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Jiang Yining thought of how, on her mother’s deathbed, the only thing she couldn’t let go of was her daughter. Even with her last breath, she gripped Jiang Yining’s hand tightly, refusing to release it.
She must have blamed herself for not living long enough to see her daughter settle down and build a home.
Jiang Yining’s eyes gradually welled up.
Zhang Qiao took her mother’s hand and said, “Mom, why are you bringing this up out of nowhere?” She then handed Jiang Yining a tissue. “Don’t cry. What if your husband thinks we’ve been bullying you?”
Jiang Yining knew Zhang Qiao was only teasing to lighten the mood.
Fan Peihua hadn’t meant anything by it. “Ningning, it’s all my fault. I made you cry.”
“Aunt Fan, I’m fine.”
Seeing Jiang Yining still had her apron on, Fan Peihua stood up. “Let me make lunch. You two go rest.”
Zhang Qiao quickly held her down. “Mom, you just sit tight.”
Jiang Yining took a deep breath and smiled. “Aunt Fan, Qiaoqiao is right. Neither of you are allowed to help today. I’ll handle things in the kitchen. You two watch some TV.”
Zhang Qiao waved her hand. “You do your thing. I can turn on the TV myself.”
Back in the kitchen, Jiang Yining said, “Let me cook.”
He Chi stopped her. “You give the orders, I’ll do the cooking.”
Jiang Yining paused, looked at He Chi’s serious expression, then said softly, “I’m afraid your cooking might not taste good.”
He Chi: “…”
Looks like enrolling in that cooking class was becoming urgent.
He Chi noticed her eyes were red at the corners and frowned. “Why were you crying?”
Jiang Yining usually seemed cool and composed, but the more he got to know her, the more he realized she had this soft, vulnerable side. She got scared easily—and cried easily. This was the third time he’d seen her in tears.
With her voice muffled, Jiang Yining said, “It’s nothing. Aunt Fan just brought up my mom, and I got emotional for a moment.”
He Chi had been thinking about something the past few days too. He’d promised to accompany Jiang Yining to visit her late mother. “We’re going to your uncle’s place tomorrow for lunch. The day after, we’ll visit your mom.”
Jiang Yining replied, “Let’s visit her together with my uncle tomorrow.”
She explained, “My mom is buried in the cemetery near my uncle’s place.”
When her mother knew the end was near, she had specifically requested to be laid to rest near her own parents. They were buried in that same cemetery.
He Chi had no objection. “Alright.”
During lunch, Fan Peihua suddenly asked, “Ningning, when are you two planning to have a baby?”
Caught off guard, Jiang Yining nearly choked and blushed as she responded, “Aunt Fan, that’s a bit too soon. We haven’t even thought about it.”
Seeing her reaction, Zhang Qiao was certain she had guessed correctly.
These two were really sleeping in separate rooms.
Fan Peihua said, “Once you and Qiaoqiao have kids, I’ll help with your postpartum care. I’ve got over ten years of experience as a maternity nanny. If your Uncle Zhang hadn’t made me quit, I wouldn’t have switched careers.”
Zhang Qiao suggested, “Mom, should we tell the housekeeping center’s manager that you’re not going anymore?”
Fan Peihua gave her a light swat. “You silly girl. It’s a hundred yuan an hour! Let’s be honest, working three or four hours a day covers a full day’s salary. Who wouldn’t want a job like that?”
Zhang Qiao giggled. “I just heard you complaining about not being a maternity nanny.”
“Can’t I just vent a little?”
Thinking of the high hourly rate, Fan Peihua added, “Ningning, if you don’t need housekeeping services in the future, I can come help you clean every week. I can also cook for you when I’m off work.”
Fan Peihua had always treated Jiang Yining like half a daughter. When Du Ruo passed away, she was heartbroken, having been her close friend for many years. She had long wanted to take care of Jiang Yining but hadn’t had the chance.
Jiang Yining immediately declined. “Aunt Fan, that won’t do.”
Besides, this side job at home was something they needed the extra income from.
