My Wife Always Wants to Run Away - Chapter 14

“Jie Xiangyi?” Tang Jinzhi called out softly, trying to confirm that Jie Xiangyi wasn’t truly delirious, actually asking her to sleep together right off the bat.

Her sleepiness interrupted again, even the usually mild-tempered Jie Xiangyi felt a flicker of irritation. She desperately wanted to sleep.

She turned back to face Tang Jinzhi, but didn’t open her eyes—she was too drowsy to keep them open. Instead, she simply scooted over, making more room for Tang Jinzhi.

“Hurry and sleep. I have to go back to the hospital this afternoon,” Jie Xiangyi mumbled, her voice muffled by the blanket pressed against half her face.

Tang Jinzhi: “……”

After Jie Xiangyi had said all that and even made room twice, Tang Jinzhi, who could have left directly before, now felt too embarrassed to just walk away. That would be too disrespectful.

She rubbed her aching lower back, took a deep look at Jie Xiangyi, who was already drifting off, hesitated for a moment, then carefully lay down on the bed.

Tang Jinzhi cautiously adjusted into a comfortable position, finally relieving the stiffness from sitting for so long. She sighed inwardly with relief and glanced up at Jie Xiangyi, who was facing her.

Such a feast for the eyes.

But even the most exquisite features couldn’t conceal the weariness and exhaustion etched across her face.

They were separated by a distance of about two fists, which Tang Jinzhi found perfect. I hope nothing awkward happens after I fall asleep, she thought.

The room was now filled only with their breathing. Tang Jinzhi unconsciously synchronized her breathing with Jie Xiangyi’s. She blinked her sore eyes and drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

Her dreams were filled with characters and scenes from her script. Tang Jinzhi was utterly exhausted.

When the alarm rang, Tang Jinzhi, unusually, didn’t feel annoyed at being woken up. She let out a sigh of relief.

Working right up until bedtime, then having to keep working in my dreams—who understands this feeling?

The alarm on her phone abruptly stopped, as if responding to her relief.

Tang Jinzhi blinked and glanced at Jie Xiangyi, who was still facing away from her.

The comfortable distance between them remained unchanged.

Tang Jinzhi couldn’t help but laugh at how much she had overthought things before falling asleep.

Even if they had slept together, nothing would have happened. Both of them were so tired they had fallen asleep the moment their heads hit the pillows.

Jie Xiangyi, who had turned off the alarm, was also awake, though not fully alert.

Jie Xiangyi was exhausted. Clutching her phone, she lay in bed with her eyes closed for a few more seconds, her mind wrestling with the urge to stay put. Finally, she forced her eyes open.

She didn’t have time to linger.

“Not sleeping anymore?”

Tang Jinzhi’s voice suddenly sounded beside her, startling Jie Xiangyi. She turned her head stiffly, her drowsiness instantly vanishing.

Their eyes met. Jie Xiangyi’s frozen expression softened slightly as she swallowed hard. The lingering confusion in her eyes quickly dissipated as she remembered.

She had asked Tang Jinzhi to stay and sleep over.

Now fully awake, Jie Xiangyi realized that when Tang Jinzhi had said she was going to sleep too, she hadn’t meant sleeping here with her.

“Mm… I need to go back to the hospital. I’ll be back around eleven tonight.”

Jie Xiangyi struggled to maintain her composure, pushing herself up on her elbows. She avoided looking at Tang Jinzhi, feeling embarrassed.

Tang Jinzhi, however, seemed unfazed. She picked up her phone from the bedside table and checked the time.

Two in the afternoon.

Tang Jinzhi frowned, her voice laced with disapproval. “You’ve only slept for five hours.”

A fleeting bitterness crossed Jie Xiangyi’s face.

“There’s nothing I can do. That’s how the shifts are scheduled.”

Gathering her courage, Jie Xiangyi looked at Tang Jinzhi, who was sharing her bed for the first time. Her voice was dry as she said, “If you’re still tired, you can sleep a bit longer.”

Her alarm seemed to have woken Tang Jinzhi as well.

Tang Jinzhi shook her head. “I’m not going back to sleep. The dream was exhausting enough.”

Besides, she’d already slept quite a while—far more than just five hours.

And at home, she could sleep whenever she wanted.

Jie Xiangyi didn’t dwell on it. She got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and headed to the bathroom in the bedroom. “I’m going to wash up first.”

Tang Jinzhi hummed in acknowledgment, also rising from the bed. She opened the door and went to the bathroom outside the room to wash up.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, as if she’d forgotten something.

After changing, Jie Xiangyi emerged from the room, intending to leave immediately. But when she saw Tang Jinzhi sitting on the living room sofa, flipping through channels, she paused and decided to say goodbye.

“I’m leaving now.”

