Chapter Eighty-One: The Young Bride

Page 1 of 3

“Xiwen, you… you’re awake, thank goodness, thank goodness…” Wang Yanan entered the hospital room carrying a thermos in her hand. The moment she saw her son awake, she rushed to the bedside in just a few quick steps, tears of relief and joy streaming down her cheeks.

Jiang Xiwen had been worrying about how to keep his family from finding out, not wanting his parents to be concerned. But clearly, there was no keeping it from them now. Seeing his mother in tears, he quickly grinned and tried to reassure her. “Come on, Ma, it’s nothing. Just a fracture, right? Your son is tough as nails!”

Wang Yanan saw her son joking around and knew he must be alright. Then she noticed Ning Yan sleeping with her head resting on the edge of the bed. Embarrassed, she wiped her tears away and, seeing Ning Yan still asleep, whispered, “Son, when Ning Yan wakes up, you really should thank her properly. She insisted on staying here to keep watch over you last night, and I just couldn’t persuade her to leave.”

“Don’t worry, Ma, I understand…” Jiang Xiwen nodded, and just as he finished speaking, he saw Ning Yan stir and slowly raise her head, stretching out with a long, lazy yawn.

When she saw Jiang Xiwen awake, she was momentarily stunned. Then a warm, contented smile blossomed on her delicate features. But soon after, her brows drew together, the corners of her mouth drooped, and it looked as if she were about to cry. She said softly, “You’re awake…”

“Even the heroine Ning can cry? You should be happy I woke up, not sad. Or did you want me to stay unconscious?” Jiang Xiwen grinned, teasing, “So, how does it feel to nurse a hero? Pretty exciting, isn’t it?”

“Still talking nonsense even in the hospital—you have no idea how worried I was when you were unconscious all night.” Ning Yan forgot all about keeping a cold distance from Jiang Xiwen, her lips pouting, half laughing and half in tears, until she noticed Wang Yanan standing nearby, watching her with a smile.

Ning Yan blushed, quickly stood up, and said, “Auntie, when did you get here? Please, have a seat…”

“Ning Yan, you stayed here all night. I should be thanking you,” Wang Yanan said kindly. “Are you hungry? I made some porridge. You and Xiwen should both have some.”

Watching the scene unfold, Jiang Xiwen suddenly felt as if Wang Yanan and Ning Yan were more like mother-in-law and daughter-in-law than anything else. He couldn’t help but marvel—since his rebirth, Cupid seemed to be watching over him. Yet, the girl he longed for most had still not appeared by his side.

After finishing the porridge his mother had made, Jiang Xiwen, Ning Yan, and Wang Yanan chatted for a while. Wang Yanan tried to persuade Ning Yan to go home and rest, but Ning Yan stubbornly refused, insisting that Jiang Xiwen had been injured because of her and that she had to stay and keep him company.

Wang Yanan could only sigh and go home to make some chicken soup. Judging by Ning Yan’s pallor, she seemed even more worn out than her son—it was she, perhaps, who needed the nourishment most.

Jiang Xiwen said nothing, simply smiling at Ning Yan. Only after Wang Yanan had left did Ning Yan notice his gaze.

“What are you staring at? Keep looking and I’ll gouge your eyes out!” In that moment, Ning Yan’s fierce expression had none of her usual aloofness.

“I’m just watching to see when my little wife started to change. That cold, expressionless look is gone, and now you’re so lovely—sometimes smiling, sometimes crying, cheeks all rosy and tempting, truly tempting.” Jiang Xiwen flashed the same look he’d worn the last time he’d gazed at her in Zhao Gang’s tutoring session.

Page 2 of 3

Why does my face feel like it’s burning? It must be red again. Damn Jiang Xiwen—why does he always say such outrageous things? Ning Yan remembered the look she’d once thought so indecent and snapped, “Who’s your little wife…”

“I’m already awake, and now you’re weaker than me, but you insist on staying. If you’re not my wife, whose wife could you be?” Jiang Xiwen continued to tease.

The implication was plain: if Ning Yan stayed, she was admitting to being his little wife. She frowned, annoyed. “Fine, then I’ll go. If I stay here any longer, my ears will be corrupted by your nonsense.”

Seeing that she was finally willing to leave, Jiang Xiwen softened his tone. “Go home and get some rest, Ning Yan. Thank you for taking care of me all night.”

“You…” It was the first time Ning Yan had heard Jiang Xiwen speak to her so gently. For a moment, she didn’t know how to reply, feeling a strange emotion sweep through her heart, which now pounded uncontrollably.

