Chapter 23: Avoiding a Catastrophic Collision

Jiang Yang felt a jolt of alarm. Could that be a video call from Ruolan? His hand hovered over his pocket; the phone rang incessantly, yet he didn't dare answer it.

Liang Xiaoqing watched him, urging, "What are you dazed for? Go ahead and answer it."

With no other choice, he steeled himself and took out the phone. To his relief, it wasn't Ruolan, but his mother. He exhaled slightly and pressed the answer button. "Mom, I’m downstairs."

His mother, on the other end, spotted Liang Xiaoqing standing nearby immediately. "I was just about to tell you that your aunt went to look for you; I didn't realize she had already arrived."

Liang Xiaoqing snatched the phone. "Sis, I just got here. Jiang Yang told me to stay here tonight, so don't worry."

A knowing smile appeared on his mother’s face. "Fine, then I won't disturb the two of you. Just don't stay up too late."

"Sis, don't be such a busybody. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a chance to talk with Jiang Yang. We aren't children anymore; a little late doesn't matter."

"Alright, alright, I’ll say no more. Just make sure to come back together when the time comes." With that, his mother hung up.

"Let’s go, let’s head up." Liang Xiaoqing, acting as if she had received a royal decree, turned and pulled her suitcase toward the elevator.

Jiang Yang felt completely numb. His mother’s "divine assist" was essentially sending him into a pit of fire. With those words spoken, it was now impossible to suggest she stay at a hotel. If Ruolan called at any moment and found out he had brought her most-hated aunt home, how was he supposed to explain it?

Suddenly, an idea sparked. He rushed forward to block her path. "Wait a second, it’s too messy up there. Let me tidy up a bit before you go in."

Liang Xiaoqing gave a playful smile. "It’s not like it’s my first day knowing your place is a mess. It’s perfect—I’ll help you clean up." She strode forward with her long legs toward the elevator again.

Jiang Yang blocked her once more. "No, it’s just... there are some things a guy has that you might not be comfortable seeing..."

Liang Xiaoqing realized, "Oh... it’s fine. It’s not like I haven’t seen your things before. They’re all on the computer, I just won't look at them."

Jiang Yang stopped her again. "Let me just tidy up; respect my privacy, please..."

Liang Xiaoqing sighed. "I’ll give you fifteen minutes. I’ll wait for you in the lobby."

Granted this reprieve, Jiang Yang hurried into the elevator and rushed back to his room.

He had just stepped inside when his phone rang again. This time, it was a video call from Ruolan. It was a hair-raising close call; a few minutes earlier and it would have been a collision of epic proportions.

He answered the video call. Ruolan was already home, and it looked like she hadn't even changed her clothes yet.

"See? One hour, and I'm home." Jiang Yang panned the camera around the room.

Ruolan rested her chin on her hand, a satisfied smile on her face. "You’re punctual, at least. I’ll be back the day after tomorrow. Did you miss me?"

"I did. Every day. Look, I didn't even stay with my colleagues—I came straight back."

Ruolan’s pretty face flushed slightly, and she bit her lip. "How much did you miss me?"

"I keep you in my heart every day. I’m practically sleeping while hugging a pillow with your face on it."

Ruolan giggled. "You silver-tongued devil. But I like it. Since you’re being so obedient, I’ll send you the treat I didn't finish sending the other day."

She reached out a finger to hook the collar of her lace blouse, revealing a pair of delicate collarbones. She licked her crimson lips, her gaze growing hazy.

This seductive look was the perfect trailer for what was to come. Regardless of what intentions Ruolan had, if Liang Xiaoqing weren't waiting downstairs, Jiang Yang would have been lying on the bed, fully prepared to receive his "treat."

But his aunt had only given him fifteen minutes. Ten minutes had passed; in five more, she would arrive on the battlefield. He had to find a way to escape and deal with the situation!

Just then, another spark of inspiration hit him. He suddenly clutched his forehead with a pained expression. "I... I have a headache."

Ruolan, who had only just undone her second button, was shocked. "Did you forget to take your medicine today?"

"I... I was too busy today... I forgot..." Jiang Yang held his head, nearly collapsing to his knees.

"Quick, the medicine is in the bathroom cabinet. Go take one!" Ruolan urged anxiously.

Still holding the phone, Jiang Yang stumbled into the bathroom, pulled open the cabinet, grabbed the bottle, and shook a red pill into his palm. He used his body to shield the camera, pretending to swallow the pill, while actually hiding it in his palm and turning on the faucet to take a loud gulp of water.

He finally sat on the floor, breathing heavily. He spoke to the screen, "Ruolan, I need to rest. Let’s save today’s treat for when you get back. I’m sorry, I’ve ruined the mood."

On the other end, Ruolan still looked shaken, her face pale, her chest rising and falling beneath her lace blouse as if she were the one in pain. "It’s... it’s okay. You go rest."

Jiang Yang waved a weak goodbye at the screen and hung up.

The moment the phone was off, he bolted up from the floor, dashed out of the room, and returned to the lobby.

Liang Xiaoqing had been waiting for a long time. She cast a reproachful look at him. "And you said you had a wife? If you did, would you need to spend so much time tidying up by yourself?"

Jiang Yang gave a sheepish laugh, offering no explanation. She wouldn't want to hear one anyway, so he simply let the assumption stand.

He took Liang Xiaoqing upstairs to his door. Just as he opened it, he blocked the entrance. "Sister Qing, what I said about being married—it’s true."

"I haven't had a chance to tell Mom yet, and there are reasons for that. So, I can't stay the night with you like we used to. You stay here, and I’ll go stay somewhere else tonight."

Liang Xiaoqing stood at the door for a few seconds, stunned. She bit her lip, then reached out to touch Jiang Yang’s face. "Jiang Yang, I know I was wrong in the past."

"When you needed me most, I was abroad. I couldn't help you with anything, and I let you suffer so much. Now that I’m back, as long as we are together, everything will get better."

Her hand was warm against his face, and her beautiful eyes welled up with tears, making him want to reach out and wipe them away. A long segment of memories seemed to be awakened in an instant.

The woman before him seemed to have accompanied him for many years, and she had brought him many wonderful memories. Yet, among those memories, there was one that made his heart ache—a pain so sharp that he didn't want to recall the past.

What exactly had happened between them to leave him with such a feeling? It surely wasn't as simple as just an argument over money.