Chapter 26: At the Jiang Residence

After that shout, both Xie Meiyi and Jiang Feng stood frozen in place. Jiang Feng’s hand, raised to strike Jiang Yan, remained suspended in mid-air, while Jiang Yan held Shen Qingyao tightly, refusing to budge. As for Xie Meiyi, she paced back and forth, finding no opening to intervene.

Chen Zheng’s outburst brought a sudden calm to the three of them. Xie Meiyi was the first to react. "Why are you shouting? You’ll wake my Yao Yao up!"

"Madam, I didn’t mean to, but you really are wronging the Commander."

"Who knows if it’s a wrong? You’re all in cahoots; everyone knows that." Xie Meiyi’s heart was entirely focused on Shen Qingyao, and she was in no mood to listen to anyone. Jiang Feng nodded in agreement; they had already formed a biased judgment on the situation.

"Tonight, you go back to the barracks to sleep. Let Yao Yao sleep in your room."

Jiang Yan had no objection. "Then, Mom and Dad, may I put Yao Yao down first?"

"Go, go, just be careful not to drop her."

Chen Zheng, who had been about to speak again, swallowed his words. As Jiang Yan placed Shen Qingyao onto the bed, she seemed to find a soft spot and curled up instantly. Since she was still wearing her shoes, it wouldn't have been appropriate for Xie Meiyi to help her. Jiang Yan knelt on one knee and gently removed Shen Qingyao’s shoes and socks. He neatly arranged them by the bedside and thoughtfully closed the window.

Watching his son’s actions, Xie Meiyi felt she should do something, too. She covered Shen Qingyao with a quilt and touched her wrist to check her body temperature. She sniffed; there was no smell of alcohol on her.

Xie Meiyi frowned. "What is actually going on?"

"Mom, do you know what a 'one-drop knockout' is? That’s what Yao Yao is." Jiang Yan spoke slowly, though Xie Meiyi found it hard to believe. Could such a person really exist?

"I went to find Shen Qingye tonight, but Yao Yao was there, and she drank the wrong thing. That’s how she ended up like this."

Xie Meiyi was filled with concern. "Then why did you bring her straight here? How will you explain this when she wakes up tomorrow? By then..." She paused. "Besides, she is a young woman. Even if you have arranged the marriage, the ceremony is still missing. What will people say about her?"

Jiang Yan lowered his voice. "I thought of that, which is why I arranged for Chen Zheng to take care of a few things."

There were two people in the Jiang family known for their thorough consideration: Jiang Feng and Jiang Yan. His son’s confident tone managed to dispel most of Xie Meiyi’s worries. Watching Shen Qingyao drift into a deep sleep, Xie Meiyi and Jiang Yan returned downstairs. As Jiang Feng listened to Chen Zheng’s constant chatter about what had happened, his expression gradually softened. When he looked at Jiang Yan, his eyes even held a hint of gratification.

"Did you take the wrong medicine?"

Xie Meiyi was startled. The first time she had seen such an expression on Jiang Feng was the day Jiang Yan joined the army. This was the second. Jiang Feng didn't answer her; he simply patted the sofa beside him. "Jiang Yan, sit."

Jiang Yan hesitated for a moment before sitting down slowly. "Dad."

"If you’re too busy to handle the ceremony, I’ll ask the military command to grant you a few days of leave. Focus on getting it done so people won't gossip before you're even married."

Xie Meiyi agreed. "Exactly. That’s what I just told Little Yan."

Jiang Yan nodded. "I can handle it. I won't need the leave yet; I still have a use for it."

Throughout Jiang Yan’s upbringing, they had never made decisions for him. Now that he had his own plans, they only cared about the outcome. Hearing his words, neither Xie Meiyi nor Jiang Feng said anything further. Chen Zheng quietly slipped away, fearing he might disturb their rare family time.

When the clock struck ten, Xie Meiyi was exhausted. She pulled Jiang Feng back to their room, leaving the living room to Jiang Yan. Jiang Yan sat there for a while, drank a glass of water, and then returned upstairs. He didn't turn off all the lights, leaving a soft glow for Shen Qingyao. He placed a glass of water by the bedside and sat beside her, watching.

She tossed and turned twice, causing the quilt to become tangled. Jiang Yan smoothed it out and brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead. His movements were unexpectedly delicate. In the army, Jiang Yan had never been taught how to love someone. In school, his teachers said love was about sharing and concession, but he had been skeptical. Yet, everything he was doing now was something he instinctively wanted to do for Shen Qingyao.

Jiang Feng had joined the army young, and Xie Meiyi had followed him, only seeking a quiet life after Jiang Yan was born. Living in the military residential compound, Jiang Yan had had no friends. As he grew up, he was surrounded only by men; he didn't know how to define falling in love. It wasn't until that day, when he went to the compound and unexpectedly ran into Shen Qingyao, that everything felt just right. His heartbeat told him that he seemed to like this person very much.

"Yao Yao, sweet dreams."

In the dim room, Jiang Yan’s figure was mostly hidden in the shadows. He slowly raised his head and whispered those words to the person on the bed. Shen Qingyao stirred under the covers and drifted back into a deep sleep.

When she woke up the next morning, she felt perfectly fine, even refreshed. But as soon as she opened her eyes, she noticed something was wrong. The quilt she was covered with clearly wasn't something an ordinary household would have. As she was still in a daze, the system’s voice chimed in.

[Host, there is new progress in Jiang Yan’s task. You have gained three hundred points.]

[What did I do to make progress?]

[Congratulations, Host.]

The system merely repeated the empty words coldly. Shen Qingyao didn't know what to say, but she noticed her shoes had been neatly placed by the bedside. Her shoes were still stained with mud, yet the house was covered with carpets. She hesitated, feeling that no matter where she stepped, it wouldn't be quite right.

Just then, voices drifted in from outside the door.

"My Yao Yao is still inside. Keep your voices down, don't wake her."

"Is that the sister from yesterday?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Then why is she here?"

A deep, elderly voice spoke up. "That is your Brother Jiang’s wife, your sister-in-law."

"So the sister isn't a sister, but a sister-in-law?"

What kind of nonsense was this? Shen Qingyao didn't quite understand. She hesitated, then opened the door to see Xie Meiyi and Mianmian standing there.

"Sister-in-law!" Mianmian called out enthusiastically, even attempting to jump onto Shen Qingyao. Fortunately, the old man knew his child well and pulled her back just in time.

Xie Meiyi wore a loving expression. "Yao Yao, are you hungry? I made porridge this morning, would you like some?"

"Auntie Xie, how did I..." Before Shen Qingyao could finish, a theory had already formed in her mind. And the appearance of Jiang Yan confirmed it.

"Mom, I just went to buy a bag of white sugar."

"Jiang Yan!?"