Chapter 340: Chapter 125: Granny Borrows Money from Qin Mei

Qin Mei’s almond-shaped eyes narrowed. She stared into Jie Jingchen’s amber eyes, trying to discern the truth, but he was concealing it too well.

"I’m going to take a bath. Go get the water," Qin Mei said, stepping aside. ’I’m not mentally prepared to meet the body’s original parents anyway. Whatever Jie Jingchen and Qin Xiang’s reasons are, this is good for me. I’ll put it off as long as I can, avoid it if possible. If it’s truly unavoidable, then I’ll just have to face it head-on.’

Jie Jingchen was a little surprised. ’She’s letting me off just like that? She could have been a bit more persistent. I might have even come up with a more convincing excuse.’

Jie Jingchen bent down, picked up the bucket, and walked out.

Qin Mei crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. ’Qin Xiang’s arrival made me realize that on top of taking over the husband this body’s original owner chose, I also have to deal with her family of origin.’

’From Yangcheng City to Shijiu City... I guess you could say I’ve married far from home.’

Jie Jingchen came in carrying the bathwater. Seeing Qin Mei still lost in thought, he took the water into the bathroom, then came back and flicked her on the forehead. "What’s on your mind?"

"Ow." Qin Mei snapped out of her daze and glared at Jie Jingchen. ’He’s always flicking my forehead. It’s a bad habit. He needs to stop.’

Jie Jingchen leaned in. Seeing that her fair, smooth forehead wasn’t red or swollen, he still reached out to rub it for her. "I’ll be gentler next time."

"You think there’s going to be a next time?" Qin Mei’s eyes widened in a glare. She poked Jie Jingchen’s forehead with her finger and warned fiercely, "There’d better not be. Jie Jingsi, I’m warning you. If you flick my forehead one more time, I’ll ruin you."

Seeing her puffing her cheeks in anger, Jie Jingchen found her utterly adorable. He took her soft hand, brought it to his lips for a kiss, his deep voice filled with affection. "Meimei, how exactly do you plan on ruining me?"

"What do you think?" Qin Mei gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, her sharp gaze slowly drifting to the area below his waist.

"Meimei." Desire flared in Jie Jingchen’s eyes. He held her chin, tilting it up slightly, and his lips met hers.

Qin Mei liked his kisses. Her smooth arms wound around his neck as she passionately kissed him back.

A tremor went through Jie Jingchen’s heart, and he deepened the kiss. After what felt like an eternity, he finally released her, but without giving her a chance to catch her breath, he scooped her into his arms and strode into the bathroom.

"Jie Jingsi, I need to take a bath!" Qin Mei cried out, startled.

"Together," Jie Jingchen’s voice was deep and alluring. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Granny and Grandpa were already in bed. Just as Grandpa was about to turn off the light, Granny suddenly remembered something and shot upright.

Startled by the movement, Grandpa slowly sat up. "What is it now?"

"I forgot something important," Granny said, urgently grabbing Grandpa’s hand.

"Calm down, calm down. Tell me slowly. What did you forget?" Grandpa squeezed her hand back, afraid she might work herself into such a state that she’d pass out.

"I need to get money from our eldest son’s wife," Granny said, throwing back the covers to get out of bed. "I have to take An Lin to the apothecary tomorrow to get his herbs. How am I supposed to do that without money? No, I have to go ask her for money now."

Grandpa stopped her, shaking his head in resignation. "It’s too late. Don’t go."

"No, I’m going now." Granny never liked to put things off. She tapped her head. ’I’m getting old, my memory’s going. To think I’m only remembering this now.’

"Our eldest son is injured. If you go demanding money from his wife now, you’ll disturb his rest," Grandpa reasoned.

"I’ll just ask his wife to come out. I won’t disturb him," Granny said.

"Their door is closed. Whether you knock or shout for her, don’t you think you’ll wake him up?" Grandpa asked.

Granny frowned, thinking for a moment. "I’ll go get the money from the Fourth Wife of Jing. That little brother of hers gave us a gift, so he definitely gave her money too."

"Are you out of your mind?" Grandpa was aghast at her idea. He told her with absolute certainty, "The Fourth Wife of Jing won’t give you any money."

"I’m asking her for it. Let’s see her refuse. I’m Jing Si’s granny, after all," Granny harrumphed.

