Chapter 31: A Prosperous Opening

“President Tang!”

“And you are?”

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

Wu Xiuli, as if seeing a long-lost relative, jumped off the bed, nearly throwing herself into Tang Songyuan’s arms. It was no wonder— in her eyes, Tang Songyuan equaled money, and who doesn’t love money?

“You’re… Miss Wu.”

He actually recognized her! Wu Xiuli was even more surprised than when she had just unexpectedly met her God of Wealth. Her face lit up with excitement as she reached out to shake his hand. Tang Songyuan gave her a polite handshake, then quickly let go.

“I never imagined you’d know me! I thought our small business was far beneath your notice.”

“You flatter me, Miss Wu.”

Tang Songyuan had no desire to continue the conversation, much less to bond with a minor client in a hospital room. He placed the tote bag on the nightstand, pulled out the small table and poured a bowl of soup, turning to Tao Fei with an apologetic smile.

“I went to Crockpot House to buy your favorite Five-Finger Root Soup. I didn’t expect to get stuck in traffic and only just got back. The soup is still hot—hurry up and drink some. Oh, and this too.”

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

“The model you used before is no longer in production, so I got you this one. See if you like it. I’ve already replaced your SIM card, so your number’s the same. All your usual apps are installed.”

“Thank you.”

Tang Songyuan had bought the latest model, but in Tao Fei’s eyes, it was an outdated relic. Still, she loved studying antiques, and as she flipped through the phone, her interest grew.

He reminded her to drink the soup, and only then did Tao Fei put the phone aside. By now, Wu Xiuli had figured out the relationship between Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan and began to heap praise on Tao Fei. Wu Xiuli’s mother joined in, saying Tao Fei was the very picture of a virtuous wife and good mother, without any airs of a wealthy lady.

Tang Songyuan received their compliments with pleasure, watching with a smile as Tao Fei finished the entire canister of soup. He poured mineral water for her to rinse her mouth, wrung a hot towel for her face, and even remembered to apply face cream for her.

Watching this string of considerate gestures, Wu Xiuli and her mother exhausted their supply of praise.

“If my husband were half—no, even a tenth—as good as President Tang, I’d be content for life. Tao Fei, you’re so lucky! Not only does President Tang make money, he’s so attentive and gentle. How did you find such a wonderful husband? You must have saved the galaxy in your past life!”

Wu Xiuli was genuinely envious and truly curious about Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan’s love story. Tao Fei merely smiled in response, so Wu Xiuli pressed Tang Songyuan to share his secret, saying she wanted to use his example to find husbands for her three daughters.

Wu Xiuli was only about thirty-one or thirty-two; her daughters couldn’t possibly be that old!

“We were introduced by a matchmaker—nothing special. Back then, most marriages were like that.”

“Really? A matchmaker? My husband and I were high school classmates—we married for love. I always thought arranged marriages couldn’t be as happy as love matches, but seeing how affectionate you two are, I may have to change my mind,” Wu Xiuli joked.

“Your families must have been well-matched. That’s the foundation of a solid marriage. Otherwise, why is matchmaking back in vogue? Just look at all the TV shows. Which successful couples aren’t well-matched? Rich people marry rich people; good looks alone don’t matter.”

Wu Xiuli’s mother summed up their marriage with confidence, waiting for their approval.

“I was marrying above my station back then.”

“Sister Tao Fei must have been a beauty in her youth!”

“She’s still very beautiful,” Tang Songyuan replied with a gentle smile, while Tao Fei kept her silence. The conversation was light and relaxing, and Tao Fei didn’t find it annoying.

“It’s better when a man is a bit older than his wife—he’s more considerate.”

“That’s not always the case. Old He is over ten years older than his wife, but he often hits her…”

Wu Xiuli’s mother tugged her sleeve, and Wu Xiuli realized she was being prompted to flatter Tang Songyuan. Anyone could see he was much older than Tao Fei.

“It all depends on the person! Only mature, refined men like President Tang know how to cherish their wives.”

“President Tang is clearly a good man! Not like those who fool around outside, keeping mistresses as soon as they have money.”

“It’s already half past two. The patient needs her nap.”

Tang Songyuan cut off their chatter, helped Tao Fei recline the bed, and she looked eager to tinker with her antique phone. Seeing him lean over to pull up the covers, Tao Fei quickly tucked the blanket under her chin and pretended 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. They agreed on a plan, exchanged goodbyes with Tang Songyuan, and sneaked out on a shopping spree.

The room fell silent.

Tang Songyuan leaned back on the sofa by the window, eyes closed, the afternoon sunlight painting a luminous halo over his head.

Tao Fei studied him covertly, sensing a trace of melancholy between his brows. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, and she hurriedly turned over.

The mother who had threatened earlier did not show up that afternoon to demand money. Tao Fei, well-rested, waited for the moon to rise.

A round, orange moon quietly 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 had not returned yet. Tang Songyuan had been sent out to buy fish congee.

Hand on the door handle, Tao Fei opened and closed the door several times. The room, the corridor—everything was the same. She stood outside and pushed and pulled the door again, but still, no miracle occurred.

Tao Fei was unwilling to give up. She convinced herself the timing had simply been off. She returned to the room, opened the door again, closed her eyes and walked out, then suddenly opened them. The long, softly lit corridor was empty except for a young nurse hurrying into a nearby room.

The familiar laboratory did not appear.

Mustering her energy, Tao Fei repeated the process several more times. Standing at the threshold, she could almost hear her own heart breaking.

The red digits on the nurses’ station clock in the Y-shaped corridor ticked forward once more.

One last try!

Her longing was so intense that, trembling, she opened the door with her eyes shut, stepping out without daring to look. She hoped to hear her mentor call her name, to open her eyes and find herself back in the medical school laboratory—

But the awaited voice never came. Instead, she sensed a hot breath before her.

Tao Fei opened her eyes and was startled by the sudden appearance of a man so close that she stumbled back into the hospital room, nearly falling.

[End of Chapter 31: The Starhill Specialty Shop]