A Gilded Cage of Love - Chapter 13
Half a year later, I moved into Jiang Qin’s villa.
The trees were sprouting green, and in this villa district where every inch of land was precious, many hydrangeas had been planted.
When the wind blew, the ripples were gentle.
The reason I moved in was simple.
I had been malnourished since childhood. Later, with classes and part-time jobs keeping me busy, I didn’t pay much attention to meals, and ended up with a serious stomach problem.
Oddly enough, when I was busy, I could get by. Maybe it was because life with Jiang Qin was better, but my body became more delicate and sensitive.
That night, when I stayed at a hotel with Jiang Qin, I suddenly had a stomachache.
Jiang Qin was a light sleeper, and he quickly noticed my restlessness.
He pulled me into his arms and only then realized I was drenched in cold sweat.
He turned on the small bedside lamp and, in an unreadable tone, said: “Ruan Yao, get up.”
I struggled to open my eyes and saw him with a darkened expression.
There was no stomach medicine in the hotel.
He had someone go buy it, and also asked the kitchen to make some noodles.
The hotel had an open kitchen and dining area. Jiang Qin stood with his arms crossed, coldly watching me finish a bowl of noodles.
For some reason, I felt a little guilty and could sense Jiang Qin’s displeasure.
After putting the bowl in the sink, I poked his arm.
“Jiang Qin.”
Jiang Qin ignored me.
I poked him again, continuing to call, “Jiang Qin.”
Jiang Qin hmphed.
Out of options, I sat directly on his lap. Even sitting, he was still much taller than me.
He lowered his eyes to look at me, his skin as flawless as fine porcelain.
I looked at him pleadingly and shook his arm.
I rarely acted spoiled, and was quite clumsy at it.
But it seemed to work on him.
He sighed helplessly: “So you do remember I exist? Why don’t you think of me when you’re not feeling well?”
“I didn’t forget,” I said, “I just didn’t want to disturb your rest. You’re very busy during the day.”
Jiang Qin looked at me for a while and made a decision.
“This is troublesome. Next time, come home. We have everything you need at home, and there’s a family doctor.
“Do you get stomachaches often?”
I nodded silently.
“Alright, I happen to be interviewing housekeepers these days. Help me taste which one cooks better, and take good care of yourself. Stomach problems aren’t trivial. Don’t think you can ignore it just because you’re young…”
“Why are you so naggy?”
Jiang Qin was amused: “No one’s ever complained that I talk too much before.”
So I moved into Jiang Qin’s house.
Aunt Zhang was also hired by him.
Jiang Qin gave me an ultimatum: eat on time, and come over whenever I didn’t have class.
This surprised many of his friends. After all, Jiang Qin had never brought anyone home, let alone a female university student from a poor background.
His home felt like a private territory. I was nervous inside, but also at ease.
The chilblains and calluses from my childhood gradually faded, but my hands were still rough, especially noticeable under the light.
I developed the habit of applying hand cream.
He couldn’t stand seeing his people work as waiters, let alone sing in bars, so I quit those part-time jobs.
Being a waitress or singing in bars was merely a way to earn money, and quitting gave me more time to write novels and read the books I’d always wanted to read.
It felt like I finally had time to do what I wanted, even if this leisure wasn’t entirely honorable.
Because of this, I got a closer look at Jiang Qin’s life.
I began to slowly understand him.
He had published papers in SCI journals while still in university, and later went abroad for an MBA.
A complete package in financial management.
He could play a bit of piano, a bit of violin, and dance a little.
He knew a bit about music, a bit about movies, and could talk about theater and musicals too.
I didn’t know how much more he could do; all I saw was that his path was simple and clear.
Pure elite education.
I’d long known he was now the general manager at Jiang Corporation.
But only recently did I realize he managed product lines with thousands of people in an orderly fashion-his ability was evident.
I couldn’t help him with anything, nor did he need help.
Once, when he was drunk, he curled up on the sofa like a lazy big cat, looking unusually easy to approach.
I followed Aunt Zhang’s method and made him some porridge, feeling a bit bolder.
“Why did you bring me home?”
Jiang Qin’s answer was both perfunctory and sincere: “Attracted by your looks, found you pleasing to the eye, was curious, and you’re easy to be around.”
“Do you know that desire can be dangerous? Many people’s troubles come from the person beside them in bed.
“How do you know I won’t cause trouble?”
“You don’t seem very clever, so I just want some peace of mind.”
I told him to get up and drink the porridge.
He rubbed the porcelain-white spoon, smiling as he looked at my bowl.
“Why is your porridge different from mine?”
Mine had some shrimp in it.
I sighed, “I was too sleepy and forgot. Halfway through, I remembered you’re allergic to seafood. I’d already added the shrimp, so I made another batch.”
Jiang Qin’s eyes were very bright.
The main light was off, only the lamp in this corner was on.
