Chu Rong arrived at the Chu family's separate courtyard. By the time he got there, Jiang Mengran was already receiving a blood transfusion, and Guan Shi had already left.
Chu Rong looked at the woman on the hospital bed, her face pale, her eyes slightly closed, her brow furrowed tightly. He subconsciously reached out and smoothed the furrowed brow, but the person on the bed also woke up.
"A Rong, you're here. I knew you wouldn't abandon me." She said with a smile and tears.
Chu Rong asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Mengmei complained, "It's all Guan Shi's fault. She called my sister a vixen, said she seduced a married man, and told my sister to get lost. All she talked about was how wronged the Chu family's young madam was. Did my sister force her to donate blood with a knife? It was clearly her own threat to make you marry her. If it weren't for her, you and my sister would already be a couple."
"Mengmei, stop talking." Jiang Mengran rebuked, "Madam Chu saved my life. Her kindness is greater than the heavens. No matter what dissatisfaction or temper she has, it's what I deserve."
"Sister, you're just too kind. Do you know that the kind are bullied? That woman has humiliated you time and again, and you've always kept it from Brother-in-law..."
"Mengmei, don't talk nonsense, there's no such thing." Jiang Mengran turned her head away, her shoulders shaking. It was clear she was crying.
Chu Rong's brow furrowed, "When did she come?"
Jiang Mengmei quickly said, "She came many times. Every time after you left, she would come and scold my sister. My sister was so angry that she vomited blood every time, which is why she hasn't recovered."
Jiang Mengran stopped talking, her quiet sobs making her look pitiful.
Chu Rong felt a wave of irritation. After a pause, he said, "She has always been gentle, not like that. Is there a misunderstanding?"
"What misunderstanding could there be? Can I still lie to you? Even if you don't believe me, you should believe my sister. My sister didn't even care about her life for you, could she still lie to you? Your words are too disheartening for my sister." Jiang Mengmei accused angrily.
Jiang Mengran's crying grew louder, but she said, "Mengmei, don't blame him. Even if it happened again, I would still unhesitatingly take the car accident for him. It's just that you, A Rong, were forced to marry someone you don't love to save me."
Jiang Mengran reached out and caressed his handsome face. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't been injured in the car accident and had a rare blood type, you wouldn't have married Miss Quan, and Miss Quan wouldn't have... all because she couldn't get your love. It's all my fault, A Rong, I've dragged you down."
Chu Rong put down her hand, "Don't overthink it. I'll go back and tell her not to let her come again."
...
Quan Jiu slept poorly that night, only falling into a shallow sleep at three in the morning and waking up just after six.
She looked at the empty, cold room and gave a self-deprecating bitter smile. She had actually harbored a sliver of hope, thinking her husband would keep his word and come back.
Unable to sleep, Quan Jiu got up and went to the dining room. She saw the cold stir-fried celery with pork liver on the table.
The two ingredients she hated the most, mixed together, made her feel nauseous.
The sound of the front door opening came at that moment. The steady, powerful footsteps told her who it was even without her eyes.
Chu Rong clearly hadn't expected her to be awake so early. He walked into the dining room, sat down beside Quan Jiu, smoothed the stray hairs at her temples, and said gently, "Why haven't you eaten the pork liver? It's good for replenishing blood. You have to eat it every day from now on." As he spoke, he heated it in the microwave and then placed it in front of Quan Jiu.
Quan Jiu looked up at him, her eyes holding a hint of coldness. "Pork liver and celery are the two foods I hate the most. Do you remember?"
Chu Rong, as if he hadn't heard her, directly took chopsticks and fed her, "It's good for your health. You're a bit weak."
Is that so? Eat more, get better, so you can continue to donate blood to Jiang Mengran next time, right?
For the past two years, she had forced herself to eat these two most hated foods every day.
But now, she suddenly didn't want to force herself anymore.
She pursed her lips tightly and remained still.
Chu Rong said angrily, "Don't be willful."
She got up to leave.
But Chu Rong pulled her onto his lap, then, without further ado, took a bite of pork liver himself, and finally pried open Quan Jiu's mouth and fed it to her.
Quan Jiu wanted to resist, but her hands were held, and her jaw was also held. Weak as she was, she had no strength. She was wronged and angry, shaking her head vigorously, but Chu Rong didn't let go.
They remained in this stalemate for a while, and finally, Quan Jiu yielded. She resignedly chewed the pork liver in her mouth and forced herself to swallow the bitterness. Only then did Chu Rong release her.
He wiped the corner of Quan Jiu's mouth, "Are you going to eat it yourself, or do you want me to continue feeding you like just now?"
