My Wife Always Wants to Run Away - Chapter 29

Having decided to accompany Tang Jinzhi, Jie Xiangyi began researching her family’s situation.

She had only briefly looked into it when they got married, knowing that Tang Jinzhi had a strained relationship with her family. After Tang Jinzhi completely cut ties following the marriage, Jie Xiangyi hadn’t bothered to investigate further.

Now, she was gathering this information to prepare thoroughly, ensuring Tang Jinzhi wouldn’t be at a disadvantage when she went tomorrow.

She compiled all the data into a single file and forwarded it to Tang Jinzhi. “I’ve sent everything over. Remember to study the photos and match the faces so you don’t mistake anyone.”

After waiting a while without a response, Jie Xiangyi left the study and found Tang Jinzhi sprawled on the bed, arms flung out, looking utterly indifferent. “Did you hear me?” she asked, her tone exasperated.

Jie Xiangyi had been speechless for a long time after learning what Tang Jinzhi intended to do.

Tang Jinzhi showed no regard for her feelings, bluntly stating that she wanted to keep the benefits she had gained from their marriage and wouldn’t give them up.

It was as if marrying Jie Xiangyi had been a sacrifice for her. Jie Xiangyi had sulked alone for a while after hearing this.

But then she realized: if there were no benefits, why would Tang Jinzhi voluntarily give up her marital freedom for her family’s sake?

Having realized this and successfully comforted herself, Jie Xiangyi proactively took charge of the matter. She requested personnel from her family to gather information and, following Tang Jinzhi’s instructions, helped find a lawyer. They planned to go together the next day.

Jie Xiangyi nudged Tang Jinzhi’s shoulder.

Tang Jinzhi quickly mumbled, “Mm-hmm, I heard you.”

Her eyes remained closed. She trusted Jie Xiangyi completely; with Jie Xiangyi handling things, everything would be perfectly managed.

Jie Xiangyi bent down and peeled off the face mask from Tang Jinzhi’s face, irritated by her blissful expression.

Ever since Jie Xiangyi had taken over the case tonight, Tang Jinzhi had been acting like this—a complete deadweight, tossing the entire responsibility onto her like a hands-off manager.

It was infuriating.

“Get up and wash your face,” Jie Xiangyi ordered.

Tang Jinzhi sighed dramatically, lying motionless on the bed. “Let me rest a bit longer. I’m so exhausted. My brain cells are running on fumes, I swear. I’m just so tired.”

She had been writing the script non-stop since yesterday, nearly killing herself. She had started typing as soon as she opened her eyes, and now her eyes were glazed over, making it hard to focus on anything.

If it weren’t for Jie Xiangyi’s meticulous arrangements, she might have skipped tomorrow’s meeting altogether.

Jie Xiangyi glanced at her twice, and when she saw Tang Jinzhi truly had no intention of moving, she simply pulled her up by the arm, coaxing in a low voice, “Just wash your face first, then you can sleep. It’ll be quick.”

Tang Jinzhi paused, obediently sat up in bed, and gave Jie Xiangyi a deep bow. “Thank you, Doctor Xie.”

Jie Xiangyi’s eye twitched. Tang Jinzhi looked like a ghost, utterly drained of energy, leaving her speechless.

When will she ever finish writing? Jie Xiangyi sighed softly as she watched Tang Jinzhi drag her exhausted body toward the bathroom.

Tang Jinzhi washed her face and asked, “What time is it? Is Assistant Zhang coming back tonight?”

Zhang Yueqi had been out with friends all day, but she usually returned by eleven at the latest.

Jie Xiangyi checked her phone. “It’s half past ten. She just texted me—she’s downstairs.”

Since they wouldn’t be home tomorrow and weren’t sure when they’d return, they needed to let Zhang Yueqi know in advance.

Tang Jinzhi dried her face and emerged from the bathroom, curious. “Downstairs already? I thought she wasn’t coming back tonight. Didn’t she say she was going to karaoke all night?”

Zhang Yueqi had texted her that morning, saying she wouldn’t be back tonight because she was going to karaoke.

Among the three of them, Zhang Yueqi was the most active in their group chat. During her trip, she’d been flooding the group with photos of scenic spots and constantly urging Tang Jinzhi to join her. But today, the group chat had been unusually quiet.

