My Wife Always Wants to Run Away - Chapter 5

Tang Jinzhi turned her head slowly to look at Zhang Yueqi. “I didn’t mention Jie Xiangyi.”

No, I didn’t say anything about cattle or horses at all.

How hard of hearing is Zhang Yueqi?

“Yeah, yeah, I’m talking about Jie Xiangyi,” Zhang Yueqi mumbled, peeling crayfish with his head down. He started ranting about Jie Xiangyi without a second thought. “Jie Xiangyi was a real try-hard even as a kid, the kind of annoying ‘other kid’ everyone hates.”

Tang Jinzhi closed her eyes, wanting to facepalm. Zhang Yueqi was clearly doing this on purpose.

Zhang Yueqi continued, “Aren’t you curious about what she was like as a child?”

Tang Jinzhi glanced at the door. No one had returned yet. “Ahem, tell me about it.”

“Heh heh!” Zhang Yueqi grinned mischievously, eager to satisfy her curiosity. “Even though I’m a few years younger than Jie Xiangyi, we basically grew up together. I know all sorts of things about her.”

“When she was little, Jie Xiangyi wasn’t as cold as she is now. My mom always praised her for her good grades and polite manners. She was the kind of ‘good girl’ who’d smile and greet everyone, the perfect daughter in every mother’s eyes.”

“Until one day…”

Tang Jinzhi couldn’t help but interrupt. “Jie Xiangyi is cold now? I don’t see it at all.”

Jie Xiangyi’s personality is great! She always replies to messages and helps whenever asked. How is that cold?

Tang Jinzhi was actually more curious about what the “good girl” Jie Xiangyi was like. She must have been adorable.

Zhang Yueqi, prompted by Tang Jinzhi’s comment, tilted his head thoughtfully. “Hmm… maybe it’s because you’re a patient and she’s a doctor? She’s always most tolerant and kind to her patients.”

Tang Jinzhi frowned, considering Zhang Yueqi’s words. He had a point.

But what if Jie Xiangyi was a bit cold? She was still a good person—she had saved half her life, after all.

Zhang Yueqi couldn’t possibly know that the moment Tang Jinzhi retrieved her USB drive, the “Jie Xiangyi is wonderful” filter had already been firmly in place.

Eager to hear more, Tang Jinzhi steered the conversation back. “Keep going. What happened one day?”

Zhang Yueqi grinned mischievously. “Well, one day, Jie Xiangyi she…”

“What about Jie Xiangyi?”

Jie Xiangyi’s cool, clear voice drifted into the hospital room.

Zhang Yueqi, caught gossiping behind her back, nearly choked.

“Jie Xiangyi… uh… Jie Xiangyi, the crayfish you bought was delicious!”

Hearing Zhang Yueqi’s flustered babbling, Tang Jinzhi simply closed her eyes and turned away.

The two women were so guilty they couldn’t bring themselves to look at Jie Xiangyi. What could be more embarrassing than being caught talking behind someone’s back by the person themselves?

Tang Jinzhi nervously tugged the blanket higher, as if to hide her guilt.

But Zhang Yueqi took the cake when it came to guilt.

After all, Jie Xiangyi had sat down right across from her after closing her laptop, relentlessly pressing her to explain what was wrong with Jie Xiangyi!

What was wrong with Jie Xiangyi? Didn’t Jie Xiangyi know better than anyone else?

Forgetting her guilt, Tang Jinzhi hastily plugged the USB drive into her computer, while secretly diverting half her attention to eavesdrop on the drama.

Jie Xiangyi glanced back at her.

Tang Jinzhi’s eyes darted away, guiltily returning her gaze to the computer.

Ha ha… Carry on.

Zhang Yueqi, still trying to weasel her way out, raised her voice to bolster her confidence. “I was just trying to tell your wife some interesting stories!”

Jie Xiangyi remained silent, her expression blank as she stared at Zhang Yueqi. She couldn’t stand Zhang Yueqi referring to her as “your wife.”

Zhang Yueqi’s casual tone made it sound like she had accepted the situation faster than Jie Xiangyi herself.

But logically speaking, they shouldn’t be using that term yet.

She and Tang Jinzhi… hadn’t successfully gotten their marriage certificate.

