After a Contract Marriage with a Cold and Older Person - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Stitch Removal

Song Tingyun fell silent again, then said, “Alright, I understand.”

With that, he finished tying his tie and left the apartment.

Shortly after Song Tingyun left, Ji Wenxu also changed clothes and left.

The driver was already waiting downstairs. Seeing Ji Wenxu emerge, he quickly stepped forward to open the car door for him.

Ji Wenxu bent down and got into the car.

“Young Master, are we heading back to the villa first?” Since the driver was the family’s own, private conversations didn’t need to be avoided.

Ji Wenxu: “I won’t be returning for the next couple of days. Just take me straight to the hospital. Afterwards, drop me off at my cousin’s house; I’m going to see them.”

“Understood.” The driver didn’t ask any more questions and stepped on the accelerator, driving the car away.

Ji Wenxu sat in the car, barely speaking.

Before they reached the hospital, a call suddenly came through. Looking at the caller ID, it was his mother.

He answered the phone, “Mom.”

“Xiaoxu, are you going to get your cast removed today?”

Ji Wenxu was slightly surprised: “Yes. How did you know?”

“Were you planning to only tell us after you’d already removed it, if I hadn’t asked?” Meng Ying asked.

Ji Wenxu cleared his throat. He did have that intention. “It’s just removing a cast. I can handle it myself…”

“It’s always ‘you yourself, you yourself,'” Meng Ying said, her eyes welling up with tears as she spoke. “It’s precisely because you’re so independent and don’t like to communicate with us that these things happen. Even if you don’t tell your mother, you should find someone to go with you.”

Through the phone, he heard the trembling sob in Meng Ying’s voice. Ji Wenxu quickly said, “Mom, please don’t worry. Who says no one is with me? Uncle Li is here.”

Uncle Li was the driver.

“Besides, I’m a grown man. Please don’t treat me like a child anymore. I’m getting married in a few days…” Ji Wenxu added.

Meng Ying seemed to suddenly remember something and asked, “Are you going to the hospital? Does Tingyun know?”

“He knows. He even offered to come with me, but I refused.”

Meng Ying sighed, “He is the lover you are going to marry. You will need to support each other in the future. Sometimes, when you can rely on each other, you should. You might even develop feelings slowly.”

Ji Wenxu thought that developing feelings was impossible; he would definitely not fall for Song Tingyun.

But in front of Meng Ying, he certainly wouldn’t say that. He only said, “I know, I know.”

“Mom, don’t worry. If anything happens later, I’ll tell you the truth, okay?”

With this assurance from Ji Wenxu, Meng Ying breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.”

“Just promise me you won’t hide anything from your mother, understand?”

“Mm-hmm, you can rest assured.” Ji Wenxu quickly replied.

As they spoke, the car smoothly pulled up beneath the hospital building. Ji Wenxu added, “Mom, I’m at the hospital now. I’m going to find the doctor.”

“Mm, go ahead.”

Only then did they hang up the phone.

Ji Wenxu turned off his phone and got out of the car, his face showing confusion, as he found it strange that Meng Ying knew he was coming to the hospital alone to remove his cast.

He had originally thought Song Tingyun had told her.

But based on his conversation with his mother, it didn’t seem like Song Tingyun was the one who said anything.

Oh.

Ji Wenxu remembered.

It must have been the doctor.

The doctor in charge of his care was a university classmate of Ji Chenghua.

Ji Wenxu wasn’t angry about the doctor’s unsolicited action, as the doctor was merely fulfilling his responsibility.

Fortunately, today’s examination procedures didn’t take up too much time.

After the cast was removed, Ji Wenxu tentatively tried to lightly step on the ground, still feeling a bit unaccustomed to it.

The doctor then guided him through a simple set of exercises.

The doctor said, “Because the cast has been fixed on your leg for some time, you must not put excessive weight on it for a short period after removal. Normal walking is fine, but don’t overexert the leg. If necessary, I still recommend you use a walking aid for a while, and then proceed with simple exercises. You’ll be able to walk normally after some time.”

“The exercises I’m doing with you now are to help you get back on your feet. Try walking and see how it feels.”

“Okay.” Ji Wenxu discarded his crutch and tried walking slowly.

It felt smoother than immediately after the cast was removed.

The doctor remarked with admiration that young people indeed recover quickly after injury.

“Do I need to come back to the hospital for more check-ups later?” After walking back and forth twice, Ji Wenxu was clearly in a better mood and asked.

The doctor said, “If you experience any discomfort in your leg, you should definitely come back to the hospital.”

“Got it.” Ji Wenxu didn’t ask any more questions. “Is there anything else? If not, I’ll head back.”

“That’s all. Please be careful when walking and don’t injure this leg again,” the doctor added an extra reminder.

Ji Wenxu didn’t respond. He pushed open the door and walked out. Uncle Li, who was waiting outside, quickly rushed in to grab Ji Wenxu’s forgotten medical report and crutch before chasing after him.

After getting into the car.

Ji Wenxu was extremely excited about being able to walk freely on both feet again.

In high spirits, he took a photo of his cast-free legs and sent it to Song Tingyun.

