Chapter 28: Please Don’t Avoid It

Jiang Cheng was wearing long-sleeved pajamas with a warming patch stuck to her belly; the warmth in her lower abdomen felt very comfortable.

Fortunately, the doctor said it was mainly because she had eaten something too cold tonight. 

If the reaction was this intense every time, she would probably be tortured to death.

Jiang Cheng opened the window; the stuffy dusty smell in the room was dispersed by the night breeze.

She didn’t dare linger by the window too long.

Soon, she lay down on the bed, scrolled through her phone out of boredom, and started yawning.

It was almost twelve o’clock; time to sleep. Ah… she still had to wake up early.

Jiang Cheng casually opened WeChat, then suddenly sat bolt upright. 

In the green chat bubble were countless periods mixed with a bunch of meaningless letters.

【。。sadjhnfjkhjk。。。。。。。。。】

【。。。。。。。ilhiugnioi】

【？】

【Accidentally tapped?】

Wang Ziyue’s reply had come two hours ago, when Jiang Cheng was still in the car on the way home. She recalled.

As expected, she had accidentally touched the screen back then…

She lay back down, thought for a moment, and replied.

【Yeah, hand slipped】

After sending it, Jiang Cheng felt something was off and immediately withdrew the message.

But Wang Ziyue had already seen it. She sent a voice message.

“Hand slipped, huh…”

Jiang Cheng’s ears were enveloped by Wang Ziyue’s voice, rich and mellow like red wine.

Intoxicating, alluring, with a hint of indescribable danger.

It was like a summer midnight… standing on a high-rise balcony, facing the warm breeze carrying the restlessness and ambiguity of the city’s neon lights.

Was the warming patch working too well? Jiang Cheng lifted her pajamas and peeled it off.

【How was your dad’s surgery?】

Jiang Cheng felt she had a real talent for killing conversations.

【Wang Ziyue】 quickly turned into 【The other party is typing…】

Another voice message, this one longer. Jiang Cheng played it.

“Mm, the surgery went very smoothly. He’s in the ICU now… the doctor says there’s no problem.”

Wang Ziyue’s voice sounded relaxed, and the corners of Jiang Cheng’s mouth lifted into a smile.

“That’s good.”

Jiang Cheng pressed the voice button and sent it.

Wang Ziyue was leaning against her car. 

She had just grabbed something to eat at a nearby convenience store and was about to head back when she received the girl’s reply.

Hearing that soft, sweet yet clear voice, Wang Ziyue’s eyes darkened slightly.

【You have class tomorrow, rest early】

【Okay, you too】

Jiang Cheng placed her phone on the bedside table, got up to close the window.

The room lights were off; the tightly shut glass blocked out external sounds.

It was quiet, but she couldn’t sleep. 

Jiang Cheng blinked, staring at the ceiling in the darkness.

She hadn’t expected Wang Ziyue to not ask a single question about her mom, as if nothing had happened.

Jiang Cheng curled up into a ball, hugging the rolled-up blanket in her arms.

Her tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and drowsiness led her unknowingly into sleep.

Wang Ziyue hadn’t slept all night. 

She forced herself to stay alert for a client call, then had Secretary Fang bring her laptop over.

Even though she wasn’t at the company, there was still work to handle.

“Um… when is the onboarding for the new company’s employees?”

Wang Ziyue rubbed her eyes, leaned back, and reached for the eye drops nearby.

The cool liquid soothed her aching eyeballs.

“The day after tomorrow, President Wang.”

“Mm… I’ll go there then. Oh, just let Director Chen know.”

If it hadn’t been for yesterday’s encounter, Wang Ziyue probably wouldn’t have cared so much about this.

But now, knowing that Jiang Cheng and Jiang Xiaoyue’s mother were the same person, she felt it was necessary to go in person.

Meeting the new employees seemed like the perfect excuse.

“Help me prepare some small gifts too, as a celebration for their onboarding.”

“Huh? Oh, oh… yes, President Wang.” 

Secretary Fang couldn’t hide her surprise, but she diligently noted it down in her memo, planning to visit the mall after work.

