My Ex Who Dumped Me Comes to Hook Me Up Every Day - Chapter 10

Jin Zhou’s mind wandered, and her hands paused mid-motion as she picked up vegetables.

Noticing the motionless shadow before her, Jiang Yuhuai slightly opened her eyes.

Jin Zhou was crouched down, her face half-hidden in the shadows cast by the lamplight.

As if sensing her gaze, Jin Zhou glanced up, a flicker of barely concealed disgust in her eyes.

Their eyes met for less than a second. Before Jiang Yuhuai could discern anything clearly, Jin Zhou immediately lowered her head again.

Casually picking up the last box of vegetables, Jin Zhou looked up again, her expression now perfectly composed.

Jin Zhou hated her.

Though Jiang Yuhuai had mentally prepared herself for this, her heart still ached uncontrollably.

Was it because of their past?

Or because she had shamelessly approached Jin Zhou again, provoking this loathing?

She struggled to sit up, her body weak, and said cautiously, “I’m sorry, did I disturb your rest? I can leave right now.”

Jin Zhou set down the items in her hands with deliberate care.

Jiang Yuhuai sat silently, awaiting her judgment.

Jin Zhou was certain that in that brief moment of eye contact, Jiang Yuhuai had seen the undisguised disgust in her eyes.

Jin Zhou felt no remorse for her harsh gaze.

After all, even if her expression had been ten times more venomous, it would still have been a fitting response to Jiang Yuhuai’s actions.

Most reunions between ex-lovers erupt into chaotic, dramatic scenes.

Jin Zhou had even imagined slapping Jiang Yuhuai, pulling her hair—anything to witness the usually composed and gentle woman lose her composure and descend into disarray.

But now, Jin Zhou found herself unable to utter the insults she had long rehearsed in her mind.

Jiang Yuhuai was no longer the aloof, unfeeling figure she had been six years ago.

Instead, she seemed to be humbling herself, desperately trying to please Jin Zhou—pathetic, pitiful.

At seventeen, these words would have been utterly foreign to Jiang Yuhuai’s character.

Yet now, at twenty-eight, they were all too evident in her demeanor.

Jin Zhou couldn’t tell whether the satisfaction of revenge or a strange bitterness dominated her feelings.

After the surge of intense emotions, Jin Zhou suddenly felt a sense of emptiness.

The internal conflict and hesitation seemed pointless.

Who was right or wrong, who was thriving or suffering—none of it mattered anymore.

They were no longer connected in any meaningful way.

The only thing Jin Zhou needed to do was restore Jiang Yuhuai to her former ordinariness—a normal person she could converse with, someone she could offer help to when needed.

But now, there was neither love nor resentment—just an ordinary person.

Jin Zhou finally answered Jiang Yuhuai’s earlier question.

She said, “It’s fine. Don’t leave tonight. You can sleep in the guest room. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go rest now.”

The night passed quickly.

Jin Zhou woke up early and made a simple breakfast to tide herself over.

Soon after, Jiang Yuhuai also got up.

Jin Zhou placed two sandwiches on a plate and set them on the dining table. “You’re up? Wash up and come eat.”

Jiang Yuhuai paused, looking at the steaming breakfast on the table, then nodded. “Okay.”

Jin Zhou ate quickly. By the time Jiang Yuhuai had finished getting ready and sat down, Jin Zhou was already clearing the plates.

“I have some things to take care of, so I’ll be heading out. Make yourself at home.”

“Alright. Thank you for taking care of me last night.”

Jin Zhou waved her hand dismissively. “It was nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

Perhaps it was Jin Zhou’s unnervingly calm demeanor, but Jiang Yuhuai felt a sudden surge of unease.

Her fingers tightened slightly around her cup. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “Jin Zhou, do we still have a chance…”

Jin Zhou smiled. “Of course. We’re friends now.”

Jin Zhou’s first priority was to visit Chong Sheng at the hospital.

Abuse cases are self-prosecuting, meaning the victim must personally collect and provide evidence of the abuse and file the lawsuit with the court.

Even as a lawyer, Jin Zhou couldn’t act on Chong Sheng’s behalf until she received the victim’s authorization.

However, Jin Zhou was concerned about Chong Sheng’s mental state. Given her current circumstances, Chong Sheng might be pressured from multiple sides to abandon pursuing criminal charges against Liu Zhi.

Regardless, if Chong Sheng wanted Liu Zhi punished by law, Jin Zhou would do everything in her power to help.

This wasn’t just for Chong Sheng, but for the countless women suffering domestic violence in their marriages.

In the corridor, the nurse from yesterday greeted her, “Lawyer Jin! Visiting Miss Chong again?”

Jin Zhou nodded. “How is she doing?”

The nurse’s face showed worry. “She was recovering well, but her condition worsened this morning.”

“Worsened?” Jin Zhou asked instinctively. “What happened?”

“Her parents came again. They…”

The nurse glanced around before sighing. “In short, Lawyer Jin, you should hurry and get the medical expenses you advanced reimbursed.”

Perhaps due to patient privacy, the nurse didn’t elaborate, offering only a brief word of advice before leaving.

When Jin Zhou reached the hospital room door, the sound of a heated argument drifted from within.

“Divorce has been decided for a long time. I won’t let yesterday’s incident go unpunished. Don’t try to talk me out of it.”

