My Wife Always Wants to Run Away - Chapter 38

Jie Xiangyi raised a finger to her lips, signaling Zhang Yueqi to be quiet. Knowing Zhang Yueqi’s excitable nature, she feared he might burst into loud exclamations, which would wake Tang Jinzhi. Tang Jinzhi was sleeping peacefully in her arms, and Jie Xiangyi didn’t want to disturb her.

She tried to ignore Zhang Yueqi’s burning gaze, worried that any sudden movement might disturb Tang Jinzhi. Gently, she freed one arm and carefully bent down to lift Tang Jinzhi into a horizontal carry.

The sudden shift in position inevitably startled Tang Jinzhi awake.

She blinked groggily, her voice soft and weak. “Hmm? I…”

Jie Xiangyi’s heart fluttered at the sound of her voice. Her eyes softened as she lowered her head to brush her cheek against Tang Jinzhi’s, murmuring gently, “It’s okay, go back to sleep.”

The tender scene unfolding before Zhang Yueqi’s eyes was nothing short of miraculous. Afraid she might blurt out something, she clamped her hand over her mouth, her eyes fixed intently on Jie Xiangyi as she steadily approached.

Jie Xiangyi paused slightly, unable to ignore Zhang Yueqi’s fiery gaze. She pressed her lips together, then turned back to gesture toward the still-open door.

Zhang Yueqi immediately understood. He gave a quick “OK” sign and tiptoed to the door to close it. He felt a pang of guilt, wondering what had made Tang Jinzhi so exhausted.

After securing the outer door, he hurried back and dramatically flung open the master bedroom door. Bending low with theatrical flair, he gestured with a flourish, as if inviting royalty to enter.

Jie Xiangyi stared at him, speechless.

Zhang Yueqi really is a drama queen.

After carrying Tang Jinzhi back to the room, Jie Xiangyi turned to find Zhang Yueqi still standing in the doorway, staring blankly. Without waiting for him to move, she ruthlessly nudged the door shut with her foot, trapping him outside.

With Zhang Yueqi locked out, Jie Xiangyi could finally focus entirely on Tang Jinzhi.

The bedroom curtains were drawn, blocking most of the light. In the dim room, Jie Xiangyi continued to hold Tang Jinzhi, standing by the bed without immediately putting her down.

The skin of her neck pressed against Tang Jinzhi’s warm cheek. The delicate, soft touch was impossible to ignore, and Jie Xiangyi swallowed slowly, her throat moving with deliberate slowness.

Jie Xiangyi stood by the bed, her arms trembling slightly, for a long while. When she could no longer bear the strain, she gently lowered Tang Jinzhi onto the mattress, tucked a thin blanket around her, and let out a long sigh of relief.

She raised her hand to touch her neck, the lingering warmth staining her palm. Jie Xiangyi clenched her fist, a soft smile lifting her lips as tenderness flooded her eyes.

Not wanting to disturb Tang Jinzhi’s deep sleep, she grabbed her pajamas and stepped outside. Before she could reach the guest bathroom, she noticed Zhang Yueqi, who was still awake.

He seemed to be waiting for her.

Zhang Yueqi grinned mischievously. “Taking your time in there, huh? What were you up to?”

Jie Xiangyi looked puzzled. “How did you know I was coming out?”

Zhang Yueqi rolled his eyes. “Every time you come back from night shift, you always shower in the guest bathroom.”

Jie Xiangyi paused, then nodded slowly. “…Oh. Well, if you have something to say, save it for later. I don’t have time right now.”

She was afraid Zhang Yueqi would start teasing her.

Although he hadn’t said anything yet, she knew that once he’d seen her, he wouldn’t miss the chance to tease her later.

Jie Xiangyi had no intention of warning Zhang Yueqi to keep quiet. After all, she had kissed Tang Jinzhi, not some stranger. Kissing her own wife was perfectly normal.

Who could resist the allure of a fragrant, soft wife who nestled into their arms and fell asleep? Jie Xiangyi certainly couldn’t, especially after Tang Jinzhi had waited up for her all night.

