"Make good use of available resources, right? I needed a character reference before daring to try a marriage-first-love-later approach." Jiang Ruoqi changed the subject smoothly. "Oh, I almost forgot His Lordship..."
Before she could finish, Meng Shang slammed on the brakes.
The car ahead had stopped abruptly at a yellow light, triggering a chain reaction. If not for Meng Shang's quick reflexes, they'd have spent their first night as a married couple in a traffic police station.
Once the car was steady, Meng Shang frowned. "His Lordship?"
"Or Her Ladyship?" Jiang Ruoqi gestured. "Didn't you say you have a cat? I'm about to become a mother, so the cat should get a gift too."
Realization dawned on Meng Shang. Yes, there was a golden tabby ruling his home. He nodded. "Indeed, His Lordship."
His Lordship... well, that was a chaotic mixture of terms.
Jiang Ruoqi was eager to meet his cat son. "How about freeze-dried treats and canned food? Does he have any favorite snacks? We can stock up."
Meng Shang thought a couple of snack packs would suffice. The little fatty was already twelve or thirteen pounds at just over a year old; he was trying to figure out how to help him lose weight. Parents should never disagree, especially about putting a child on a diet. But for the sake of Jiang Ruoqi's image as a "doting mother," he didn't mention cutting the cat's rations. Instead, he mentally noted everything she'd suggested for his parents. "I've got it all down. Don't worry, I'll prepare the gifts."
"What do you mean?" Jiang Ruoqi patted her palm-sized, bulging bag. "It's my meeting gift. How can I use your money? Leave it to me. Let's go buy them now."
President Jiang was generous—the whole shopping trip was on her.
She'd forgotten her phone was dead, but luckily, she always carried her cardholder from her time in Gangcheng, where card payments were common. Otherwise, she'd have been humiliated if she had to ask Meng Shang to pay after making such a claim.
Of course, Meng Shang would have preferred to pay. Not out of male chauvinism, but because as Jiang Ruoqi fumbled in her jam-packed bag for her cardholder, she casually pulled out the souvenirs and handed them to him.
In the brightly lit mall, the salesperson at the counter held the POS machine waiting for payment. Meng Shang stood there holding two boxes of souvenirs in one hand and two little red marriage certificates in the other. The scene was oddly comical.
The shop assistant, quick-witted, immediately offered wedding congratulations, praising them as a perfect match and wishing them a harmonious union and a child soon.
Jiang Ruoqi took Meng Shang's arm and happily accepted all the wishes except the last one. Meng Shang's ears turned red as he silently tucked the souvenirs into the shopping bag and slipped the certificates into Jiang Ruoqi's bag.
After all, Dr. Meng hadn't brought a bag—he couldn't just stuff the documents into his pocket.
Looking back over thirty years, Meng Shang felt that nothing had been as eventful as recent days. In one month, he'd gone from unmarried to wed, with a wife who was constantly teasing him. He suddenly felt his married life held a lot of promise.
After shopping, they returned to Meng Shang's apartment on the 11th floor.
Their ten-plus-pound golden tabby son was waiting eagerly at home.
He accepted the shift from single-parent to dual-parent status gracefully. Lying in Jiang Ruoqi's arms, he licked an entire tube of cat paste clean, as if he'd already decided who he'd be closer to from now on.
It was dinner time. Seeing one woman and one cat playing happily, Meng Shang found a charger for Jiang Ruoqi and headed to the kitchen to cook.
Living alone, he usually ate at the hospital canteen. But occasionally, he'd cook for himself to change things up. His culinary skills were decent—at least, that's what colleagues who'd eaten at his place said.
He didn't start frying. The kitchen door remained open. The steady stream of water from the faucet was crystal clear, splashing in all directions as it hit the colander.
Meng Shang took a load of ingredients out of the fridge—far more than two people could eat, as if he wanted to show off his cooking. He placed shrimp and chicken wings under the running water to thaw, put on an apron, and carefully trimmed the greens, removing yellow leaves, cutting the roots, and soaking them in water.
While his hands worked, he could hear the bell on the cat wand jingling faintly from the living room.
Meng Shang smiled as he prepped the vegetables. Jiang Ruoqi had blended into his life so naturally, as if she'd been there all along, not just a stranger who'd barged in.
They'd handle their own work, come home on weekends, go shopping, play with the cat, and share their burdens. Life would be simple but comfortable.
When he was younger, Meng Shang had also dreamed of coming home to a waiting partner—just like his parents.
But... partner?
He shook his head. He was overthinking. For a relationship like theirs, built on convenience, that word felt too heavy. Besides, President Jiang seemed very busy. It was hard to say who'd be waiting for whom in the future.
He fired up both burners, and the kitchen quickly filled with smoke.
Engrossed in cooking, Meng Shang didn't notice the sliding door wasn't fully closed. A round head squeezed through the gap.
"Meow~"
The golden tabby managed to create just enough space to wriggle through, then trotted into the kitchen, meowing twice at Meng Shang.
The range hood was too loud for him to hear. The tabby tilted its head, rolled over to his feet, and plopped down, pressing against his ankles.
Feeling the weight, Meng Shang knew without looking that the cat had sneaked in. He lifted his foot slightly. "Cats aren't allowed in the kitchen. Get out."
Thinking it was a game, the tabby grabbed Meng Shang's pants leg with its paw and let out a sweet meow.
Their son's weight gave him an advantage; with both hands occupied, Meng Shang could only finish stir-frying and plating before crouching down to scold the kid.
"Weren't you two having fun? Why did you come in here?"
"Meow."
"Did you have a fight?"
"Meow~"
"Then can't you just let it go? She likes you so much, bought you all those snacks and treats. You should be a little grateful, right?"
"She's nice. Competent and smart. I haven't seen her many times, but I can tell. From now on, when I work night shifts, she's in your charge, got it?"
His cat son reached a paw toward Meng Shang's face. Unwilling to wash his hands three more times, Meng Shang quickly stood up and lightly kicked the cat's rear. "Out. If there's even one cat hair in the food, I'll cut your treats for a week."
"Meow!"
Meng Shang carried the dish out. The dining area was near the living room, and as he approached, he caught fragments of Jiang Ruoqi's conversation.
"...His assistant contacted you?" Jiang Ruoqi snorted. "That guy has some nerve. Thick-skinned as a wall. Maybe before meals, his assistant should ask his brain for permission on behalf of his mouth."
Meng Shang hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but her sarcastic tone was so vivid he couldn't help it. He turned back toward the kitchen, let out a deep breath, and shook his head, his eyes full of mirth.
That mouth of hers.