Jie Xiangyi shook her head, casually remarking, “They probably changed their plans.”

“I’ll go get the laundry. You should get some sleep.”

Tang Jinzhi wasn’t sleepy at all. After washing her face, she felt wide awake. “I’m not tired. I’m going to check on Assistant Zhang.”

Jie Xiangyi: “……”

Wasn’t she the one who was so exhausted earlier she was practically sleepwalking?

Following Tang Jinzhi out of the room, Jie Xiangyi had just stepped onto the balcony to retrieve the laundry when she heard the door open.

Zhang Yueqi had returned.

And he looked utterly dejected.

Zhang Yueqi changed his shoes and walked inside. “Hey? You’re both still up?”

Jie Xiangyi raised an eyebrow, clutching the folded laundry to her chest as she exchanged a glance with Tang Jinzhi, who was sitting on the sofa.

Tang Jinzhi cleared her throat, initiating the conversation. “Good morning. Why are you back so early? Did you stop singing?”

She added, “Are you out of money?”

At the mention of money, Zhang Yueqi’s already gloomy expression darkened further.

Jie Xiangyi didn’t rush back inside. She sat down beside Tang Jinzhi, laundry in her lap, ready to hear what Zhang Yueqi had experienced that day.

Seeing their determined expressions, Zhang Yueqi pouted, forcing a casual tone. “Of course I have money. I just didn’t want to hang out with them anymore.”

Zhang Yueqi waved dismissively, trying to act nonchalant, but her voice betrayed her emotions, making it clear she’d had a fight.

Tang Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

Zhang Yueqi huffed. “I said it’s nothing! I’m going to take a shower!”

She turned and dashed into her room, clearly unwilling to talk further. If Tang Jinzhi hadn’t caught her wiping away tears, she might have believed her act.

Tang Jinzhi sighed softly and held out her hand to Jie Xiangyi. “Give me the clothes. Go talk to her.”

Jie Xiangyi hesitated before getting up, glancing back at Tang Jinzhi with a conflicted expression. She opened her mouth, then closed it, as if struggling to find the right words.

Tang Jinzhi tilted her head. “What is it?”

“I’m afraid she’ll burst into tears after we talk,” Jie Xiangyi said.

Tang Jinzhi smiled. “It’s okay. You don’t need to comfort her. Just listen. Let her vent and get it all out.”

Jie Xiangyi wanted to explain that wasn’t her concern, but Tang Jinzhi had already left with the clothes. After a moment’s thought, she knocked on Zhang Yueqi’s door.

Contrary to her expectations, Zhang Yueqi began weeping before she could even speak.

He had likely suppressed his tears in the living room earlier because Tang Jinzhi was present.

No wonder Tang Jinzhi hadn’t asked her to come back, only to come over.

As Jie Xiangyi stood there, Zhang Yueqi, without needing to be prompted, poured out his grievances between sobs.

“Waaah, they’re so shameless! I told them my family went bankrupt, and they actually believed it! They didn’t even pretend to care anymore!”

Zhang Yueqi cried with a pout, his voice choked with sobs. His phone was still in an active call.

Jie Xiangyi immediately understood: he had called his mother to complain the moment she walked in.

“Wait, wait, when did our family go bankrupt?”

Jie Xiangyi heard the barely suppressed laughter and questioning tone from the other end of the line, and the corners of her mouth twitched.

Composing herself, she asked Zhang Yueqi, “Why did you suddenly say our family went bankrupt?”

Zhang Yueqi sniffled, his eyes red and swollen as he looked at Jie Xiangyi with a pitiful expression. “You don’t understand! You don’t understand anything!”

Jie Xiangyi was bewildered. Was this about her too?

“What don’t I know?”

Zhang Yueqi turned his back to her, picked up his phone, and spoke into it, “Mom, listen to this: Tang Jinzhi is broke! She only has twenty thousand yuan left, and Jie Xiangyi won’t even give her any money to spend!”

Jie Xiangyi: “……”

What does this have to do with Tang Jinzhi?

Zhang Yueqi’s mother: “……Hmm, Xiangyi is in the wrong.”

Jie Xiangyi pressed her hand to her forehead.

Encouraged by his mother’s agreement, Zhang Yueqi began to wail even louder. “Waaah, Tang Jinzhi is so poor, but she still gave me five thousand yuan to go out with my friends!”