Zhang Yueqi quickly grabbed Jie Xiangyi’s arm as she stormed toward the bathroom without a word.

“What’s the rush? Just a few words.”

Jie Xiangyi yanked her arm free, shaking her head stubbornly. “I don’t want to hear it.”

Zhang Yueqi rolled his eyes and cut to the chase. “Someone came to harass your wife, and you still don’t want to hear it?”

Jie Xiangyi froze, frowning as she turned back. “What did you say?”

Zhang Yueqi huffed irritably and recounted every detail of the previous evening’s incident, even mentioning Ji Yunjie and her Senior Sister playing a murder mystery game together afterward.

He couldn’t help it. Jie Xiangyi’s gaze was too sharp; he didn’t dare withhold a single word.

Jie Xiangyi’s brow furrowed, her voice icy. “Why didn’t you tell me yesterday?”

Zhang Yueqi shrugged. “I just wanted to tell you that your wife was worried about you. She was afraid you’d be distracted by home while working the night shift, so she said she’d tell you everything when you got back.”

Jie Xiangyi paused, recalling Tang Jinzhi’s video call from the previous night. Tang Jinzhi had mentioned wanting to tell her something in person, and Jie Xiangyi had noticed a mischievous glint in her eyes. Assuming it was just another prank, she hadn’t pressed for details.

After a moment’s thought, Jie Xiangyi asked Zhang Yueqi, “She told you not to tell me, right? She wanted to tell me herself, didn’t she?”

Zhang Yueqi nodded vigorously. “Exactly!”

Jie Xiangyi raised an eyebrow. “Then why are you telling me?”

Now that she knew, Tang Jinzhi would be upset when she woke up.

“What does it matter? Tang Jinzhi is already asleep,” Zhang Yueqi protested.

Jie Xiangyi shrugged, unimpressed. “It’s different. I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear anything. Remember, you didn’t tell me anything.”

With that, Jie Xiangyi turned her back on Zhang Yueqi, leaving him standing in the wind, his hair a mess.

She’s crazy, Zhang Yueqi thought.

He stretched his neck and shouted at Jie Xiangyi’s retreating figure, “You two are insane!”

Jie Xiangyi didn’t reply, slamming the door shut behind her.

Zhang Yueqi: “……”

What a bizarre couple.

She should go back to sleep.

Jie Xiangyi quickly showered and returned to her room. As she plugged in her phone to charge, she glanced at the time—nearly nine o’clock. She would only get less than three hours of sleep.

She pulled back the covers and lay down on the bed. She must have moved too carelessly, making a slight noise. The moment she drew near Tang Jinzhi, Tang Jinzhi stirred. Jie Xiangyi’s eyes flickered with surprise and delight as she instinctively reached out and pulled Tang Jinzhi into her arms.

Jie Xiangyi was acutely aware of her own transformation. She had long since accepted Tang Jinzhi’s presence, even finding joy in it. Now, she eagerly anticipated their physical closeness.

With her arms wrapped around Tang Jinzhi, Jie Xiangyi’s joy was palpable. The warmth in her heart melted into the softness of Tang Jinzhi’s embrace. Her gaze, fixed on Tang Jinzhi’s face, burned with unwavering resolve: This is my wife.

Her eyes gradually drifted to Tang Jinzhi’s rosy lips, their alluring color tempting her to lean in slowly. But reason prevailed at the last moment. Jie Xiangyi pressed her forehead against Tang Jinzhi’s and closed her eyes, resisting any further movement.

She knew she couldn’t do this while Tang Jinzhi was unconscious. This was supposed to be their first time, and she couldn’t steal it like this. Even if Tang Jinzhi was her wife, it would be disrespectful.

Jie Xiangyi desperately hoped Tang Jinzhi would wake up immediately, sensing she wouldn’t stop her.

With so little time to sleep, Jie Xiangyi couldn’t afford to let her mind wander. Her body was too exhausted; she had to force herself to fall asleep quickly.

When her alarm rang at 11:30 PM, Jie Xiangyi was so drowsy she barely wanted to move. But the thought of the person still sound asleep in her arms jolted her awake. She immediately sat up and silenced her phone.

