Chapter 24

Although Xu Heng was clearly joking, Qi Zhengchen firmly defended Xu Zhiyi: “There are so many people in the world who like to play tennis. If Zhiyi had to buy a racket for everyone, she’d go bankrupt! It’s just right that she didn’t get one for you; if she had, I’d be jealous.”

Xu Heng: “I never noticed you talk so much before.”

Qi Zhengchen laughed, “Well, you’re the one who got me worked up.”

Xu Zhiyi casually bounced the shuttlecock with her racket, appearing relaxed and like an outsider listening to their banter.

In reality, she was torn about whether to buy tennis rackets for the other two.

Lost in thought, she missed catching the shuttlecock, which fell a meter in front of Jiang Sixun. She hurried over to pick it up, but was a step too late, as the man beside her bent down and picked it up for her.

Jiang Sixun: “Nice job with the shuttlecock.”

Xu Zhiyi tried to reach for the shuttlecock from him, but he tossed it into the air in a small parabola. She nearly missed the rhythm but managed to react quickly and hit it with her racket.

The man watched her intently, and Xu Zhiyi focused, her talent for ball control evident. When she first started badminton, her coach had praised her.

On one side of the net, one was focused on bouncing the shuttlecock while the other watched intently.

On the other side, the two people drinking water were still at it.

Jiang Sixun asked her: “Have you played before?”

Xu Zhiyi, concentrating on the shuttlecock on her racket, responded during a brief pause: “Yes, I chose badminton and equestrian in middle school.” She had initially chosen tennis but was hit in the face by a tennis ball, almost injuring her eye and giving her a psychological scar. Xiaomei Huang had suggested she switch to badminton or golf, and she chose the former.

“Zhiyi, stop bouncing the shuttlecock,” Qi Zhengchen finally called out after finishing his argument.

“Okay.” Xu Zhiyi lost focus for a moment, and her control slipped, sending the shuttlecock over Jiang Sixun’s head. He quickly stepped back and caught it with his racket.

Qi Zhengchen: “You two stop bouncing the shuttlecock.”

It was Xu Zhiyi’s first time playing doubles with Jiang Sixun, and she felt inexplicably nervous.

After a few rounds, she discovered the weaknesses of their opponents, making it hard for Qi Zhengchen and Xu Heng to return her shots.

Xu Heng, out of breath and more exhausted than playing tennis, took a powerful shot, expecting Xu Zhiyi and Jiang Sixun to have difficulty returning it.

The shuttlecock was coming at a tricky angle, making it hard to intercept, but Xu Zhiyi still gave it her all to recover it.

She managed to save the shuttlecock but lost her balance while running too fast, stumbling toward the edge of the court and almost falling.

Jiang Sixun, quick on his feet, rushed forward and grabbed her arm to pull her back.

The opponents missed her shot, and she didn’t fall, but her left foot was a bit uncomfortable.

Xu Zhiyi waved her racket at the other two, signaling for a pause: “Let’s take a break; I almost twisted my ankle.”

Qi Zhengchen quickly came over, concerned: “Does it hurt?”

Xu Zhiyi tossed her racket aside and shook her head: “It doesn’t hurt, just feels uncomfortable; I can’t really describe it.”

Jiang Sixun, still holding her arm, said, “Let’s sit down for a moment.” He then asked, “Can you walk?”

Xu Zhiyi: “It’s fine, I don’t need any support.”

She walked normally but decided not to play anymore. “I won’t play; you two continue.”

After sweating profusely, even her hair was damp, she took a break, watched them play a bit more, and then headed to the shower with her backpack.

Half an hour later, she was helped out by a staff member, wearing slippers as her ankle was swollen and she couldn’t wear sports shoes.

Jiang Sixun was the first to notice and quickly went up to her: “Is it low blood sugar or something?”

Xu Zhiyi pointed to her ankle: “It’s swollen, and I can’t walk.”

Jiang Sixun supported her and thanked the staff member: “Thank you.”

Qi Zhengchen flung his racket aside and rushed over, clearly agitated: “Are you kidding me? Can’t you tell if your foot hurts or not? And you still went for a hot shower!”