Quan Jiu had no choice. She picked up her chopsticks and mechanically put mouthfuls into her mouth.
It was very bitter, bitter to her heart. But she remembered the joy she felt two years ago when Chu Rong accepted her confession, so elated as if she were flying to the clouds.
Then came the lightning-fast wedding, and the blood donation that caught her off guard.
Chu Rong said, "I won't demand anything of you, but I implore you, save her. Don't worry, as long as you are willing to save her, I will treat you well for the rest of my life."
And he had kept his word. After marriage, he treated her with courtesy. Except for the absence of love, and except for Jiang Mengran. Whenever Jiang Mengran was involved, she was an unnecessary person who could be discarded at will.
"Eat slowly, don't choke." Chu Rong put down her chopsticks.
Quan Jiu's mouth was already full of pork liver and celery, the taste making her feel nauseous.
Chu Rong stroked her head, "Don't go to the separate courtyard anymore. Mengran is very fragile and cannot withstand any stimulation."
Quan Jiu's eyes widened, and the last trace of color drained from her face.
She looked at him silently, and finally, unable to hold back, her face turned pale, and she rushed into the bathroom, vomiting with tears streaming down her face and a mouth full of bitter water.
Chu Rong also hurried in. After a pause, he said, "I'll have Chen Ma prepare other dishes for you at noon."
"No need to trouble you." Quan Jiu stood up, rinsed her mouth, and went back to the living room. She told herself: This is the last, last chance. She swore that if she could only be disappointed one more time, she would never hope again.
"Yesterday was my birthday, you know?" she asked softly.
Chu Rong took out a card. "Yes, I'm sorry I didn't have time to prepare a gift. Today I'm giving Wang Xiao a day off to accompany you shopping. Buy whatever you like. The password is your birthday."
The last bit of hope in Quan Jiu's heart was finally extinguished.
Last year on her birthday, Chu Rong had asked Wang Xiao to buy her a valuable set of jewelry.
This year on her birthday, Chu Rong simply let her buy it herself.
She smiled faintly, "Thank you."
Chu Rong, however, felt a sense of strangeness. Her tone was cold and distant, not the Quan Jiu he knew.
"Mengran's condition is not very good, so I'll be back quite late today. You should sleep early, don't wait for me."
"Okay," Quan Jiu replied obediently.
Chu Rong felt even more uneasy. If it were before, he would have had to persuade her a few more times before Quan Jiu would agree.
"I'll be back as soon as possible," he said, an unconscious promise.
"Okay," Quan Jiu smiled.
Chu Rong paused, then strode out. Outside the door, he called Wang Xiao, "Accompany the young madam shopping today."
For two years, whenever she went shopping, it was Wang Xiao who accompanied her. Wang Xiao had no complaints and agreed, quickly arriving at the boss's mansion.
Quan Jiu was still sitting in the living room. The living room was large and luxurious, but it was empty and cold. Wang Xiao looked at the young madam and sighed in his heart: It's unfortunate for the young madam to be with his boss.
"Young Madam, the boss instructed me to accompany you shopping. Where would you like to go? Or the Marriot Mall?"
Quan Jiu shook her head, "I just drew blood yesterday, and I'm very tired. You go buy it for me. You know my preferences and sizes." She pushed the card on the table over.
Wang Xiao was a bit embarrassed, but the young madam's pale and sickly complexion was evident, so he didn't refuse and took the card to leave.
...
Two hours later, Wang Xiao returned to the mansion with a large pile of jewelry and designer clothes, but he couldn't find the young madam anywhere inside or out.
He called her first, but her phone was off. Wang Xiao vaguely felt something was wrong and quickly reported the situation to his boss.
Upon receiving the call, Chu Rong remembered Quan Jiu's slightly unusual demeanor that morning and recalled her gentle and obedient "Okay."
He felt an inexplicable panic. He quickly dropped his work and rushed home.
The house was empty. Since Quan Jiu was usually responsible for his daily needs, there were no maids. But this was the first time he felt this home was so empty. Why hadn't he noticed it before?
Chu Rong felt an uncontrollable unease, even he himself didn't understand why.
He could only rush into the bedroom. The bed was neatly made. In the walk-in closet, there were some new clothes, likely bought today.
Fortunately, it seemed she had gone out. Chu Rong told himself he was being strange, not knowing what he was so nervous and scared about. He called Quan Jiu again, but her phone was still off.
Could the battery have died? Chu Rong thought for a moment, then sat down at Quan Jiu's dressing table. To his surprise, he saw a piece of paper on the vanity.
He was startled at first, then his expression sharpened, his face becoming grim and terrifying.
A divorce agreement.