【Ji Wenxu: The doctor said the recovery is very good, and normal walking is no problem. It will only take a little more time to recover to how it was before the injury】

He decided to share the good news with Song Tingyun immediately. Fortunately, Song Tingyun didn’t spoil his mood and quickly replied: 【Congratulations】

Ji Wenxu was delighted. He leaned against the back of the car seat and slowly typed: 【Then I can go to the company with you in a couple of days】

【Song Tingyun: Mm, the workstation has already been tidied up by the assistant】

Ji Wenxu didn’t get the answer he wanted and was slightly unhappy. He continued typing: 【I thought you would be impressed and praise me for being so proactive in coming to the company to work and learn】

Song Tingyun was in a company meeting, sitting at the head of the table with senior employees. When he saw this message, Song Tingyun’s first reaction was to smile.

In fact, he did smile—a gentle, doting smile, subtle and suppressed behind his glasses, thin as a wisp of mist.

He felt that Ji Wenxu was like a child who desperately needed positive reinforcement from those around him after doing something good.

If he didn’t give Ji Wenxu the answer he wanted, he didn’t know how long Ji Wenxu would pester him.

So, Song Tingyun reluctantly typed: 【Mm, I didn’t expect you to be so dedicated】

Ji Wenxu raised an eyebrow triumphantly: 【Of course. I can’t just not try at all. After all, divorce is a matter for both of us】

Song Tingyun typed bluntly: 【Then how about you start by finishing the work you didn’t do last night】

【Ji Wenxu: Last night was an accident. My biological clock has always been like that. Also, Song Tingyun, I actually suggest you go to bed early, wake up early, and exercise daily. You’ll also have a body as healthy as mine】

【Song Tingyun: Mm】

【Ji Wenxu: So I also suggest you go to sleep early with me】

【Song Tingyun: Thank you, I politely decline】

Seeing this, Ji Wenxu secretly scoffed, thinking that if Song Tingyun kept working at such a high intensity, his body would eventually give out.

【Ji Wenxu: Anyway, I will make up for the work I missed last night tonight】

【Song Tingyun: Good】

Then Song Tingyun asked: 【Are you not coming home for lunch?】

【Ji Wenxu: Mm, I’m going to see my cousin】

【Song Tingyun: Okay, what time are you coming home tonight?】

Ji Wenxu thought for a moment: 【A bit later, but I’ll definitely be home by the time fixed in the agreement】

【Song Tingyun: Okay, take care】

Then Song Tingyun locked his phone screen and put it back in his pocket.

Ji Wenxu looked at the message Song Tingyun sent, feeling somewhat lost in thought. He felt that Song Tingyun was indeed quite nice to him.

At least there was none of the coldness or hostility he had expected from an arranged marriage.

Instead, he was the one who had felt quite hostile towards Song Tingyun initially.

In his momentary daze, the phone screen went dark, reflecting his own face, which was smiling foolishly…

He quickly pulled the phone away, looking out the car window as if to hide his expression.

…

Going to see Pei Zhixian was, as always, something he could do without calling ahead—he could just show up.

Although he and Pei Zhixian were several years apart in age, he, Pei Zhixian, and Ning Qingwei had all grown up together.

Speaking of which, Ji Wenxu’s understanding of homosexuality was initiated by his cousin and Ning Qingwei. Ji Wenxu never knew that one day he would see the three childhood friends, Pei Zhixian and Ning Qingwei, kissing in a corner.

This scene profoundly shocked the middle-school-aged Ji Wenxu, but he didn’t develop any resentment towards them because of it.

However, he no longer lacked boundaries with Ning Qingwei as he had before.

“Brother Wei,” Ji Wenxu ran into the house and only saw Ning Qingwei playing with a small cat. He quickly ran up to greet Ning Qingwei.

Ning Qingwei released the cat in his arms and looked up at the running Ji Wenxu, following the sound.

“Xiaoxu, why are you here?” Ning Qingwei’s face immediately lit up with joy.

He noticed that the cast on Ji Wenxu’s leg had been removed and was further delighted: “Is the cast off? Can you walk freely now? Are there any side effects?”

Ji Wenxu hadn’t even said one word, but Ning Qingwei’s concerned questions poured out like a tide.

Ji Wenxu had to answer sentence by sentence: “I just got back from the hospital after the removal. The doctor said I can walk, but I can’t put excessive weight on it. I need to do some rehabilitation exercises and slowly recover. I should be back to how I was before the injury in a little while.”

“Since I didn’t see you off when you went abroad, and I didn’t pick you up when you returned, and we haven’t properly hung out together, now that my leg is better, I came to hang out with you and Cousin.”

Saying this, Ji Wenxu looked around the villa again and asked, confused, “Where’s Cousin?”

Normally, Pei Zhixian should be home at this time.

Ning Qingwei explained, “Brother went to the company.”

Oh, right. Pei Zhixian was different now.

He had taken over the company’s business from his aunt and uncle, so he wouldn’t be at home with Brother Wei at this time.

“Then Brother Wei, let’s play games together today!” Ji Wenxu sat down in front of the TV.

Ning Qingwei sat down next to him. “Sounds good.”

He then took the controller from Ji Wenxu’s hand.

After playing for a while, Ji Wenxu couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Wei, is Cousin always this busy with work?”

Ning Qingwei thought for a moment. “No, not really? He comes home for dinner every day, and even though he’s working at the company, he still messages me every day. We even video call during his lunch break.”

“But he spends less time with you now. Even if Cousin didn’t work, you guys wouldn’t have to worry about making a living, right?” Ji Wenxu was still confused.