"It's completely healed now," Jiang Lulian said awkwardly. "I had planned to tell you after being discharged."
With Ni Yalin present, there was much Jiang Lulian wanted to say but couldn't. Ming Yutong's stance on the matter had already been clear, and there was no need to repeat it.
So, she smiled and changed the topic, "What movie are you guys watching?"
Before Jiang Lulian could answer, Ni Yalin volunteered the name of a romance film.
Ming Yutong glanced at the big screen opposite and said, "Oh, you should head in then."
Jiang Lulian looked at Little Jingshi and said, "Right, we should go in."
Before leaving, Jiang Lulian paused and told Ming Yutong, "I'll give you a call later."
Ming Yutong understood that Jiang Lulian still wanted to explain himself thoroughly, despite the situation.
She felt a bit helpless, as discussing this in front of Ni Yalin was highly inappropriate and would only make Ni Yalin more upset.
Reluctantly, Ming Yutong agreed, urging them to go ahead.
Ni Yalin was so enraged that she couldn't even maintain a polite facade, and she didn't bother saying goodbye to Ming Yutong.
She and Jiang Lulian turned and walked into the theater, clearly irritated.
At that moment, as they were heading into the theater, they ran into Fu Yinxiu, who had just bought movie tickets.
Fu Yinxiu, who had been buying tickets while Jiang Lulian and Ming Yutong talked, hadn't seen their interaction.
Seeing Jiang Lulian now, Fu Yinxiu's eyes narrowed, and his lips curved into a mocking smile when he noticed Ni Yalin beside Jiang Lulian.
Fu Yinxiu remembered how Jiang Lulian had spoken so well of understanding Ming Yutong's situation but had quickly moved on to someone else.
When Jiang Lulian saw Fu Yinxiu, he immediately understood that Ming Yutong was here with Fu Yinxiu and not just with Little Jingshi.
Was it possible that Ming Yutong had reconciled with Fu Yinxiu?
Jiang Lulian felt a pang of discomfort.
Fu Yinxiu briefly nodded coldly at Jiang Lulian before moving past him.
As they were about to enter the theater, Ni Yalin stopped in the corridor and confronted Jiang Lulian.
"Jiang Lulian, do you still have feelings for Ming Yutong?" Ni Yalin demanded.
"I'm sorry for how I treated her," Jiang Lulian said stiffly.
"Ha! And what am I to you? You act like you're obsessed with her, forgetting my presence entirely!" Ni Yalin was furious.
Jiang Lulian frowned slightly, "I was just talking to her. You don't need to react so strongly."
"React strongly?" Ni Yalin scoffed. "I should have recorded how you acted just now! You're with me now, so why are you still playing the lovesick fool?"
Jiang Lulian pressed his lips together and noticed people around them were starting to look.
He spoke quietly, "Let's discuss this privately. There's no need to make a scene in public."
"Humph. When it comes to me, it's just a mess, but when it comes to Ming Yutong, is it just a cute little quirk?" Ni Yalin snapped.
"Don't always bring Ming Yutong into this," Jiang Lulian said irritably. "It's not going to work out between us."
Jiang Lulian had always felt adept at handling romantic matters, but perhaps due to his age and the desire to settle down, he didn't want to engage in lengthy courtships and adjustments. He wanted something close enough to ideal.
He thought Ni Yalin was "close enough."
All women have their little tempers.
As long as they're not excessive, he could tolerate them. He had given his love to Ming Yutong, so now he just wanted a suitable person to marry.
Jiang Lulian rubbed his temples, enduring Ni Yalin's tantrums. "It's already impossible between us. What's the point of comparing?"
"Impossible or not, you still can't let her go," Ni Yalin said through gritted teeth. "If both Ming Yutong and I fell into the water, who would you save first?"
Jiang Lulian sighed wearily. "Can you not ask such childish questions?"
"Ha, Jiang Lulian, you can watch the movie by yourself!" Ni Yalin turned her head and walked away.
Jiang Lulian ran his fingers through his hair, also irritated, and walked off.
Ming Yutong was unaware of their argument. After they left, she and Fu Yinxiu, along with Little Jingshi, went into the theater.
They found their seats according to the movie tickets, and Ming Yutong handed Fu Yinxiu a cup of ginger tea.
Fu Yinxiu had seen that Little Jingshi and Ming Yutong each had a cup earlier. Little Jingshi, who disliked the taste of ginger, had a difficult time drinking his, which had already annoyed Fu Yinxiu.
He hadn't even had his yet when he was surprised to see another cup appear.
Fu Yinxiu excitedly took the cup, "This is for me?"
Ming Yutong nodded, feeling a bit awkward at his enthusiastic reaction.
Fu Yinxiu cradled the ginger tea as if it were a precious treasure. "Tong Tong, I'm so happy. I didn't expect you'd get one for me too. I thought I didn't have one."
Ming Yutong was speechless.
Little Jingshi, observing from the side, felt like he lost. His dad, despite his age, was still playfully cute.
After the movie, Fu Yinxiu drove Ming Yutong and Little Jingshi home.
He drove slowly, hoping to spend more time with Ming Yutong.
Ming Yutong had moved out of her old place and had settled into her new home with new furniture.
Though she had recovered, living with Ming Yuqian was still inconvenient.
Fu Yinxiu dropped Ming Yutong and Little Jingshi off at the door.
"Go back and rest early," Ming Yutong told Fu Yinxiu. "Little Jingshi is with me, so don't worry."
Fu Yinxiu, looking pitiful, said, "Tong Tong, won't you even let me come in for a bit?"
Ming Yutong was speechless. Fu Yinxiu's pleading look resembled a wagging puppy.
"It's getting late. You should head back to rest. Little Jingshi needs to sleep early. He has school tomorrow," Ming Yutong said, still not intending to invite Fu Yinxiu in.
"Alright," Fu Yinxiu said dejectedly. "If you need anything, just let me know."
Ming Yutong found it odd. If he wasn't around, telling him wouldn't be of much use, but she chose not to dwell on it.
She led Little Jingshi inside, closing the door firmly behind her.
"Tong Tong, can I sleep with you tonight?" Little Jingshi asked, seemingly indifferent to Fu Yinxiu waiting outside.
"Of course," Ming Yutong said happily. "But I've also prepared your room for you."