After the room fell silent, she quickly turned to check on Tang Jinzhi. Tang Jinzhi remained fast asleep, completely undisturbed by the alarm.

Jie Xiangyi sighed in relief, reached out, and gently pressed her fingertip against Tang Jinzhi’s cheek. After gazing at her for a few seconds, she withdrew her hand, rubbed her sleepy face, and finally left the cozy bed.

As she washed up and left the house, Jie Xiangyi’s mood soured. Tang Jinzhi’s words from their late-night chat—”You should have been able to rest properly and get a good night’s sleep”—kept flashing through her mind.

What she hadn’t paid much attention to then now filled her with resentment.

As she stepped out of the elevator, her gaze swept over the cars parked below, and she couldn’t help but linger on them, her mind racing with paranoid thoughts. Could Sheng Yanzhi be hiding in one of them? The memory of Sheng Yanzhi brazenly barging into her home yesterday while she was out only deepened Jie Xiangyi’s already dark mood.

Refusing to dwell on it further, she immediately called her Aunt, whom she hadn’t spoken to in ages.

Perhaps her Aunt was resting, as she answered the call almost immediately. Jie Xiangyi greeted her politely, “Aunt.”

A surprised “Oh!” came from the other end, clearly unexpected that Jie Xiangyi would initiate contact. In the past, it had always been her Aunt who called to check in and maintain their connection.

“Have you had lunch yet, Xiao Xiangyi?” Xie Rujun asked warmly.

Before Jie Xiangyi could reply, a familiar voice interjected, “Is that Xiangyi?”

Xie Rujun nodded. “Mm-hmm.”

Jie Xiangyi glanced in the direction of the hospital as she strolled slowly down the road, her voice heavy with displeasure. “No, I’ll eat later.”

“Is Aunt Zhang there too?” she asked.

If she wasn’t mistaken, that was Zhang Yueqi’s mother’s voice.

Xie Rujun quickly replied, “Yes, we’re out discussing business together. What’s wrong, Xiao Xiangyi?”

Not wanting to delay their work, Jie Xiangyi cut to the chase, briefly explaining Sheng Yanzhi’s situation and emphasizing how severely it was disrupting her life.

Before Xie Rujun could respond, Zhang Yueqi’s mother interjected, “What’s your family up to? I opposed the arranged marriage from the start. Now look—you’re all eager to marry Xiangyi off, but you couldn’t care less about the trouble with her fiancé. You’ve even let it affect her life!”

Xie Rujun’s expression darkened. “She’s right.”

Jie Xiangyi fell silent.

She understood Zhang Yueqi’s mother’s strategy.

If she had raised the issue herself, it would have implied she needed her family’s help. But with the other woman’s words hanging in the air, the implication shifted: her family had brought this trouble upon her.

Her family wouldn’t tolerate any uncertainty threatening their interests. If Sheng Yanzhi’s existence jeopardized the arranged marriage, they would simply eliminate her.

Jie Xiangyi’s eyes flickered slightly as she smiled. “Aunt and Aunt Zhang, don’t worry. I’m fine with the arranged marriage.”

Xie Rujun’s heart sank further. It was even more unsettling to have Jie Xiangyi comforting her. This was…

Zhang Wanzhu, standing beside her, looked even more furious, her face radiating disapproval.

Xie Rujun cleared her throat and promised, “Xiao Xiangyi, don’t worry. I’ll have someone make trouble for that second daughter of the Sheng Family. I’ll make sure she has no time to bother you.”

Hearing that they would target Sheng Yanzhi, Jie Xiangyi’s smile widened instantly. She couldn’t wait to tell Tang Jinzhi about this when she got home.

The only thing that bothered her was how her aunt still treated her like a child during their conversations. It felt so awkward.

Zhang Wanzhu chimed in, “You’d better keep your word. Xiangyi has never called you upset about anything before. This shows how much that woman has been bothering her.”

Xie Rujun nodded vigorously, but her focus was on the fact that this was the first time Jie Xiangyi had ever called her upset. She couldn’t betray Xiao Xiangyi’s trust.

