Chapter 20: The One Who Speaks

Jiang Chengxiao was somewhat confused. In his mind, the night he gave that watch to Jiang Jingru, fulfilling Lin Guangshan’s dying wish, was when his task was complete.

From then on, there was no further connection between him and Jiang Jingru.

So, he didn’t understand why Song Xilan suddenly brought up Jiang Jingru. Did she think he was close to her?

Wait, the hospital, obstetrics department?

Why would a young, unmarried girl need to visit the obstetrics department?

It couldn’t be…

Oh my, this misunderstanding was huge.

If it was the misunderstanding he thought it was, she’d only given him the cold shoulder. She had a lot of patience. If he had encountered such a person, he would have slapped them twice.

“First, I need to clarify. I have no inappropriate relationship with Jiang Jingru. The night of New Year’s Day was the first time I met her. Whether she went to the obstetrics department for treatment has nothing to do with me. Second, what exactly is going on with her?”

Hearing his firm denial, Song Xilan felt much lighter, her heavy heart easing. She told herself that since she considered Jiang Chengxiao a friend, she also hoped he was a good person.

Yes, she was just happy because he wasn’t a bad person who abandoned people after starting something. It definitely wasn’t for any other reason.

[I love how the main character speaks up. It’s so good that they just cleared everything up. What I hate the most is when no one talks, and a small misunderstanding drags on for episodes, making viewers feel frustrated.]

[I didn’t know Song Xilan was mad at Jiang Chengxiao for this. She really thought things through, and almost caused him to get in trouble!

Song Xilan also felt a little embarrassed, silently reminding herself to learn to speak up in the future.

The viewers were really kind, teaching her how to handle things!

“Since that’s the case, I’m not in a position to tell you her specific situation. After all, it’s her privacy, and we can’t just share it freely,” Song Xilan said.

Jiang Chengxiao looked serious. “No, this is important. I hope you can tell me what happened to her.”

Song Xilan’s heart sank again. “But didn’t you say you and she…”

Jiang Chengxiao quickly said, “I have no relationship with her, but she’s my comrade’s fiancée.”

Song Xilan was a little surprised. “Then could it be your comrade?”

“No.” Jiang Chengxiao’s face darkened with pain. “Two months ago, he sacrificed his life. The last time he took leave to visit home was a year ago, and he never left the army other than that.”

Song Xilan gasped and raised her hand to cover her mouth. “So, that means…”

Jiang Chengxiao’s eyes were filled with cold hatred. “This woman is fickle and shameless. She’s given the brave hero who sacrificed for the country the green hat. I can’t forgive her so easily.”

Song Xilan said, “This is complicated. I still need to go to work. How about we talk about this after work?”

Jiang Chengxiao nodded. “That works. I’ll also go find out more. What time do you get off work? I’ll come find you later.”

“Five o’clock.”

“Alright, it’s settled. I’ll come over after five. You should go back to work now!”

“Mm, see you later!” Song Xilan waved at him and briskly ran back to the shop.

Jiang Chengxiao kept staring at her as she ran back behind the counter. He lowered his head, picked up a pen, and started scribbling on a piece of paper for a while. Suddenly, he shyly covered his face with both hands, and, flustered, stomped his foot.

After a while, another young girl from the shop came over, and the two of them whispered to each other for a while before playfully teasing each other.

Jiang Chengxiao watched for a moment, and his previously cold expression slowly softened. The anger in his heart, from feeling betrayed by his good friend, also faded a little.

However, this debt, he was definitely going to settle it.

In the sales department, Juanzi came over and teased, “So, are you two on good terms now?”

Song Xilan, flustered and angry, replied, “What do you mean, on good terms?”

Juanzi said, “Oh, still embarrassed? Who was the one just now, looking all awkward, saying things like ‘we’re not familiar,’ and asking me to handle it, only to rush after him right after?”

“Well, I was busy earlier, but then suddenly remembered there was something I needed to tell him, so I went out.”

Juanzi smirked, “Then why are you smiling now, looking all rosy and sweet, as if you’ve just drunk two pounds of honey?”

Song Xilan touched her face in surprise, “Really?”

Juanzi nodded firmly, “Yes! I think it’s great. He’s tall and handsome, full of masculine charm, and generous too. Much better than that little pretty boy from the dance troupe you were with before.”

Song Xilan felt embarrassed and thought to herself, Everyone knows about my little thoughts by now, don’t they?

[Song Xilan can’t hide her feelings at all, everything is written all over her face.]

[So cute, I like this kind of female lead.]

[Wait, are you all confused? The male and female leads of this drama aren’t Song Xilan and Little Jiang, are they? The roles seem switched! ]

[Anyway, I like the Song Jiang couple! I don’t want the time-traveling woman or whatever, and I’m not interested in Yang Jingyu either. I’m begging the director to change the plot and let Song Jiang be the main couple!]

[Don’t you think it’s strange? This plot has long been galloping out of control! Is this still the original drama ‘Traveling to the 70s, Fat Wife’s Revenge’?!]

[The truth is, the production team is peeking at the screen and changing the plot based on the comments!]

[So, we can control the plot development? Great! The Song Jiang team, get to work! As long as our voices are loud enough, the plot will develop the way we want it!]

At that moment, [The Song Jiang team stands up.] This phrase flooded the screen like a wave, and Song Xilan felt a headache coming on.

She had learned a new skill: when the thoughts in her mind became too chaotic and annoying, she could hide them in a corner of her mind and block them out, no longer letting them affect her.

This way, she could focus on other things instead of standing there zoning out, making others think she had a problem!

However, occasionally, she would still peek at those comments, because sometimes the information hidden in them might be useful.

Suddenly, Song Xilan muttered to herself, “Ah, if someone could tell me where I can find some money, that’d be great.”

Then she let the barrage of comments come back up.

She had just learned the term barrage, which is what they called these scrolling comments. It was an interesting term.