The Guide to Faking Innocence to Win His Wife - Chapter 50

The moon hung in the sky, and the steel city remained as rowdy as ever. Day after day, life passed in an unvarying routine, and even the clamor within the campus was no different.

Freshmen dressed in camouflage uniforms sang songs, repeating a cycle that had played out for generations in this historic campus.

The dormitory building was noisy, drowning out the sound of rushing water from the balcony. Jiang Zhongmu sat on a wooden chair, watching the other woman bend over to wash the bowls and chopsticks.

Their roles had suddenly reversed. The one who originally washed the dishes had become the person sitting on a stool staring blankly, a change to which Jiang Zhongmu was clearly unaccustomed.

Before she could think of a suitable way to intervene, a few knocks echoed at the door.

“Who is it?”

“Come in,” Jiang Zhongmu said, assuming her roommate had returned.

Xie Zhiyi had only left the wooden door ajar earlier. Upon hearing the permission, the visitor pushed the door open. Revealing half her body, she immediately looked toward Jiang Zhongmu and called out loudly, “Junior, are you alright?”

Looking closely, it was Zhang Qingdai, the upperclassman she had met during registration.

Jiang Zhongmu frowned slightly but quickly relaxed her expression, greeting her, “Senior.”

Her voice was somewhat polite. Compared to the stiff tone she used when speaking to Xie Zhiyi, which sounded as though she were holding back a breath, her current tone was considerably softer, though it still appeared cold and distant.

However, Zhang Qingdai could not tell the difference. Even if she had, she would have assumed Jiang Zhongmu was merely feeling miserable after a fall, so she did not take it to heart.

She walked in with deep concern, speaking with a mixture of shock and sadness, “How could it be so serious? Where did you fall from?”

It was rare for a student to end up in the hospital right at the start of the term, so it was no wonder she was so surprised.

Then, she composed herself and quickly explained, “My roommate and I went for a walk by the running track tonight. We wanted to see how your training was going. I thought I would bring you a bottle of water, but I searched everywhere and could not find you. I wondered if something happened, and you did not reply when I messaged you.”

Jiang Zhongmu thought of the screen full of notifications from earlier, which had indeed included messages from Zhang Qingdai. It was just that she had not wanted to check or reply to anything at the time.

Feeling inexplicably guilty, the young leopard pursed her lips.

“Fortunately, I saw your roommate training over there. I went up to ask and found out you fell and went to the hospital. I was worried, and since I could not get a reply from you, I thought I would come to your dormitory to check,” Zhang Qingdai said, letting out a self-conscious laugh.

As she laughed, she could not resist lifting her eyes to steal a glance at Jiang Zhongmu, quickly averting her gaze afterward.

Jiang Zhongmu knew she was in the wrong. Her personality was merely quiet, but it did not mean she was cold-blooded or ungrateful, so she explained in a low voice, “I have not had the chance to look at my phone.”

With items still scattered across the desk, Zhang Qingdai cast a glance and knew Jiang Zhongmu was not lying. She familiarly pulled over the chair opposite her to sit down, asking with renewed concern, “How did you fall? What did the doctor say?”

“I did not walk steadily and accidentally rolled down the stairs,” Jiang Zhongmu chose to conceal the truth, adding, “It is nothing serious. I just hurt my bone and need to rest for a while.”

She curled her lips, offering a comforting smile, “At least I do not have to participate in military training anymore.”

Zhang Qingdai was amused and replied, “Looking at it that way is indeed a good thing. Still, your roommate was extremely worried about you. She begged me to tell you to reply to her messages the moment I saw you.”

“She was scared to death. She said that if she had known, she would not have fainted. When she woke up in the infirmary and opened her eyes, she heard the doctor say that the roommate who accompanied her had fallen and was admitted to the hospital. She was terrified and spent the entire evening worrying about you.”

“And yet you still did not reply to her messages,” she murmured, sounding somewhat mischievous.

