Chapter 12.1 Looking back at him

Four or five minutes later, Min Ting felt a weight settle on his shoulder. All of Shi Miao’s weight was now pressing on him, and she had fallen asleep.

Out of his natural curiosity, he tilted his head to look down at the woman who had fallen asleep so quickly leaning on him. But as he turned, he accidentally brushed his chin against her forehead, grazing her soft hair.

He could only see her thick, black long hair and nothing else clearly.

When he turned back, he slightly lifted his chin to avoid touching her again.

On the way back to the hospital, they encountered heavy traffic. What should have been a short stretch of road now barely moved for twenty minutes.

Shi Miao woke up, and as part of her professional habits, she wasn’t groggy when she woke up. She was immediately aware of where she was and who she had been leaning on.

After a brief pause, she lifted herself from his shoulder.

“We’re almost there, right?” Her voice was raspy, the kind that comes with just waking up.

Min Ting replied, “It’s still early.” Then he explained, “We got stuck in traffic.” He glanced out the window to see where they had reached and said to her, “You can sleep for another twenty minutes if you want. Are you going to sleep?”

“I’ll sleep for a little longer.” Before her words fully faded, Shi Miao generously leaned back onto his shoulder again, “Wake me when we get there.”

This time, she didn’t need much time to adjust to his shoulder. She closed her eyes without any distraction, savoring every second of the opportunity to sleep.

Min Ting had intended to say something else, but he fell silent as the car became quiet.

Five or six minutes passed, but her weight didn’t shift onto him as expected. It seemed she hadn’t fallen asleep.

Min Ting quietly asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Shi Miao, not fully asleep but in a drowsy state with her eyes closed, replied in a muffled voice, “What did you say?”

The air around him filled with her subtle, pleasant fragrance.

Min Ting’s voice was low and calm: “Nothing. Go back to sleep.”

He let her lean on him while he propped his chin, casually glancing out the window.

His phone, which was resting beside him, vibrated. It was a call from his mother.

Min Ting hung up, dimmed the screen to the lowest brightness, and sent a message: Not convenient to answer, Shi Miao is asleep. What’s the matter?

Jiang Rui: It won’t affect you answering the phone if Shi Miao is asleep. You can step outside the bedroom to take it.

Min Ting: “…”

He replied: I’m in the car.

Jiang Rui was quite displeased with how her son handled matters of marriage—acting first and informing later—but she didn’t intend to interfere. He’d always been a person of firm opinions, and once he decided on something, he never looked back.

Jiang Rui: I just called your grandfather. He heard somewhere that you and Shi Miao didn’t know each other before marriage, and you only met a few times before registering. Now he’s so angry he won’t even talk to me.

Min Ting: He’ll be fine in a few days.

Jiang Rui: …

It sounded easy to say.

A few months ago, his father had planned to introduce a well-matched girl to Min Ting. But before they even officially met, Min Ting had quickly married Shi Miao, catching the entire family off guard.

The old man couldn’t understand. Since Min Ting wasn’t marrying for love and they didn’t have much in common, why not find a girl who was familiar to the family? He felt Min Ting was just being contrary on purpose.

Jiang Rui: Your grandfather isn’t angry because you embarrassed him, he’s angry because you didn’t take the marriage seriously. You’ve already gotten the certificate, but still haven’t introduced her to the family after half a year. What if something happens to him one day, and he passes away without ever knowing what his granddaughter-in-law looks like?

Min Ting didn’t respond: Mom, how are things going with Dad?

Jiang Rui sighed lightly. Her son had clearly shifted the topic to avoid discussing himself.

She had been married to her husband for over thirty years, but their relationship had always had a distance. Life wasn’t particularly happy until the past six months when their relationship had improved somewhat.

Jiang Rui responded: I’ve been busy recently, and so has your dad. We haven’t seen each other for a few days, but we talk on the phone every day. Things are okay.

Min Ting reminded her to rest more and take care of herself. Then he said, “Today’s Shi Miao’s birthday. Let’s not talk about it anymore.”

Jiang Rui: Why didn’t you say so earlier?

She had always known how to maintain boundaries with her children, so she ended the unpleasant topic of the rushed marriage and sent over a red envelope: I didn’t have time to buy a gift. Please wish Shi Miao a happy birthday for me.

Min Ting accepted: Thanks, Mom.

The conversation ended, and the driver pulled into the hospital parking lot.

Shi Miao had just fallen asleep again, and Min Ting intended to let her sleep a few more minutes. But as he turned his face casually, he saw a young couple walking out of the emergency building—Ye Sangyu and her younger brother.

The cardiology department was right next to the emergency building.

Ye Sangyu and her brother were walking slowly, and coincidentally, today was Shi Miao’s birthday.

Min Ting gently woke Shi Miao, motioning for her to look outside the car. “Ye Sangyu and Ye Shuo are probably here to give you a birthday gift.”

Shi Miao briefly woke up, sat up straight, and followed his gaze, then firmly said, “They’re not here for me. I blocked Ye Sangyu a few days ago.” Before she blocked her, Ye Sangyu hadn’t wished her a happy birthday, and now they had completely fallen out.

Min Ting turned his gaze back from the window, looking at her intently: “Did Ye Sangyu bully you?”

Shi Miao replied, “It’s not bullying, my issues with her have been going on for a while.”

Min Ting: “Don’t let yourself be at a disadvantage.”

Under his gaze, Shi Miao’s voice softened: “I won’t.”

Min Ting didn’t press her about why she suddenly blocked Ye Sangyu. Instead, he asked, “Are you going to Ye Xicun’s wedding? You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

“I’ll go. Ye Xicun is Ye Xicun, and she is her own person.” When mentioning the wedding, Shi Miao remembered the invitation, taking it out of her bag to give it to him.

Min Ting opened it, glanced at the wedding date and venue, then closed the invitation and handed her a red envelope from his mother.

At the same time, Shi Miao received the transfer.

Min Ting said, “This is a birthday gift from my mom.”

Shi Miao glanced at the amount, which was a sum that wouldn’t cause her any psychological burden. She thanked him and accepted it, but just as she did, another large transfer popped up—almost the amount of her entire yearly salary.

She looked at him in confusion: “What’s this red envelope for?”

Min Ting: “It’s from me. Happy birthday. Cheer up.”

Shi Miao stared at him, knowing he probably guessed that Ye Sangyu had upset her, which is why he sent such a large red envelope. After all, who wouldn’t be happy to receive money?

She didn’t hesitate: “I’ll accept it then.” She added, “Thank you.”

Min Ting put down his phone and looked up. The siblings had already walked past his car and were getting into their own car to leave.

He opened the car door, ready to send Shi Miao upstairs.

Shi Miao said, “You don’t need to send me. It’s too late, and you can’t enter the ward.”

She got out of the car on her side and waved to him.

Min Ting closed the door, not getting out of the car.

Shi Miao walked toward the inpatient department building as the Bentley started its engine and drove away.