Chapter 21: You

Wang Chuan watched Jiang Jinrou walk out of the park's East Gate.

Suddenly, he noticed her hairstyle was a half-up high ponytail, whereas at noon she had worn a neat updo.

The same high ponytail as Pei Nanli's.

In the second semester of her freshman year, he held hands with Pei Nanli as they walked out of the sports field—back then, Pei Nanli had worn a half-up high ponytail.

'Back then, was Jiang Jinrou also there?'

Wang Chuan shook his head. 'Impossible. Girls have multiple hairstyles—it's normal.'

Then he recalled: 'When I first entered university, Jiang Jinrou often came to Jiangcheng, and I went to Nanling too. But after the second semester of freshman year, Jiang Jinrou never came to Jiangcheng again—I didn't pay much attention at the time.'

In his past life, after Wang Chuan left Xinzhou for Shanghai, he received only scattered news about Jiang Jinrou.

After Wang Chuan married Xiao Yuchu for a year, Li Wei told him that Jiang Jinrou had committed suicide from depression the previous year.

'Did Jiang Jinrou commit suicide in her past life because of me?'

Wang Chuan silently wondered: if he hadn't left Xinzhou for Shanghai in his past life, would he have married Jiang Jinrou and had children with her?

Probably not—her father, Jiang Huaian, had been promoted to Bureau Chief, and at the time, many Second Generation officials and wealthy heirs had sought to marry Jiang Jinrou.

He was just a young Emergency Department Doctor at a municipal People's Hospital.

'Xiao Rou, Xiao Chuan, you two...'

A familiar voice interrupted Wang Chuan's thoughts.

Gu Xia stood at the entrance of the Grain Bureau Community, calling out to Wang Chuan and Jiang Jinrou.

'Mom, we just ran into each other on the street,' Jiang Jinrou explained.

Wang Chuan replied cheerfully: 'Aunt Gu, hello.' His gaze landed on Qi Xiaoyun beside her.

But Qi Xiaoyun didn't greet him—she was probably worried the suturing violation might be exposed.

'Xiao Chuan, it's been four or five years since I last saw you—you've grown so tall.'

Gu Xia said warmly, 'Doctor Qi, this young man is Wang Chuan—a top student from Jiangcheng University School of Medicine.'

'Xiao Chuan, Doctor Qi also graduated from Xinzhou High School—she's a few years ahead of you, so she's your Senior Sister.'

Gu Xia added, 'By the way, Xiao Chuan, when you graduate next year, have you considered working at Xinzhou People's Hospital?'

Qi Xiaoyun smiled. 'Sister Gu, our hospital can't even recruit graduates from Jiangcheng University School of Medicine.'

'True. Young people should head to big cities and developed coastal areas.'

But Wang Chuan said seriously: 'Aunt Gu, when I graduate next year, I'm returning to Xinzhou. I hope you'll speak to the Dean on my behalf—give me a chance to save lives at Xinzhou People's Hospital.'

At his words, all three were stunned, though their inner thoughts differed.

Qi Xiaoyun thought: This Wang Chuan has guts—and thick skin. He lies so easily. A Jiangcheng University School of Medicine graduate? He'd never come to a People's Hospital in an inland provincial city.

Jiang Jinrou thought: What does Wang Chuan mean? I'll ask him later—he always swore in high school he'd go out and conquer the big world.

Gu Xia thought: Wang Chuan, this boy has good emotional intelligence—he knows how to say pleasing things. But could it be because he's dating Jiang Jinrou?

Wang Chuan saw their expressions and added: 'My grandmother is elderly. I don't want to go far away. I came back yesterday because she fell—she's still hospitalized in the Orthopedics Department at the People's Hospital.'

After a few more casual words, they each went home.

In apartment 401, Gu Xia had just slipped on her slippers when she asked: 'Xiao Rou, are you really dating Wang Chuan?'

'Mom, I'm not!' Jiang Jinrou sounded annoyed. 'I'm going to shower.'

As she spoke, she let down her hair and walked into the bathroom.

Gu Xia suddenly noticed something and walked to the bathroom door: 'You never wear your hair up like this—you usually do an updo. Women dress up for those they like. Don't think I don't know your eyes are different.'

Inside the bathroom, Jiang Jinrou froze for a moment.

Hearing the water running, Gu Xia spoke again, earnestly: 'Back then, Wang Chuan's father, Wang Guming, was your grandfather's favorite subordinate—they were close.'

'Otherwise, we'd never have let you eat at the Wang household for over five years.'

'I approve of Wang Chuan—he's tall, handsome, and I think he's a good person. If he really returns to Xinzhou People's Hospital next year, I'd be even happier.'

Jiang Jinrou heard every word, her mood lifting. She hummed a tune, began undressing, and stepped into the shower.

Gu Xia sighed deeply: 'But your father disagrees. Before Wang Uncle passed away, he was destined to become Bureau Chief of the Grain Bureau.'

'Your father says that in a small place like Xinzhou, marriages must be between equals.'

Jiang Jinrou's temper flared. She shouted: 'Fine! My dad's now Deputy Director—he'll be Bureau Chief soon. So my future in-laws must be at least a Deputy Mayor or a rich tycoon!'

With a hiss, she turned the shower to full blast—the rushing water drowned out her mother's nagging.

But this was indeed a microcosm of young people's marriages in a small city like Xinzhou.

In apartment 301, Wang Chuan took out the letter Jiang Jinrou had written him.

He recalled: perhaps in his past life, he had been careless—he never wrote her a love letter, never gave her a clear reply.

That was wrong.

'Chuanzi, the name at the bottom—is that Jiang Jinrou?'

Wang Chuan hadn't expected Li Wei to appear behind him like a ghost.

'Love is such a hassle. You like Pei Nanli, but she doesn't like you. Jiang Jinrou likes you, but you don't like Jiang Jinrou.'

He plopped onto the sofa. 'I've decided—I won't date anyone. Too tiring. I'd rather do something else.'

Wang Chuan rolled his eyes. In his past life, Li Wei had indeed lived up to that—always surrounded by women, never attached, a heartless machine.

'Li Wei, I'll be staying at the hospital tomorrow and the day after tomorrow to look after my grandmother. I can't go hiking. You might as well head back to school early—no need to wait around here.'

'Chuanzi, do you think I'd abandon my friend and go back to school? Tomorrow, I'll buy some fruit and visit your grandmother. Then I'll just wander around Xinzhou City.'

Wang Chuan nodded and went to his bedroom to sleep.

The next day, Wang Chuan heard rustling noises in his bedroom.

He checked his mobile phone—it was only 6:30. His trip to the hospital took twenty minutes—he could leave at 7:10 and still make it.

'Li Wei, stop making noise. I need another thirty minutes of sleep.'

"Wang Chuan, get up!"

It was Jiang Jinrou's voice.

"Wait, Jiang Jinrou, how did you get in?"

Wang Chuan frantically reached for the blanket to cover his adolescent lower body.

Damn, it's summer—where's a blanket? He'd only pulled over a thin sheet, and last night he'd slept in nothing but briefs.

"Jiang Jinrou, get out! I'm not wearing any clothes!"

Jiang Jinrou burst into giggles. "Wang Chuan, my mom's a Doctor, and I'm a college student—your little erection isn't a normal physiological phenomenon?"

"You're a Doctor, and you're embarrassed?!"

Wang Chuan thought to himself—he was a Reborn Person, what did he have to fear? "Fine, you won't leave? Then I'm lifting the blanket right now—have the guts to stay."

"Okay, okay, I'm going, I'm going. Wang Chuan, give me back that letter."

"On the desk—under the baseball cap."