It was probably just over ten minutes before someone returned with stomach-friendly liquid food, just like Fang Weiguo, choosing black rice porridge and tofu pudding, and carrying a dripping black umbrella.

Even with the umbrella, his pant legs and shoes inevitably got wet. Rushing into the infusion hall, he had a look of traveling through wind and rain.

Fang Qing watched quietly, watching him approach.

He put down the umbrella, knowing Qing Gege had one hand inconveniently infused, thoughtfully prepared a thick straw, and took breakfast out of the bag.

"Eat while it’s hot."

"Why didn’t you return the umbrella?"

Jiang Chen was slightly stunned.

"I forgot."

"No worries, it’s a shared umbrella anyway."

The hospital indeed knows how to do business, constantly coming up with ways to increase revenue, but while the hospital can make money, Qing Gege knows how to save it.

"Go return it; no need to waste money for nothing."

Jiang Chen was speechless, wanting to say something, but ended up staying silent.

"I’ll return it."

He handed the tofu pudding to Fang Qing, inserted the straw, then picked up the shared umbrella that cost who knows how much per hour, returned it, and came back.

"Is it not too hot?"

Jiang Chen lifted the black rice porridge from the seat, then sat down, suddenly hearing a voice from across.

"Your husband is really good to you."

Jiang Chen instinctively turned his head, seeing a woman about thirty sitting across, a needle in her left hand, also infusing, looking at them with about three parts envy and the rest loneliness.

She was clearly alone, probably reminded by the scene, but...

There’s a misunderstanding.

Jiang Chen was about to explain, but Fang Qing spoke first.

"Not a husband, just a boyfriend."

"..."

Jiang Chen froze, immediately shutting his mouth.

In front of Zhang Zhongquan, they had played temporary lovers.

The woman across seemed not to hear, observing the diamond ring on her ring finger, showing she was married, lost in her emotions, watching Fang Qing, and said to herself, "You are really lucky."

Jiang Chen remained silent; at times like this, it’s not suitable for a man to join the conversation.

Hmm.

Can’t be proud either.

"Where’s your husband?"

Fang Qing, naturally not an introvert, casually inquired.

"He’s lying at home, probably still not awake."

"..."

If he were busy working, that’d be understandable; how can one have it all? But the wife is at the hospital while he’s sleeping at home?

Even as a fellow man, Jiang Chen felt this was somewhat negligent.

"Why didn’t you wake him up?"

"..."

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but turn his head.

Is this a question a normal person would ask?

And still, it’s Qing Gege.

"It’s useless, married for five years, it’s always been like this, I’m used to it. Even if I died in the hospital today, he wouldn’t care."

The woman spoke with a smile, but her smile was filled with despair that chilled to the bone.

Although the details of family affairs are often challenging to judge, at this moment, Jiang Chen’s compassion was stirred, lips moving as if to offer some comfort, but he was a bit late.

"Why don’t you get a divorce."

Every word Qing Gege spoke seemed to pierce the heart.

The woman shook her head.

"What’s the use? All men are the same."

Saying this, she stopped herself, without Jiang Chen or Fang Qing prompting, continuing, "Now I find my thoughts may be wrong."

"He mustn’t have been so cold before you got married, otherwise you wouldn’t have ended up together."

Jiang Chen finally managed to speak.

"Hmm."

The woman then became agitated, "Men are all liars!"

Alright.

It’s best to keep quiet.

"Would you like some porridge?"

Fang Qing asked.

Though Qing Gege was "straightforward," she was kind.

The woman shook her head, her emotions quickly calming down, "Thank you."

"What about children?"

"None."

Married for five years, and no children?

The woman understood this was abnormal, so after answering Fang Qing, she continued, "I’ve always wanted him to come to the hospital with me to check the reason, but he won’t come, just fights whenever I mention it."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen was almost eighty percent certain she encountered a scumbag.

Evading won’t solve the problem.

Jiang Chen himself had gone to the hospital for checks.