Xu Zhiyi tried to stay calm: “I really didn’t feel anything earlier.” She’d had similar issues before, where a shower and some rest had sorted things out. She hadn’t anticipated today’s severity. After washing her hair, she felt something was off with her foot, but it was too late to do anything about it.

Seeing her discomfort, Qi Zhengchen’s concern overrode his frustration. He said gently, “Next time you think you’ve twisted something, skip the hot shower. It’ll only make it worse.”

Xu Zhiyi replied, “I know.”

Not wanting to add to his worry, she insisted, “It really doesn’t hurt.”

But Qi Zhengchen could see through her brave facade. He turned to Jiang Sixun, patting him on the shoulder: “I’ll take over. You’re not exactly adept at supporting her.”

Jiang Sixun, a bit taken aback, retorted, “…I’m not that clueless.”

Without waiting for further argument, Qi Zhengchen gently guided Xu Zhiyi: “Zhiyi’s already nervous around you as her boss. If you help her, she might end up injuring the other ankle. If you hadn’t pulled her earlier, she might not have twisted it at all.”

Jiang Sixun: “…”

Xu Zhiyi, feeling guilty and anxious in front of her boss, felt a lot more at ease with Qi Zhengchen. She clung to his arm as her left ankle throbbed with sharp pain. With her brother’s help, she moved forward. She defended Jiang Sixun: “It’s not Jiang’s fault. I twisted it before he even touched me.”

Qi Zhengchen, trying to lighten the mood, said, “I was just joking; why take it so seriously?”

Xu Heng handed Xu Zhiyi a bottle of room-temperature water: “I’ll get you some ice water for a cold compress.”

“I’ve got some in my car,” Qi Zhengchen said, then pointed to his bag. “Could you get it for me?”

Inside the bag were liniment oil, a spray for injuries, and specialized bandages. Qi Zhengchen always came prepared for these situations when accompanying Xu Zhiyi to sports.

Finally seated, Xu Zhiyi took off her slippers and gingerly moved her foot. The pain radiated from her ankle up to her calf.

Qi Zhengchen called the driver to bring an ice pack and retrieved the bandages from his bag.

Jiang Sixun, wanting to help but unsure of how, asked, “Is the pain severe? Shouldn’t you get an X-ray to check for any bone damage?”

“I’ll check it myself first,” Xu Zhiyi said, trying to stand for a few seconds. The pain was sharp, but she could stand, suggesting it was a ligament issue rather than a bone injury. “It’s probably a ligament injury.”

“Be careful and sit down,” Qi Zhengchen said, helping her settle onto the bench. He placed the sports bag at the other end and motioned for her to rest her foot on it. “I’ll wrap the bandage for you.” He crouched down to assist.

Xu Heng offered, “I’ll handle the bandaging. I’m her older brother.”

Qi Zhengchen pulled out the bandage: “Do you know how to do the figure-eight ankle wrap?”

Xu Heng hesitated, clearly unsure.

Jiang Sixun stepped in, “I can do it. I know how.”

Qi Zhengchen shot him a look: “You’re the backup.”

Jiang Sixun: “…”

Qi Zhengchen expertly wrapped the bandage, a technique he’d learned from a coach. He glanced at Xu Zhiyi, saying, “Bear with the pain. If it’s not wrapped tightly, it won’t help.” While wrapping, he kept talking to distract her: “I’ve played so many years of badminton with Zhiyi, and she’s never had any issues. We played for two hours just before you two showed up, and now she twists her ankle. If you can’t even play properly, at least don’t make things worse by being here.”

Xu Heng: “…”

That was a clear jab at him.

“My bad.”

Qi Zhengchen, with a smirk, said, “That’s exactly what I was waiting to hear.”

With the bandage secured, the ice pack arrived. Qi Zhengchen placed it on her ankle and checked his watch, mentally timing the treatment.

Jiang Sixun turned to Xu Zhiyi: “My mom still wants you to come over for dinner tonight. Can you make it? If not, we’ll plan for another time.”

Before Xu Zhiyi could respond, Xu Heng spoke for her: “Tell Aunt Jiang to save it for another time. I’ll take Zhiyi back to Shanghai tonight. With her condition, it’s better she’s at home where my mom can take care of her.”

Plans were upended. After applying the cold compress, Xu Heng helped his sister into the car, and they headed to the hotel to pack for their late flight back.