Jie Xiangyi lowered her eyelids, her peripheral vision catching Tang Jinzhi, who was trying to shrink into herself, guilt radiating from her.

Yesterday, they had indeed gone to the Civil Affairs Bureau, but Tang Jinzhi’s tardiness meant they arrived after closing time.

As a result, Jie Xiangyi had taken another afternoon off today, only to find Tang Jinzhi hospitalized, thwarting their plans once again.

If Jie Xiangyi hadn’t witnessed Tang Jinzhi’s current condition firsthand, she would have suspected Tang Jinzhi was making excuses to mess with her.

Jie Xiangyi frowned in thought. Right now, she was the only one who knew they hadn’t successfully registered their marriage.

Yesterday, they had avoided telling their families, figuring they’d just register the next day anyway.

But now… Jie Xiangyi was debating whether to tell Tang Jinzhi the truth. Part of her wanted to keep quiet and let everyone continue believing the misunderstanding.

However, that idea was too naive. After a moment’s consideration, Jie Xiangyi abandoned it.

In contrast to Jie Xiangyi’s gloom, Tang Jinzhi’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she meticulously reviewed each document, her smile never faltering.

By the time Tang Jinzhi, her eyes crinkling with delight, clutched the USB drive in her palm, Jie Xiangyi had mentally steeled herself.

Fine, let’s get married then. Tang Jinzhi isn’t so bad after all.

Having convinced herself, Jie Xiangyi finally relaxed her tense profile and looked up at Zhang Yueqi, who was still trying to argue. Without mincing words, she said, “If she wanted to know, she would have asked me herself.”

Tang Jinzhi sat on the bed, afraid to speak. In her mind, she shook her head vigorously. Thank you, I do want to know, but I don’t dare ask.

Zhang Yueqi retorted confidently, “But that doesn’t stop me from wanting to tell her!”

Jie Xiangyi was speechless.

Realizing Zhang Yueqi’s thick skin made arguing pointless, Jie Xiangyi cut to the chase: “Why haven’t you left yet?”

The disdain in her tone was unmistakable.

But Zhang Yueqi’s shamelessness knew no bounds. “I’m not leaving! I’m here to ruin your romantic time together.”

Tang Jinzhi, who hadn’t said a word but whose presence was overwhelming, was at a loss for words.

Can I curse him out?

Jie Xiangyi’s head began to ache. Sometimes she genuinely wanted to tape Zhang Yueqi’s mouth shut.

After Zhang Yueqi’s antics, Jie Xiangyi felt too embarrassed to look at Tang Jinzhi again, maintaining a blank expression as she glared at Zhang Yueqi.

Tang Jinzhi, even more determined to avoid drawing attention, simply mentally cursed Zhang Yueqi.

The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly awkward.

Zhang Yueqi shrank under Jie Xiangyi’s unwavering gaze, her newfound bravado instantly evaporating. Her voice came out dry and strained, “Why are you looking at me like that…?”

Jie Xiangyi glanced at the lone remaining crawfish and said with unyielding authority, “Finish up and go home.”

Zhang Yueqi clearly didn’t want to leave, but she couldn’t withstand Jie Xiangyi’s imposing gaze. She pouted and mumbled dejectedly, “Fine, I’ll come back tomorrow morning.”

Jie Xiangyi: “……”

Is the hospital your house or something?

Tang Jinzhi’s expression was also strained. If she hadn’t known the truth, she might have been moved to tears.

How many times has this person been here to actually use the word “come back”?

Under Jie Xiangyi’s intimidating stare, Zhang Yueqi hurriedly finished eating, cleaned up the table, and even remembered to say to Tang Jinzhi, “I’m off now! See you tomorrow morning.”

Tang Jinzhi nodded numbly.

Once Zhang Yueqi had scurried away with the trash, only Tang Jinzhi and Jie Xiangyi remained in the room.

Tang Jinzhi couldn’t resist asking, “How much longer do you think I’ll have to stay here?”

She was afraid that if she stayed too long, she’d start thinking of the hospital as home too.

Jie Xiangyi casually walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask Doctor Qiu.”

Tang Jinzhi nodded thoughtfully. “If I’m just suffering from amnesia, I shouldn’t need to stay in the hospital long-term, right?”