Jie Xiangyi’s eyes flickered as she finished speaking. She cleared her throat and explained, “I’m not upset, just a bit grumpy from not getting enough sleep.”

The two women on the other end of the line froze, taken aback. Morning grumpiness?

Xie Rujun asked, “Xiao Xiangyi, did you just wake up?”

Jie Xiangyi hummed softly in agreement. “I’m on my way to the hospital for my shift. I’ve been working two consecutive days and only got about three hours of sleep before having to go back. That’s why I’m a bit irritable right now.”

Xie Rujun covered the phone, her eyes sparkling. In a hushed voice, she asked Zhang Wanzhu beside her, “Is my Xiao Xiangyi actually chatting with me?”

Before, Xiangyi had never shared anything with her, always brushing off concerns with a simple, “I’m fine, don’t worry.”

Zhang Wanzhu, who had overheard the conversation, nodded, though she still sensed something was off.

Xie Rujun beamed. She had been wondering how to start a conversation, but now, recalling the information Xiangyi had just revealed, she realized she didn’t need to search for topics to show her concern. “Working such long hours must be exhausting. Are the shifts at your hospital even reasonable?”

Jie Xiangyi smoothly continued, “Hospitals are like that. But I’m off after my night shift this morning. It’s just that one of the department heads doesn’t like me, so he changed my shift schedule.”

“It’s not a big deal, just a little disruptive to my studies. My graduation exams are in two weeks, so I don’t have time to dwell on it.”

Every word she spoke hinted at something being wrong.

After finishing, Jie Xiangyi couldn’t help but press her hand to her forehead. These weren’t the kind of things she’d normally say, but she’d promised Tang Jinzhi she’d retaliate.

The problem was, these words were too damaging to her image. Jie Xiangyi refused to acknowledge any innate talent for this; she insisted she’d learned this kind of glibness from Tang Jinzhi.

Jie Xiangyi suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to hang up.

On the other end of the line, Xie Rujun’s frown deepened. “How can you say it’s nothing? You’re about to take your graduation exams, and you’re saying it’s nothing when it’s affecting your studies? Absolutely not! This can’t be brushed aside. You focus on your studies and leave this to me. Auntie will handle it.”

Zhang Wanzhu chimed in from the side, “Exactly! How can you ignore something that’s disrupting your studies?”

Jie Xiangyi blushed slightly and murmured a soft “Mmm,” not refusing.

As expected, the parents’ emotions flared at the mere mention of “affecting her studies.”

Though things were unfolding exactly as she had planned, Jie Xiangyi found herself gripping her phone tighter and tighter, a wave of shame washing over her, like the guilt of committing her first wrongdoing.

Hearing Jie Xiangyi’s willingness to help, Zhang Wanzhu tapped the microphone icon on Xie Rujun’s phone to turn it off. Unable to contain her anger, she burst out, “That director must have gone too far! Xiangyi never used to bother you with these things. You need to investigate properly!”

Xie Rujun nodded in agreement, then reactivated the microphone and gently pushed Zhang Wanzhu aside. Xiao Xiangyi is my child, she thought, why is Zhang Wanzhu getting so worked up?

Her calm, reassuring voice came through the phone: “Xiao Xiangyi, you don’t need to worry about unnecessary matters. Remember to rest. Your health is more important than work.”

“嗯, I know,” Jie Xiangyi replied. Unaware of the commotion on the other end, she spotted the hospital entrance coming into view. She quickly said goodbye and hung up, claiming she needed to get to work.

When Tang Jinzhi woke up, she felt completely dazed. Her limbs were limp, her body heavy, and she couldn’t tell if she’d slept well or not at all.

The room was dimly lit. She sat up from her nest of blankets and leaned against the headboard, staring blankly at her stomach. She had no idea what time it was, leaving her feeling empty and lost.

After a long moment, she suddenly remembered: Jie Xiangyi wasn’t here!

Where was her wife?!

Tang Jinzhi grabbed her phone from the bedside table and checked the time: 6:00 PM…

She ran a hand through her tangled hair, feeling utterly defeated.

So, she’d stayed up all night waiting for her wife to get off her night shift, only to fall asleep and wake up now, just as Xiangyi was about to finish her day shift?