Jie Xiangyi was slightly surprised. Tang Jinzhi had been preventing her from giving Zhang Yueqi money—was it because she had already given him some herself?

Zhang Yueqi, unaware that Tang Jinzhi hadn’t told Jie Xiangyi about this, continued to sob as he recounted his recent experiences.

On his first day out, Tang Jinzhi had adjusted the spending limit on his supplementary card to 5,000 yuan. She told him she would know when the limit was reached and would transfer more money if needed. This generosity moved Zhang Yueqi deeply, and he kept repeating, “Tang Jinzhi is so good to me.”

Five thousand yuan would have been enough for her to live comfortably for two weeks if she hadn’t been so used to treating her friends. She always insisted on paying for everything, and on the first day, she gritted her teeth and covered all the expenses under their watchful eyes.

Every time she spent money, she hesitated, and that hesitation led to introspection.

In the past, she had been accustomed to lavish spending, never caring about the cost or where the money went. She never questioned whether it was worth it.

But now it was different. This money came from Tang Jinzhi—five thousand yuan from Tang Jinzhi’s last twenty thousand!

Using it made her ache, ache terribly, even more than the five hundred yuan she’d spent on scratch-off tickets.

Tang Jinzhi was already so poor, yet she had given her so much. She couldn’t bring herself to spend someone else’s money so carelessly.

At the same time, she wondered why her three roommates could accept it so naturally, without even a word of thanks.

She had never cared about such things before, but now their attitude made her uneasy.

The day after their outing, Zhang Yueqi told her roommates that she would only cover the entrance fees for future trips, which she had already booked.

To her shock, her three roommates actually asked why she was only covering the entrance fees.

Good heavens, how could they even ask such a thing?

No one trying to take advantage would ever be so direct, unless the person being taken advantage of had never realized it, leading them to act without restraint.

Since changing her perspective, Zhang Yueqi had realized how much she had overlooked in the past. It felt like she was seeing her roommates for the first time.

Was it because I was too easygoing, too indulgent? Is that why they felt so entitled to ask such a question?

No, that wasn’t it at all.

After calming down, Zhang Yueqi decided to spare them some face and didn’t directly confront them about how grating their words sounded.

She spent the next few days observing her friends, finally realizing that their brazen question wasn’t because they thought she was kind or easy to talk to. From the very beginning, they had treated her like a fool, never considering her a true friend.

Jie Xiangyi remained silent for a long time. “So… they’ve always seen you this way?”

“You never noticed?”

Jie Xiangyi felt a lump in her throat, realizing just how naive the person in front of her truly was.

Zhang Yueqi curled his lip. “I get it now. I didn’t give them any money for the past few days, and they asked if something had happened at home. I deliberately said we’d gone bankrupt, and they actually believed me! They believe anything I say—they’re so stupid. And then…”

Jie Xiangyi waved her hand, cutting him off. She didn’t want to hear anymore.

She doubted they believed Zhang Yueqi’s bankruptcy claim because they were stupid. More likely, they saw he was stingy with money and assumed he lacked the cunning to fabricate such a story.

Jie Xiangyi pondered for a moment. “You really need to reflect on how many times you’ve been taken advantage of these past few years at university.”

Zhang Yueqi mumbled sullenly, “…I understand.”

He quickly added, trying to justify himself, “I’ve never been poor before, so I never paid attention to these things.”

A long silence stretched from the other end of the phone.

Zhang Yueqi tentatively called out, “Mom?”

A clear, deep breath came through the receiver. “Zhang Yueqi, you won’t be getting any more allowance from now on. Xiangyi, keep an eye on her for me. If she becomes unmanageable, tell me, and I’ll have her brought home.”

Zhang Yueqi quickly called out, “Mom!” trying to awaken her shallow maternal instincts.

But the person on the other end of the line hung up immediately.

Zhang Yueqi stared in disbelief. “Is she angry?”

Jie Xiangyi rubbed her temples. “She’s not angry. She’s probably just very sad right now.”

Zhang Yueqi looked confused. “Huh?”

Jie Xiangyi didn’t elaborate, instead fixing Zhang Yueqi with a steady gaze. “Did you hear that? No more allowance. You’ll have to work hard and support yourself from now on.”