Afraid the white light would be too harsh, he even adjusted it to a warm, yellowish tone.
“How long have we been together?”
I didn’t know why Jiang Qin suddenly asked that.
I replied, “More than half a year.”
Jiang Qin lowered his head and took a sip of porridge. The alcohol-soaked voice sounded a bit clearer: “My mom’s had me for 27 years and still doesn’t remember I’m allergic to seafood.”
A rare trace of fatigue flickered between his brows.
We rarely talked about health: “Are you tired?”
He smiled, “Can’t help it, everyone’s tired. You’re working hard too.”
“No choice.”
“Ruan Yao, what do you want to do in the future?”
“I want to be a novelist.”
I thought he would laugh.
But unexpectedly, he reached out his hand: “Come here, let me hold you.”
Jiang Qin pulled me into his arms and pinched my neck.
“Then remember to set the first print run at 5,200 copies, give me a chance to show off.”
I always thought he was surrounded by girls, but it turned out I was the only one.
He was surprised when I brought it up: “Just you isn’t good enough? I’ve said before, you’re my girlfriend.”
My heart skipped a beat, and my mind, disobedient, ignited thoughts I shouldn’t have.
He put his cup down on the table, the reflection on his silver-rimmed glasses full of densely packed numbers on his notebook.
His voice was calm and unhurried, as if discussing something perfectly normal.
“I’m not that passionate about this sort of thing either. Having someone compatible to keep me company is enough. Just because I have money and you don’t, doesn’t mean you have to think I’m keeping you. It’s normal for me to spend a bit more since I have it. Admitting you’re my girlfriend is no big deal, no need to degrade it into ‘being kept.’ Stop reading all that junk.”
He paused rigorously, then added,
“If you want to write that kind of novel, that’s another matter. You need to understand the market.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
When there’s nothing going on, Jiang Qin loves to take me skydiving, bungee jumping, horseback riding.
After each extreme sport, he always comes over to hold my hand.
“You’re so good at this, I thought you wouldn’t like these kinds of activities.”
“I do, of course I do.”
I’ve always been too thoughtful, my mind spinning precisely every second.
Extreme sports give me a moment of blankness.
In that instant, I can think of nothing at all-it’s incredibly precious.
So when the skydiving ended and he slipped a ring onto my finger, my mind lingered in that blankness.
I looked up sharply, “You…”
Jiang Qin looked at me for a while, then finally explained, “I thought it looked nice, so I bought it. No other meaning.”
“If you like it, wear it. If you don’t, don’t bother returning it.”
My chest tightened, but I said nothing.
So when I saw Jiang Qin, I wore it; when I didn’t, I took it off.
Once, I forgot to wear it when I saw him. He stared at my finger for a long time.
That day, he happened to take me to meet his friends.
Jiang Qin’s circle gathers to play cards, chat, and play board games.
I was pushed onto the card table, and the better my luck, the more nervous I got.
Jiang Qin laughed, cigarette dangling from his lips, leaning over my shoulder to tease me.
“What are you afraid of, afraid to lose?
“Don’t be scared, Yaoyao.
“Life is long. If you can afford to lose, you can afford to win.”
As he spoke, the person opposite couldn’t stand the flirting and played their card.
I chuckled, and Jiang Qin raised his eyebrows slightly.
“Thank you for giving my little one a win.”
He pinched my middle finger, usually adorned with a ring but now bare, and smiled with the cigarette in his mouth: “You need to build up your courage.”
That night, I accompanied Jiang Qin to the bar where I used to sing to discuss business.
Qin Si saw me and smiled, cigarette between her lips.
“It’s only been a while, and you look so much better.”
Do I look better?
Instinctively, I glanced at my reflection in the mirror across the bar.
Suddenly, I was stunned.
The girl in the mirror was almost unrecognizable.
No longer did she have the look of malnutrition, cheeks so hollow that only makeup could hide them.
Instead, she looked radiant, her almond-shaped eyes full of spirit.
Qin Si wore a fitted black dress, exhaled a ring of smoke, and sighed, “Youth is wonderful.”
She paused, then looked at me again.
Only then did I notice how much more haggard she seemed.
“But you, keep your head clear.
“Feelings are the most illusory thing, especially with a family like his… Take what you can, don’t overthink it.”
Her words felt like a block of ice pressed into my hand, instantly sobering me up.
At first, I never thought too much. All those vague fantasies were locked behind a door in my heart.
But Jiang Qin is just too good.
Someone like him.
How could I not think too much?
The night was deep.
At some point, the bedroom had heavy blackout curtains. Jiang Qin kissed me again and again, the sheets growing damp.
I reached out and touched his face.
Jiang Qin, not understanding, grabbed my right hand and kissed my wrist.
And at that moment, I turned my head and saw moonlight streaming through the gap in the curtains.
I thought,
I’ve been with Jiang Qin for almost two years now.”
