Chapter 15: The Big Boss's Special Assistant

“Mr. Tang!”

“And you are?”

“You surely don’t know me, but I know you! My husband and I used to purchase goods from your company.”

Wu Xiuli leapt down from the bed as if she had just seen a long-lost relative, nearly throwing herself into Tang Songyuan’s arms. It was no wonder, for in Wu Xiuli’s eyes, Tang Songyuan was the very embodiment of wealth—and who could resist the allure of money?

“And you are… Miss Wu.”

He actually recognized her! Wu Xiuli was even more astonished than when she had first set foot here, her face positively radiant with excitement at the unexpected encounter with her god of wealth. She 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 our little family business would hardly be worth your notice.”

“You flatter me, Miss Wu.”

Tang Songyuan had no desire to continue this line of conversation, much less to bond with such a minor client in this setting. He placed his tote bag on the nightstand, slid open the small table, and poured a bowl of soup, turning to Tao Fei with an apologetic smile.

“I went to the Clay Pot House to get your favorite five-finger root soup. There was a traffic jam, so I only just got back. The soup’s still hot—do drink a little. Oh, and I have this for you as well.”

From his coat pocket, Tang Songyuan produced a sleek, wide-screen black phone and handed it to Tao Fei.

“The model you used before is no longer being produced. Try this one and see if you like it. I’ve already had your SIM card replaced, so it’s still your old number, and I’ve installed all the apps you use most.”

“Thank you.”

Though the phone was the latest model, to Tao Fei it felt like an outdated relic from another era. But since she loved antiques, she accepted the phone and swiped through it with growing interest.

Tang Songyuan reminded her to drink the soup first, and Tao Fei set the phone aside. By now, Wu Xiuli had discerned the relationship between Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan, and proceeded to lavish Tao Fei with compliments. Her mother joined in, declaring that Tao Fei was clearly the model of a virtuous wife and devoted mother, with none of the airs of a wealthy matron.

Tang Songyuan listened to their praise with evident satisfaction, smiling as Tao Fei finished the entire bowl of soup. He poured mineral water for her to rinse her mouth, wrung out a hot towel to soothe her face, and even remembered to help her apply face cream.

Watching Tang Songyuan’s attentive care, Wu Xiuli and her mother exhausted their store of compliments.

“If my husband were half—no, even a tenth—as good as Mr. Tang, I’d be content for life. Tao Fei, you’re so lucky—Mr. Tang not only knows how to make money, he’s so thoughtful and gentle. How did you find such a wonderful husband? Did you save the galaxy in your last life?”

Wu Xiuli’s admiration for Tao Fei was genuine, and she was sincerely curious to hear the story of Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan’s marriage. Tao Fei only smiled in response, so Wu Xiuli begged Tang Songyuan to share some of his experience—after all, she wanted to use his example as a standard when seeking husbands for her three daughters.

Wu Xiuli was only thirty-one or thirty-two herself—how old could her eldest daughter possibly be!

“My wife and I were introduced by a matchmaker. There’s nothing especially romantic about it. That was how marriages were arranged in our day.”

“What? A matchmaker? My husband and I were high school classmates—we married for love. I always thought marriages arranged by matchmakers couldn’t possibly be as happy as those from free choice, but seeing how affectionate you two are, I might have to change my mind,” Wu Xiuli said, half-joking.

“Then you must have been well-matched. Marriages between equals are the most stable, after all. Why else do you think matchmaking is back in style? Just look at all those TV dating shows. Every successful couple is well-matched—rich people marry other rich people; good looks alone don’t count for much,” Wu Xiuli’s mother concluded, her tone full of certainty as she awaited agreement from Tang Songyuan and Tao Fei.

“In those days, I married above my station,” Tang Songyuan said.

“Tao Fei must have been a great beauty in her youth!” Wu Xiuli exclaimed.

“She’s beautiful even now,” Tang Songyuan replied with a gentle smile, while Tao Fei maintained her silent, smiling composure. The conversation, light and pleasant, eased her mind.

“It’s best when the husband is a little older—he’ll cherish his wife more!”

“That’s not always true, though. Old He is over ten years older than his wife, and he still beats her…”

Wu Xiuli’s mother tugged at her sleeve. Wu Xiuli instantly realized her mother was helping flatter Tang Songyuan—after all, anyone could see he was much older than Tao Fei.

“It really depends on the man! Only a mature, considerate man like Mr. Tang would dote on his wife.”

“Mr. Tang is clearly a good man! He’s nothing like those who fool around outside, keeping mistresses left and right as soon as they have money.”

“It’s already half past two. The patient needs her afternoon rest,” Tang Songyuan interjected, cutting off the pair. He helped Tao Fei lower her bed. Tao Fei, eager to study her “antique” phone, saw him leaning over to tuck her in and quickly pulled the covers up to her chin, pretending to sleep.

Wu Xiuli took the hint and fell silent, but within a minute she and her mother were whispering about what to eat before five o’clock. After reaching an agreement and bidding Tang Songyuan farewell, they slipped out to do some serious shopping.

Peace settled over the ward.

Tang Songyuan reclined on the sofa by the window, eyes closed, the afternoon sun casting a golden sheen over his hair.

Tao Fei watched him closely, a faint line of worry seeming to linger between his brows. Suddenly, Tang Songyuan opened his eyes, and Tao Fei hastily turned over.

The formidable mother, who had threatened so fiercely, did not show up at the hospital that afternoon demanding money. Tao Fei, well-rested, waited only for the rising of the moon.

A round, amber moon climbed silently into the sky, and Tao Fei’s heartbeat began to quicken. The same hour, the same place, the same moonlight—the moment of miracles was at hand.

Wu Xiuli and her mother had yet to return. Tang Songyuan had been sent out by Tao Fei to buy fish congee.

She gripped the door handle, opening and closing it several times. The ward, the hallway—everything was just as before. She stepped outside, then in again, but nothing miraculous happened.

Tao Fei refused to give up, convinced she had simply missed the perfect timing. She returned to the ward, opened the door, closed her eyes, and stepped out again, then abruptly opened them. The long corridor, bathed in soft, gentle light, was empty save for a young nurse hurrying into the nearby room.

No familiar laboratory appeared.

Bracing herself, Tao Fei repeated the ritual several more times. Standing at the threshold, she heard the sound of her own heart breaking.

At the central nurse’s station in the Y-shaped corridor, the red digits of the electronic clock flickered once more.

Just one last try!

Perhaps her longing was too intense. Shivering with anticipation, Tao Fei closed her eyes, opened the door, and stepped outside, unable to summon the courage to open her eyes. She yearned to hear her mentor call her name, to open her eyes and find herself back in the medical school laboratory…

But no such voice came—only a wave of heat in front of her.

Tao Fei opened her eyes and, startled by the sudden appearance of a man before her, stumbled back a few steps, nearly falling into the ward.