Zhang Qingdai had visited their dormitory twice before to take Jiang Zhongmu shopping and help carry things back. She had also brought her fruit during the military training period, so she had met all of Jiang Zhongmu’s roommates and even added them as contacts.

“I will reply now,” Jiang Zhongmu agreed. She quickly picked up her phone and sent a message of safety to the dormitory group chat. In the next second, the other three replied simultaneously.

Departing from her usual taciturn style, Jiang Zhongmu lowered her head and typed several sentences to explain.

It was not intentional; she genuinely had not thought about it, assuming Tang Li and the others were unaware. As it turned out, she had caused them to panic until now.

The person on the balcony was temporarily forgotten. The faucet was turned on and off, then on and off again. Xie Zhiyi washed the bowls and chopsticks, then washed a few pieces of fruit.

She kept her eyes lowered, half her body hidden within the unlit balcony. Looking from inside, one could only make out the blurred outline of her suit.

Her expression remained hidden. The apple in her hand had been rinsed under the running water for a long time without moving. Its smooth surface showed no obvious stains, making it seem like a genuine waste of water.

It was only when the conversation in the room paused that she returned to her senses. She turned the apple around, rubbed it firmly, and set it aside.

Zhang Qingdai had noticed her by now. Assuming it was an elder from Jiang Zhongmu’s family who had come to look after her, she did not think much of it. However, her gaze drifted over from time to time, and her posture became somewhat constrained.

“I spoke to them. They said it will be a while before they return,” Jiang Zhongmu said as she finally lifted her head again.

Zhang Qingdai smiled, “That is good. I know you do not like checking your phone, but you still need to look at it occasionally. Otherwise, we get so worried.”

She was someone who loved to smile, especially in front of Jiang Zhongmu. Although her appearance could only be described as plain, her smile was warm and bright, making it easy for people to feel a natural fondness for her.

“Alright,” Jiang Zhongmu agreed, knowing she was indeed at fault.

Zhang Qingdai’s smile grew even brighter.

The sound of water on the balcony finally ceased. The washed apples were placed into a lunchbox.

Xie Zhiyi walked inside.

Both of them instinctively turned to look at her.

The dim, amber light fell upon the older woman. Her creased suit appeared casual and effortless, and her long, curly hair was draped over her shoulders. Despite a tiring day, she still carried a mature, intellectual grace.

This was a charm exclusive to an older woman, something a youthful student did not possess but deeply aspired to have.

As Zhang Qingdai saw her clearly, her eyes widened in sudden astonishment, and she blurted out, “Teacher Xie?”

Xie Zhiyi was quite famous at Xunyang University. After all, a beautiful, intellectual, and gentle teacher was practically every student’s ideal type.

When she was still teaching, students from other departments were incredibly envious of the jewelry design students. Xie Zhiyi’s classes were always packed with students from other majors, forcing the department to issue a strict rule that major students had to enter the classroom first before auditing students could sit in.

This showed just how popular Xie Zhiyi was at the university.

Further, the subsequent scandal had caused a massive stir. That person had not only caused a scene at the office but had also posted essays and photos of the two of them on online forums and confession walls. Even students who paid no attention to external affairs had heard about it.

“Teacher Xie, please sit,” Zhang Qingdai rose instinctively, pushing her stool forward and taking a step back.

Teachers always possessed a certain authority over students. Even though Xie Zhiyi had already resigned, Zhang Qingdai still could not help but feel constrained.

Xie Zhiyi offered a polite smile and said gently, “No need, please sit down.”

“No, no, no, you sit, please sit,” Zhang Qingdai’s face instantly flushed red, and she could not resist stealing another glance.

The appearance of that scandal had not negatively impacted Xie Zhiyi’s reputation. Instead, a large number of students had helped comment and clarify the situation online, and Zhang Qingdai was one of them. When she heard that Xie Zhiyi preferred women, she had nearly broken her keyboard, joining a crowd of people lamenting that they had not actively pursued her, while cursing the person who fabricated the rumors that forced Xie Zhiyi to resign.

