My Wife Always Wants to Run Away - Chapter 10

Jie Xiangyi didn’t dare waste a single second. Without looking back, she hurried toward the guest bedroom, terrified that Tang Jinzhi might change her mind if she hesitated.

Tang Jinzhi was momentarily stunned by her sudden movement, then instantly understood.

She glared at Jie Xiangyi’s retreating figure, arms crossed, and deliberately clicked her tongue.

Look how desperate she is. Is it really that serious?

Hearing the sound behind her, Jie Xiangyi paused briefly, cleared her throat, and turned back casually.

“Come on, aren’t you going to sleep in the guest bedroom?”

Urged forward, Tang Jinzhi felt no embarrassment now. She rose slowly and strolled toward Jie Xiangyi, her eyes fixed intently on her.

Their gazes locked. Jie Xiangyi blinked but stubbornly held Tang Jinzhi’s gaze.

Tang Jinzhi realized Jie Xiangyi was terrible at refusing people. Even when she didn’t want to do something, she would try to compromise.

If she didn’t want to live together, she could have discussed it with Tang Jinzhi. Instead, Jie Xiangyi had stubbornly kept silent until Tang Jinzhi brought it up herself, only then showing resistance.

Tang Jinzhi couldn’t understand this self-sacrificing behavior of burning oneself to warm others.

But right now, Jie Xiangyi looked so utterly defenseless that Tang Jinzhi couldn’t resist the urge to tease her.

Tang Jinzhi’s mischievous nature suddenly threatened to burst forth uncontrollably.

She stopped beside Jie Xiangyi, her eyes curving into a gentle smile. “Actually, I could try adjusting my sleep schedule. Maybe we should just forget about it.”

Her words sounded utterly sincere.

Jie Xiangyi’s eyelid twitched. She knew Tang Jinzhi was deliberately teasing her, having noticed her obvious discomfort.

Her gaze lowered slightly as she pondered for a moment, reluctant to let Tang Jinzhi have her way.

After a moment’s thought, Jie Xiangyi nodded with remarkable composure. “Very well.”

As she spoke, a weight lifted from Jie Xiangyi’s heart. Suddenly, the idea didn’t seem so unbearable after all.

That’s right, she thought. I was prepared for this anyway.

Just a moment ago, Tang Jinzhi had assumed Jie Xiangyi was merely being stubborn. But then she saw Jie Xiangyi’s expression relax, and the woman genuinely relented, turning back to the sofa.

Tang Jinzhi: “……”

The smile on Tang Jinzhi’s face instantly crumbled. Jie Xiangyi didn’t even put up a fight?

Tang Jinzhi wanted to slap herself. Serves you right for being so mouthy! Serves you right!

Seeing Tang Jinzhi still standing there, stunned, Jie Xiangyi felt a surge of satisfaction.

It’s just sleeping together, she thought. What’s so hard to overcome?

After convincing herself, Jie Xiangyi felt refreshed and invigorated.

She realized that the problem she had been agonizing over wasn’t such a big deal after all.

She genuinely wanted to live separately, but the thought kept nagging at her.

She feared that if they actually did separate, their relationship would become strained, and she would constantly second-guess whether it was the right decision.

Now, having persuaded herself to confront the difficulty directly, Jie Xiangyi felt much better.

Tang Jinzhi slowly shuffled to the sofa and sat beside Jie Xiangyi, her usual confidence completely gone.

She slid to her knees with surprising speed, gazing imploringly at Jie Xiangyi. In a small voice, she asked, “Can we…?”

Jie Xiangyi lowered her head, pretending to check her phone, and coldly replied, “No.”

It’s actually quite satisfying to see Tang Jinzhi get shut down like this, Jie Xiangyi thought.

Tang Jinzhi clasped her hands together, looking at Jie Xiangyi with pitiful eyes. “Please don’t torture ourselves with this lose-lose situation, okay?”

At these words, Jie Xiangyi’s thoughts softened slightly. After a moment of silence, she looked up, her expression flat as she met Tang Jinzhi’s gaze. “We’ll have to adjust eventually anyway.”

She wasn’t trying to provoke Tang Jinzhi; she was simply stating a fact.

Both of them were married; they couldn’t sleep in separate rooms forever.

Tang Jinzhi immediately understood Jie Xiangyi’s meaning.

Reluctant to give up, she protested, “My sleep schedule is too erratic. It’ll disturb your rest.”

Jie Xiangyi crossed her arms and nodded coldly. “Didn’t you say you could fix your sleep schedule?”

Tang Jinzhi gritted her teeth, inwardly cursing herself for her sharp tongue.

She apologized quickly, “I was wrong. I can fix it, but this kind of thing needs a gradual adjustment, right?”

Jie Xiangyi softened her tone and proposed a compromise. “How about this: we sleep separately from Monday to Friday, and together on weekends. We’ll take it slow—we’ll both need time to adjust.”

Tang Jinzhi was right; a gradual adjustment was indeed necessary.

Jie Xiangyi felt her solution was perfectly reasonable.

