The light drizzle that had accompanied their arrival had turned into moderate rain.
Lu Mingzhe, considerate of his wife's fatigue after spending half the day with him at the hospital, took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
"The weather in Hangcheng is still quite chilly; be careful not to catch a cold."
Her husband was tall and handsome, gentle and considerate towards her. The couple, a perfect match in looks, drew admiring glances from many as they walked together.
Now, as he removed his jacket to cover her shoulders, the doctors and patients sheltering from the rain at the entrance of the outpatient building all looked on with envy.
"Wait here. I'll go and get the car to pick you up."
With that, he dashed back into the rain.
Fang Shuya, wearing the jacket still warm with Lu Mingzhe's body heat, waited there happily.
A moment later, Xiang Wan appeared beside her with her child and grandmother.
"Has the rain gotten heavier? I didn't bring an umbrella when we came. Grandma, you wait here with Nian Nian, I'll go get the car."
Her grandmother was about to give Xiang Wan the blanket covering Nian Nian.
"Put this on your head so your clothes don't get wet."
"No need. It's still a bit damp. You keep it on Nian Nian; don't let her catch a chill."
Xiang Wan, in her high heels, dashed into the rain.
Nian Nian, with a fever patch on her forehead, was wrapped in a thin blanket by her great-grandmother. Her big eyes blinked and rolled around quietly, observing the world.
Her fair, tender little hands hung outside, opening and closing, as if waving hello.
Fang Shuya, who was planning to get pregnant soon, was particularly interested in children and couldn't help but reach out to touch the baby's hand.
"So beautiful, is she a girl?"
Her grandmother glanced at her and smiled kindly, saying, "Yes."
"How old is she? She's really so adorable."
"Just five months old."
Seeing someone dote on her, Nian Nian, despite her unwell state, smiled with her mouth.
Two tiny white milk teeth were revealed, making her impossibly cute.
Fang Shuya's heart melted at her cuteness.
"She has teeth already? How cute! Her teeth are so small and white!"
Lu Mingzhe drove the car over, rolled down the passenger window, and peered out through the rain.
"Ya Ya, let's go."
Fang Shuya released Nian Nian's hand. "My husband is here to pick me up. I have to go. Goodbye, little one!"
She pinched Nian Nian's cheek again, hurried down the steps, got into the car, and left.
Just as Lu Mingzhe drove off, Xiang Wan's car also stopped.
Her grandmother, holding Nian Nian in the back seat, looked at Lu Mingzhe's car, which was only a few meters away, and sighed.
"It would be nice if you had a man around. You wouldn't have to play both mother and father all day, so busy with everything."
"Grandma, why are you suddenly saying this?"
"I just saw the young couple in the car ahead and thought of it."
"You're not old, and you're beautiful. Even though you have a child, your life ahead is still long. You can't stay single forever, can you?"
Xiang Wan followed her words and glanced at the rear of Lu Mingzhe's car.
It had a Hangcheng license plate; she didn't recognize it.
"Let's talk about it when Nian Nian is older. I haven't said I won't look for someone for the rest of my life. Fate can't be forced."
Her grandmother sighed. "Actually, Xiao Tang is quite good. Although he's a bit ordinary-looking, he has a good job and is good to you and Nian Nian..."
"Can you stop talking about him to me? Don't I know how suitable Tang Haichao and I are? If we were really compatible, would we still be in this situation?"
"Then why aren't you compatible? I don't understand. He's single, you're single. He's divorced, and your situation is similar. Neither of you despises the other, so why wouldn't it work?"
Xiang Wan retorted, "According to your logic, any single man and woman on the street can be randomly paired up and become a couple. Is that what you mean?"
"That's not what I mean. I mean..."
"I'm not attracted to Tang Haichao. Please don't talk about it anymore. Besides, although he's divorced, he has good character and deserves someone better than me. Who says he has to be involved with someone like me?"
Whenever the topic of finding a partner came up, Xiang Wan became agitated, so her grandmother dared not say more.
Lu Mingzhe's car stopped at the toll gate. The parking fee was five yuan. He extended his young, slender arm and scanned his phone to pay.
Xiang Wan followed behind, watching his hands from inside her car. For a moment, she thought of Lu Mingzhe.
He also had such young, handsome hands, and he often wore watches of a similar style on his wrist...
Stop! Stop it! Xiang Wan, can't you have a little more backbone? Stop thinking about him!
It was all Grandma's fault. Hearing her nonsensical talk while Nian Nian was sick lately had made her heart restless again.
As the car exited the hospital gate, Xiang Wan told her grandmother.
"Make dinner yourself tonight. I have something to do and won't be eating at home. I'll drop you off at your door and then leave."
Her grandmother was concerned. "Are you busy with work again? What time will you finish today?"
"You know, you've only had two days off due to Nian Nian's illness, and now you're busy again. I was thinking..."
"What can I do? I owe someone a favor for helping with Nian Nian's birth certificate today, so I have to treat them to a meal."
"Alright, alright. Just drink less, and come back early."
After dropping off the child, Xiang Wan greeted Ms. Qian and sent the restaurant address. She went to the private room beforehand to call Tang Haichao.
"Please do me a favor and come pretend to coincidentally run into me. Otherwise, I don't know how he'll pester me today."
Tang Haichao was exasperated with her.
"It's not like I can't find someone to help you with your birth certificate. Why did you have to go find him yourself?"
"You know as well as I do that this old guy has had his eye on you for a long time. Now you owe him a favor and will be harassed by him later."
"At worst, I'll treat him to more food and drink today. It'll be my money, and it will shut him up. It's just a bit of trouble for you to help me distract him."
Tang Haichao laughed. "You should thank your two apprentices. They'll be helping you share the load tonight."
Since the company had expanded, Tang Haichao had hired four more young and attractive apprentices for Xiang Wan.
She had now officially become the business manager of Haochao Decoration Company.
He claimed to be on a honeymoon and shouldn't be busy with his own affairs, neglecting his wife.
After leaving the hospital, Lu Mingzhe asked Fang Shuya what she wanted for dinner, intending to treat her to a nice meal.
Fang Shuya browsed Dianping on her phone and chose a restaurant featuring Hangcheng specialties.
"Tonight is my time. After dinner, wherever I say we go, we go; whatever I say we do, we do. You're not allowed to refuse anymore!"
"Lu Mingzhe, as a wife, haven't I been very accommodating to you? Is this small request too much?"
Of course, it wasn't too much.
Since they were already married, what was meant to happen would eventually happen. Lu Mingzhe was mentally prepared.
"Alright, I'll do whatever you say tonight. I'll do whatever you ask me to do."