“You sit. I will peel an apple,” Xie Zhiyi spoke calmly, then looked at Jiang Zhongmu, asking, “Where is the fruit knife?”

Jiang Zhongmu had already taken it out and placed it on the desk. She hesitated slightly before saying, “Bring the trash can over. I will peel it.”

Back in Jiang Town, she was always the one who handled these chores. Xie Zhiyi had never even touched a dish, let alone a knife, so Jiang Zhongmu could not help but feel worried.

Xie Zhiyi glanced at her. Compared to her polite warmth toward others, her emotions here were visibly more intense, conveying a trace of helplessness. She spoke with a slight sigh, “Will your hand not hurt?”

Jiang Zhongmu blinked, replying honestly and sincerely, “It hurts, but I can endure it.”

Xie Zhiyi was left without a reply and merely said, “Hand the knife over.”

Jiang Zhongmu complied obediently, extending her long arm to hand it over while adding, “Be careful.”

The two of them were accustomed to interacting this way. Even though they were deliberately maintaining a distance and speaking in stiff, stubborn tones right now, they were still far more intimate than they were with anyone else, leaving Zhang Qingdai looking thoroughly shocked.

She finally recovered her senses, asking hesitantly, “Why are you here? Your relationship with the junior is…”

Before she could finish her question, Jiang Zhongmu looked over and said, “Senior, could you fetch a stool from over there?”

Her tone was identical to usual and her manner of speech was polite, but it felt distinctly cold.

However, Zhang Qingdai was still enveloped by astonishment, pleasant surprise, and fluster. She immediately came to a realization and said, “Right, of course. I will go get it.”

She quickly carried the stool over, calling out with great enthusiasm, “Teacher, you sit on this one. Sit here.”

Xie Zhiyi smiled politely, “Thank you.”

Zhang Qingdai’s face grew redder as she kept her head lowered, not daring to look at her, replying hastily, “No need for thanks, no need for thanks.”

With a slight creaking sound, the shuffling of the stool finally ended. The three of them sat together in a triangle, with a trash can placed before Xie Zhiyi’s legs.

“You two continue your conversation. I will peel an apple,” Xie Zhiyi said, lowering her head. Holding the knife in one hand and the apple in the other, she appeared reasonably practiced.

Although her family spoiled her, they did not forbid her from doing everything. She knew how to perform necessary tasks. It was just that Jiang Zhongmu had always treated her like an ancestor who could not distinguish between different grains, fearing she would hurt her hands even while washing a dish, let alone handling a knife.

Now, Jiang Zhongmu knitted her brows tightly, staring intently at the knife in the woman’s hand as if facing a formidable enemy.

It was only when Xie Zhiyi peeled a full ribbon of skin, proving definitively that she was capable, that Jiang Zhongmu relaxed slightly. She lifted her head to look at Zhang Qingdai, saying, “Senior, what did you say just now? I did not hear clearly.”

Having spoken moments ago only to be completely ignored, Zhang Qingdai repeated herself, “I just said that it turns out you and Teacher Xie know each other.”

“Yes,” Jiang Zhongmu acknowledged, her attention drifting back to Xie Zhiyi.

Zhang Qingdai, who had been anticipating an explanation, was left in silence.

She made a final attempt, “So you know each other…”

“Yes,” Jiang Zhongmu continued to nod, carrying her perfunctory attitude to the absolute limit.

Zhang Qingdai fell completely silent, turning her hopeful gaze toward Xie Zhiyi instead.

However, just as Xie Zhiyi lifted her head and prepared to speak, Jiang Zhongmu interrupted in a very serious tone, “Focus on what you are doing. Do not cut your hand.”

A mature twenty-six-year-old adult was being doubted about her basic life skills by a girl six years her junior, a situation that was both absurd and amusing.