He Chi chimed in, “Aunt Fan, the job at Lake Half-City pays well, which also means the service standards are high.”
“It may seem like just cooking and cleaning, but most of the homes in Lake Half-City are large, and the owners have lots of valuable items. You can’t afford to be careless. It’s a full eight-hour day, and you’re pretty exhausted by the end.”
Zhang Qiao added, “Mom, He Chi is right. This job may look simple, but you can’t take it lightly. If it gets too tough, we’ll look for something else or just have you rest at home.”
Fan Peihua nodded. “I understand.”
She could tell He Chi was kindly reminding her.
As they left Jiang Yining’s home, Zhang Qiao reminded her mother, “Unless a client specifically asks, the jobs from this agency are assigned randomly.”
“That means you could be assigned to Ningning and He Chi’s home. You absolutely cannot cross any boundaries. When you’re working, they’re your employers. Whatever they need, you do—no unsolicited advice.”
At her age, Fan Peihua was touched by her daughter’s caution. She nodded. “Alright, I’ll remember that.”
Zhang Qiao added, “And if anyone asks where you’re working, don’t tell them.”
“This job pays well, and a lot of people will be jealous. If word gets out that Ningning got you the job, it could cause her trouble.”
Fan Peihua thought for a moment. “I know. I haven’t lived all these years for nothing.”
“Don’t even tell your father. If he finds out, he’ll tell your uncle’s family. That bunch is always playing favorites, and they’ll be green with envy.”
…
That evening, He Chi took Jiang Yining to visit Teacher Lin.
By now, the third-year students were already back in class. Teacher Lin and Teacher He lived not far from the school.
Jiang Yining wasn’t comfortable going empty-handed, so she insisted on buying some fruit. While they were at the fruit shop, several students wearing Lincheng No.1 High School uniforms were shopping inside.
She remembered how she used to be like them—spirited, full of hope for the future. But everything changed after her mother fell ill.
She had drifted through her days, going back and forth between the hospital and school, with only one wish: that her mom could suffer a little less and live a little longer.
Once they entered the residential complex, He Chi slowed to match Jiang Yining’s pace. He glanced at her delicate fingers and subtly shifted to the left, moving a little closer.
Then he reached out and took her hand.
Jiang Yining looked down in surprise.
He Chi offered a reason she couldn’t refuse. “There are a lot of people around.”
Jiang Yining understood, and she liked the feeling of him holding her hand.
Soaking in the warmth that didn’t quite feel like her own, she quietly curled her fingers, as if to hold him back.
She knew He Chi was taking this marriage seriously. He was willing to draw closer, to bridge the distance between them.
Even if it was only because she was his wife, Jiang Yining—who had secretly liked him for years—already felt content with the way things were now.
Still, she couldn’t help but wonder: did He Chi feel anything for her? Even just a little?
Teacher Lin had been waiting for them. When she saw the fruit He Chi was carrying, she said, “Yining, this is your home now. There’s no need to bring fruit anymore.”
He Chi responded, “Mom, I’m the one holding it. Who says I bought it?”
Teacher Lin snorted with a laugh. “When have you ever brought anything?” She pointed to the kitchen. “Go help your dad.”
Dinner consisted almost entirely of dishes Jiang Yining liked.
Ever since she married He Chi, Teacher Lin had found him more and more pleasing to the eye.
Knowing He Chi was going to visit Jiang Yining’s uncle tomorrow, Teacher He rummaged through their best tea leaves and packed them up nicely in a gift box for him to take.
Before they left, Teacher Lin pulled He Chi aside for a private word.
She asked, “I heard from your aunt that Ling Yue is working at our company. Was that your arrangement?”
He Chi didn’t deny it. “Yes.”
Lin Shu didn’t seem to have any issue with it, but she did remind him, “He Chi, since you’re married to Yining now, you should let her know about the Ling family situation.”
It wasn’t a big deal, and He Chi had already planned to bring it up to Jiang Yining when the time was right. He nodded. “I know.”