"If there were a child, I think it wouldn’t have come to this between us. I’ve considered it, if it doesn’t work out, to try for IVF; there’s always a way. If I lack money, I can borrow or work..."

Jiang Chen and Fang Qing tacitly did not interrupt, quietly listening to her talk. Her tone was calm, yet gradually, tears appeared in her eyes.

Clearly.

This was just an ordinary woman in Sha City.

Her life was merely a microcosm of countless other families.

Finally, she wiped her eyes, apologizing, "I’m sorry."

Jiang Chen didn’t mind, smiling lightly, "We’ll keep your secret."

The woman was startled, then let out a laugh, deeply looking at Jiang Chen.

"Thank you."

"Your infusion is finished."

Jiang Chen reminded.

"Nurse!"

The woman called out.

The nurse came over to remove the needle.

"You’re different from him; I wish you happiness."

Pressing her needle wound, the woman sat for a while in silence before leaving, speaking to Jiang Chen and Fang Qing.

"I also wish you a happy ending."

Jiang Chen smiled, "If you need help with IVF, you can go to Xinghuo Medical Center in River City. The prices there are relatively affordable and won’t be too burdensome for you."

The woman nodded and left alone.

"Men fear entering the wrong profession; women fear marrying the wrong man."

Jiang Chen spoke with feeling.

Fang Qing nodded, agreeing. Why are more people afraid of marriage? This is the reason.

"Why didn’t you advise her to divorce?"

"Better to break ten temples than to ruin one marriage. It’s up to the person to decide their own matters. Giving advice is intervening in someone else’s karma."

Fang Qing tilted her head, "When did you start practicing Buddhism?"

"It’s not Buddhism, it’s Taoism."

"Do men really change?"

Fang Qing asked, with the rhythm of the infusion’s drip in the background.

"Do women change?"

Jiang Chen countered.

Fang Qing was silent, then said, "That’s why knowing someone well for a long time is safer."

Jiang Chen chuckled, "Smart of you."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he noticed his expression subtly change.

When it comes to knowing someone "long," probably no one in the world compared to them.

Not giving him a chance to regret or correct, Fang Qing softly said, "So does that mean from the moment you first meet, a person’s life is actually destined?"

Jiang Chen shook his head.

"Hmm?"

"I don’t quite understand."

"Isn’t it the case that Buddha is actually Tao?"

"..."

Jiang Chen was silent.

Fang Qing stopped speaking, lowered her head, and continued drinking the tofu pudding.

"Have some porridge."

Jiang Chen handed over the bottle of black rice porridge; tofu pudding wasn’t very filling after all.

According to Einstein’s theory of relativity, when two people are together, the flow rate of the medicine does indeed go a bit faster than when one is alone.

As the drip was down to a small amount left, Fang Qing couldn’t hold it anymore.

"I need to go to the bathroom."

"..."

Jiang Chen was stunned and then immediately called out, "Nurse."

"What’s the matter?"

The nurse hurried over.

"She needs to go to the restroom."

Hearing this, the nurse’s expression changed, replying irritably, "What kind of boyfriend are you? Help her!"

It’s no wonder the attitude wasn’t good.

With so many patients to take care of, if even small matters had to be handled, how could she work?

The nurse walked away impatiently, leaving the embarrassed Boss Jiang.

The silence in the air became uncomfortable.

Fang Qing pursed her lips, remaining silent, she truly wasn’t doing it on purpose, it’s just that with so much medicine in the body, it’s hard to control.

She was actually embarrassed too.

"I’ll walk you to the door."

Jiang Chen could only say; no way could Qing Gege be left holding it in?

"Hmm."

Fang Qing responded almost inaudibly, then stood up, with someone accompanying beside, pushing the infusion stand, taking each step with care.

At the ladies’ restroom entrance, he stopped.

"Are you okay on your own?"

Fang Qing’s cheeks warmed slightly, taking the infusion stand and walking into the restroom without a word.

Jiang Chen stood at the restroom entrance.

"Infinite Heavenly Venerate, Amitabha Buddha."