Chapter 87: A Warm Fragrance in Her Arms

She was just about to return the bag in her hand to Xia Sili when she noticed Xia Sili sending the man off first. Then Xia Sili turned back, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and whispered to her,

“Guess what, Xueling? I ran into someone in the city today. Can you guess who it was?”

“Hint: it’s someone you’re particularly interested in.”

Zhao Xueling, struggling along the road, glanced at Xia Sili’s fair and beautiful face under the night sky, her heart skipping a beat.

Could Xia Sili have run into Zhou Zhengbin?

Earlier today, Zhao Xueling and her friends had planned to go roller skating, but Zhou Zhengbin canceled last minute to take his nephew to the city for a doctor’s visit. Her carefully planned outfit had gone to waste.

Lately, Zhao Xueling and Zhou Zhengbin had grown close, their interactions tinged with ambiguity.

But the closer they got, the more she realized how difficult it was to read a man like Zhou Zhengbin.

For now, he was only ambiguous with her, without formally establishing their relationship. This left Zhao Xueling feeling perpetually strung along.

She remembered that in the original timeline, Zhou Zhengbin had married Xia Sili at this point. By the following spring, he’d struck gold with an opportunity in the city, becoming a “ten-thousand-yuan household” within months.

Thus, Zhao Xueling had resolved to secure her relationship with Zhou Zhengbin before the year ended. Otherwise, once he started rising next year, things would get far less certain.

After all, Zhou Zhengbin was still a notorious loafer with a poor reputation.

If she pursued him wholeheartedly now, wouldn’t it prove that she valued him for who he was, rather than his future wealth?

When Zhou Zhengbin made it big, he would remember her devotion in marrying him despite his current circumstances.

Zhao Xueling’s calculations were meticulous, but progress had been slow, leaving her anxious.

Quickening her pace, she pretended to ask casually, “Who? Stop teasing. I don’t have anyone I’m particularly interested in.”

Xia Sili mimicked her earlier tone and smiled ambiguously back at her.

This left Zhao Xueling both embarrassed and irritated. She feigned annoyance, snapping, “What are you laughing at? Fine, don’t tell me! I don’t want to know!”

Xia Sili shrugged. “Alright, I won’t.”

Zhao Xueling stumbled over her own feet.

She wanted to toss the bag at Xia Sili and storm off, but she couldn’t shake the worry that Xia Sili really had run into Zhou Zhengbin.

After a moment of silence, seeing that Xia Sili really wasn’t going to speak, she awkwardly tried to bring it up herself. “So… what were you doing in the city today? Who did you see? Was it someone I know?”

Xia Sili glanced at her, her teasing smile becoming more obvious, infuriating Zhao Xueling.

Why did she feel like Xia Sili had the upper hand in this conversation?

Finally, after another half a minute, Xia Sili lazily said, “I ran into Wei Tianhong at the hospital.”

“…Ah?” Zhao Xueling immediately felt a weight lifted from her chest.

So it wasn’t Zhou Zhengbin! She knew it couldn’t be that coincidental…

Wait a minute. “Sili, what are you talking about? Why would I care about Brother Tianhong?”

Right now, Zhao Xueling couldn’t distance herself from Wei Tianhong fast enough.

Ever since Xia Sili spread rumors that she had a crush on him, Wei Tianhong had been looking at her strangely, as if she were some kind of plague. Every time they crossed paths, he avoided her like the wind. This made Zhao Xueling both furious and indignant.

Hmph, as if she cared about him!

It was all Xia Sili’s fault with her ridiculous remarks. She just spouted nonsense!

Zhao Xueling was angry but didn’t dare completely cut ties with Wei Tianhong—he was, after all, a child of fortune.

Xia Sili, unbothered, blinked innocently. “Oh, so you’ve already moved on? Who do you care about now?”

Zhao Xueling clenched her teeth, her hands itching to shut Xia Sili up.

Moved on? How rude!

Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind, and she calmed down, pausing for two seconds before giving Xia Sili a shy smile.

She said bashfully, “Oh, come on, why talk about this? But Sili, you probably noticed last time too… me and Brother Bin, well, we… hehe.”

She spoke as if she and Zhou Zhengbin were already something, hoping to test Xia Sili’s reaction.

Xia Sili, walking beside her empty-handed, did indeed give her a surprised look.

“Brother Bin? You mean that Zhou guy from the neighboring village?”

Zhao Xueling nodded shyly. “Mhm.”