Tang Jinzhi tossed and turned in bed, wailing in frustration.

It felt like she hadn’t seen Jie Xiangyi in ages.

She snatched up her discarded phone and fired off several accusatory messages to Xiangyi.

Jie Xiangyi: You were so tired, I didn’t want to wake you.

Jie Xiangyi: Why are you awake now? Should you try to go back to sleep?

Jie Xiangyi’s instant replies immediately soothed Tang Jinzhi’s heart.

Tang Jinzhi: I’m not going back to sleep. Everyone else has already gone home. I’m going to wash up.

It was already six in the afternoon, and the sky was darkening. There was no point in trying to sleep now.

After washing up, Tang Jinzhi dragged her weary body out of her room. She didn’t see Zhang Yueqi in the living room, probably still asleep.

She lazily flopped onto the sofa, turned on the TV, and put on a variety show she hadn’t finished watching as background noise.

While chatting with Jie Xiangyi earlier, she had noticed a flurry of messages in their group chat. Figuring she had nothing better to do, Tang Jinzhi decided to open it and see what they had been discussing.

The initial messages were full of the group’s energetic post-mortem analysis of their recent activities. Tang Jinzhi couldn’t help but marvel at their vitality, but the analysis was soon interrupted by gossip.

Tang Jinzhi’s eyes widened, and she sat up straight.

Jie Xiangyi had kissed her? How had she missed that?

Zhang Yueqi had been awake for some time, lying in bed scrolling through videos on her phone. A sudden knock on the door startled her so badly that she dropped her phone, which smacked her in the face. She yelped in pain.

Clutching her throbbing nose, she opened the door with a resentful expression. “What do you want?!”

Tang Jinzhi looked at her, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

Zhang Yueqi gritted her teeth, accusingly. “You scared me so badly I dropped my phone and it hit me in the face!”

“So you’d better have a good reason for knocking!”

“Of course I do. It’s just that…” Tang Jinzhi licked her lips, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed.

“What is it?!” Zhang Yueqi pressed impatiently.

Tang Jinzhi steeled her resolve and asked directly, “What did you see at the door today?”

She had almost completely blacked out and couldn’t remember exactly what had happened.

Zhang Yueqi was astonished. “You and Jie Xiangyi were all over each other, hugging and kissing! Don’t you remember?”

“You must have just fallen asleep right there!”

Tang Jinzhi nodded awkwardly. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Zhang Yueqi’s eyes lit up. “Then Jie Xiangyi totally took advantage of you while you were asleep and stole a kiss!”

Tang Jinzhi bit her lower lip. Though it seemed unbelievable, Zhang Yueqi’s unwavering conviction made it impossible to dismiss.

“Hahaha, I’m going to text Jie Xiangyi right now and tease her about it!” Zhang Yueqi suddenly perked up, grabbing her phone to send a teasing message.

Tang Jinzhi paused, her heart softening as she spoke up for Jie Xiangyi. “What’s there to be embarrassed about? It’s perfectly normal for her to kiss me, isn’t it?”

Zhang Yueqi tilted his head in thought. “Hmm, you’re right.”

Maybe Jie Xiangyi looked too guilty after kissing me, Tang Jinzhi thought to herself. That’s probably why Zhang Yueqi thinks this way.

Realizing what she meant, Zhang Yueqi looked up at Tang Jinzhi. “Then why did you come ask me about it? Isn’t it normal for her to kiss you?”

Tang Jinzhi retorted confidently, “Normal or not, I have a right to know!”

I’ll settle things with Jie Xiangyi privately later, she thought, but there was no need to tell Zhang Yueqi that.

Zhang Yueqi pursed his lips, uninterested in their little drama. “I’m a bit hungry.”

Tang Jinzhi considered for a moment. “Let’s have a snack now. We’ll make noodles for dinner and wait for Jie Xiangyi to come home so we can eat together.”

Zhang Yueqi agreed.

She closed the door behind her and followed Tang Jinzhi out. “Teach me how to make them! I’ll do it.”