Yet Xie Zhiyi lowered her head obediently, continuing to peel the fruit.

Many words eluded Zhang Qingdai, leaving her opening her mouth without knowing what to say. She looked up at Jiang Zhongmu, then shifted her eyes to look at Xie Zhiyi.

Jiang Zhongmu still looked thoroughly battered and pitiful, covered in bruises and gauze-wrapped wounds, her leg in a plaster cast appearing exceptionally miserable.

Xie Zhiyi had not changed much. She looked exactly the same as she did when Zhang Qingdai used to audit her classes, only now she was closer and clearer.

Yet Zhang Qingdai felt that both of these people were exceptionally far away from her.

Although the two of them did not share any overtly intimate dialogue and sat quite far apart, further apart than Jiang Zhongmu and Zhang Qingdai sat, they still made Zhang Qingdai feel a sense of estrangement. It was as if a transparent barrier had formed out of nowhere, shutting outsiders out completely.

This left Zhang Qingdai feeling a bit stifled, and she could not help but observe them closely.

For instance, Jiang Zhongmu unconsciously angled her leg toward Xie Zhiyi. Her expression appeared as solemn and quiet as usual, but she could not hide her underlying worry. Her gaze kept sweeping over Xie Zhiyi, and her lips were pressed into a straight line.

It was merely peeling a piece of fruit, yet she was on high alert, treating it as more important than her own injuries.

Xie Zhiyi, who was focusing with her head lowered, was harder to read, but she also leaned her body toward Jiang Zhongmu.

Remembering the rumors that Xie Zhiyi preferred women, Zhang Qingdai’s heart sank instantly.

She did indeed like Jiang Zhongmu, from the very first moment she saw her through the crowd at the start of the term.

The quiet girl with sharp, handsome features had stood alone beneath the shade of a tree. Although Jiang Zhongmu had been entirely unaware, Zhang Qingdai knew that many others were just like her, letting their gazes linger on the girl multiple times before hurriedly looking away for fear of being caught.

Thus, Zhang Qingdai had summoned the courage to step forward and ask that initial question. She had enthusiastically guided her along, taking the opportunity while Jiang Zhongmu went to the finance office to ask her roommate how to obtain her contact information.

Following that were all kinds of calculated attempts to get closer, to the point where she had become acquainted with all of Jiang Zhongmu’s roommates.

She had not expected this.

Zhang Qingdai’s intuition had always been accurate. Although the two of them had not said anything explicitly, their subconscious body language did not lie.

Even if they were not a couple, their relationship had to be exceptionally close.

She hesitated for a moment. Her gaze swept across the items on the desk, and an idea immediately came to mind. She spoke up, “Junior, did you buy this toner and lotion yourself?”

The attention of the two individuals beside her was drawn, and they instinctively looked over.

Zhang Qingdai added, “I mentioned buying some for you last time. The weather in Xunyang is so hot, and you always stand under the sun during military training, making it very easy to get sunburned.”

“But I asked you indirectly several times, and you always found it troublesome, saying you were too lazy to apply anything. That was why I did not dare to buy it. I did not expect you to buy it after all.”

“If I had known, I would have bought it directly, saving you from getting sunburned for so many days.”

She said with a smile, “The brand you bought is quite good. Although the price is a bit high, it is exceptionally effective.”

“What? Is it very expensive?” Jiang Zhongmu caught the keyword, asking with a frown.

“Ah, Zhongmu, you did not know?” She feigned surprise, adding, “I thought you bought it yourself.”

“It is alright, just under a thousand yuan. The main thing is that it works well.”

“The apple is peeled. Classmate, would you like to eat some?” Xie Zhiyi spoke up precisely at this moment. She maintained her previous gentle demeanor, but her eyes were as deep as a pool hidden within a forest.

Zhang Qingdai understood completely now, and her smile became forced, “No, I will not eat. Let the junior have it.”

