Chapter 21: Beauty, Oh Beauty (Part 1)

“Mr. Tang!”

“And you are?”

“You surely don’t know me, but I know you! My husband and I have purchased goods from your company before.”

Wu Xiuli, as if seeing a long-lost relative, leapt off the bed—almost throwing herself into Tang Songyuan’s arms. No wonder, for in Wu Xiuli’s eyes, Tang Songyuan was money, and who doesn’t love money?

“You are—Miss Wu.”

Tang Songyuan actually recognized her! Wu Xiuli was more surprised than when she first arrived, her face glowing with excitement at seeing her god of wealth. She reached out to shake his hand, which Tang Songyuan politely did, but quickly let go.

“I never expected you would know me! I always assumed small business owners like us would never catch your attention.”

“You’re too modest, Miss Wu.”

Tang Songyuan had no desire to continue this conversation, nor to build rapport with a minor client in this place. He set his handbag on the nightstand, opened the small tray table, poured a bowl of soup, and smiled apologetically at Tao Fei:

“I went to Pot Jar House and bought your favorite Five-Finger Root soup. Didn’t expect to get caught in traffic, which is why I’m only now back. The soup is still hot, so please have some. Also, this.”

Tang Songyuan pulled a black widescreen phone from his coat pocket and handed it to Tao Fei.

“The model you used before is no longer in production, so I got you this one. See if you find it comfortable to use. I’ve already replaced your SIM card—it’s your old number. I’ve also installed all the apps you frequently use.”

“Thank you.”

Tang Songyuan had bought the latest model, but to Tao Fei it felt like an outdated relic. Yet, Tao Fei loved researching antiques; she took the phone, swiped a few times, and became even more interested.

Tang Songyuan reminded her to drink the soup first, so Tao Fei set the phone aside. Wu Xiuli, now understanding the relationship between Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan, praised Tao Fei profusely. Wu Xiuli’s mother chimed in, saying Tao Fei looked like the perfect wife and mother, with not a trace of arrogance.

Tang Songyuan listened happily, smiling as Tao Fei finished the whole bowl of soup. He poured mineral water for her to rinse her mouth, wrung a warm towel to apply to her face, and didn’t forget to help her put on face cream.

Watching Tang Songyuan’s series of attentive gestures, Wu Xiuli and her mother exhausted their supply of compliments.

“If my husband were half as good—not even, a tenth as good—as Mr. Tang, I’d be content for life. Tao Fei, you’re so lucky! Not only does Mr. Tang earn well, he’s so thoughtful and gentle. How did you find such a wonderful husband? Did you save the galaxy in your past life?”

Wu Xiuli truly envied Tao Fei and genuinely wanted to hear the story of how she and Tang Songyuan met and married. Tao Fei smiled and remained silent, so Wu Xiuli pleaded with Tang Songyuan to share his wisdom. That way, she could use Tang Songyuan as the standard when finding husbands for her three daughters.

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Wu Xiuli was only about thirty-one or thirty-two—her oldest daughter couldn’t be more than a few years old!

“My wife and I were introduced by a matchmaker. Nothing special about it. Back then, most marriages were like that.”

“Really? Introduced by a matchmaker! My husband and I were high school classmates; we fell in love freely and married. I always thought matchmaker marriages were less happy than those from free love. Seeing how affectionate you two are, I’ll have to rethink my opinion.”

Wu Xiuli half-joked.

“Then you must be well-matched. Well-matched marriages are most stable. Otherwise, why is blind dating so popular again? One TV show after another. Every successful couple is well-matched—rich people marry rich people, good looks alone aren’t enough.”

Wu Xiuli’s mother summarized Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan’s marriage, then looked at them confidently, awaiting confirmation.

“I married above my station in those years.”

“Tao Fei must have been a great beauty in her youth!”

“She still is.”

Tang Songyuan smiled gently. Tao Fei kept smiling and stayed silent. Such conversation was relaxing, and Tao Fei didn’t find it noisy.

“It’s better for a husband to be a bit older than his wife—he’ll be more caring!”

“That’s not always true, is it? Old He is over ten years older than his wife, and he still beats her…”

Wu Xiuli’s mother tugged at her sleeve. Wu Xiuli immediately realized her mother was praising Tang Songyuan. Anyone could see Tang Songyuan was much older than Tao Fei.

“It all depends on the person! Only mature and refined men like Mr. Tang will cherish their wives.”

“Mr. Tang is clearly a good man! Not like those who flirt around, keeping mistresses left and right just because they have money.”

“It’s already two-thirty. The patient needs a nap.”

Tang Songyuan cut off Wu Xiuli and her mother, helped Tao Fei lower the bed, and Tao Fei, eager to study the antique phone, quickly pulled the blanket up to her chin and pretended to sleep as Tang Songyuan leaned in to cover her.

Wu Xiuli wisely fell silent, and within a minute was quietly discussing with her mother what snacks to have before five o’clock. The two reached agreement, said goodbye to Tang Songyuan, and slipped out for a shopping spree.

The room fell silent.

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Tang Songyuan leaned back on the sofa by the window, eyes closed, letting the afternoon sunlight paint his hair with a golden sheen.

Tao Fei observed him secretly, sensing a trace of worry between his brows. Suddenly, Tang Songyuan opened his eyes, and Tao Fei quickly rolled over.

Her sharp-tongued mother hadn’t come to the hospital that afternoon to demand money. Tao Fei had rested well and was now waiting for the appearance of the moon.

A round orange moon hung silently in the sky, and Tao Fei’s heart began to race. The same time, the same place, the same moonlight—the moment of witnessing a miracle was near.

Wu Xiuli and her mother had not yet returned, and Tang Songyuan had been sent out by Tao Fei to buy fish porridge.

Hand gripping the doorknob, she opened and closed it several times. The ward, the corridor, everything was unchanged. Stepping outside and pushing the door again, still no sign of a miracle.

Tao Fei was unwilling to give up—she firmly believed it was just a matter of timing. She returned to the ward, opened the door again, closed her eyes as she walked out, then suddenly opened them. The long corridor was bathed in gentle, warm light, and a young nurse hurried into a nearby room.

The familiar laboratory was nowhere to be seen!

Tao Fei forced herself to repeat the door-opening ritual several more times. Standing at the ward entrance, she heard the sound of her own heart breaking.

The red digits of the nurse station’s electronic clock in the Y-shaped corridor jumped again.

One last try!

Perhaps her expectation was too strong—eyes tightly shut, body trembling, Tao Fei opened the door and stepped outside, but dared not open her eyes. She hoped to hear her mentor call her name, and then, upon opening her eyes, find herself standing in the medical school laboratory…

The expected voice did not come, but she felt a hot breath before her.

Tao Fei opened her eyes, startled by the sudden appearance of a man before her. She stumbled back, nearly falling into the ward.

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