Chapter 17: The Argument

Aside from their parents, friends who knew them well could see through the subtle tension in their relationship.

Was it good or bad to have their feelings analyzed so openly away from Nancheng?

Bad? Good?

Wen Shuyu pondered over the question that had her stumped for over twenty years. It wasn’t entirely bad, but it didn’t feel good like a normal couple’s feelings would.

It was like wrestling with a philosophical conundrum, ensnared by creeping vines in an endless cave.

Jiang Huaiyu did take care of her, like he had in their childhood, and their families’ history made it all feel normal. He would tease her now and then but always respected her boundaries.

Lately, their relationship had grown more relaxed, clouding her judgment.

How could there be real feelings between them? There hadn’t been before, and there wouldn’t be in the future. Their animosity stemmed from that very absence.

The midday sun cast aside its warm facade, baking the earth beneath it.

Wen Shuyu felt dizzy, finally managing to murmur a detached, “It’s fine.”

Today marked the second time she had given that same vague answer.

Cheng Xianzhi, keenly observant, saw right through her facade. People often defaulted to “It’s fine” when they were uncertain.

“Then it’s just average.”

Most people would agree it was pretty good, but Cheng Xianzhi cut through her words with honesty.

After exchanging a few casual remarks, they arrived at Grandma Chang’s courtyard.

A refreshing breeze blew through the mountains, despite the blazing sun—an anomaly to the local climate.

The winding mountain roads cradled this small town, shaping the thoughts of its inhabitants.

Grandma Chang lay in a rocking chair, and Wen Shuyu tiptoed over, taking the hand fan from her and fanning her gently.

Awakened from her dozing, Grandma Chang’s eyes lit up. “Yuying, when did you arrive?”

Wen Shuyu moved closer, raising her voice, “Just got here! I’m staying the night; you’re not going to chase me away, are you?”

With a warm smile, Grandma Chang replied, “You little rascal, of course not.”

Setting her luggage aside, Wen Shuyu said softly, “Grandma, I need to visit Grandpa’s place first. I have a colleague with me.”

Upon hearing her husband’s name, Grandma Chang’s expression soured. “That old grouch is home? You hurry back!”

And then she resumed her gentle cat-petting in the rocking chair.

Fifty meters east was Grandpa Wang’s house, where he also lounged in a rocking chair, this time watching videos instead of napping.

The sounds of opera drifted from the yard: “Through the forest sea, across the snowy plains. With a spirit that soars high, expressing grand aspirations.”

“Thud, thud, thud.” The steady footsteps grew closer, and Grandpa Wang looked up, spotting Wen Shuyu and her companions.

“Yuying’s here! How’s Grandma doing?”

Wen Shuyu couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Why don’t you go see for yourself?”

“I’m not going; it’s your fault!” he retorted.

At his age, he still spoke like a child, no wonder everyone called him an “old kid.”

Wen Shuyu replied, “Grandma is doing well. Don’t worry about her. A male colleague is staying over tonight; is that okay?”

“That’s fine.”

With Grandpa’s approval, Wen Shuyu led Shen Jia and Cheng Xianzhi to the north bedroom. In the past, they had often hosted guests, growing quite familiar over time.

Nights in the mountains were cool, needing only a thin blanket instead of air conditioning.

Cheng Xianzhi opened the blanket. “What’s going on with your grandparents?”

As a lawyer, he was as meticulous as a detective, always interested in the details.

Wen Shuyu leaned against the wall. “Grandma and Grandpa divorced last year.”

Just a simple statement, yet Cheng Xianzhi grasped the pain behind it.

Even in developed coastal cities, cases of older generations getting divorced were rare.

What’s more, in a closed-off village like this, it faced public scrutiny and relatives’ gossip.

After living a lifetime together, how could they not continue?

Not just for themselves, but also for the sake of their children.

When they grew old, their grievances seemed to multiply.

Isn’t that how everyone lived? Bickering their way through life.

Countless such sentiments had kept people trapped in the confines of marriage.

Cheng Xianzhi regarded her with appreciation. “You’ve been through a lot, Lawyer Wen. Your grandmother is quite remarkable.”

The road they had traveled was anything but easy.

“Yes, Grandma is extraordinary; she has borne the pressure with grace,” Wen Shuyu sincerely admired.

Having just arrived in Nanan Town, Shen Jia was only vaguely aware of last year’s events but admired Wen Shuyu, being a law student born after the millennium.

