Chapter 31: The Specialty Shop at Star Hill

“Mr. Tang!”
“And you are?”
“You surely don’t know me, but I know you! My husband and I once bought goods from your company.”
Wu Xiuli leapt off the bed as if she’d spotted a long-lost relative, nearly throwing herself into Tang Songyuan’s arms. It was understandable; in Wu Xiuli’s eyes, Tang Songyuan was money incarnate—who wouldn’t love money?
“You’re… Miss Wu.”
Tang Songyuan actually recognized her! Wu Xiuli, more surprised than when she’d first arrived, positively glowed with excitement at seeing her god of fortune, and reached out to shake his hand. Tang Songyuan shook her hand politely, then quickly let go.
“I never imagined you’d know me! I thought small-time business owners like us would never catch your eye.”
“You’re too modest, Miss Wu.”
Tang Songyuan had no desire to continue the conversation, nor to build rapport with a minor client in this setting. He placed a tote bag on the bedside table, pulled out the tray, and poured a bowl of soup, offering an apologetic smile to Tao Fei.
“I went to Crock Pot House and bought your favorite Five-Finger Yam soup. I didn’t expect such heavy traffic, so I only just got back. The soup’s still hot; drink some while it’s fresh. And here—”
Tang Songyuan pulled a black, wide-screen phone from his pocket and handed it to Tao Fei.
“They’ve stopped producing the model you used to have. Try this one, see if it suits you. I’ve already replaced your SIM card, kept your original number, and installed all the apps you use most.”
“Thank you.”
Tang Songyuan had bought the latest model, but to Tao Fei, it seemed like a relic from the past. Yet, Tao Fei enjoyed studying antiques. She accepted the phone, swiped through it with growing interest.
Tang Songyuan urged her to drink the soup and Tao Fei set the phone aside. By now, Wu Xiuli had grasped the relationship between Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan, and launched into extravagant praise. Her mother chimed in, declaring Tao Fei the very picture of a virtuous wife and loving mother, without a hint of wealthy arrogance.
Tang Songyuan listened with satisfaction, smiling as Tao Fei finished the soup. He poured mineral water for her to rinse her mouth, wrung out a warm towel for her face, and even helped her apply face cream.
Watching Tang Songyuan’s attentive ministrations, Wu Xiuli and her mother exhausted their store of compliments.
“If my husband were half—no, a tenth—as good as Mr. Tang, I’d be content for life. Sister Tao Fei, you’re so lucky! Not only does Mr. Tang earn well, he’s so gentle and thoughtful. How did you find such a wonderful husband? Did you save the galaxy in your last life?”

Wu Xiuli genuinely envied Tao Fei and sincerely wanted to hear the story of her and Tang Songyuan’s marriage. Tao Fei smiled but said nothing, so Wu Xiuli pleaded with Tang Songyuan to share his experience. She wanted to use him as the benchmark for finding husbands for her three daughters.
Wu Xiuli was barely thirty-one or thirty-two; her eldest daughter couldn’t be more than a child!
“My wife and I were introduced by a matchmaker, nothing special. At that time, most marriages were like that.”
“What? A matchmaker! My husband and I were high school classmates; ours was a love match. I always thought matchmaker marriages couldn’t be as happy as love matches, but seeing how affectionate you two are, I need to change my mind.”
Wu Xiuli half-joked.
“Then you must be well-matched. Well-matched marriages are the most stable. That’s why blind dates are coming back—every TV show seems to have one. Which successful couple isn’t well-matched? The rich marry the rich; good looks alone aren’t enough.”
Wu Xiuli’s mother summed up Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan’s marriage, then looked at them confidently, awaiting their agreement.
“I married up,” Tang Songyuan said.
“Sister Tao Fei must have been a real beauty in her youth!”
“She’s still beautiful,” Tang Songyuan replied, laughing softly. Tao Fei continued to smile without speaking. This kind of conversation was relaxing, and Tao Fei found it pleasant rather than tiresome.
“A man a bit older than his wife is usually more considerate!”
“That’s not always true. Old He’s more than ten years older than his wife, and he still beats her…”
Wu Xiuli’s mother tugged at her sleeve, and Wu Xiuli instantly realized her mother was helping her flatter Tang Songyuan. Anyone could see that Tang Songyuan was much older than Tao Fei.
“It depends on the person! Only mature and cultured men like Mr. Tang truly cherish their wives.”
“Mr. Tang is clearly a good man! Unlike those who fool around outside, squandering their money on mistresses.”
“It’s half past two. The patient needs her nap.”
Tang Songyuan cut the conversation short, helped Tao Fei recline the bed. Tao Fei, eager to study her antique phone, saw Tang Songyuan bend over to cover her with the quilt and quickly pulled it up to her chin, pretending to sleep.

Wu Xiuli wisely fell silent, and after a minute, she and her mother quietly discussed what to eat before five o’clock. Having reached an agreement, they greeted Tang Songyuan and slipped out for shopping.
The room fell quiet.
Tang Songyuan rested on the sofa by the window, eyes closed, afternoon sunlight painting his hair with a sheen.
Tao Fei watched him closely, sensing a shadow of worry between his brows. Suddenly, Tang Songyuan opened his eyes, and Tao Fei hurriedly turned over.
The mother who’d threatened her earlier didn’t come to demand money that afternoon. Tao Fei, feeling refreshed, waited for the moon’s appearance.
A round orange moon silently hung in the sky, and Tao Fei’s heart began to race. Same time, same place, same moonlight! The moment of witnessing a miracle was near.
Wu Xiuli and her mother hadn’t yet returned, and Tang Songyuan had gone out to buy fish porridge at Tao Fei’s request.
Hand on the door handle, Tao Fei opened and closed it several times. The ward, the corridor, everything was as usual. She stood outside, pushed and pulled the door, still nothing miraculous.
Tao Fei was unwilling to give up, convinced it was just a matter of timing. She returned to the ward, opened the door, closed her eyes and stepped outside, then suddenly opened them. The long corridor, warm lights, and a nurse briskly entered a nearby room.
The familiar laboratory had not appeared!
Tao Fei forced herself to repeat the process several times, and standing at the doorway, she heard the sound of her own heart breaking.
The electronic clock at the nurses’ station in the Y-shaped corridor blinked red numbers again.
One last try!
Perhaps her longing was too strong; Tao Fei, trembling, opened the door with closed eyes, stepped out, and hesitated to open her eyes. She hoped to hear her mentor call her name, then open her eyes and find herself in the medical school laboratory…
The expected voice didn’t come, but she felt a wave of heat in front of her.
Tao Fei opened her eyes and was startled by the sudden appearance of a man, stepping back several times and nearly falling into the ward.