"We still owe the Fourth Wife of Jing a thousand yuan," Grandpa reminded her.

Granny smiled with a shameless expression. "Don’t you worry. I’m not giving her a single penny. She likes IOUs, right? I’ll write her as many as she wants."

Grandpa wasn’t surprised. They’d been married for decades, weathering every storm together. He knew her better than anyone. The moment she had so readily agreed to write the IOU, he knew it was just for show—she had no intention of ever honoring it.

"Listen to me," Grandpa said. "The Fourth Wife of Jing said the ten prescriptions are all different. She’s only written one for An Lin so far. If you make an enemy of her now, she might refuse to treat An Lin at all."

Granny shot Grandpa a look. "Do you think I’m stupid? Make an enemy of her now? If I’m going to do that, it’ll be after she’s cured An Lin. Now let go of me. If you don’t let me go ask her for the money, I won’t be able to sleep a wink all night."

"Dear..." Grandpa was at his wit’s end. "She won’t give it to you."

"I won’t ask for it, I’ll *borrow* it." ’She might refuse to just give me money, but she has no reason to refuse a loan. I am Jing Si’s granny, after all. A grandmother borrowing from her granddaughter-in-law... if Qin Mei refuses, I have plenty of ways to make her say yes.’

Grandpa couldn’t stop her. Worried she might fall, he offered to go with her, but Granny refused. She told him to stay in the room, saying his presence would throw her off her game.

"Put on a jacket, and watch your step. Don’t fall," Grandpa urged.

"Don’t worry, I’m plenty steady on my feet." Granny closed the door, though she took each step with extreme caution.

A light was on in the courtyard, so Granny didn’t bother with a flashlight.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

The two people in the bathroom jolted in surprise. The color of Qin Mei’s swollen lips seemed even more vibrant, her gaze hazy and glistening. Her entire being radiated a bewitching allure that frayed a man’s composure.

"Jie Jingsi, someone’s knocking," Qin Mei’s sweet, coquettish voice held a deadly allure.

Jie Jingchen’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His breathing was heavy, his voice hoarse. "You must have misheard."

’Am I hearing things?’ For a second, Qin Mei wondered. But then Granny’s voice rang out, proving it was no hallucination.

"Fourth Wife of Jing, open up! I need to see you about something."

Jie Jingchen wanted to continue playing dumb, but Qin Mei couldn’t. He assumed that if they ignored Granny, she would leave, but he was clearly wrong. Qin Mei pushed at him, urging him to go check.

Jie Jingchen glanced down at himself. ’Is this really the right moment for me to be opening the door?’

’And Granny, of all the times to show up... she had to come right now. Is she doing this on purpose?’

"Jing Si, open up! I need to talk to your wife," Granny’s voice called out again.

"Just a minute," Jie Jingchen had no choice but to answer. If Granny woke everyone else up and they all gathered at his door, the situation would be mortifying for him and his wife.

"Alright, I’ll wait. Just hurry up." Since she was the one asking for a favor, Granny moderated her tone.

Qin Mei turned on the tap and filled a basin halfway with water. Jie Jingchen leaned against the wall, struggling to suppress the heat coiling within him.

"Agh!" Jie Jingchen yelped as Qin Mei doused him with the cold water, chilling him to the core.

Qin Mei looked at the empty basin, then at the drenched Jie Jingchen with a guilty expression. "This should help you cool down quickly."

Jie Jingchen roughly wiped his face. ’With this little vixen around, there’s no way I can cool down.’ He ground his back teeth and stalked out of the bathroom.

"You’re... not wearing anything." Qin Mei started to tell him to get dressed before answering the door, but then she remembered he had bolted it. ’Granny can’t get in unless he opens it.’

The basin slipped from her hands. Qin Mei leaned against the wall, her legs suddenly weak.

Jie Jingchen threw on his pajama shirt and pants, then went to open the door with a frosty expression.

Granny ignored Jie Jingchen’s dark expression and complained, "What on earth were you doing in there? Taking so long... You’re a young man, you shouldn’t be dawdling like that."

Jie Jingchen’s eyes narrowed, his voice laced with an icy chill. "Granny."

"Move aside. I’m not here for you, I’m here for your wife." Granny tried to push her way into the room, but Jie Jingchen blocked her. She glared and yelled past him, "Fourth Wife of Jing!"