Tang Jinzhi’s thoughts froze for a few seconds as she couldn’t resist studying Jie Xiangyi.

Only after carefully analyzing Jie Xiangyi’s words did she realize that Jie Xiangyi was genuinely trying to resolve this issue with the intention of living together in the future.

Unlike herself, Jie Xiangyi was actively trying to accept their new relationship—trying to accept her.

With this realization, Tang Jinzhi’s heart churned with conflicting emotions. She couldn’t deny she wasn’t repulsed by the idea.

If she had such a perfect wife in every way before, she would have pounced on Jie Xiangyi the moment she beckoned.

But the problem lay in the “fake heiress” buff she carried, which made Tang Jinzhi deeply uncomfortable.

Between “a comfortable life” and “Jie Xiangyi,” Tang Jinzhi chose the former.

She had made this decision back in the hospital, which was why she had never dared to truly consider Jie Xiangyi her wife.

Yet, when she thought about the warm marriage certificate she had received, Tang Jinzhi felt utterly lost.

She sensed that things were spiraling off course.

Jie Xiangyi didn’t press her, patiently awaiting Tang Jinzhi’s decision.

She believed her proposal was reasonable, offering both personal space and the opportunity to gradually get to know each other.

Tang Jinzhi banished the chaotic thoughts from her mind, steadied herself, and looked at Jie Xiangyi again.

“Your proposal is pretty good, but the way you phrased it makes it sound like living apart would be like going to work.”

Tang Jinzhi’s expression was complex. Though she agreed with Jie Xiangyi’s suggestion, she couldn’t resist adding a snide remark.

Jie Xiangyi frowned slightly, puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Tang Jinzhi explained bluntly, “Five days on, two days off, eight-hour shifts… well, maybe ten for me.”

She needed to sleep about ten hours every day.

Jie Xiangyi: “……”

Well described, but please don’t describe it again.

It made her feel exhausted just thinking about going home to sleep.

After their discussion, they finally headed back to the spare bedroom.

“Tidying up” mostly meant making the bed and organizing Tang Jinzhi’s belongings. The room had already been cleaned thoroughly a few days prior.

Tang Jinzhi gazed at the several suitcases before her. Aside from seasonal clothing, the contents were almost entirely music-related items. She even found a script tucked inside.

After much hesitation, she finally decided, “Let’s just pack these away and find a place to store them.”

Jie Xiangyi frowned, puzzled. “Not even the clothes?”

Tang Jinzhi shook her head. “No, just put everything away.”

After examining the contents of the suitcases, Tang Jinzhi couldn’t help but wonder if the other Tang Jinzhi had truly existed.

The meticulously preserved sheet music and the script covered in notes were all traces of her.

If her suspicions were correct, then that unlucky girl had likely switched places with her.

Wait, if she really did switch, then the unlucky girl isn’t unlucky anymore.

I’m the one who’s unlucky now…

Tang Jinzhi’s face darkened, refusing to dwell on the thought any further.

Though Jie Xiangyi didn’t understand Tang Jinzhi’s actions, she chose not to interfere.

“Let’s put them in the storage room for now,” Jie Xiangyi suggested.

Fortunately, there was a small storage room nearby, mostly empty.

Tang Jinzhi nodded in agreement. She wasn’t comfortable wearing other people’s clothes, especially without permission. She wouldn’t touch anything without asking, even if the owner never returned.

But the sight of the completely empty wardrobe still made Tang Jinzhi pause in silence.

“I need to buy some new clothes…”

While she could wear her nightgowns at home, she still needed proper outfits for going out.

But she was running low on funds.

Seeing her troubled expression, Jie Xiangyi thought for a moment and said, “In a few days, a professional team will come to take our measurements for formal gowns. We can ask them to make some casual clothes for us too, or just pick some out from their shop.”

Tang Jinzhi’s head swam. “Formal gowns? A professional team?”

That sounds expensive!

“I can’t afford that.”

Jie Xiangyi smiled. “Don’t worry about the cost. Someone else is covering it. Don’t be shy.”

Tang Jinzhi’s eyes lit up instantly.

What a stroke of luck!

After the initial excitement, Tang Jinzhi remembered to ask, “Why are they making formal gowns for us?”

Jie Xiangyi’s smile faded slightly. She sighed softly, her voice distant. “For our engagement banquet.”

The cold water splashed over Tang Jinzhi, freezing her mind for a moment.

She was utterly confused. “We’re already married! Why are we having an engagement banquet?”

“Do we really need all this formality?”

Jie Xiangyi glanced at her and patiently explained, “The engagement banquet is about the banquet itself, not our engagement.” It was a business event meant to expand their connections.

Tang Jinzhi understood, and she was deeply annoyed.

So, all this damn formality wasn’t even for them.

“I get it now. We’re just going to be decorations.”

Jie Xiangyi sighed helplessly. “…Say something nicer.”

Tang Jinzhi nodded. “Exquisite, unparalleled decorations.”

Jie Xiangyi stared at her, speechless.