Returning to High School to Save My Wife - Chapter 31

“Yuan Yuan, come on in. You can wear my shoes.” Liang Qi pulled a pair of cat-ear slippers from the cabinet and placed them at the door for Jiang Yuan.

“Okay.”

 

“Let me take that.” Since it was a thoughtful gesture from Jiang Yuan, Liang Qi reached out for the gift box. She noticed it was quite heavy as she lifted it. “Is this fruit? How much was it?”

 

“Not much,” Jiang Yuan replied, afraid that Liang Qi wouldn’t accept it if she knew the price. “Just take it.”

 

“With such exquisite packaging, it must have been expensive. Yuan Yuan, even if you wanted to buy fruit, just getting some loose ones from a roadside stand would have been fine. There’s really no need to buy something this pricey.”

 

Liang Qi often bought things for her family during holidays, and fruit gift boxes were part of her usual repertoire. She could tell at a glance that a box like this typically retailed for over a hundred dollars in the market.

 

For Jiang Yuan, who had to work a side hustle on weekends, that amount could buy a dozen meals at the lunch stalls near the school gate. It certainly wasn’t a small expense.

 

“It’s okay. You’ve helped me a lot, so it’s only right that I give you a gift.”

 

“Helping between friends is expected. Why give a gift?”

 

Liang Qi couldn’t help but find it a bit strange.

 

When she and Jiang Yuan knew each other in their previous life, their companies were in a client-provider relationship. Jiang Yuan had never been negligent in etiquette; every time their companies collaborated, Jiang Yuan and her colleagues would prepare gifts for their team. She had a perfect sense of propriety in everything she did.

 

Although the high-school version of Jiang Yuan lacked some of the maturity and professional distance of her adult self, she was still a very independent person. High school students rarely gave such expensive gifts to one another. Not long ago, Jiang Yuan had bought her ordinary loose oranges; why the sudden shift to such a grand gift for a home visit?

 

She couldn’t help but recall the first time Jiang Yuan visited her home in their past life. At that time, Jiang Yuan had also carried a box.

 

A box of what?

 

She suddenly realized she no longer remembered.

 

The time they spent together had been so warm and happy that she hadn’t bothered to intentionally memorize the less important details. She suddenly regretted forgetting.

 

Memory is a consumable. After a person passes away and no new memories are filled in, the old ones slowly dwindle. The traces of that person’s life vanish bit by bit until they no longer exist. Because of this, Liang Qi wanted to cherish the living, breathing Jiang Yuan standing before her even more—this unique, one-of-a-kind Jiang Yuan.

 

“It’s my first time at your house. I couldn’t come empty-handed. Think of it as a housewarming gift.”

 

Liang Qi didn’t want to waste Jiang Yuan’s kind intentions, so she accepted. “I’ll take it this time, but don’t do it again.” She thought for a moment and added, “Otherwise, we’ll just end up sending things back and forth forever.”

 

Jiang Yuan smiled gently. “Okay, I understand. No more next time.”

 

“By the way, Yuan Yuan, what made you think of sending this?”

 

The moment she asked, Liang Qi noticed a flicker of unease in Jiang Yuan’s eyes.

 

“I… thought of it myself.”

 

Liang Qi heard the hesitation in her voice, and her suspicion deepened. On Friday, the only people Jiang Yuan saw were Jiang Mu and her mother in the hospital. On Saturday, she was working. Could it be Lin Ruoyan?

 

Driven by this possibility, she followed up: “Where did you buy this gift box?”

 

“Just… a supermarket near my house.”

 

Liang Qi knew she didn’t want to elaborate, so she didn’t press further. Knowing this much was enough.

 

A nearby supermarket had fruit boxes like this? There were only two supermarkets near the South City New Village. She would go check them out when she had time.

 

“Well, Yuan Yuan, let’s go to my room first. We can do our homework together.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Unlike Jiang Yuan, who was meticulous and always kept things tidy, Liang Qi’s room was a bit cluttered. Many things were placed randomly, yet the room was filled with a “girly” charm. It was spacious, with a white princess bed in the middle large enough for two. The other furniture was mostly white and pink. Her desk was set against the window, decorated with beautiful flower arrangements. A piano and an easel stood in the corners, and the clock on the wall was quite artistic.

 

“Liang Qi, your room is really pretty.”

 

“Really? I think it’s far behind you.”

 

“What?”

 

“Oh, I mean, it’s far behind the photos on your wall. No matter how nice the decor is, it can’t compare to the photos of you dancing.”

 

“How could it be that good?” Jiang Yuan laughed. “Liang Qi, you’re exaggerating.”

 

“I’m telling the truth.” Liang Qi looked into her bright eyes and suddenly asked, “Yuan Yuan, has anyone ever told you that your eyes are very beautiful?”

 

Jiang Yuan was slightly taken aback and then replied, “No.”

 

“Well, now someone has.”

 

Sunlight streamed through the glass window, spilling across the floor in a golden sheet, like a carpet of ginkgo leaves. Jiang Yuan stared blankly into Liang Qi’s dark eyes, feeling for the first time that those playful eyes were filled with a gentle light—half from Liang Qi’s heart, and half from the reflection of herself.