Jie Xiangyi’s eyes narrowed in contemplation. Tang Jinzhi’s amnesia symptoms were peculiar. After a moment’s hesitation, she replied, “We should still ask Doctor Qiu.”

“Alright,” Tang Jinzhi sighed softly, then handed the used laptop back to Jie Xiangyi, thanking her warmly, “Thank you. I’ve troubled you today.”

Jie Xiangyi nodded slightly. “No problem. Is this what you were looking for?”

Hearing this, Tang Jinzhi’s face lit up instantly. She laughed joyfully, her voice light and cheerful. “Yes! Thank you so much!”

Seeing her radiant smile, Jie Xiangyi smiled back. “I’m glad you found it. I almost threw it away as trash.”

“Then it would have been the most expensive trash ever!”

With the item recovered, Tang Jinzhi’s words now carried a newfound warmth and confidence. Her voice was bright and full of self-assurance.

“Perhaps it would have been,” Jie Xiangyi replied with a smile. Tang Jinzhi’s tone was noticeably buoyant, and Jie Xiangyi could sense her genuine happiness.

Tang Jinzhi winked playfully, unable to resist adding, “Its value is immeasurable.”

Because what you found was the world I created.

Jie Xiangyi’s eyes curved slightly, her voice gentle. “Then make sure you don’t lose it again.”

Tang Jinzhi replied firmly, “Of course not!”

Jie Xiangyi smiled, then suddenly changed the subject. “Should we tell your family about your memory loss?”

Since the hospital staff had already notified Tang Jinzhi’s family, they must know she was hospitalized. Jie Xiangyi didn’t care why no one had come to check on her yet; she knew Tang Jinzhi’s relationship with her family was strained.

Tang Jinzhi frowned in thought for a moment before asking earnestly, “Is it necessary for me to have any contact with them?”

Jie Xiangyi tilted her head, puzzled. Tang Jinzhi’s tone suggested she was strongly opposed to any further involvement with her family.

After a moment’s contemplation, Jie Xiangyi asked, “Do you remember that your relationship with them was bad?”

Tang Jinzhi answered without hesitation, “I’ve been lying in this hospital bed for almost a day, and not a single one of them has come to see me, not even a text message. It’s not hard to guess what our relationship is like.”

Besides, the character introduction made it perfectly clear: our relationship is bad.

But Tang Jinzhi was perfectly content with this. She even wished their relationship were worse, so they could despise each other and never interact again.

She longed to escape everyone connected to the original owner and live alone, just like she had in her previous world.

As for Jie Xiangyi, Tang Jinzhi had no particular feelings. Legally, Jie Xiangyi was her wife, but the person who had registered their marriage with Jie Xiangyi was “Tang Jinzhi,” not her. She felt no real connection to it.

Jie Xiangyi is “Tang Jinzhi’s” wife, not mine, she thought with a mischievous grin.

Tang Jinzhi frantically searched for loopholes, plotting how to sever all ties once she became familiar with this world. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she completely missed Jie Xiangyi’s scrutinizing gaze.

Jie Xiangyi had no intention of probing Tang Jinzhi’s thoughts. She merely sensed the rejection in Tang Jinzhi’s words and began to doubt the authenticity of her amnesia.

“Contact with them is unavoidable,” Jie Xiangyi suddenly replied.

Tang Jinzhi’s shoulders slumped, all her enthusiasm draining away. The little schemes in her mind were instantly suppressed.

For now, she couldn’t escape. Everything was too unfamiliar.

“Then tell them I have amnesia, that I only recognize you and only want to communicate with you,” she said, her voice dripping with displeasure and rejection.

Jie Xiangyi sighed, patiently explaining, “You have amnesia, not social anxiety.”

Tang Jinzhi understood Jie Xiangyi’s point, but her tone remained calm while her expression grew intensely earnest. “But what I’m saying is true. I don’t want to see anyone else right now. I can only accept you.”

Jie Xiangyi’s breath caught in her throat. Her gaze flickered away momentarily before she quickly regained her composure, nodding casually.

“Understood. I’ll tell them later. You should rest now.”

“Okay, sure.”

Tang Jinzhi watched as the hospital room emptied, leaving her alone to sink into deep thought.

Why are they all leaving in such a hurry?