Then, she saw Xia Sili’s expression change from surprise to a faint… sympathy?

Sympathy??

Her gaze even seemed to hold a subtle “Is something wrong with this person’s brain?”

“…”

Zhao Xueling gritted her teeth, forcing a smile. “You… you know Brother Bin?”

“Oh, I remember now! Didn’t you offend his family before? I even had to help you smooth things over. Brother Bin may have a bad temper outside, but he’s always been kind to me. That time, because of me, he let it go.”

“But Sili, you should be more thoughtful in the future, especially with what you say. Don’t go around offending people! I won’t always be there to help you out.”

She deliberately spoke as if showing off her connection to Zhou Zhengbin, all while lugging the heavy bag and panting from exhaustion.

Xia Sili’s innocent smile didn’t waver. “Oh, then I really owe you one. I don’t like owing people favors—it makes me uncomfortable.”

“And besides, I don’t think I offended him at all. How about this? I’ll go talk to him myself. I’m sure we can sort it out face-to-face.”

“No!” Zhao Xueling’s voice shot up involuntarily.

Meeting Xia Sili’s confused gaze, she awkwardly laughed, “It’s… it’s all in the past, no need to bring it up again…”

She couldn’t let Xia Sili and Zhou Zhengbin have more contact, not even a little!

After much effort, Zhao Xueling finally persuaded Xia Sili to drop the idea of meeting Zhou Zhengbin.

She sighed in relief, raising her sore arm to wipe the sweat off her forehead…

Wait, what?

Why was she sweating so much in the freezing weather?

Looking up, she realized they were almost at Xia Sili’s house!

She had carried that bag all this way for Xia Sili, exhausting herself until her legs trembled and her mouth went dry.

Zhao Xueling rolled her eyes dramatically, feeling like she’d lost her mind.

She threw the bag at Xia Sili with a perfunctory attitude. Xia Sili, standing just a few steps from her gate, waved her over and lowered her voice. “Do you know why I ran into Wei Tianhong at the hospital today?”

Though she was tired and didn’t want to listen, Zhao Xueling’s gossip-loving nature made her perk up.

Xia Sili bit her lip, hesitating. “I’ll tell you, but just you. You can’t tell anyone else.”

Zhao Xueling, thoroughly intrigued, nodded eagerly. “Go on, tell me!”

Xia Sili leaned closer and recounted everything she saw at the hospital.

She didn’t embellish anything, simply describing Wei Tianhong’s mortifying scene when his flirtation with a pretty girl went wrong, leading to a full-blown tantrum.

Zhao Xueling hadn’t expected such juicy news.

The more she listened, the more hilarious she found it.

Wei Tianhong? Even he had moments like this?

Wasn’t he supposed to be the golden child of fortune?

It turned out his fortune was also used to woo rich women from the city… No, wait, rich girls from wealthy city families!

Absolutely shocking!

Zhao Xueling felt her arduous journey was not in vain. Hearing such an earth-shattering piece of gossip that completely broke his character was worth it.

Xia Li looked aggrieved and confided, “I’m still in shock! He actually yelled at me like that!”

“You didn’t see it—he looked like a completely different person, glaring at me so fiercely, it was terrifying! I even thought he might hit me! I didn’t mean to expose him! How was I supposed to know…”

Feigning sympathy, Zhao Xueling consoled Xia Li a little.

Xia Li whispered, “Xueling, you must remember, don’t tell anyone about this, okay?”

“Got it! I’ll keep it secret. Don’t be too upset,” Zhao Xueling replied.

After dropping off the bag at Xia Li’s doorstep, she hurriedly left.

She couldn’t wait to share this freshly baked gossip with the other women in the village.

Why enjoy it alone when you can share the joy?

Hah! And Wei Tianhong still thought she wasn’t good enough for him?

He usually pretended to be so aloof and refined, yet the moment he encountered a well-off girl, he couldn’t wait to act all charming and fawning!

And in the end, he didn’t even succeed! It’s hilarious! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

---

From a distance, Xia Li watched Zhao Xueling’s mature and glamorous figure as she walked away, her high heels clicking, her permed curls bouncing in the wind.

Tilting her head slightly, Xia Li couldn’t help but feel a bit wistful.

In the original storyline, the original Xia Li dropped out of school and married a second-rate man named Zhou Zhengbin. She had envied Zhao Xueling for being able to stay in school and continue her studies.

But in this life, she had chosen to go back to school. Meanwhile, the once-studious and well-behaved Zhao Xueling from the original plot had dropped out early, mingling with Zhou Zhengbin instead.

