Chapter 39: The Off-Campus Counselor Is Him

“Mr. Tang!”
“Who are you?”
“You certainly don’t know me, but I know you! My husband and I have supplied goods to your company before.”
Wu Xiuli jumped out of bed as if seeing a long-lost relative, nearly throwing herself into Tang Songyuan’s arms. It was hardly surprising: in her eyes, Tang Songyuan represented money, and who didn’t love money?
“You are—Miss Wu.”
Tang Songyuan actually recognized her! Wu Xiuli was even more thrilled than before, her face shining with excitement as she reached out to shake Tang Songyuan’s hand. He politely shook her hand, then quickly let go.
“I never imagined you’d know me! I always thought small-time business people like us wouldn’t even catch your attention.”
“You’re too modest, Miss Wu.”
Tang Songyuan had no desire to pursue this conversation, nor did he want to build personal connections with small clients here. He placed his handbag on the bedside table, opened the small tray, and poured a bowl of soup, smiling apologetically at Tao Fei:
“I went to Crockpot House and bought your favorite Five-finger Root Soup. I didn’t expect traffic to be so bad—I’m only just back. The soup’s still hot; have some while it’s fresh. Oh, and this.”
Tang Songyuan took a black widescreen phone from his pocket and handed it to Tao Fei.
“Your old model is out of production. Try this one and see if you like it. I’ve already replaced your SIM card, so you still have your original number. I’ve installed all your usual apps for you as well.”
“Thank you.”
Tang Songyuan had bought the latest model on the market, but to Tao Fei it seemed a quaint relic of the past. Yet she was fond of antiques and, after taking the phone and swiping it a few times, found herself even more intrigued.
Tang Songyuan prompted her to drink the soup first, so Tao Fei put down the phone. By now, Wu Xiuli had figured out the relationship between Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan, and began praising Tao Fei extravagantly. Wu Xiuli’s mother chimed in, saying Tao Fei was clearly a virtuous wife and mother, with none of the airs of a wealthy lady.
Tang Songyuan listened, enjoying the compliments, and smiled as he watched Tao Fei finish the entire can of soup. He poured mineral water for her to rinse her mouth, wrung a hot towel to lay across her face, and didn’t forget to offer her face cream.
Seeing Tang Songyuan’s attentive care, Wu Xiuli and her mother exhausted their supply of praise.
“If my husband were even half—no, a tenth—as good as Mr. Tang, I’d be content for life. Sister Tao Fei, you’re so lucky. Mr. Tang not only makes money but is so gentle and considerate. How did you find such a wonderful husband? Did you save the galaxy in your past life?”

Wu Xiuli’s envy of Tao Fei was genuine, as was her curiosity about Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan’s romantic history. Tao Fei only smiled without answering, so Wu Xiuli pleaded with Tang Songyuan to share some wisdom. She wanted to use his example as a standard for finding husbands for her three daughters.
Wu Xiuli was barely thirty-one or thirty-two; her eldest daughter could only be so old!
“My wife and I were introduced by a matchmaker—nothing particularly special. Most people married like that back then.”
“What? A matchmaker! My husband and I were high school classmates; we married for love. I always thought matchmaker marriages wouldn’t be as happy as free ones, but seeing how loving you are, I’ll have to rethink that.”
Wu Xiuli joked.
“Then you must have been well matched—a marriage between equals lasts longest. Why else has matchmaking become popular again? All those TV shows one after another. Which successful couple isn’t well matched? The wealthy always marry the wealthy; good looks alone aren’t enough.”
Wu Xiuli’s mother summarized Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan’s marriage, then waited confidently for their approval.
“I married up, back then.”
“Sister Tao Fei must have been a great beauty when she was young!”
“She’s still beautiful now.”
Tang Songyuan smiled softly, and Tao Fei continued to smile and stay silent. The conversation was relaxing, and Tao Fei found it far from tedious.
“It’s best when the husband is a bit older—he’ll cherish his wife more!”
“That’s not always true. Old He is more than ten years older than his wife, but he still hits her all the time…”
Wu Xiuli’s mother tugged at her sleeve. Wu Xiuli immediately understood her mother was helping her flatter Tang Songyuan; anyone could see he was much older than Tao Fei.
“It all depends on the man! Only mature, cultured men like Mr. Tang know how to spoil their wives.”
“Mr. Tang is clearly a good man! Not the type to fool around outside, keeping mistresses just because they have money.”
“It’s half past two; the patient needs her nap.”
Tang Songyuan cut off Wu Xiuli and her mother, helped Tao Fei recline her bed, and Tao Fei, eager to study her antique phone, quickly pulled the covers up to her chin and pretended to sleep as Tang Songyuan leaned in to tuck her in.

Wu Xiuli wisely fell silent. In less than a minute, she and her mother were quietly discussing what snacks to eat before five o’clock. They reached an agreement, said goodbye to Tang Songyuan, and slipped out of the ward for a shopping spree.
The room grew peaceful.
Tang Songyuan reclined on the sofa by the window, eyes closed, the afternoon sunlight painting his hair with a layer of golden glaze.
Tao Fei watched him closely, sensing a trace of worry between his brows. Suddenly, Tang Songyuan opened his eyes and Tao Fei quickly turned her body away.
Her mother—who had threatened to come demanding money—never showed up that afternoon. Tao Fei rested enough and waited for the moon to appear.
A round orange moon silently hung in the sky, and Tao Fei’s heart began to race. Same time, same place, same moonlight! The moment of miracles was near.
Wu Xiuli and her mother had not returned, and Tang Songyuan had been sent out by Tao Fei to buy fish porridge.
She gripped the door handle, opening and closing it several times. The ward, the corridor—everything was as usual. She stood outside, pushed and pulled the door, still nothing miraculous occurred.
Tao Fei was unwilling to give up; she believed it was just a matter of timing. She returned to the ward, opened the door again, closed her eyes and stepped outside, then suddenly opened her eyes. In the long corridor, beneath the gentle lights, a young nurse hurried into a nearby ward.
The familiar laboratory did not appear!
Tao Fei, trying to keep her spirits up, repeated the opening and closing motions several more times. Standing at the ward door, she heard the sound of her own heart breaking.
The electronic clock at the nurse station in the Y-shaped corridor blinked its red numbers once more.
One last try!
Maybe her hope was too intense—eyes closed, body trembling, she opened the door and stepped outside, then hesitated to open her eyes. She hoped to hear her mentor call her name, and when she opened her eyes, she’d be standing in the medical school laboratory…
But the expected voice didn’t come. Instead, she sensed a burning presence before her.
Tao Fei opened her eyes and was startled by the sudden appearance of a man, backing up several steps and nearly falling into the ward door.