"I miss you so much."
"Just because you miss me, does that mean I have to miss you?" Jiang Xiao countered.
The words sounded familiar to Cheng Yuan. Then he remembered: years ago, on a certain day, Jiang Xiao was sick. She had cried and said to him, "Honey, I miss you so much."
He had replied flatly, "Just because you miss me, does that mean I have to miss you? Jiang Xiao, can you stop acting up? I'm busy. I don't have time for you. If you're sick, go see a doctor. If you want to make a scene, suck it up!"
He had always spoken without mercy.
After hearing that, Jiang Xiao cried even harder and asked him if he didn't love her anymore.
He replied, "There was never love between us."
That day, maybe because Jiang Xiao was sick and confused, or maybe for some other reason. The next day, she completely forgot what he had said and greeted him with the same smile.
Of course, in his eyes at that time, Jiang Xiao was pathetic. Even after he said such things, she still clung to him.
Cheng Yuan snapped out of the memory. His Adam's apple moved slowly. "Xiao Xiao, wife, I'm just telling you what I feel. I don't need a response. You can do whatever you want."
"Really? I can do whatever I want?"
"Yes. As you wish."
Jiang Xiao grabbed Cheng Yuan's hand and shoved him out the door. "Right now, I want you to leave."
"Thud." The door slammed shut.
Shen Yue heard the door close over the phone and clicked her tongue. "Sis, you're something. So ruthless."
"He deserves it," Jiang Xiao said, locking the door. "I told him he wasn't welcome, but he came anyway. He can't blame me."
"So how long do you think he'll stay?" Shen Yue asked slyly.
"Probably not long," Jiang Xiao said as she headed to the bathroom to wash up.
Shen Yue, sipping red wine, said, "I don't think so. I bet he'll stand there all night."
"All night?" Jiang Xiao found it hard to believe. Someone like Cheng Yuan, a proud son of heaven, wouldn't stoop that low. Besides, he still had a fever. There's no way he'd stand all night.
"No way."
"Want to bet?"
"Sure."
"The winner treats the loser to a meal."
"Deal."
Shen Yue won in the end. Just as she had predicted, Cheng Yuan waited the entire night.
Jiang Yu called him several times but couldn't get him to leave. Later, Old Master Cheng called to persuade him to go home, but Cheng Yuan refused and just stood there.
He stood from dusk until dawn, then until the sun was fully up.
When Jiang Xiao opened the door and found him still there, she was surprised. "You didn't leave?"
Cheng Yuan smiled and stepped closer, his voice weak. "Wife, I had Jiang Yu buy you breakfast. It's your favorite—xiaolongbao from the place in the west of the city. Still hot. Want some?"
Jiang Xiao's favorite xiaolongbao was from the shop in the west of the city, an hour's drive from her place. In the past, when she wanted them, Cheng Yuan always found excuses to refuse, saying they were too greasy, would make her fat, didn't taste good, and so on—anything to avoid getting them.
"You had Jiang Yu buy them?" Jiang Xiao looked down at the food container.
"Yes." He had wanted to buy them himself, but his legs were too weak and he couldn't walk, so he had to send Jiang Yu. "This time it's Jiang Yu's errand. Next time, I'll go myself."
"There's a line."
"That's okay. I'll queue."
"Isn't President Cheng very busy?"
"If you like it, I'll go even when I'm busy."
"That's not what you used to say," Jiang Xiao sneered. "You said I didn't deserve them."
"..." Cheng Yuan didn't know he had said something so hurtful, but since Jiang Xiao brought it up, he had to admit it and make amends. He raised his hand and slapped himself. "I was a scumbag back then. I deserve to be hit."
He stepped forward, took Jiang Xiao's hand, and made her slap his own face with it.
"Wife, hit me as much as you want until you're satisfied."
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Author's note: Doggy man: As long as wife wants me, I'm happy to be her dog.
Please, please, please—give me nutrient solution!