“Lawyers Cheng and Wen, it’s almost time; let me take you to eat.”

Wen Shuyu warned Cheng Xianzhi, “The upcoming tasks won’t be easy. Get ready.”

Cheng Xianzhi spread his hands. “With Lawyer Wen fighting by my side, I’ll be thoroughly prepared.”

But even the best preparation can have its oversights, and unforeseen events can always arise.

At 2 PM, the weather in Nancheng was fine, with no traffic accidents or unexpected events in sight.

The emergency department of City First Hospital was bustling but orderly.

Suddenly, a plain van pulled up at the entrance, and two people stepped out, exchanging a few words with the security guard. In no time, a stretcher was rolled out, and a man was rushed into the building.

Zhou Hangyue: [I saw your wife at the hospital. What’s going on?]

Jiang Huaiyu: [You must have made a mistake. Yuyu’s not back until tomorrow.]

Zhou Hangyue: [No mistake. We were classmates for years. I’ll send you a picture.]

At first, Jiang Huaiyu didn’t think much of it—until the photo arrived. He stared at the familiar face on the screen.

There was no denying it. It was Wen Shuyu.

Why was she at the hospital? Was something wrong? What happened?

Three questions raced through his mind. Jiang Huaiyu called Wen Shuyu, but the line was busy. He called again—her phone was now off.

Grabbing his keys, Jiang Huaiyu rushed out, dialing Zhou Hangyue as he sped towards the hospital. “Hangyue, are you busy?”

Five minutes later, Zhou Hangyue had already investigated the situation. “Relax, I just checked. Wen Shuyu’s fine, just a scratch on her arm. The colleague she’s with has a mild concussion.”

Jiang Huaiyu: “Thanks, I’m on my way.”

Zhou Hangyue added, “They’re in the ER. Don’t get lost.”

In the ER’s neurology section on the third floor, Wen Shuyu sat on a blue chair, waiting. Her arm had been quickly bandaged, while Cheng Xianzhi was undergoing further tests.

She glanced towards the examination room, anxious. After a call with Meng Man, her phone had shut off.

Thankfully, she had told Jiang Huaiyu she’d be back tomorrow.

Without a phone or a watch, Wen Shuyu had no idea what time it was. When people lose track of time, anxiety can multiply, leaving them restless.

Suddenly, she noticed someone walking toward her from the end of the hallway. A pair of impeccably dressed legs strode through the crowd. As the figure drew closer, illuminated by both fluorescent lights and sunlight, she recognized the man’s stern features—his dark brows and intense eyes.

Wen Shuyu stood up from her chair, moving toward Jiang Huaiyu.

“You—”

Before she could finish, Jiang Huaiyu pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Are you hurt? Does anything hurt?”

His voice trembled with concern.

He needed to know she was safe—right there, with him.

Jiang Huaiyu held her tightly, shutting out everything around them. The strength of his grip left her momentarily breathless. She could feel his heart pounding fiercely.

After a few minutes, Wen Shuyu finally answered, “I’m fine. Really. It’s Cheng Lawyer who needs attention.”

Jiang Huaiyu led her to a quieter corner, gently inspecting her.

Her hair, held up by a claw clip, had a few stray strands falling loose, while her shirt cuffs were stained with gray cement. His eyes finally rested on her left arm, which was wrapped in gauze, covering a large scrape. Some spots were already bleeding through the bandage.

Without a word, Jiang Huaiyu pulled her back into his arms, rubbing her head to comfort her. He couldn’t find the right words.

Does it hurt? He thought. With such a large wound, of course it must.

But asking felt pointless—words seemed so powerless.

“How did you know I was here?” Wen Shuyu asked again, repeating the question that had been cut off earlier.

The busy emergency room hummed with activity, and she felt self-conscious as curious eyes glanced in their direction.

Sensing her unease, Jiang Huaiyu softly stroked her back. “Zhou Hangyue saw you.”

Ignoring the fact that Zhou Hangyue was a mutual acquaintance, Wen Shuyu pulled away from his embrace. “I’ll go check on Cheng Lawyer.”

“I’ll go with you.” Jiang Huaiyu took her luggage, laptop, and the bag of iodine and gauze.

In the hallway, they ran into Shen Ruoying and Meng Man, who had come to drop off supplies.