Her heart turned entirely cold. Their interactions over the past few days had made her realize that Jiang Zhongmu was a rather stubborn person. To make a stubborn person alter her habits, the instigator had to be an exceptionally important individual.

Coupled with the information she had gathered previously, one was from Jiang Town while the other was a Xunyang local, and they possessed different surnames, leaving only one possibility.

“Are you sure you do not want any? This apple is quite sweet,” Xie Zhiyi inquired politely once more.

Jiang Zhongmu appeared entirely if indifferent, yet she lifted her eyes to look at her, waiting for her answer.

Zhang Qingdai could not stop a bitter smile from surfacing. She waved her hand and said, “No need, really. I do not like eating fruit.”

Only then did Xie Zhiyi nod, handing the peeled apple over.

Jiang Zhongmu forcefully suppressed the satisfied curve of her lips. After accepting it, she murmured, “Thank you.”

Xie Zhiyi matched her politeness, replying, “You are welcome. I will go wash my hands.”

Jiang Zhongmu asked, “Are you not eating?”

“No, I am full from earlier and do not wish to eat anything,” Xie Zhiyi rose and walked to the balcony.

Only then did Jiang Zhongmu raise the apple and take a bite.

It was exactly as sweet as Xie Zhiyi had described, without a single trace of sourness.

The girl who disliked sweets frowned slightly, then took another bite. It was so sweet it made one squint. An imaginary tail behind her wagged in small arcs, resembling a large dog whose fur had been smoothed. However, when Xie Zhiyi walked back over, she stiffened her face again, refusing to be coaxed so easily.

The rowdy noise outside grew louder, seemingly because the training squads were assembling. Military training was always like this; before dismissal, everyone would be called together to listen to announcements or sing in unison. They insisted on creating some sort of spectacle before allowing anyone to leave, which was thoroughly uninteresting.

The area beneath the dormitory building was also lively. The young couples returning from summer break had naturally not seen each other for a long time and were acting incredibly clingy. Pairs stood in corners they assumed were hidden, speaking softly and refusing to part.

The wind dispersed the clouds, intentionally making mischief so the bright full moon could see the situation below clearly.

Zhang Qingdai sat in her original spot, unsure whether she should leave or stay, feeling entirely restless.

Xie Zhiyi washed her hands and walked back inside, saying, “The doctor said you need to be careful lately. Try your best not to let the wounds touch water, do you understand?”

“I understand.”

Jiang Zhongmu was still munching on the apple. It was only the size of a palm, but she ate it rather slowly, her cheeks puffing out with each movement of her chewing.

Xie Zhiyi’s gaze lingered for a moment before shifting away imperceptibly. She merely said, “This camp bed is a bit hard. I will help you bring your mattress down to line it, so you will be more comfortable when you sleep.”

Jiang Zhongmu frowned again, saying instinctively, “I can do it myself.”

She was still unaccustomed to being looked after by Xie Zhiyi.

Xie Zhiyi could not be bothered to argue, wondering what kind of stubborn front this person was trying to maintain. She could not even peel a piece of fruit, yet she could line a bed?

She climbed the ladder on her own initiative to bring the bedding down. Zhang Qingdai, who had been dazing beside them, quickly stood up and hurriedly reached her hands upward, saying, “Teacher, hand it to me.”

This time Jiang Zhongmu did not speak, but she stopped eating her apple and stared at Xie Zhiyi, her expression somewhat tense.

Setting up this camp bed was simple, requiring nothing more than moving the bedding Jiang Zhongmu had previously laid out. There was no need to put on a new duvet cover, and with someone helping, Xie Zhiyi and Zhang Qingdai managed to arrange and smooth it within a few moments.

Finally, Xie Zhiyi specifically adjusted the pillow, placing the crumpled corner of the pillowcase toward the bottom left.

This was a minor habit of Jiang Zhongmu’s; she always preferred to sleep on her side facing the left, and she absolutely had to clutch the corner of the pillow.