Back at the court, Qi Zhengchen packed up the badminton rackets leisurely and then turned to Jiang Sixun: “How about we play a couple of sets of tennis?”

Jiang Sixun glanced at the tennis racket: “Not in the mood. Let’s head to my place for dinner. My mom’s eager to see you. She’d carry you there on a sedan chair if she could.”

“If she dares to carry me, I’ll gladly sit,” Qi Zhengchen said with a grin as he slung the tennis bag over his shoulder. “And by the way, Aunt Jiang finds me more pleasant than you.”

Leaving the court, they went straight to Jiang Sixun’s home.

On the way, Jiang Sixun informed his mother not to prepare too many dishes, as Xu Zhiyi had twisted her ankle and Xu Heng was taking her back to Shanghai.

Upon entering the house, Jiang Yueru immediately asked about Xu Zhiyi’s condition.

Jiang Sixun replied: “Xu Heng said she can only hop on one foot and can’t put weight on the left foot.”

Just then, his phone rang—his uncle was calling.

Jiang Sixun’s second uncle, the one running the hospital, had a gut feeling that the call was related to Xu Zhiyi’s injury. He stepped outside to take it in the courtyard, away from the chaos of the hospital.

The moment the call connected, his second uncle’s voice was grim. “Brace yourself,” he warned.

Jiang Sixun, already on edge, lit a cigarette—a rare indulgence since the last one Xu Xiangyi had handed him in Manhattan.

“Tell me Dad didn’t swap Zhiyi for someone else?” he asked, his voice tinged with a mix of dread and hope.

Second Uncle: “…If your father knew you had so little trust in him, he’d blow his top.”

Jiang Sixun exhaled slowly, crushing the cigarette he’d barely smoked. At least it wasn’t his father’s doing.

Second Uncle continued, “It’s not about Zhiyi. It’s about your uncle’s new bride. I met her today, and it’s no wonder your grandfather’s in the hospital and can’t get out.”

Jiang Sixun, uninterested in the family drama with the Lu family, didn’t ask questions. He simply listened to his second uncle.

Second Uncle sighed heavily. “Family scandals are never pretty. Your uncle’s fiancée…” He hesitated, “Her name is Shen Qingfeng.”

Jiang Sixun’s interest piqued. “Shen Qingfeng? I’ve never heard of her.”

He had no recollection of the name.

Second Uncle: “You wouldn’t have heard of her. She changed her name twenty-two years ago. After that, she married and settled in London, but the marriage didn’t last long. That’s all I know. Shen Qingfeng… she’s the reason behind your parents’ divorce.”

Jiang Sixun: “…”

His parents’ divorce had been the result of his father’s infidelity, with another woman in the picture. Now, it seemed that this woman had become his father’s new sister-in-law.

“Second Uncle, are you suggesting I should comfort my dad?”

Second Uncle: “…Not at all. Your dad brought this on himself. The old man asked me to tell you to keep this family mess from your mom. She’s been unwell lately, and we don’t want to add to her stress.”

Jiang Sixun: “My mom hasn’t cared about Dad for years.”

After ending the call, he lit another cigarette, pondering the chaos.

It made sense now why he was so opposed to the marriage with Ning Yun, and why he hadn’t seen Lu Jianbo reprimanding him—clearly, his own side was in turmoil.

Footsteps approached, and he turned to see his mother bringing over some fruit.

Jiang Sixun extinguished the cigarette and tossed it into the ashtray.

Jiang Yueru sat down beside him. “Why are you smoking again?”

Jiang Sixun shrugged. “I’ve never really quit.”

“Your dad called me again this afternoon.”

Jiang Sixun’s hand faltered as he reached for the fruit. “What did he want?”

Jiang Yueru, in her calm manner, replied, “He said he won’t interfere with your marriage from now on. Whenever you decide to get married, it’s up to you, as long as I’m happy. He’s clearly lost his mind.”

Jiang Sixun continued munching on the fruit, noting how deeply Lu Jianbo’s new marriage had shaken him.

But why would Shen Qingfeng, who was over sixty, choose to marry his uncle while Lu Jianbo, still in his fifties and looking younger than his age, remained single?

He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Xu Heng: [Help me find out about Shen Qingfeng, my uncle’s new wife.]

