Reborn in the 1970s — Married a Proud Rough Man

Gao Qiang remained silent, wondering how to placate Xu Jiali.

By the end of September, with the college entrance exams drawing near, Qin Mei was getting anxious. She had mentioned several times that it was time to go home, but Jie Jingchen kept telling her to wait a few more days. After waiting for over ten days, she saw that Jie Jingchen still had no intention of returning. Qin Mei was tempted to just leave him behind and take Jing Qi home herself.

”Jie Jingsi, when are we going back?” Qin Mei asked again.

”A few more days,” Jie Jingchen replied.

Qin Mei rolled her eyes. ’A few more days, again.’ ”Jie Jingsi, you shouldn’t be saying a few more days. You should be saying a few more months.”

Jie Jingchen looked at Qin Mei with a smile. ”We’ll go when Xu Jiali is discharged.”

”You’re not lying to me?” Qin Mei asked. When Jie Jingchen nodded, she immediately left for the hospital.

Jie Jingchen had the housekeeper arrange a car to take Qin Mei to the hospital. After she left, he drove off in his own car.

「At the hospital.」

Her grandparents weren’t there. In Xu Jiali’s room, a woman who was a stranger, yet somehow familiar, was chatting with her.

”Xiao Mei,” Xu Jiali called out, looking radiant as she waved at Qin Mei.

”Auntie,” Qin Mei said as she walked into the hospital room. Her eyes sized up Qiao Yanchun. Upon closer inspection, she noticed a resemblance to her mother-in-law, Qiao Yanqiu. ’No wonder she looks so familiar.’

”So you’re Jing Chen’s wife?” Qiao Yanchun appraised Qin Mei. ’No wonder she has Jing Chen so utterly captivated. She’s beautiful.’

”And you are...?” Qin Mei had a good idea who the woman was.

”Qiao Wei is my daughter. You should call me Aunt,” Qiao Yanchun said. She didn’t carry herself with an air of superiority; on the contrary, she was warm and friendly toward Qin Mei.

Qin Mei studied Qiao Yanchun with a probing gaze. ’Is the Governor’s Wife really this approachable?’

”Aunt,” Qin Mei called out, her demeanor poised and natural.

Qiao Yanchun looked at Qin Mei, a sincere smile on her magnificent face and kindness in her voice. ”I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time. That boy Jing Chen is so protective, you’d think I was going to eat you alive. He won’t bring you to the Governor Mansion, and he won’t let me visit you at the Qiao Family residence. I’ve even tried to ’run into you’ at the hospital, but it never works out.”

Qin Mei was taken aback. ’That happened?’ Both Qiao Wei and Jie Jingchen had apparently conspired to keep this from her, never breathing a word of it.

Qiao Yanchun’s status as the Governor’s Wife was intimidating, and Qin Mei wasn’t sure what to say.

Qiao Yanchun seemed approachable, but Qin Mei had no idea if she was truly easy to get along with. ’It’s best to keep quiet. The more I say, the more likely I am to say the wrong thing.’

’Jie Jingchen must have had his reasons for not wanting me to meet her.’

”Xiao Mei, why are you just standing there in a daze?” The smile on Qiao Yanchun’s lips deepened.

’Jie Jingchen never mentioned a thing about Qin Mei to me, but my foolish daughter couldn’t stop singing her praises. Something about her being incredibly brave? A woman who could rival any man? Unbelievably beautiful?’

’None of that was enough to impress me. What did impress me was that when faced with danger, she didn’t abandon Qiao Wei to save her own skin.’

Qin Mei snapped back to reality and said with utmost sincerity, ”Aunt, I was just stunned by your beauty.”

Everyone loves a good compliment.

Xu Jiali gave Qin Mei a thumbs-up. Her friend really knew how to win people over; Qiao Yanchun loved nothing more than being complimented on her looks.

Qiao Yanchun’s eyes crinkled into a smile. She stood up, pulled Qin Mei over to the sofa, and began passionately sharing all her beauty secrets.

Qin Mei chimed in with a perfectly timed compliment about her beauty at every opportunity, making Qiao Yanchun absolutely ecstatic.

In the end, it took a phone call from Qiao Wei to the hospital director’s office before Qiao Yanchun finally, and reluctantly, left.

After seeing Qiao Yanchun off, Qin Mei patted her own cheeks, which had grown stiff from smiling. Xu Jiali also seemed much more relaxed; being around Qiao Yanchun was stressful for her, too.

”Girl, you’re amazing,” Xu Jiali said, giving Qin Mei another thumbs-up.

Qin Mei shot her a look, then took her hand to check her pulse.

”How is it?” Xu Jiali asked anxiously.

”You’re recovering very well.” Qin Mei lifted her fingers from Xu Jiali’s wrist. ”Where’s Grandma?”

”I don’t know,” Xu Jiali said, shaking her head.

”Do you want to get out of the hospital?” Qin Mei asked.

Xu Jiali’s eyes lit up. She grabbed Qin Mei’s hand and asked excitedly, ”Can I really leave?”

”Wait here. I’ll go talk to Uncle Zhang,” Qin Mei said, leaving the room and heading for the director’s office.

Xu Jiali went to the bathroom to wash her face. Hearing a knock at the door, she came out. When she saw it was Gao Qiang, the smile froze on her face. ”What are you doing here?” she asked coldly.

”Jiali, I miss you,” Gao Qiang said, looking at her with lovesick eyes.

Xu Jiali snorted. ”Wishing I were dead, you mean? Sorry to disappoint you.”

”Jiali, don’t be like that. I love you. How could I ever wish you were dead?” Gao Qiang reached for her hand, but she pulled away.

”I’m warning you, don’t you dare touch me,” Xu Jiali warned sharply. ”Or you’ll be sorry.”