Although this habit was small and hidden, Xie Zhiyi had shared a bed with Jiang Zhongmu numerous times and naturally knew it well. Back in Jiang Town, the pillowcases had been twisted into a braided rope by this person, remaining coiled even after being washed once, a sight that left Xie Zhiyi in silence every time she saw it.

It was quite unique; the young leopard who appeared so majestic actually needed to clutch a pillow to sleep, resembling an insecure child.

Jiang Zhongmu saw this but said nothing, merely lowering her head to continue munching on the apple.

She did not know what variety this apple was, but it was exceptionally sweet, so sweet that it made her cheeks ache.

Zhang Qingdai naturally did not miss this detail either, and her heart sank completely to the bottom of a lake. Such a tiny habit could only be known by someone who was exceptionally intimate with her.

“I will, I will leave first,” Zhang Qingdai tried her best not to display a weeping expression, speaking hurriedly, “Junior, remember to rest well, avoid touching water, and walk less. I will head back now.”

“Alright,” Jiang Zhongmu replied, offering no attempt to make her stay.

Those familiar with her nature would know she was simply quiet and disliked social pleasantries, but to someone unfamiliar, it sounded as though she could not wait to drive the person away.

The moment her words fell, Zhang Qingdai rose and left immediately.

The bedroom door closed with a loud thud, followed by the rapid sound of heavy footsteps. The visitor had likely left at a run.

The room fell into a temporary silence, leaving only the sound of Jiang Zhongmu chewing her apple. The crisp crunching, combined with her puffed-out cheeks and moving stray hairs, made her resemble an oversized black squirrel.

The rowdy noise outside grew even louder as if dismissal had finally been announced. Students dressed in camouflage uniforms dispersed with a shout, rushing hurriedly toward the snack street.

Young people were naturally prone to hunger, and after training from morning till night, they resembled starving ghosts, wishing they could buy out the entire cafeteria.

Xie Zhiyi pursed her lips, hesitating for a moment before speaking, “That upperclassman of yours…”

“What about her?” Jiang Zhongmu lifted her head to look at the woman standing beside her.

“She probably noticed something,” Xie Zhiyi spoke cryptically.

Being the older individual who had seen all kinds of people, it was impossible for her not to notice the fluctuating emotions Zhang Qingdai had displayed moments ago.

“What is there for her to notice?” Jiang Zhongmu retorted, her face darkening for some unknown reason.

The temper of youth was like this, always arriving inexplicably.

Xie Zhiyi opened her mouth but merely let out a sigh, “Do not be like this.”

“Then you tell me, what can she notice?” Jiang Zhongmu stared at her intently.

The atmosphere in the dormitory plummeted instantly once more, and the shadows on the floor stretched longer, leaving no possibility of overlapping.

“Tell me, what is our relationship?” Jiang Zhongmu pressed further, still clutching the half-eaten apple in her hand, the teeth marks upon it distinct.

Xie Zhiyi did not answer, merely turning her head to evade her gaze.

Jiang Zhongmu let out a smile, but it did not reach her eyes, and her tone became even colder than before, “Then what are you afraid of? Since we have no relationship whatsoever, what could she possibly notice?”

These words were thoroughly uncompromising.

Xie Zhiyi could not help but raise her voice, calling out, “Jiang Zhongmu!”

Yet Jiang Zhongmu refused to pay her any heed, setting the apple aside and drawing a tissue to wipe her hands, appearing as though she no longer wished to eat.

Xie Zhiyi had called her name but did not know what to say next. No matter what she said, it would be inappropriate, so she could only stand in place, pursing her lips. Then she sighed again, changing the subject, “Take care of your body, do not touch water.”

Jiang Zhongmu turned her back directly, showing a strong resistance.

Xie Zhiyi did not continue speaking, merely saying, “Rest well, I am leaving now.”

As her words fell, the sound of footsteps echoed once more, and the bedroom door opened and closed.

Jiang Zhongmu remained in silence.

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