Jiang Ruoqi reached out, hooked her arms around Meng Shang's neck, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him again.
The wet sensation grew heavier with their breaths, stealing away all breath, leaving only the faint lingering tingle of mint.
By the moonlight, Jiang Ruoqi saw Meng Shang with his eyes closed, extremely innocent. His eyelashes trembled, but his actions were strong, not allowing Jiang Ruoqi to retreat an inch.
He held her tightly, just like Jiang Ruoqi hugs her pillow when she sleeps.
Jiang Ruoqi kissed the corner of Meng Shang's lips, then nuzzled against his neck. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
From kissing to hugging, from body to heart, the distance actually shortened, making them seem even closer.
Meng Shang was surprised that Jiang Ruoqi could sense his unease, but instead of asking directly, he silently held her tighter. "Grandma was very happy today. Since she was admitted to the hospital, I haven't seen her this happy in a long time."
"I'm a doctor. Since my internship, I've seen many patients pass away. So I thought I had seen through life and death and wouldn't be afraid of parting. But..."
Meng Shang paused, then took a deep breath. "But only now do I realize that the partings I've experienced were never my own. False openness, false understanding—in reality, I'm just like any other patient's family member. It's hard to accept that someone who talked and smiled with me today might suddenly leave one day."
"That's a common human trait. No one will blame you for being sentimental. At home, you're Meng Shang, Grandma's grandson, not Deputy Director Meng Shang of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at Xinhai First Municipal Hospital. Of course, you can be vulnerable."
"Come on, a hug will make it better."
Jiang Ruoqi had always been good at comforting people. She could quickly find the root of low emotions and then provide matching emotional support.
Meng Shang let out a sigh. "Mm, a hug will make it better."
"But the reason memories are precious is that the present leaves regrets. Just imagining the future is useless. To leave fewer regrets, let's come back and visit Grandma often when we have time."
Jiang Ruoqi thought for a moment, then suddenly tilted her head up and bumped Meng Shang's chin. "Next week is Christmas, and in a couple of days it's the New Year holiday. Should we come back again for New Year's?"
"I have to be on duty for New Year's." Meng Shang wanted to, but the cardiothoracic surgery department was never quiet all year round, and autumn and winter were the peak of peaks; even taking leave was a luxury.
"Then I'll come back myself. Give me your car to drive. I'm on vacation anyway."
"You... don't you need to visit your mother during the holiday?" Meng Shang hesitated, knowing it was sensitive, but still asked bluntly.
"Maybe. My mom just sees how things go. She's not used to staying with me for too long."
Jiang Ruoqi pursed her lips and smiled. Whenever it came to her own matters, she didn't want to say much. She just urged Meng Shang to hurry up and wash up.
"Go shower and sleep. I'm already sleepy. Tomorrow we still have to get up early to buy breakfast. I haven't had scallion pan-fried buns and savory soy milk in nearly ten years."
Meng Shang knew her too well. She seemed like she never got enough sleep. If she got up early, she might be out of commission all day. "You sleep. I'll pack some and bring them back for you."
"Packing them back won't taste the same." Jiang Ruoqi frowned and poked Meng Shang's lower back. "You have to wake me up, you hear!"
"Okay." Meng Shang grabbed his clothes and headed to the bathroom. "But if you can't get up, I won't wait for you."
Before the words faded, Jiang Ruoqi could be heard behind him angrily pounding the pillow.
"That's slander! I'm not going to oversleep!"