Chapter 13: Going to the Hospital

At that moment, another young man came running after them. As soon as he caught up, he grabbed Han Jiming by the arm and said, “What were you doing just now, like a wild horse that broke free from its reins—”

Before he could finish, he caught sight of Xu Meng.

Her face was slightly flushed from running, with a light sheen of sweat forming at the tip of her nose, making her look even more stunning.

Jiang Nan had seen his fair share of pretty girls, but in that moment, he found himself unable to look away. Every part of her appearance seemed to captivate him. His legs nearly gave out beneath him. No wonder Han Jiming had rushed in earlier like a hero saving a damsel in distress.

Damn, how did Han Jiming end up grabbing such a perfect opportunity?

“Well, whatever. Good job beating him up—imagine hitting a woman right in the middle of the street,” Jiang Nan cursed under his breath, suddenly overcome with a sense of justice.

“He’s my adoptive father,” Xu Meng said loudly. “Sorry, everyone. Just now, he was stepping in to help because he saw a man chasing after me and thought I was being harassed by a thug. Please, everyone, bear witness—everything’s fine now. He meant well.”

She said that to prevent Xu Jiefang from turning the situation around and going to the police.

When it came to disciplining a daughter, Xu Jiefang could still claim the moral high ground. Parents disciplining their children—even if it ended in tragedy—could be written off as an accident.

But Han Jiming had just publicly beaten Xu Jiefang in front of everyone. In the 1990s, the authorities were strictly cracking down on crime. If Han Jiming were labeled a thug, it would cause him unnecessary trouble.

Xu Jiefang immediately grew smug and started shouting again, “She’s my daughter. If I want to beat her to death, I damn well can!”

Jiang Nan also rushed over and gave Xu Jiefang a hard kick. “Useless trash. All you know how to do is beat women and children at home, huh? I can’t stand people like you.”

Xu Meng helplessly held her forehead. The one just now was already troublesome enough—now there was another one, and this one looked even more like a hothead.

“Stop, he’s doing it on purpose,” she said.

Xu Jiefang might not have much of a brain, but he wasn’t a complete idiot. He was deliberately provoking Han Jiming here. If he ended up with some visible injuries, Han Jiming could end up getting locked up for it, and a criminal record might follow.

And with the Han family’s background, something like that could easily be exploited.

Xu Meng remembered that in her past life, Han Jiming had gotten into some trouble and was later “exiled” overseas by the Han family for a few years. He didn’t return until things had quieted down.

If that so-called exile in this lifetime was triggered by this scumbag Xu Jiefang, she would honestly die of frustration.

——

“Come on, let’s go to the hospital,” Han Jiming said.

“…” It was just a bump. Xu Meng didn’t think it was anything serious. “I’m fine. I’ll just go home and put on some purple lotion^[1]Purple lotion refers to gentian violet, a topical antiseptic dye commonly used in China (especially in the past) to treat minor cuts, scrapes, and skin infections. It has a striking deep purple color … Continue reading.”

Han Jiming’s expression cracked slightly. “I think I twisted my ankle.”

Xu Meng: “…”

Jiang Nan also picked up on what was going on. “Jiming, who’s this? Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Hah, he sure had no problem kicking someone just a moment ago.

Han Jiming ignored him and placed a hand on Xu Meng’s arm. “Help me out.”

Jiang Nan said, “I’ll help you.”

There was a hospital nearby. They registered at the surgery department, and the doctor examined Han Jiming’s injury first. He squeezed around the ankle and said, “It’s nothing serious. Avoid strenuous activity for the next few days. Apply some safflower oil^[2]Safflower oil in this context refers to a traditional Chinese medicinal liniment made with safflower (红花 hónghuā), not the edible cooking oil. It’s used externally to promote blood … Continue reading at home. If you already have some, there’s no need for a prescription. If not, I’ll write one for you.”

Han Jiming motioned for the doctor to write one, then pointed at Xu Meng. “Doctor, maybe you could check her too. She got bumped earlier as well.”

Xu Meng quickly said, “I’m really fine.”

This kind of bump or knock was far too common. In the past, she wouldn’t have come to the hospital for something like this at all.

The doctor glanced over and saw a bruise on her knee, but it wasn’t too serious. He also prescribed a bottle of safflower oil. “Young lady, you’re way too thin. You should eat more meat, or you’ll end up anemic. Have you ever had a blood test? Want to get one done?”

Xu Meng shook her head. She was just naturally pale and lacked color. “I’m fine. I just can’t seem to gain weight.”

In her previous life, she hadn’t been anemic, and in this life, she certainly wouldn’t be either.

Han Jiming looked her up and down, pursed his lips in thought, then insisted the doctor prescribe some blood-tonifying medicine.

Back when she used to play in Shijia Alley as a child, Feng Yanwen would teach her certain manners and rules. Families like the Han family didn’t put on airs and treated people kindly, but if you thought that meant they had any special regard for you, you’d be mistaken. He spoke this way to everyone, always polite and courteous. The higher someone stood in society, the more this was true.

