Chapter 5

Jiang Haozhi recovered one hundred thousand yuan for me.

He said the extra fifty thousand was compensation from Shi Keyan for my medical expenses.

“All right.” I nodded. “Did you thank him?”

Jiang Haozhi’s face darkened. “Thank him? He’s lucky I didn’t beat him to death.”

I found that so funny that, with the slender silver fork between my lips, I couldn’t help laughing out loud.

Jiang Haozhi stared at me for several seconds.

“Xiaohe, quit your job. I still have some money in a fixed-term account. I’ll withdraw it and you can stay home and rest for a while.”

I avoided the subject.

“We’ll talk about it later. I’m going to wash some clothes. They got a little alcohol on them when I fainted, and they smell.”

Jiang Haozhi immediately said, “I’ll wash them for you.”

Our washing machine had been broken for a long time, so he had no choice but to crouch on the floor and scrub them by hand.

I expected him to grow impatient. Instead, he was unusually meticulous and washed everything spotless.

Then he bought me a huge pile of new clothes online.

I glanced at him and deliberately asked, “Didn’t you transfer all your money to me? Where did you get enough to buy so many clothes?”

Jiang Haozhi hesitated. “I put them on my credit card. It’s fine, really. I can pay it off when I get my wages.”

After a moment’s thought, I raised a hand and gently stroked his face.

“Thank you, but don’t spend any more money on me. Earning it isn’t easy for you either.”

The skin I had touched reddened.

“Who else would I spend it on? You don’t even own any skincare products. I’ll buy you some in a minute. Oh, and shoes too. What size did you say you wear?”

“Wait, the washing machine comes first. Right. I’ll get one with a dryer. I’m home today, so I can make sure they install it. And that pan—the coating’s coming off… Don’t worry about any of this. Go rest.”

When I woke from my nap, he had replaced everything in the apartment that could be replaced.

An exquisite little cake that looked very expensive sat on the table as well.

“Xiaohe, try this. I bet it’s delicious.” Jiang Haozhi looked back at me as he unpacked the new cookware.

I smiled.

“All right. Why did you buy so many things? You must be exhausted.”

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have gotten that hundred thousand yuan either. Let’s celebrate with a nice meal.”

I pulled him down beside me, and together we searched online for restaurant deals.

In the end, we went to a buffet that cost one hundred and fifty yuan per person.

I took a little of everything I wanted to try and ate to my heart’s content.

Jiang Haozhi ate very little. He kept looking at his phone.

Halfway through the meal, he suddenly stood. “Xiaohe, keep eating. I’m going to the restroom.”

I nodded and said all right.

But when I got up to wash my hands, I discovered him and Shi Keyan grappling with each other around the corner.

It wasn’t the lunch or dinner rush and there were few people nearby, so I could faintly hear their conversation.

Shi Keyan looked furious.

“Have you lost your mind, Jiang Haozhi? What do you mean, I’ve gone far enough?”

“Have you never seen a woman before? It’s only been a few days and you’re already protecting her?”

Jiang Haozhi looked as if he couldn’t be bothered with him.

“I’m eating. Why don’t you go find something else to do?”

“You flirted with everyone in sight and got dumped. Why take your anger out on someone else? There’s something wrong with you.”

With that, Jiang Haozhi shoved him aside and returned to our table.

I washed my hands and went back to my seat too. Pretending nothing had happened, I continued eating.

Only a few minutes later, Shi Keyan strode up to us, bent down, and rapped on the table.

Jiang Haozhi gave him a warning look.

Shi Keyan pulled out his phone and tossed it onto the table.

“I’ve been looking for you all day. You extorted a pile of money from me, broke my phone, and now you think you can turn around and run?”

Jiang Haozhi glanced at the phone.

He seemed about to instinctively pull out some cash and fling it in Shi Keyan’s face.

But he forcibly restrained himself.

“Fine, I’ll pay for it. How much?”

Shi Keyan scoffed.

“Your girlfriend’s an efficient worker. Have her clean my place every weekend to pay off the debt.”

Before I could speak, Jiang Haozhi shot to his feet and dragged Shi Keyan toward the exit.

Halfway there, he looked back and said, “It’s fine, Xiaohe. Don’t worry. Finish your meal and wait for me at home.”

Under the restaurant staff’s anxious gaze, the two of them left.

I wasn’t worried. They were friends, after all. Nothing serious would happen.

I had simply found myself alone again without warning, and it felt a little lonely.

Jiang Haozhi came home before midnight.

His face was scraped and he looked a mess.

I hadn’t expected Shi Keyan to actually hit him. Surprised, I hurried to get the first-aid kit and treat his wounds.

I had been doing handicrafts, and the glue had irritated my eyes.

As I tended him beneath the deathly white light, tears kept streaming down my face.

Jiang Haozhi looked at me, frowned, and gently dabbed at my eyes with a tissue.

“It’s all right. Don’t cry.”

I didn’t correct his misunderstanding.

Instead, I set down the cotton swab and gently put my arms around him.

“It hurts me to see you like this.”

Jiang Haozhi stiffened.

“I’m really fine! He can’t beat me anyway. Besides—besides, I’m tough. What do a couple of punches matter?”

“I couldn’t actually let you go clean his place. He can dream on.”

I nodded without letting go.

“Jiang Haozhi, how can you be so good to me?”

His entire face turned red. Trapped in my embrace, he couldn’t speak.

I released him, gently touched his face, and continued treating his wounds.

When I finished, he suddenly caught my hand and ventured a question.

“Xiaohe, if I did something wrong, would you get really angry and refuse to speak to me?”

I asked, “What kind of thing?”

Jiang Haozhi hesitated. “Like… lying to you.”

Pretending to think about it seriously, I nodded.

“I would.”

“I hate being lied to. Even the smallest lie is unacceptable.”

His grip on my hand suddenly tightened.

I had said it deliberately.

Looking uneasy, he said, “I was just asking. I’ve never lied to you.”

I smiled and squeezed his hand.

“I know.”

“Jiang Haozhi is the best, kindest person in the whole world. How could he ever lie to me?”