Shen Ruoying handed over a bag. “Yuyu, I brought you the clothes and power bank you asked for. I’ll go with you to change.”

Meng Man added, “Yuyu, you and Jiang Huaiyu should go home and rest. I’ll stay here.”

But Wen Shuyu didn’t leave. As they waited, Meng Man asked, “What happened? How did this all start?”

Wen Shuyu briefly recounted the events. They had contacted the town officials, organized a meeting, and everything had gone smoothly on the first day.

On the second day, they visited several households, and a few men accused them of disrupting the town’s harmony. Ever since they had come last year, the town had changed dramatically. Several couples had divorced, even elderly women in their seventies were stirred into action. They were considered troublemakers.

During the commotion, two households consulted Wen Shuyu and Cheng Xianzhi about a land dispute.

Voices rose, and a group of men began arguing and pushing. Some even wielded tools like shovels and hammers. In the chaos, Cheng Xianzhi hit his head against a wall—a wall with a nail sticking out.

At some point, Wen Shuyu’s arm got injured too.

Given the limited medical resources in the town, they received basic treatment before being transported back to Nancheng.

The CT results showed that Cheng Xianzhi was lucky—the injury wasn’t severe. If the nail had been just a centimeter off, it could have been much worse. The doctor advised rest and close monitoring at home.

Under Meng Man’s insistence, Wen Shuyu finally left with Jiang Huaiyu. He didn’t press her for more details, only saying softly, “I’ll run you a hot bath.”

His voice carried the cold bite of Siberian winds, sharp and icy, devoid of warmth.

“Thanks.” Wen Shuyu, whose nerves had been strung tight all day, finally relaxed as she stepped inside the house.

That night, they barely spoke. Jiang Huaiyu busied himself tidying up and cooking, but the conversation had all but disappeared. Wen Shuyu sensed the strange tension, unsure of what had shifted between them.

Her mind was clouded, overwhelmed by the events of the day.

At dawn, Wen Shuyu rose earlier than usual, breaking her habit of lingering in bed.

“I’m going to the hospital,” she stated simply.

Meng Man had advised her to rest at home, but she couldn’t sleep. After all, she had narrowly escaped danger once again, and someone was still lying in a hospital bed because of it.

Sunlight poured into the dining room through the floor-to-ceiling windows, painting the white table in soft yellow hues.

The man seated at the table, silhouetted against the morning light, made a picture of serene beauty.

But she had no time to appreciate it.

“Come here, let me change your bandages,” Jiang Huaiyu said.

He gently peeled back the white gauze. His jaw clenched as he saw the blood-stained wound on her arm, his brow furrowing for just a moment.

With his eyes lowered, he focused entirely on disinfecting and re-bandaging her arm.

His icy gaze stood in stark contrast to the tenderness of his touch—two extremes, like fire and ice.

“I’m leaving,” Wen Shuyu said, grabbing her bag from the coat rack near the door.

Jiang Huaiyu washed his hands at the bar, then returned to the table. Stirring his milk with a silver spoon, the soft clink echoed through the room like fragments of gold dust scattering.

“Zhou Hangyue told me Cheng’s injury isn’t serious. He just needs observation and will be discharged soon. Meng Man’s already at the hospital.” His tone remained as cold and detached as the night before, void of emotion.

“I need to see him for myself to feel reassured.” Wen Shuyu stood at the door, hand on the doorknob.

Suddenly, the sharp sound of a spoon hitting the edge of a cup broke the silence. Then came Jiang Huaiyu’s cold voice.

“Yuyu, am I nothing in your eyes or your heart?”

Her hand slipped from the doorknob, and she turned to face him. Jiang Huaiyu stood against the light, his lips set in a tight line, his Adam’s apple moving as he swallowed down his anger.

His usually fair, smooth face now seemed austere, his almond-shaped eyes—typically warm and inviting—had grown cold and distant.

Jiang Huaiyu placed the spoon down, rising from his seat. He walked toward her, deliberately, his voice calm but cutting with each step.

“From Nanan Town to Nancheng, four hours in the car, and you thought to call Meng Man, to brief Shen Ruoying, but it never crossed your mind to call me.”

“In your heart, I have no place at all. Not even after them. I don’t even rank above Cheng Xianzhi.”

“Have you forgotten that we’re married?”

Everyone else knew. Everyone but him—her legal husband, the last to find out.

Even then, it had to come from someone else mouth.