 

“Yuan Yuan,” Liang Qi watched her and repeated earnestly, “I think your eyes are very beautiful.”

 

They were the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen in this world. Elegant, bright, gentle, and quiet—like an immortal who had fallen into the mortal realm.

 

“I like you very much,” she said.

 

The moment she heard those words, Jiang Yuan felt her heart skip a beat. This was the first time anyone had told her they liked her. And it was a girl. A friend who was very good to her. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks, and a flash of awkwardness crossed her eyes.

 

“Thank you… Liang Qi.”

 

Liang Qi flashed her a smile and took her hand. “It’s getting late. Let’s do our homework first.”

 

Two weeks into the semester, the workload was moderate. It wasn’t difficult for either of them, so they finished most of it by noon. By lunch, Liang Qi was hungry. She stopped writing and said to Jiang Yuan, “Yuan Yuan, should we order takeout for lunch?”

 

Jiang Yuan instinctively reached for her phone. “I’ll order.”

 

“No,” Liang Qi pressed her hand down. “Since when does a guest order? You’re at my house; it should be me.”

 

Seeing her insistence, Jiang Yuan didn’t persist. She smiled and said, “Alright, you do it. Anything is fine.”

 

She felt like a beginner in the art of friendship—from learning how to make friends to learning how to open her heart. Every step was taken with caution. She followed Liang Qi’s footsteps one by one, mimicking her actions, simply wanting to cherish this bond.

 

“Okay, I’ll decide.”

 

Liang Qi knew Jiang Yuan was too polite to be picky, but that was fine. She knew Jiang Yuan’s tastes and dietary restrictions perfectly. As she scrolled through the screen, her thumb stopped at a seafood restaurant, and she felt a momentary trance. She remembered Jiang Yuan used to love seafood; on their honeymoon in Sri Lanka, they had embraced and kissed on the beach.

 

Liang Qi snapped back to reality. Her finger paused on the screen for a second before she quickly swiped past that restaurant.

 

The seafood place was expensive. If she ordered from there, Jiang Yuan would surely try to match that price next time, which would undoubtedly be a burden for her. Liang Qi eventually chose a fried rice shop she liked and ordered two regular portions without chili.

 

“Done.”

 

“Mm, let’s get back to work then.”

 

The shop was close by. In less than twenty minutes, Liang Qi’s phone rang. She stood up. “I’ll go grab it.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Liang Qi left the bedroom, closing the door behind her. She hurried to the front door and pulled it open.

 

“Your delivery.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

As she took the food and went to close the door, she noticed the fruit gift box on the floor again. Her hand paused. She glanced toward the bedroom, then quickly looked away. She set the food on the living room table, walked over, and crouched down to open the box and peek inside.

 

Inside were a few oranges and mangos. The quality was decent, but Liang Qi recognized them as common Jelly Oranges and Narcissus Mangos found in any fruit stall. They were clearly not the “imported” fruit the label claimed.

 

She put the fruit back and picked up a thin slip of paper that had fallen nearby. Seeing the price of 300 marked on it, she froze.

 

300?

 

For a few pieces of fruit? Even 100 would be considered expensive for these. How could it be as high as 300? She wondered if that was the list price or the actual price paid.

 

Since Jiang Yuan was still in the room, Liang Qi quickly put the box back in order and returned to the bedroom with the delivery bag. Jiang Yuan was still working on her math.

 

Liang Qi pulled up a stool and sat down beside her. “Yuan Yuan, lunch is here. This fried rice place is quite good; give it a try.”

 

“Okay.”

 

While eating, Liang Qi asked casually, “Yuan Yuan, did you work overtime at the convenience store yesterday?”

 

“No,” Jiang Yuan said while writing. “I came back right after work and did some homework.”

 

“No night shift?”

 

“No. I only work on Saturdays and only do a night shift occasionally. Usually, Sister Yan works those alone, so her pay is higher. Though, if my schoolwork gets too intense, she sometimes covers for me.”

 

“It sounds like you and Sister Yan are quite close?”

 

“Yes, she looks out for me. When I needed money urgently before, I borrowed it from her.”

 

“Borrowed from her?” Liang Qi hesitated. “Did you have to pay interest?”

 

“Yes, but not much. Just a little. I insisted on it myself because things aren’t exactly easy for her either, and since I needed it so fast and couldn’t pay it back immediately, I felt bad not giving her anything.”

 

“And… does she ever make you spend money?”

 

“Spend money?” Jiang Yuan’s pen paused. “On what?”

 

“Like… making you buy things.”

 

“Well… occasionally she suggests I buy supplements for my mom. She knows my mom’s health isn’t great, and since her hometown produces certain supplements, she sells them to me at a cheaper rate.”

 

“What kind of supplements? Are they expensive?”

 

“Things like royal jelly and donkey-hide gelatin. The prices aren’t too extreme, but they aren’t cheap either. She says they are top-grade and sold at a discount. I don’t know much about those things, but I trust Sister Yan.”