Having learned so much from Tang Jinzhi already, she had long shed her initial nervousness and spoke with confident assurance.

Tang Jinzhi nodded without hesitation. It wasn’t difficult, after all.

The next two hours passed quickly.

Jie Xiangyi was already feeling troubled on her way home from work. Tang Jinzhi hadn’t replied to her messages all day.

Standing at her doorstep, she felt a flicker of anticipation as she unlocked the door, but the small hope quickly faded. Tang Jinzhi wasn’t waiting for her.

Just as I thought, Jie Xiangyi sighed. The Tang Jinzhi who threw herself into my arms this morning was just a limited-edition, sleep-addled version.

She found two busy figures in the kitchen. Before she could offer to help, Tang Jinzhi noticed her.

Meeting Tang Jinzhi’s ambiguous, half-smiling gaze, Jie Xiangyi felt a twinge of unease.

Tang Jinzhi smiled at her. “You’re back? We’re having noodles for dinner.”

“Okay,” Jie Xiangyi replied.

Tang Jinzhi turned to Zhang Yueqi. “Got it all memorized?”

Zhang Yueqi nodded vigorously. “No problem at all!”

“Excellent,” Tang Jinzhi said, satisfied. “Then I’ll leave everything to you.”

With that, she immediately turned her attention away from Zhang Yueqi and stepped toward Jie Xiangyi.

Jie Xiangyi felt a sudden surge of nervousness. As Tang Jinzhi approached, she instinctively took a half-step back, convinced that the narrowed eyes meant she was here to settle accounts.

Catching a glimpse of the faint dark circles beneath Jie Xiangyi’s eyes, Tang Jinzhi sighed softly, reached for her discarded coat, and asked gently, “Are you very tired?”

Jie Xiangyi, being pulled toward the room, nodded in response. “Yes, I’m exhausted.”

Tang Jinzhi casually draped the coat over a nearby chair, pushed open the door, and swiftly pulled Jie Xiangyi inside.

As the door clicked shut behind them, Jie Xiangyi’s heart skipped a beat. She swallowed nervously, her lips tightening instinctively when she realized where Tang Jinzhi’s gaze was fixed. She averted her eyes, unable to meet Tang Jinzhi’s gaze.

Tang Jinzhi chuckled. “Why won’t you look at me?”

Jie Xiangyi’s long lashes trembled slightly, betraying her unease. Tang Jinzhi must already know everything.

Tang Jinzhi stepped closer. “Tell me, have you been up to something naughty?”

Jie Xiangyi licked her lips, her voice trembling as she denied it. “…No.”

Tang Jinzhi smiled. “Really? Nothing at all?”

Jie Xiangyi glanced quickly at Tang Jinzhi, then immediately looked away, her gaze darting nervously. She felt a pang of inner turmoil—why couldn’t Tang Jinzhi just say it directly?

Reluctant to prolong the awkward silence, Jie Xiangyi cleared her throat lightly to remind Tang Jinzhi, “Didn’t you say yesterday you had something to tell me?”

Tang Jinzhi paused, then quickly recovered, jabbing Jie Xiangyi’s shoulder with her finger. “Don’t change the subject! Why are you trying to distract me? What are you hiding?”

Realizing she couldn’t evade the question, Jie Xiangyi fell silent, turning her head away and enduring Tang Jinzhi’s burning gaze.

Tang Jinzhi cut straight to the chase: “I heard you secretly kissed me while I was asleep?”

Jie Xiangyi gasped inwardly. So Tang Jinzhi knew. She pressed her lips together and denied it, her eyes closed. “I didn’t.”

Tang Jinzhi scoffed, “You didn’t? People saw you! How can you still deny it?”

Jie Xiangyi opened her eyes, meeting Tang Jinzhi’s gaze. “I didn’t kiss you secretly.”

Their eyes locked, and Tang Jinzhi felt a pang in her heart from Jie Xiangyi’s stubborn gaze. She froze for a moment.

Then Jie Xiangyi, throwing caution to the wind, declared, “If you’re not happy about it, kiss me back.”

Tang Jinzhi was speechless.

Playing this game? You’ve completely abandoned your dignity, haven’t you?