“Why aren’t you leaving?” Jiang Xiwen suddenly raised his voice. “If you don’t, it won’t just be your ears being corrupted—your very soul will be, little wife…”

A cough came from the doorway, and Old Ning walked in.

Good grief—flirting with a beauty only to be caught by her father. Could there be a greater misfortune? Jiang Xiwen immediately shifted his expression to that of a sunny, wholesome youth. “Hello, Uncle. I had no idea you were a police officer—how impressive.”

Old Ning smiled slightly. “Xiwen, you don’t seem like the type to flatter people. My name is Ning Yu, Ning Yan’s father. If you like, you can call me Old Ning. You and Wang Wu have only been learning martial arts for a little over a month, yet you’re already so skilled—more so than I was at your age. I really should thank you. If it weren’t for you yesterday, my daughter and I would have been in real danger. And Tian Weidong as well—we’re lucky you called the police…”

“Dad, Jiang Xiwen just woke up. Let’s save all that for when he’s better, okay?” Ning Yan blurted out, worried about Jiang Xiwen’s injuries.

Ning Yu, a man of steel, smiled awkwardly. “Xiwen, my apologies. Are you hungry? I can get you something to eat.”

“Old Ning, don’t listen to Ning Yan—I’m fine, I just ate,” Jiang Xiwen said, feeling an easy kinship with Ning Yu, who, like Wang Wu, was straightforward and unpretentious. “How’s Tian Weidong? What about Liu Dashan?”

“Ha! Ning Yan, I like how you call me that,” Ning Yu said, glancing at his daughter. “See, darling, Xiwen may talk nonsense, but he’s as forthright as I am. Anyone who can be friends with Wang Wu is no ordinary person.”

Ning Yan could only frown helplessly. She hadn’t expected her father to become fast friends with Jiang Xiwen after just a few words. Ning Yu had always been reserved and kept to himself, never having many friends. But seeing her father take to Jiang Xiwen made her happy. In truth, she’d been happy since yesterday. Everyone had assumed her father was some ex-convict, but she had never believed it. Now that the truth was out, she no longer had to keep a cold face and shut others out.

Page 3 of 3

Her father had only bandaged his wounds briefly yesterday before returning to the police station. Her mother still didn’t know what had happened, but when she found out, she would be overjoyed. This thought made Ning Yan’s smile bloom like a flower.

“My good girl, what are you thinking about? You haven’t slept all night—go home and get some rest.” Ning Yu stroked his daughter’s hair affectionately, his voice gentle.

Jiang Xiwen, sitting on the bed, pressed his thumbs together, bending them slightly to make the hand gesture for “husband and wife,” and grinned at Ning Yan. Of course, at that moment, Ning Yu had his back turned and saw nothing.

This time, Ning Yan didn’t blush. After being teased by Jiang Xiwen so many times, she’d grown used to his ways. Besides, with her father there, her resilient side naturally emerged. She couldn’t let this guy get the upper hand, even though… even though she really did… like him a little. But she couldn’t let him bully her all the time. With that in mind, she said to Ning Yu, “Dad, my classmate here is quite the smooth talker. You’ll have to keep an eye on him.”

She shot Jiang Xiwen a glare and left the room.

Ning Yu chuckled. “Xiwen, my daughter’s temper is entirely my doing, don’t take it to heart. She never had friends at school, and I’m to blame for that—I taught her this way. My profession…” His voice trailed off, tinged with self-reproach.

“Old Ning, don’t think that way. I’m Ning Yan’s friend, and she’ll make more friends in the future. I don’t think she’ll hold it against you. She’s more mature than most kids her age…”

He paused, then continued, “Old Ning, you’re a good police officer, a good soldier. Do you remember what you told Wang Wu? As a warrior, we must confront evil without fear, undaunted by sacrifice. You’ve done all that. The only thing you’ve sacrificed, besides your own life, is a part of Ning Yan’s childhood. But I believe she understands. Her character is shaped by everything you’ve given her—she’s used to it now and wouldn’t want to change. She’d never really fit in with those carefree, pleasure-seeking kids, anyway. She’s a warrior, too—this is the real Ning Yan, your true daughter. How could she blame you?”

This wasn’t just meant to comfort Ning Yu—it was Jiang Xiwen’s heartfelt admiration for a true man of iron. To him, this was the embodiment of heroism in real life.

As Jiang Xiwen spoke, Ning Yu slowly raised his head, his eyes growing more resolute. “Thank you, Xiwen. You’re right—she’s my daughter, a daughter with a soldier’s blood. How could she blame me…”

“Old Ning, don’t get all worked up. We’re men, let’s not get sentimental. The nurses might think I’m some TV host’s apprentice, able to make a tough guy like you cry.” Jiang Xiwen laughed cheerfully.