This was Chong Sheng’s voice, her tone clearly agitated.

“You and Liu Zhi have made such a spectacle of yourselves. How are we supposed to hold our heads high in the village?”

The hoarse male voice belonged to Chong Sheng’s father, Chong Daqiang.

Chong Sheng fell silent for a moment. “Haven’t you seen how he treats me?”

“A man hitting his wife is perfectly normal. Just endure it.”

“Besides, Liu Zhi is so successful. He sends us tens of thousands of yuan every year. Where else would we find such a good son-in-law?”

Liao Jinglian spoke dismissively, her tone growing increasingly reproachful.

“But I send money home every month too, don’t I? Why do you only see him and not me?”

“We raised you. Sending money home is your duty. Besides, what you send is barely enough to cover your brother’s betrothal gifts.”

“That was a needle prick! Can you even imagine the pain? Your index finger is connected to your heart, Mom…”

Liao Jinglian paused, perhaps struck by a fleeting pang of conscience. But the words that followed were as cold and heartless as ever.

“It’s just a little squabble. Everyone goes through this. Just endure it.”

To prevent Chong Sheng’s emotional state from deteriorating further, Jin Zhou, who had initially intended to stay out of other people’s family affairs, felt compelled to intervene.

She pushed open the door to find Liao Jinglian and Chong Daqiang standing over Chong Sheng’s hospital bed, glaring at her menacingly.

Jin Zhou spoke in a low, firm voice: “Stop arguing. The patient needs rest.”

Liao Jinglian’s face twisted when she saw Jin Zhou. “You again?”

Chong Daqiang, who didn’t recognize Jin Zhou, shot her a disdainful glance. “I’m disciplining my daughter. What’s it to you?”

Jin Zhou replied calmly, “Hospital rules prohibit loud disturbances. Don’t you even know that much?”

Having been dragged out by security last time, Chong Daqiang had toned down his behavior somewhat. But this time, he was facing a frail-looking woman.

He couldn’t care less about her rules.

“I’ll say what I want. Listen if you like, or get the hell out.”

Seeing Chong Daqiang’s imposing demeanor, Liao Jinglian’s fear diminished significantly. She chimed in, “Exactly! We’re just disciplining our own daughter behind closed doors. There’s no law against that, is there?”

She shot Chong Sheng a venomous glare, making her meaning crystal clear: This is our family matter, and even if you’re some fancy lawyer, you have no right to interfere.

Chong Sheng lay on the bed, her pale face now flushed with an unnatural crimson. She began coughing violently, her eyes apologetically meeting Jin Zhou’s.

“Cough… Lawyer Jin, I… cough…”

Jin Zhou shook her head slightly, cutting her off. “It’s alright. I’ll handle this.”

Chong Sheng’s lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she ultimately closed her eyes, focusing on calming the metallic taste in her throat. “…Okay.”

After reassuring Chong Sheng, Jin Zhou stepped forward. She cast a cold glance at Chong Daqiang and Liao Jinglian. Reasoning with such people was futile; only a direct threat to their interests would make them budge.

She produced the payment receipts she had prepared in advance. “These are Chong Sheng’s medical expenses for the emergency room and subsequent hospitalization, totaling seven thousand yuan. Since the hospital couldn’t reach her family immediately, I covered the costs. If it’s convenient, please reimburse me now.”

“Seven thousand?”

“Seven thousand yuan!”

The two exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with shock.

Liao Jinglian eyed Jin Zhou suspiciously. “How could it be so much? Are you trying to trick us?”

Jin Zhou replied calmly, “Every transaction and its purpose can be traced through the hospital’s system. If you’re worried I might have manipulated the records, you can request an itemized bill yourself.”

Liao Jinglian fell silent.

Liao Daqiang nudged her with his elbow. “Let Miss Sheng pay. She has money.”

Liao Jinglian’s eyes lit up as she turned to Chong Sheng. “Pandi, give me your card so I can settle the medical bills for you!”

Chong Sheng remained still, her eyes closed. It was unclear whether she hadn’t heard or simply refused to answer.

At a loss, Liao Jinglian glanced back at Liao Daqiang.

Feeling cornered, Liao Daqiang glared fiercely at Jin Zhou. “You know Miss Sheng, right? You offered to pay voluntarily! Why should we have to repay you?”

“By ‘advance payment,’ I mean that a debtor-creditor relationship exists between us. If you fail to repay the debt, I have the right to ask the hospital to halt treatment and evict you immediately,” Jin Zhou said, maintaining a straight face as she fabricated the story.

“Furthermore, I will file a lawsuit to recover the debt, and your son will acquire a criminal record.”

Liao Jinglian’s face paled instantly. “A criminal record? That’s unacceptable! My son is still so young…”

The threat of a criminal record was, of course, a bluff, but it was enough to intimidate them for the time being.

Jin Zhou remained silent, patiently awaiting their decision.

Chong Daqiang glanced at the person lying on the bed, his expression unreadable.

“Fine, I’ll go get the money to repay you. But you have to come with me to get the bill.”

Jin Zhou agreed to his condition.

At this point, everything was under control.

However, while waiting at the window, a sudden commotion erupted from the crowd.

“Something’s happened! Have you heard?”