Once the prescriptions were filled, it was already getting late. Judging by the sun, it was around dinnertime.

Xu Meng thought for a moment, then politely said as they were leaving, “Thank you for what you did today. When you have time, let me treat you to a meal?”

Han Jiming replied, “Seriously?”

Xu Meng blinked. “Huh?”

Han Jiming let out a short laugh. “So you were just saying it to be polite. About treating me, I mean.”

Xu Meng said, “I’m just afraid I wouldn’t be able to get you to come.”

What a joke. Who was Han Jiming? There wasn’t a restaurant he hadn’t eaten at. He certainly didn’t need to bother with a meal from her.

Han Jiming looked at her earnest little face and seemed to fall into thought, as if he were seriously considering where this meal should be. That made Xu Meng feel a bit embarrassed—after all, she really had only said it out of politeness.

“If you have time, you can pick the place,” she added.

“Anywhere?” Han Jiming asked. “But where am I supposed to find you? We can’t just keep bumping into each other on the main road every time.”

“I’m staying over by the train station right now.” Xu Meng gave him a rough idea of where she was living. “But I can’t afford any fancy places.”

Han Jiming suddenly chuckled. A faint dimple appeared just beneath the corner of his mouth. His voice was gentle, like he was teasing a kitten or a puppy at home—deep and magnetic. “Alright then. I’ll think of a way to find you. But how come you’re not hanging out with Xiao Wu’er anymore? Had a falling out?”

Xiao Wu’er (Little Fifth) was Han Lingling’s nickname.

Xu Meng said, “We ended up in different schools, so we rarely ran into each other after that.”

Han Jiming replied, “But Xiao Wu’er still remembers you. If you have time, go visit her. She mentioned you to me before. There are a lot of kids in our family, but not many she really gets along with. If you’re free, go keep her company. She’s quite an interesting one. These days, my sister-in-law has her grounded—no going out, no watching TV. I remember when you used to play with her, she didn’t always beg to go outside.”

At the mention of Han Lingling, Xu Meng no longer felt as awkward as before.

The truth was, once Xu Meng grew older and started to understand more about the world, she gradually noticed the gap between her and the Han family. There were certain places Han Lingling went to that she simply couldn’t afford. She couldn’t let herself be treated every time.

So Xu Meng had used her heavy schoolwork as an excuse a few times to turn down invitations. Later, Han Lingling made some new friends, and their relationship slowly faded. But Han Lingling was actually a pretty nice person. Even when they happened to meet again later on, she was always warm and friendly.

Thinking back on that schoolyard friendship, Xu Meng couldn’t help but feel it was a bit of a pity to have lost a friend like that.

Since the conversation had gone that far, Xu Meng naturally invited them to stay for dinner.

Han Jiming didn’t decline. The three of them found a small restaurant. At first, Xu Meng worried that Han Jiming and Jiang Nan might not be used to such a humble place, but seeing how relaxed the two of them were, she felt relieved. With Jiang Nan around, there was no way the meal would be dull no matter where they ate. He chirped away nonstop, keeping the conversation lively. As they chatted, they even realized that they had played together when they were kids.

Jiang Nan deliberately said, “You’re so pretty—how could I possibly forget you?”

The admiration in his gaze toward Xu Meng was completely unfiltered.

“I was still in elementary school back then. I’ve changed since,” Xu Meng replied.

She really had changed a lot. Honestly, it would be hard for anyone who hadn’t seen her in a few years to recognize her now.

“If I’d met you earlier, I definitely would’ve chased after you,” Jiang Nan said with a grin.

Xu Meng didn’t respond to that.

Han Jiming, face darkening, dropped a piece of braised beef into Jiang Nan’s bowl. “Can’t even shut your mouth while eating? She’s in the same grade as Han Lingling.”

Jiang Nan smirked. “So that means she’s in her final year of high school?”

Xu Meng nodded. “Final year starts next semester.”

She didn’t think too much of it. He was just glib, liked to joke around with girls. She had met plenty of people like that in her past life and had grown numb to it.

But if someone thought his teasing meant he genuinely liked her, they’d be overthinking it. Liking someone’s face and liking the person themselves were two very different things. The people who hung out with Han Jiming were from similar family backgrounds. They were unlikely to get seriously involved with someone from a background like hers.

“I’ll go pay the bill,” Xu Meng said, getting up.

“No need,” Han Jiming stood up too, already having handed over the money. “You can treat me next time. It’s not like we’re never going to see each other again.”

Jiang Nan glanced at Xu Meng, then at Han Jiming, slowly starting to catch on.

Deliberately letting the girl owe you a favor—do that once or twice, and there’ll naturally be more contact.

Then he heard Han Jiming say, “I’ll walk you back.”

Well then. He was getting sidelined now, even though earlier he claimed his ankle was twisted. Now he was walking just fine.

Xu Meng had been startled earlier. “Is that okay?”

“After eating, I need to walk off the meal anyway. Walking there and back will be just enough exercise for today.”