Xu Heng: [Why are you looking into your aunt?]

Jiang Sixun: [She was my dad’s old flame. She changed her name; her previous name wasn’t Shen Qingfeng.]

Xu Heng: “…”

---

In the early morning hours, Xu Heng returned home with his sister.

Her foot was severely swollen; her sandals didn’t fit. Xu Zhiyi had been holding her shoes since getting off the plane.

He Yi’an and Xu Xiangyi had been awake, preparing ice packs in advance.

Despite the commonality of sports injuries, He Yi’an was heartbroken. She gently touched her daughter’s swollen ankle, which was burning with heat.

“Mom, it’s really nothing.”

“It’s your brother’s fault for insisting on those tricky shots.”

“…”

Xu Zhiyi forced a smile through the pain. “It’s not really his fault.”

He Yi’an said firmly, “Let’s get to your room. After you shower, I’ll give you a cold compress for half an hour.”

Xu Xiangyi, worried, asked, “Can you walk? Dad can carry you.”

“No need. I’ll use the elevator.”

Fortunately, their home had an elevator, so she wouldn’t have to hop up three flights of stairs.

After freshening up, she sank into the comfortable bed, savoring the soft pillow and the faint, soothing fragrance.

The door opened, and He Yi’an entered, carrying a pillow.

“Tonight, Mom will stay with you. If the pain becomes too much, call me, and I’ll help with the pain.”

Xu Zhiyi wanted to say it was just a minor sprain, but she really wanted to spend the night with her mother. So, she agreed, “Okay.” She shifted her pillow to make space for He Yi’an.

He Yi’an adjusted her on the bed, placing two stacked pillows under her injured foot and carefully applying the ice pack. “Try to sleep now. I’ll take the ice pack off in half an hour.”

Xu Zhiyi, unable to sleep through the pain, said quietly, “Sorry for making you and Dad worry.”

He Yi’an turned off the room light and replied, “Don’t say silly things. It’s not a worry.”

The greatest source of worry for parents is when their children are young, a chance that had slipped away for her.

The room was enveloped in darkness, with heavy curtains blocking all light. Xu Zhiyi’s eyes took a moment to adjust before she could make out the figure beside her.

“Mom,” she whispered, pushing herself up.

He Yi’an opened her eyes but could see nothing clearly in the darkness. She reached out, finding her daughter’s shoulder. “What’s wrong? Is it too painful?”

Xu Zhiyi, already sitting up, replied, “It’s manageable. I just want to rest on you for a bit.” She adjusted the two pillows under her foot and re-applied the ice pack.

With her vision clearing, He Yi’an could finally make out her daughter’s form. Her voice softened with warmth. “Come, let’s cuddle. You can sleep in my arms.” She gently pulled her daughter close.

Xu Zhiyi nestled against her mother, shifting into the most comfortable position and wrapping her arms around He Yi’an. The embrace felt a little unfamiliar, but the comforting scent was unmistakably her mother’s.

He Yi’an kissed her daughter’s forehead and whispered, “Sleep now.”

As Xu Zhiyi lay there, nestled in her mother’s arms, her throat bobbed with several swallows. The sense of regret she had felt seemed to dissolve.

For the next few days, her world was confined to the living room and dining area. The swelling in her ankle had finally subsided, but walking remained a challenge.

The floral arranger had set up a display of over a dozen vases beneath the living room’s lattice windows—ranging from small to large, creating a Monet-like garden that brought vibrant romance into her home without needing a greenhouse.

She snapped a photo and posted it online. Qi Zhengchen was the first to like it and commented: 【Feeling bored at home?】

Xu Zhiyi: 【Not bored, just enjoying the flowers.】

Books, flowers, and a bit of social media—time passed quickly.

With her parents and brother out, Xu Zhiyi lounged on the sofa after lunch, flipping through a fashion magazine her mother had bought. It featured outfits from various high-end brands. Halfway through, she placed the magazine over her face to give her slightly sore hands a rest and began mentally planning a few outfits for the upcoming school season.

Footsteps approached, and she didn’t think much of it, assuming it was the housekeeper bringing more fruits and snacks.

Jiang Sixun, observing her in a turquoise halter dress, noticed she appeared to be asleep. He bent down to gently remove the magazine from her face.

In an instant, their eyes met.