Sigh, one word from the boss, and the secretary runs her legs off.

Wang Ziyue glanced at her, thinking she could give Secretary Fang a bigger bonus this month.

“Handle everything else as you see fit. Push back any social engagements for me.”

Wang Ziyue felt she needed a quiet environment to think.

Before leaving, Secretary Fang closed the door to the family lounge. 

From the corner of her eye, she noticed President Wang seemed to be slapping her own forehead?

She didn’t dare look longer and hurriedly left in her eight-centimeter heels.

She just couldn’t figure it out… Wang Ziyue’s mind had already played through family ethics dramas all the way to period tragedy soaps.

From them being a remarried family to Jiang Cheng being sent to relatives as a child.

But no matter the scenario, it all felt off to Wang Ziyue.

Yes… Jiang Cheng’s “Mom” had been completely natural. 

That innate closeness and subconscious address couldn’t be faked.

Tch.

Jiang Cheng was clearly sent by the heavens to give her more troubles. 

Wang Ziyue realized her private time seemed to revolve entirely around this female high schooler.

Yet the other party remained ungrateful, even deliberately distancing herself.

Last night, Wang Ziyue hadn’t mentioned it on WeChat, and Jiang Cheng didn’t bring it up either. 

No matter how she looked at it, the girl didn’t want to explain properly…

After feeling irritated, Wang Ziyue was overcome with deep frustration. 

An adult like her was actually being toyed with by a minor.

It was… like being a simp?

Wang Ziyue slapped her cheeks, banishing the terrifying thought from her mind.

She was the angelic sponsor nurturing a female high schooler’s healthy growth—how could she lack dignity like that?

Forget it.

If you won’t tell me, I’ll ask your mom. 

Wang Ziyue thought viciously.

The phone rang. 

She glanced at it—it was her big brother calling.

“Hey… Bro.”

Wang Ziyue couldn’t hide the exhaustion in her voice.

She had called Wang Ziyang the moment the surgery succeeded, but she hadn’t expected him to call again this morning.

“You didn’t sleep all night, did you?”

“Yeah, I was just about to catch up on sleep.” 

Wang Ziyue adjusted the recliner back so she could lie flat.

“Why don’t you go home and sleep? I’m on my way to the hospital.”

“Don’t you have classes this morning?”

“Don’t worry, I asked another teacher to cover for me.”

After leaving the company, Wang Ziyang had been teaching at a university. 

This year, he had just been promoted to associate professor.

“That works. Once Dad is moved out of the ICU, I’ll head back…”

After waiting all night, Wang Ziyue still wanted to see him in person before leaving.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the lounge door. Wang Ziyue lazily said, “Come in.”

“You’re treating me like a secretary now.” 

Wang Ziyang’s eyes were also rimmed with dark circles, bloodshot.

Wang Ziyue stared at her brother for a moment and laughed.

“What’s so funny…” 

Wang Ziyang had left in a rush and hadn’t shaved; he looked a bit scruffy. 

He touched his chin, thinking of washing his face.

“Did Xiao Yu go to school?”

“Yeah, the driver took him. We’ll pick him up after school and bring him here. Qinghua is with Mom, so she’s fine. Mom slept late last night; we’ll tell her when she wakes up.”

“Mm… let’s go. It should be about time.”

The two headed toward the ICU. 

From afar, they saw the director and others waiting outside.

“President Wang, good morning.” 

The director greeted proactively.

“Morning… How is my dad doing now?”

“All vital signs are normal. He can be transferred out of the ICU soon.”

The head nurse said gently; she and the doctor had been on duty last night.

“You’ve all worked hard. Thank you.” Wang Ziyue smiled gratefully.

“It’s our duty.”

Wang Ziyue nodded and watched her father being wheeled out of the room.

The surgery had taken a huge toll; he was now asleep.

His quiet appearance lacked any of his usual imposing aura.

Wang Ziyue’s eyelashes drooped, a tear hanging at the corner of her eye, refusing to fall for a long time.