Zhang Yueqi rolled over in bed in protest. “Tang Jinzhi is good, and you’re all bad!”

Jie Xiangyi’s gaze drifted toward the door, thinking of Tang Jinzhi in the next room. Was this the outcome she had wanted?

Had Tang Jinzhi guessed that Zhang Yueqi wouldn’t care about spending her money, so she had made a grand gesture, offering five thousand herself?

Five thousand yuan was a significant sacrifice for Tang Jinzhi.

Zhang Yueqi sat up in bed. “Actually, I wasn’t crying because of them.”

Intrigued by Zhang Yueqi’s sudden attempt to save face, Jie Xiangyi asked, “Then why were you crying?”

Zhang Yueqi pouted. “I ran into that roommate who hates me—the one who called me stupid on the first day of school. She insulted me again today.”

“No, she was actually praising me.”

“Can you believe I ran into her at such a huge tourist attraction? She said she saw the whole thing—me falling out with them—and then she complimented me for finally not being so stupid anymore.”

Zhang Yueqi burst into tears again. “I just realized… everyone really did think I was a fool all along! I’m so stupid!”

Jie Xiangyi nodded after listening. So that’s why he’s crying.

“It’s okay. You won’t have the money or the chance to be this foolish again. Besides, Tang Jinzhi doesn’t think you’re stupid. Tang Jinzhi is good.”

Jie Xiangyi couldn’t help but chuckle. Tang Jinzhi probably had no idea her five thousand yuan had earned her a devoted follower for life.

Zhang Yueqi sniffled. “Yeah, she’s so poor, but she… she gave me… sniff… gave me… sob… money… waah.”

Jie Xiangyi’s face was lined with exasperation.

Zhang Yueqi’s tear ducts were too sensitive; he got emotional before he could even finish his sentence.

Tang Jinzhi might be poor now, but she wouldn’t be after tomorrow.

Tomorrow, they were going to rob a bank.

Jie Xiangyi raised her hand in a stopping gesture, her tone icy. “Enough crying. I’m not here to comfort you. I have something to tell you.”

Zhang Yueqi wiped his tears, still sobbing uncontrollably. How could Jie Xiangyi say something so heartless?

“You’re not here to comfort me?”

Then why are you here?

Jie Xiangyi cut straight to the point. “While you were out having fun these past few days, Dr. Qiu found a girlfriend.”

!!!

Tang Jinzhi, in the next room, heard Zhang Yueqi’s piercing scream.

Even the soundproof door couldn’t contain his anguish.

Tang Jinzhi froze, her phone slipping from her hand and landing on the blanket.

She knew Jie Xiangyi wasn’t good at comforting people and had warned her to just listen. But… judging by that reaction… had she just poured gasoline on the fire?

What had Jie Xiangyi said?

About ten minutes later, Jie Xiangyi returned.

Before she could even lie down, Tang Jinzhi grabbed her arm, eager to ask questions.

Jie Xiangyi stumbled onto the bed, nearly falling into Tang Jinzhi’s arms. She looked up, her gaze landing on Tang Jinzhi’s flawless, dewy skin. Suppressing the urge to poke her cheek, Jie Xiangyi leaned back slightly.

Tang Jinzhi’s voice kept asking questions from above.

Jie Xiangyi sighed helplessly and began explaining everything from the beginning.

After hearing the first half of Jie Xiangyi’s explanation, Tang Jinzhi felt a sense of relief. The child is finally thinking critically about problems, she thought. But as she listened to the second half, the expression on Tang Jinzhi’s face became as complex as a painter’s palette.

In disbelief, she leaned closer to Jie Xiangyi and asked earnestly, “You’re not joking, are you? Dr. Qiu is dating someone? And you told her at this crucial moment?”

The sweet, uniquely Tang Jinzhi scent washed over Jie Xiangyi. Forcing her gaze away from Tang Jinzhi’s face, Jie Xiangyi swallowed hard and nodded faintly. “Yes. Better a short, sharp pain than prolonged suffering.”

Ruthless. Truly ruthless.

Tang Jinzhi pressed her hand to her forehead, unable to imagine how devastated Zhang Yueqi must be right now.

“Thank you,” Jie Xiangyi said.

Thank you for what?