Tang Jinzhi tilted her head, her gaze shifting to Jie Xiangyi’s face. “Don’t you want to eat something before you go?”

Jie Xiangyi shook her head. “I’ll eat at the hospital. Otherwise, I’ll be late.”

Waiting for takeout would take at least half an hour.

Tang Jinzhi sighed dramatically. “Doctor Xie, you really work too hard.”

Jie Xiangyi smiled without comment, knowing this was the norm for everyone.

“I’m leaving now,” she said.

Tang Jinzhi, who had already turned her attention back to the TV, waved goodbye. “Bye-bye.”

Tang Jinzhi was engrossed in researching the latest hit dramas, too busy to pay attention to anything else. She hadn’t seen any of these shows and needed to catch up quickly to stay current with the trends.

But before she could even choose a show, Jie Xiangyi, who had just left, returned with an irate Zhang Yueqi in tow.

Jie Xiangyi gave Zhang Yueqi a strange look and said, “She said she came to see you.”

These two are really getting closer, she thought. I almost thought Zhang Yueqi was here for me.

Zhang Yueqi let out two forceful “hmphs” and glared at Tang Jinzhi, who had been ignoring his messages and calls.

Tang Jinzhi: “……”

She suddenly remembered what she had forgotten.

Tang Jinzhi glanced at Jie Xiangyi, who was trying not to laugh, then turned to the huffing Zhang Yueqi. She forced a dry laugh. “Ahem, come sit down. I’ve already picked out a show for you.”

Zhang Yueqi slammed two large bags of snacks onto the coffee table, his voice bristling with indignation. “Is your phone just for decoration?!”

He then glared at Jie Xiangyi. “And you! Don’t you check your messages either?!”

Jie Xiangyi: “……”

Zhang Yueqi continued to vent his frustration. “I was standing outside for over ten minutes! Your apartment is so soundproof, I couldn’t even hear the doorbell!”

Tang Jinzhi breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness I didn’t make her wait too long.

She quickly explained, “I was writing a script early this morning and had silenced my phone. It’s charging in my room now.”

Zhang Yueqi shot her a skeptical glance. So Tang Jinzhi wasn’t just making up the whole script thing after all?

“Really?”

Tang Jinzhi nodded emphatically. “Absolutely, one hundred percent true!”

Zhang Yueqi tilted his chin, his tone grudging. “Fine, I forgive you.”

“Okay, okay, you’re the best!” Tang Jinzhi continued to placate him half-heartedly, but her eyes were already glued to the delicious food Zhang Yueqi had brought.

She reached out to touch the containers—still warm.

Seeing her gesture, Zhang Yueqi turned and flopped onto the sofa, casually explaining, “It’s all your favorites. The restaurant delivered it while I was waiting for you to open the door.”

He had learned Tang Jinzhi’s preferences during her hospital stay—she wasn’t picky and had similar tastes to Jie Xiangyi.

Noticing the tension had eased, Jie Xiangyi glanced at the time and prepared to leave. “You two have fun. I’m heading back to the hospital. Call me if you need anything.”

“Wait!”

Tang Jinzhi sprang up and grabbed Jie Xiangyi’s wrist, pulling her back and refusing to let go.

Jie Xiangyi stumbled slightly from the tug. She glanced down at her wrist, her eyes flickering briefly, then twisted her hand, easily breaking free.

“What’s wrong?”

Tang Jinzhi pulled out a food container from the bag. This was special packaging used by VIP customers for takeout, unlike disposable plastic boxes.

“Stop ordering takeout. Take some of this to the hospital. Grab a box of fruit too. Anything else you want?”

Tang Jinzhi rummaged through the two large bags of food, marveling at how thoroughly Zhang Yueqi had stocked up.

“Here, take a box of desserts too.”

Jie Xiangyi stared at the overflowing boxes in her hands, then glanced at Tang Jinzhi, who was still rummaging through the bags. Her voice softened as she said gently, “Thank you, this is more than enough.”

Tang Jinzhi finally stopped packing. “Remember to eat it while it’s hot,” she reminded her.

She seriously doubted Jie Xiangyi would take the time to eat properly once she returned to the hospital, probably just grabbing a few bites here and there.

Now, at least, she had a ready-made meal to take with her.

Jie Xiangyi nodded. “Mm.”

Tang Jinzhi found a smaller bag, packed the food into it, and tossed in a handful of snacks before handing it back to her. “Here, take this.”

Jie Xiangyi accepted the bag. “Thank you.”

Zhang Yueqi stood nearby, arms crossed, watching their interaction. The more he observed, the more he felt something was off.

“Hey, I’m the one who bought all this!” he protested. “Shouldn’t you be thanking me?”

Wait a minute!

Jie Xiangyi was going back to work at the hospital already?

He had just arrived to hang out!