Walking off the meal, my ass. Jiang Nan glanced at Xu Meng. She really was beautiful—no wonder Han Jiming was treating her differently. But the two of them had agreed earlier to go check out cars together, and now Han Jiming just ditched him without a word. Even if she were a peerless beauty, he still couldn’t understand it.

Jiang Nan was full of complaints, but he didn’t dare say a word. He suddenly fell quiet.

After the three of them left the restaurant, Jiang Nan tactfully said goodbye first.

Han Jiming gave a nod and started walking toward the train station.

Watching the two of them walk away, Jiang Nan shook his head. “Is he into her? Feels like maybe, but also not quite. I don’t think Han Jiming is that shallow. But then again, I’ve never seen him walk a girl home before either. Maybe it really was just him being chivalrous.”

Xu Meng and Han Jiming left the restaurant and began walking toward the train station.

It actually wasn’t far from where she lived, so calling it a walk to help digestion wasn’t too much of a stretch.

Xu Meng was still carrying the maps she had bought earlier. Han Jiming glanced at her and reached out his hand. “Let me carry that for you.”

“No need, it’s not that heavy.”

After Xu Jiefang had left earlier, Xu Meng had picked up all the scattered maps.

Some had been stepped on and gotten dirty, and a few had been taken advantage of and snatched by others in the chaos, but most were still there. She couldn’t just throw them all away.

But Han Jiming suddenly snatched them out of her arms—and was surprised by how heavy they were.

Why was it that every time he saw her, she was carrying something so heavy?

Xu Meng caught the look on his face and smiled. “This is what they call the burden of life.”

Han Jiming couldn’t help himself—he laughed. “Last time I saw you, weren’t you hauling around watermelons?”

Xu Meng replied, “My business empire has expanded!”

Han Jiming seemed even more amused. His shoulders shook with laughter.

Xu Meng lowered her head. “Can’t help it. I have to make money to get by.”

The smile in Han Jiming’s eyes faded slightly. “I remember you used to live near the Big Pagoda Tree, right?”

Just now, he had heard that man cursing and saying something about her and her adoptive mother moving out. It seemed she was indeed living away from home now. Most girls her age didn’t need to worry about making a living, but both times he had run into Xu Meng, she had been selling one thing or another.

“Yeah, my mom and I just moved out,” Xu Meng said.

“Where are you two living now?”

“At first we stayed at a classmate’s place. Now we’ve rented a room.” Xu Meng didn’t plan to say too much—she was afraid that talking too much would become annoying.

Han Jiming nodded. “Then be careful. The area around the train station might not be the safest.”

Xu Meng shook her head. “Honestly, it’s the same everywhere. Not much difference.”

Han Jiming fell silent for a moment. He had grown up in a siheyuan in Shijia Alley, where there were only a few households nearby. The space in front of the gates was wide enough to ride a horse through. But it wasn’t some kind of otherworldly place untouched by real life. Right near Shijia Alley were those large mixed courtyard compounds built after the founding of the country—small courtyards crammed with a dozen or even dozens of families. Most of the large compounds in the capital were built in the early years after Liberation, and the living conditions were more or less the same.

Noticing he had gone quiet, Xu Meng quickly stole a glance at Han Jiming.

He really was handsome. Among boys, it was rare to see such finely shaped features and such striking good looks. He was also very tall. Xu Meng stood at 1.6 meters and only came up to his chin. He must be over 1.8 meters. He was born in a time when people were still going through hardship, and even in the North, it was rare for men to grow that tall. Walking beside him gave off a sense of pressure—but also a sense of safety…

Sensing that Han Jiming had caught her staring, Xu Meng quickly lowered her eyes.

But Han Jiming smiled. “Were you looking at me?”

Xu Meng shook her head, her face slightly flushed.

She looked bold and confident on the outside, but how was she this timid?

Han Jiming turned his face toward her openly. “Then take a good look, so you won’t fail to recognize me next time.”

Xu Meng: “…” Was he still holding a grudge over her not recognizing him the first time they met?

Petty guy. Still remembering that.

When the two of them reached the entrance of the alley, Xu Meng insisted that he not walk her any further.

Girls her age were easily embarrassed. If someone saw her walking with a boy and rumors started to spread, it wouldn’t be good for her reputation.

“Be careful out there,” Han Jiming said.

“Mm.”

She took the maps from him, holding them in her arms, and walked into the alley. It was a narrow lane, barely wide enough for a tricycle to pass through. Back in the Qing dynasty, the people who lived here were from the lower class. During the years when the invaders marched in, many of the original residents fled. Refugees came and built makeshift shelters, which were then expanded. That was why this whole area was a mess—the alleys were much narrower than in other parts of the city, and the roads more tangled. After just a few steps, Xu Meng disappeared from sight.

By the time she got home with the maps, it was nearly dark.

Xu Meng felt relieved that it was already getting dark. If Feng Yanwen had seen her like this, she would’ve only worried more.