Tang Jinzhi looked up at Jie Xiangyi, feeling utterly bewildered.

Jie Xiangyi smiled without explaining, her gaze shifting to Tang Jinzhi’s phone. “What are you looking at? Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Tang Jinzhi glanced at her phone, slid down, and instantly burrowed under the covers. She casually explained, “Our balcony is so big. I want to buy some flowers and plants to grow there, and maybe renovate a corner to work in. The wide view would be good for my eyes.”

Seeing Tang Jinzhi settled in, Jie Xiangyi turned to switch off the light.

In the darkened room, Jie Xiangyi replied uncertainly, “Don’t buy anything yet. If I get accepted, we’ll have to move.”

Unless Tang Jinzhi doesn’t want to come with me.

Tang Jinzhi clearly hadn’t considered that possibility.

“Oh, right! I almost forgot. Never mind then.” Tang Jinzhi tugged the blanket tighter around herself. “I know you’ll definitely get in, and then we can live in a bigger place.”

Jie Xiangyi smiled. “Thanks for the good luck.”

Tang Jinzhi grinned. “Then I want my own room!”

Jie Xiangyi paused, turned to face Tang Jinzhi, and after a long moment of contemplation, asked, “Why?”

Without a blush or a racing heart, Tang Jinzhi retorted, “You should sleep with me.”

“No, I want to sleep alone.” Tang Jinzhi turned to face Jie Xiangyi. This was the first time they had ever lain in bed facing each other and talking; before, they had barely exchanged a word before falling asleep.

Jie Xiangyi was displeased, feeling rejected.

She rarely felt defiant, but now she did. In a childishly stubborn tone, she emphasized each word: “You, have, to, sleep, with, me.”

Tang Jinzhi: “…No.”

She hadn’t expected Jie Xiangyi to be so persistent.

Jie Xiangyi took a shallow breath, her fingers finding Tang Jinzhi’s cheek. She poked it in frustration. “Why?”

Her hand remained on Tang Jinzhi’s cheek, as if threatening her: If you don’t give me a satisfactory answer, I’ll poke you again.

Tang Jinzhi’s lips twitched slightly, oblivious to Jie Xiangyi’s deliberate attempt to touch her face.

Taking advantage of the darkness that hid Jie Xiangyi’s expression, Tang Jinzhi blurted out all the words she had been holding back for so long.

“When I sleep alone, I don’t have to worry about my sleeping position bothering you or accidentally cuddling you in my sleep. Let me clarify—I don’t mind cuddling, it’s not that I’m being dramatic. I just worry you might mind, and that would be so awkward… you know what I mean.”

Feeling her explanation was only making things worse, Tang Jinzhi stopped talking and continued to complain, her tone tinged with resentment. “Sleeping so properly every night is exhausting. And the most important thing is, when I sleep alone, I don’t have to wear a bra.”

Who wears a bra to sleep?

It’s so uncomfortable…

Tang Jinzhi finished speaking, her face flushed with embarrassment. Though it was dark and Jie Xiangyi couldn’t see her, facing her felt unbearable. She turned her back to Jie Xiangyi.

Jie Xiangyi blinked slowly, reached up to touch the collar of her pajamas, and lowered her head in thought.

She admired Tang Jinzhi’s direct approach—raising concerns and speaking her mind. Suppressing feelings would only lead to discomfort.

Now that the issue had been raised, it was up to her to find a solution.

Tang Jinzhi strained her ears, waiting for Jie Xiangyi to speak, but all she heard was a sudden rustling sound behind her.

The darkness amplified her hearing, leaving Tang Jinzhi frozen, too afraid to move.

What is Jie Xiangyi doing?

After a moment’s hesitation, Tang Jinzhi suppressed her curiosity and refused to turn around. Pretending not to notice the commotion, she urged Jie Xiangyi to speak, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Ahem, okay, I’m ready,” Jie Xiangyi’s voice sounded strained, her words slightly slurred.

What’s she so embarrassed about?

The answer came swiftly as Jie Xiangyi suddenly pulled her into a hug.

Tang Jinzhi’s back pressed tightly against Jie Xiangyi’s chest, the soft contact sending a jolt through her nerves. Her head swam, heat surging from her neck to her cheeks. She covered her face with both hands in mortification.