 

“Is that so?” Liang Qi smiled lightly. “It seems Sister Yan is very good to you.”

 

“She is.”

 

After eating, they rested for a while and finished their homework by 5:00 PM. Jiang Yuan slowly closed her workbook and put her pen back into her pencil case. She checked the time. “It’s about time. Your parents should be home soon. I’ll head back now.”

 

Liang Qi rubbed her aching wrists. Unusually, she didn’t insist on Jiang Yuan staying for dinner. She capped her pen and stood up. “I’ll walk you to the gate.”

 

“No need to trouble yourself. I know the way.”

 

“It’s quick. A round trip won’t take long; just let me walk you. Sometimes our security guards check people, and you can’t get out without a pass.”

 

“Well… alright then. Thank you.”

 

“Don’t mention it. Let me change clothes and we’ll go.”

 

Liang Qi walked Jiang Yuan to the complex gate. “Yuan Yuan, get home safe, or your Mu Mu will worry.”

 

“Mm. You go back too.”

 

“Send me a WeChat when you get home.”

 

“Okay.”

 

After watching Jiang Yuan leave, Liang Qi didn’t go home. Instead, she hailed a taxi at the roadside.

 

“Driver, to the Suguo Supermarket near South City New Village.”

 

“Ten dollars.”

 

Liang Qi climbed into the car. The drive from Fenghuali to the supermarket near Jiang Yuan’s home was less than ten minutes. When the taxi pulled up at the entrance, Liang Qi paid and said to the driver, “Can you wait for me for a bit? I just need to ask a few questions and I’ll be right back. I need to go to another supermarket nearby afterward.”

 

“Better be quick. If it’s over five minutes, I’m not waiting.”

 

“I’ll be as fast as I can.”

 

Liang Qi closed the door, walked into the supermarket, and went to the checkout counter. She pulled up a photo on her phone and asked the cashier, “Hello, could you tell me if this fruit gift box is from your supermarket?”

 

The cashier leaned in to look, then shook her head. “No, we don’t sell this gift box here.”

 

Liang Qi put her phone away. “Thank you.”

 

She left and took the taxi to another supermarket nearby, asking the same question. The answer was the same. The two supermarkets near South City New Village didn’t sell this fruit box at all.

 

Jiang Yuan had lied to her.

 

After finishing with the second cashier, Liang Qi got back into the taxi. This time, her destination was the convenience store where Jiang Yuan worked—about six bus stops away from South City New Village. Based on what she knew, Lin Ruoyan should be working the night shift at the “Meijiale” convenience store today.

 

Liang Qi checked her watch. It was dinner time. If Lin Ruoyan was alone, she likely wouldn’t leave the shop to eat.

 

The taxi soon reached its destination. Liang Qi got out and saw the lights were on. Lin Ruoyan was at the counter checking out a customer. A fruit gift box, identical to the one Jiang Yuan had given her, sat on the counter.

 

Jiang Yuan had indeed bought it here.

 

Lin Ruoyan was wearing her familiar water-green dress. Her makeup was exquisite but not heavy, giving her a unique temperament. From a distance, she looked as beautiful as a landscape painting. She was smiling and describing the merits of the gift box to the customer.

 

“Mr. Zhao, this box is beautifully packaged, and the fruits inside are large and imported. It’s perfect for a gift to a client; they’ll surely love it.”

 

“Alright. If the client is satisfied, I’ll come back to order a few more in a couple of days.”

 

“Certainly. Have a safe trip back.”

 

Liang Qi waited until the customer was gone before entering. Lin Ruoyan was looking down at her phone on WeChat, and Liang Qi immediately noticed a row of those fruit boxes next to the shelves.

 

There were so many of them.

 

It seemed this was likely part of Lin Ruoyan’s “work.” Jiang Yuan’s decision to buy the box was probably based on her suggestion.

 

After a brief moment of distraction, Lin Ruoyan looked up and saw her. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes before she quickly flashed a smile.

 

“Isn’t this Yuan Yuan’s friend? What brings you here? Yuan Yuan doesn’t work on Sundays. She mentioned she was going to your house today. Did you two come out shopping together?”

 

Liang Qi withdrew her gaze from the fruit boxes and smiled. “No, Yuan Yuan has already gone home.”

 

“Oh?” Lin Ruoyan looked surprised. “Then why have you come here?”

 

She had heard from Jiang Yuan that Liang Qi and Qiao Shuxue lived in Fenghuali, a famous high-end complex quite a distance away. If she wasn’t looking for Jiang Yuan, she couldn’t imagine why the girl would show up here.

 

She was long past the age of innocence. Her experiences over the years were much richer than those of her peers. Sometimes, a single word or look was enough for her to detect an underlying message. She sensed that Liang Qi’s purpose today wasn’t so simple, so she asked politely, “Liang Qi… did you come here looking for me for something?”

 

Liang Qi wore a faint, detached smile. Her dark eyes looked at the woman, giving her the illusion of being seen right through.

 

“Sister Yan, are you free tonight? I’d like to treat you to dinner.”