Chapter 169

Chapter 169 - 169 162 On his birthday night Xie Shang got his wish Chapter 169: 162: On his birthday night, Xie Shang got his wish fulfilled (First Update) Chapter 169: 162: On his birthday night, Xie Shang got his wish fulfilled (First Update) Xie Shang’s surgical incision had gotten infected. It wasn’t serious, but it wasn’t getting better either. He was reluctant to go to the hospital, so Wen Changling came by every day to clean and disinfect the wound.

She was a bit late getting off work today, and it was already dark outside.

She brought over some medicine, “Did you have a fever today?”

Xie Shang had felt a bit feverish the day before.

He set down the pen he was using to copy books, pulled over a chair, and sat down in front of Wen Changling, “No.”

Wen Changling gently pushed his shoulder. They had gone through the wound-cleaning process so many times these past few days that a single gesture from her let him know exactly what to do. His body leaned back following her hand while he lifted his shirt with his left hand.

Wen Changling removed the sterile dressing to see the incision still red and swollen, “Why isn’t it healing?”

Xie Shang didn’t speak.

Her hair had grown a lot longer, and as she bent over, the tips touched him, causing a ticklish, prickly sensation. He couldn’t help but reach out to touch them.

She turned to grab the medicine.

The strands of hair slipped from Xie Shang’s hand.

She dabbed iodophor with a cotton ball to disinfect the wound, her technique professional and gloved. After the disinfection, she applied antibiotic ointment to the area and affixed a new dressing. Her fingertips gently touched the wound, “After it heals, there will still be a scar.”

The surgery Xie Shang had undergone was an abdominal one, the incision located on the upper left side of his abdomen and about the length of a finger.

He asked Wen Changling, “Do you mind it?”

He himself didn’t care; he only cared about Wen Changling’s likes and dislikes.

Without answering his question, Wen Changling took off her gloves and covered the incision with the palm of her hand, “Does it still hurt?”

Xie Shang shook his head.

Fu Ying went to meet with Pang Shifang’s lawyer today.

“Changling, there’s something strange. It seems that Pang Shifang still doesn’t know about your existence.”

Because Fu Ying needed to infiltrate the Zhou Family, she used a fake name. However, Wen Changling had to use her real identity to get close to Xie Shang. Three other people had already infiltrated, and it wouldn’t have been difficult for Pang Shifang to discover Wen Changling’s real identity.

If she still hadn’t been detected by Pang Shifang, there was only one possibility.

She asked Xie Shang, “Is Xu Zhonghan the one who tampered with your car?”

“Mmm.”

“Why did Pang Shifang want to hurt you?”

“I caused him to lose his position.”

Boss Xie had really told a lot of lies recently.

Touching the surgical scar on his body, Wen Changling knew it was taken for her.

She removed her hand, helped him straighten his clothes, and turned her back to tidy up the medical supplies on the tray, “Can you come back a bit earlier on the 11th? I have something to tell you.”

I have something to tell you.

This kind of sentence was what Xie Shang had recently become most afraid of hearing. He wanted to see Wen Changling every day, yet he dreaded it, as her stay of execution might end at any moment.

After a while, Xie Shang finally answered, “Mmm.”

On the 11th, the weather was bad—it was a thunderstorm.

Xie Shang didn’t like socializing or bustling events. His birthdays had always been simple—no gatherings, no going out if invited, just back to the Su Family for a meal with his family.

Two hours had passed since dinner time.

Xie Shang was sitting on the living room couch, staring at the dark screen of his phone, not doing anything, just sitting there.

Madam Zhai Wenjin glanced at the time, “Xingxing, it’s so late, why haven’t you gone back yet?”

He replied, “The rain hasn’t stopped.”

Madam Zhai Wenjin could tell that Xie Shang was listless, his mind elsewhere, “Does Miss Wen know it’s your birthday today?”

“Mmm.”

It was recorded in Wen Changling’s observation notes.

Madam Zhai Wenjin knew there had been some issues recently between Xie Shang and Wen Changling, though she didn’t know the specifics. She thought birthdays, being special, could help a couple’s feelings warm up, so she urged, “Then hurry back, what if she’s waiting for you?”

What if she wants to break up?

Xie Shang looked out the window, his already edgy mood amplified by the clamorous thunderstorm.

Madam Zhai Wenjin went upstairs to instruct Su Beihe, “Beihe, you take Xingxing home later, there’s lightning and rain; don’t let him drive himself.”

Su Beihe picked up his car keys and went downstairs.

“Ready to go?”

Xie Shang stood up.

On the road.

The usually silent Su Beihe suddenly asked, “Things not going smoothly with Miss Wen?”

Outside, lightning flashed and thunder roared, the car drove slowly through puddles, splashing disordered sprays of water. The rain beat loudly against the glass, with droplets shattering, sliding down, and then clustering densely together, making the clear world outside blur into obscurity.

Xie Shang answered a different question, “I hate thunderstorm days.”

The trip took over an hour, and by the time Xie Shang reached Lotus Pond Street, it was past eleven o’clock.

The light was on in his room; Wen Changling was waiting for him. As he passed the courtyard, he folded his umbrella, shook off the rainwater on himself, and pushed open the door.

A cool breeze of autumn night blew through as he entered.

There was a box on the table, Wen Changling got up and went over to it, “Why did you come back so late?”

Xie Shang closed the door and took off his damp coat, “The weather was bad.”

Wen Changling was wearing a skirt today, something she didn’t often do. The hem of the beige skirt reached just above her calves, her socks covering her ankles, leaving a small section of pale skin exposed, and her cardigan was soft and long. Her hair was loosely tied into a low bun, and in that moment, she looked exceptionally gentle and demure.

“I remember you really hate thunderstorms, are you in a bad mood right now?” She didn’t wait for Xie Shang to respond. “Today is your birthday, we can’t have the birthday boy in a bad mood.”

She went to turn off the light.

The candles lit up, thin birthday candles with small flames, that cut only a small opening in the darkness, the light barely enough to envelop Wen Changling.

“Xie Shang, happy birthday.”

The cake was a golden star.

The window wasn’t closed tightly, and the flame wavered in the draft. She quickly used her hand to shield it, “I didn’t prepare a birthday gift, so I want to give you a birthday wish instead.”

Another wish.

Xie Shang closed the window, took Wen Changling’s hand away from the hot light of the candle: “Is anything allowed?” She was acting strange tonight.

“Anything,” she said.

From her indulgent gaze, Xie Shang saw permission.

Thus, he grew bold, “I hope you can love me.”

In the midst of the noisy rain, he heard Wen Changling’s reply.

“Okay.”

It was like a dream.

Xie Shang began to question everything before him.

The candle was still burning.

Wen Changling walked towards him, hugged him, and on her tiptoes, kissed him.