Jie Xiangyi! Does she have no shame? Isn’t she supposed to be reserved? How could she, how could she…

Beneath the covers, Tang Jinzhi’s feet fidgeted against the sheets, unsure what to say.

Jie Xiangyi’s throat tightened. Her arms around Tang Jinzhi shifted, her hand closing around Tang Jinzhi’s wrist, gently tugging her hand away from her face.

Tang Jinzhi buried her face in the blanket, gritting her teeth as she demanded, “What are you doing?!”

Jie Xiangyi was far from calm herself. After taking a moment to steady her racing heart, her voice still trembled slightly as she replied, “I don’t mind any of this. Sleeping in each other’s arms is perfectly natural. This is my way of showing you my sincerity. I hope you’ll feel more comfortable sleeping with me in the future. We’ll get used to it.”

Tang Jinzhi shifted slightly, turning to face Jie Xiangyi. Her words came out in a stutter, “Y-you… aren’t you embarrassed?!”

Jie Xiangyi feigned composure. “Not at all.”

She added, “No pain, no gain. Destruction before rebirth.”

Tang Jinzhi bit her lip. “Is that even how the saying goes?”

She wanted to push Jie Xiangyi away but didn’t know where to start, afraid of accidentally touching something sensitive. The lingering sensation of the soft warmth against her back earlier kept flashing through her mind.

Tang Jinzhi closed her eyes briefly, then snapped, “You’re such a tease! Always trying to seduce people.”

Why is she so stubborn?!

Jie Xiangyi’s voice was innocently confused. “I’m not! I just want to sleep with you.”

Tang Jinzhi: “……”

Does that even sound right?!

Tang Jinzhi suspected Jie Xiangyi’s mind wasn’t quite clear, as she was spouting nonsense.

Tang Jinzhi remained silent, reaching out to pry Jie Xiangyi’s arm from around her.

Jie Xiangyi pushed away Tang Jinzhi’s fidgeting hand, clearly offended by Tang Jinzhi’s accusation that she was trying to seduce her.

“That’s not how seduction works,” Jie Xiangyi said. “You’re misunderstanding.”

Tang Jinzhi: “……”

“I don’t think I’m misunderstanding.”

She’s already taken off her clothes and climbed into bed with me, even if she’s still wearing her pajamas. Isn’t that seduction?

Jie Xiangyi released Tang Jinzhi’s arm, her hand gliding to Tang Jinzhi’s cheek. She suddenly leaned forward, lowering her head while Tang Jinzhi stared in stunned confusion.

A warm, soft kiss pressed against Tang Jinzhi’s cheek. Completely bewildered, Tang Jinzhi stiffly jerked her head, blurting out, “Why did you kiss me?!”

What exactly does Jie Xiangyi want to do tonight?!

Jie Xiangyi quickly retreated, exhaling shakily, her heart pounding so hard it felt like her chest was burning.

She swallowed hard, explaining, “That was being proactive. Seduction requires me to take the initiative. Since I didn’t do that, I wasn’t seducing you.”

Tang Jinzhi gritted her teeth. “What does kissing me have to do with any of this?”

Jie Xiangyi brazenly lied, “I’m showing you what being proactive means. I don’t think you understand.”

Understand my ass.

Tang Jinzhi tried to reason with her. “I said you were seducing me. What does that have to do with you kissing me first?”

As soon as she said it, she realized how absurd it sounded. Why am I even arguing with Jie Xiangyi about this?

After a moment’s thought, she added, “You just want to take advantage of me!”

Jie Xiangyi retorted, “Kissing you isn’t taking advantage.”

Tang Jinzhi was so exasperated she didn’t want to speak anymore.

Jie Xiangyi pressed her case. “I know I wasn’t seducing you. If you think otherwise, it just means you’re letting your imagination run wild.”

Then she turned the tables. “I should be asking you what’s going on in your head! What are you planning to do to me?”

“Every time I hug you, you accuse me of seduction. That just proves you’re the one with the dirty mind, the one who can’t control your thoughts and lets them wander into inappropriate territory.”

Tang Jinzhi laughed in exasperation.

Her composure finally cracked. Furious, she grabbed Jie Xiangyi’s face and hissed, “Shut up! You talk too much!”

Jie Xiangyi couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Sorry,” she said, still chuckling.