It was as if their fates had been reversed.

This Zhao Xueling, with every word she spoke, seemed intent on keeping Xia Li away from Zhou Zhengbin—like guarding against a thief.

Heh… Interesting.

Xia Li fell into thought.

Suddenly, the door creaked open.

She had been leaning against the doorframe, lost in thought. Caught off guard, she fell backward into someone’s chest.

The man seemed equally surprised.

He looked down, stunned, at the little wife who had suddenly tumbled into his arms. Instinctively, he lifted his hands to steady her, enveloping her in a warm embrace.

He had been wondering why his wife hadn’t returned yet and had come out to call her, only for her to fall into his arms the moment he opened the door.

Could it be… Was she waiting for him to open the door on purpose?

The man’s thin lips curved slightly, a hint of shy suspicion in his expression.

He hadn’t expected his wife to pull such a move on him now…

It was really… quite embarrassing.

Sweetly chastising her in his mind, his hands, however, firmly held her delicate figure. His face remained serious as he asked, “Are you okay?”

Xia Li looked up. Their bodies were almost pressed together, making the position very awkward.

Quickly standing straight, she pushed him away, her face slightly flushed. “…I’m fine!”

The man wore an expression that said, I understand. He keenly noticed the faint blush creeping over Xia Li’s cheeks, his gaze turning deep and unreadable.

---

That evening.

Xia Li first organized the items she had bought, then started packing her bag and supplies for school the next day. She planned to go to bed early.

Every morning, a donkey cart left from the village entrance before dawn. For a few cents, people could hitch a ride. The cart could fit several passengers at once.

Tomorrow morning, Xia Li planned to take that donkey cart to school.

Yes.

A rural rideshare.

A tall shadow passed by the door to her room.

Xia Li paused what she was doing and looked up. “?”

Why hadn’t he gone back yet? The house had been quiet for a while, and she thought Jiang Cheng had already left.

Suddenly, she remembered that night in the kitchen a few days ago. Under the warm, dim light of the firewood, his expression had grown cold and oppressive as he asked her:

“You’re not thinking of leaving me again, are you?”

It was a question Xia Li couldn’t answer.

In fact, she didn’t even want to think about it now.

It seemed true that he had always relied on her.

But unknowingly, could Xia Li say that she hadn’t also, even a little, started to rely on him? Even if their time together had been short—just a few months?

“Knock, knock.”

While lost in thought, two soft knocks came from the door.

Startled, Xia Li looked up to see the man standing at the doorway, holding something in his hand.

For some reason, she hesitated for a moment before walking over.

Jiang Cheng looked at her quietly, his gaze calm and focused in the stillness.

“It’s so late. Why haven’t you left yet?” Xia Li asked softly.

Instead of answering, he looked down at the item in his hand. After a moment of silence, he held it out to her.

In his open palm was a small round tin box. The lid was already off, revealing a delicate, slender necklace inside.

Under the quiet light, the silver chain shimmered softly.

Xia Li froze. “This… Where did you get it?”

Jiang Cheng didn’t answer. Perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed, he pushed it into her hand firmly.

“It’s for you,” he said in a low voice.

Xia Li looked at the necklace. It seemed to be silver, with a very fine chain and an exquisitely small heart-shaped pendant. The pendant was engraved with entwined mandarin ducks, the craftsmanship lifelike and intricate.

“You…” Instinctively, she felt it was beautiful but also a little overwhelming.

A necklace?

The man’s stern face was taut, his ears faintly red. He tried to appear indifferent as he said, “Li’er, I asked around and found out that you’d definitely like this.”

It was something he’d noticed earlier in the day at a small shop near the department store.

As he passed by, he saw a young man putting the necklace on a girl. They stood before the shop’s mirror, both a bit shy, but their gazes carried a youthful sweetness.

Jiang Cheng couldn’t forget that scene.

…He was envious.

In his mind, he replaced the couple with himself and Li’er…

Later, while retrieving the items they had stored at a nearby restaurant, he couldn’t help but retrace his steps to that shop and buy the same necklace.

The shop assistant even asked if he was buying it for a wedding.

Of course, he… uh, calmly admitted it.

It was for his little wife.

The shop assistant sweetly congratulated him, saying, “Wow, there aren’t many men like you who remember to surprise your bride like this!”

Jiang Cheng outwardly remained cool. “It’s nothing.”

But inside, he beamed with pride: Heh heh.