"Less than three days, at most five or six. What, you can't bear to part with me?"
Jian Fei did some mental calculation. It was four days until the weekend, and she could also go back to her hometown then.
Just four days, what was there to be reluctant about?
He was a man, and naturally, his career should come first.
"No. Go take care of your business."
"So heartless. I thought you'd be reluctant and want to come with me. I was being wishful."
Ke Teng moved his hand upwards, pinching her cheek with a hint of punishment.
"Do you know what your director asked me to bring you?"
Jian Fei obviously didn't know.
The documents were in a bag, marked "Confidential." She wasn't so childish as to peek at the contents.
"I don't know."
"Open it and see."
Jian Fei opened the file and almost dropped her jaw.
So, what she had traveled all this way to deliver to him was a joke.
Inside was a business trip application, already filled out by her director.
It was for a week, to Pingnan County, with the reason being to accompany a client.
"You... you said you didn't tell the director anything!"
Ke Teng laughed heartily twice and buried his face in her neck.
"I'm unmarried, you're unwed, we're of similar age, and it's all above board. What's wrong with people knowing?"
"Alright, go back and pack. See if there's anything you want to bring back for your family, and buy it quickly. We have a meeting at 3 PM, so we'll be leaving shortly."
They were driving back themselves.
The city was over 150 kilometers from Pingnan County, about an hour and a half on the highway.
The assistant drove, while Jian Fei and Ke Teng sat quietly in the back.
Although they didn't exchange a word, Ke Teng held her hand and leaned against her the entire time, oblivious to anyone else.
He truly embodied clinginess to the fullest.
They soon arrived at the county town. Following Jian Fei's directions, the assistant drove the car to her home.
Looking at the dusty, potholed cement road and the dilapidated row of residential buildings, Jian Fei felt a bit embarrassed.
Especially with the assistant present, she felt awkward that Ke Teng had brought such an unremarkable companion like her.
"Hurry up and get back to work. I'm leaving now."
After the long journey, she didn't even have the energy to ask them to get out and rest or have a drink of water.
Ke Teng felt a bit disappointed.
But then he understood her.
It was the first time she was bringing a man home, and she hadn't informed her family. It was natural for her to be nervous.
Waving goodbye to her and pointing to his phone, signaling them to stay in touch, Ke Teng left quickly.
Before Jian Fei could even enter the yard, she heard lively voices from inside.
One of them was a young man's voice.
Upon entering, she saw it was Jiang Chuan.
Her grandmother was stuffing something into his hand, and they were playfully pulling at each other.
During the tug-of-war, Jiang Chuan saw her, and everyone was surprised.
"Why are you back at this hour?"
Jian Fei had already prepared an excuse on the way, saying she was accompanying a client on a business trip. She brushed it off and then asked them.
"What are you guys doing?"
Her grandmother said that it had rained for over a month that spring, causing the kitchen to leak. A few tiles had fallen a few days ago, breaking the cooking pot.
"Since your father's legs are not convenient, there was no one to help clean up. Today, I happened to run into Jiang Chuan, so I asked him to help out."
"Look at him, he hasn't even rested at noon and has been busy here for an hour or two. He won't even sit down for a drink of water. I offered him two apples, but he refused."
"Fei Fei, quickly thank him properly."
How could such a grown man accept your apples?
Jian Fei walked Jiang Chuan to the door, exchanged pleasantries, asked about his recent life, and then said she would treat him to a meal when she had time in the next few days.
After seeing him off, Jian Fei sat down with her grandmother and father.
Her father sighed, "Is there really nothing between you and Jiang Chuan?"
"Last time, I saw him running around for you at the hospital and thought he liked you. Alas, such a good kid, it's a pity."
Recalling what Ke Teng had said about running into him on a blind date, Jian Fei subconsciously asked, "Is he getting married?"
"It seems so."
"Doesn't your neighbor Aunt Zhang work at the Hilton Hotel? The other day, I ran into their family dining there, and they seemed to be discussing an engagement."
"The bride-to-be is also from our county. They've already bought a marital home in Sunshine Peninsula."
If this were half a month ago, Jian Fei would have felt inferior and dejected, perhaps even giving up.
The white-shirted boy she had once secretly admired had ultimately chosen a girl with better conditions than her, due to his parents' wishes.
Affection was insignificant in the face of reality.
But now, apart from wishing Jiang Chuan well, she had no other thoughts.
"I've told you long ago that we're just ordinary classmates, don't overthink it."
"Since that's the case, let's interact less with him in the future."
"If people don't know, they might think you're trying to latch onto his connections, to avoid displeasing his family."
"Yes, yes, that's what I thought too, which is why I didn't keep him for dinner today."
Her father looked at his mother.
"From now on, even if the house collapses, don't ask him for help again, do you hear me, Mom? It's not good for Fei Fei if rumors spread."
Her grandmother nodded.
"I just didn't know. I won't ask him again."
The three of them shifted the topic to her sister, and her father seemed a bit happier.
"Although I'm not capable and haven't saved much money over the years, I still have over 170,000 yuan."
"Your sister mentioned you have some savings too. Bring it all into one card when you come back this time. Let's pool it together, and if it's not enough, we'll borrow a little more."
"Your sister can get the cochlear implant, which finally relieves one of my major worries. Fei Fei, you deserve credit for this."
Jian Fei didn't realize her father was so capable and frugal.
With his meager income, he had managed to save over 170,000 yuan.
Looking at the dilapidated house and then thinking of Sunshine Peninsula, she suddenly had a bold idea.
"Didn't my sister tell you? We don't have to pay for the cochlear implant."
"When I was pursuing my doctorate, my mentor connected me with a magazine. I published two papers there, received some manuscript fees, and also got a special quota for free major illness support from the department... In short, this matter falls under free medical care. We don't have to pay a single cent."
Her father and grandmother stared with wide, confused eyes.
"Your sister mentioned it briefly last time, but she couldn't explain it clearly. I thought... is there really such a good thing?"
"Yes, really."
Jian Fei's fabrication was convincing.
"This is like the scholarships I received in college. The school subsidizes it. Can such an authoritative institution as the school be deceiving?"
"That's truly wonderful."
A genuine smile appeared on her father's weathered face.
"Oh, I was thinking we'd have to borrow money if it wasn't enough. Now that's great, saving us such a large sum."
"Everyone has been buying houses in recent years. I was originally thinking that when our conditions improve, we would also get a house in Sunshine Peninsula."