Seeing the sincerity on Zhou Ying's face, Fang Yuan knew every word was true.
But she also knew an eighteen-year-old girl in the bloom of youth could easily misread her feelings.
Still, Jiang Cheng was only eighteen—and rumor had it that eighteen-year-olds were insatiable.
Fang Yuan sighed inwardly; she honestly envied Zhou Ying.
In truth, Fang Yuan had little sexual experience, yet to appear mature she pretended to be a seasoned pro.
"Sweetheart, listen to Mom," she instructed. "In matters of love, a woman mustn't always give in, or men grow bored. Here's a trick: next time he kisses you, kiss back boldly—show him you're no pushover. Only then will you stay balanced, instead of one side always on top."
Zhou Ying's cheeks flushed scarlet; shyness and bewilderment washed over her.
"Mom, what are you saying? I don't want to talk about this. I'm packing—don't bother me."
Unlike Zhou Ying, Fang Yuan had not been born into wealth.
Though she and Zhou Ying's father had never loved each other,
he had never stinted on Zhou Ying's upbringing or living expenses.
After all, Zhou Ying was his only daughter.
So even after bankruptcy, though Zhou Ying struggled to adapt,
she stayed rational and calm, never turning reckless as circumstances changed.
For Fang Yuan, however, the situation was entirely different.
Those years of life as a rich man's wife had been hard-won.
She cherished every moment of that time.
When it all vanished overnight, Fang Yuan at first could not accept reality and sank into endless pain.
Fortunately, Zhou Ying's company and comfort gradually drew her out of the shadows and helped her face the cruel truth.
Watching the young Zhou Ying juggle studies with a part-time shift at KFC, Fang Yuan felt inspired.
In the end she too picked herself up and went out to work.
Yet this did not mean she was willing to settle for such an ordinary life.
It was precisely because she still longed for something better
that, after several years of labor, she could bear it no longer and pinned her hopes on Zhou Ying's blind date with Wang Yuan.
Such thoughts were rooted in her family of origin.
Fang Yuan had grown up in poverty,
which left her with an intense craving for money.
Back then, strapped for cash, she had gritted her teeth and followed Fang Wende's advice, seducing Zhou Ying's father at a banquet.
To children raised in poverty, money holds incomparable allure.
Though she had since paid off her debts, a trace of that hunger for wealth still lingered inside her.
At that very moment Jiang Cheng was outside setting a date with Huang Yuqi, utterly unaware that Fang Yuan and Zhou Ying inside were discussing his prowess.
Had he known, he would gladly have given them both a live demonstration of exactly how capable he was.
With his current physique plus the Great Kidney Returns, handling the two of them would be child's play, right?
He could keep going nonstop for hours.
Even taking turns, three rounds each wouldn't even make him break a sweat.
After seeing Zhou Ying and Fang Yuan out, Jiang Cheng met Huang Yuqi at another amusement park to farm favorability points as planned.
Though Jiang Cheng had little interest in theme parks,
the system rewards were simply too generous.
Who knew—maybe Huang Yuqi would rediscover the healing magic of childhood inside this park?
Just thinking about it filled Jiang Cheng with anticipation.
He admitted he was extremely curious about this broken "healing card" effect.
Meanwhile, inside Great-Grandfather's Courtyard House, the doctor who checked him daily sensed something unusual.
It was the traditional Chinese-medicine practitioner who noticed first during a routine pulse-taking: "Old master, your pulse feels different today!"
Once he spoke, the Western-medicine doctor using a stethoscope added, "You feel it too? When I listened to his heartbeat just now, it also sounded unlike usual."
Great-Grandfather adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and glanced at them. "Different how?"
Under his gaze both men tensed, but they answered bravely, "Sir, don't worry! I mean the pulse is stronger than before—that's good…"
"Exactly; your heartbeat is also more forceful today."
"Oh?" A puzzled look crossed Great-Grandfather's face. "Haven't you always said my health is excellent?"
The two physicians exchanged glances and hesitated. "Your health is indeed fine, but today's pulse and heartbeat are noticeably stronger. Perhaps your diet or daily routine has changed?"
"Oh, really?" Great-Grandfather rubbed his chin. "I haven't done anything special—just eating and sleeping on schedule, and strolling in the courtyard now and then."
"Then it's strange…" Both doctors frowned. "Such pulse changes usually signal improved health, yet we can't pinpoint the cause."
Second Grandfather Jiang Chenghong, who had been worried, finally relaxed and said with a smile, "Maybe big brother's just in a good mood, and after drinking the tonic your darling grandson brought last night, you're even happier."
Great-Grandfather nodded in agreement. "Now that you mention it, after drinking Jiang Cheng's soup yesterday I felt a warm flow in my body. I slept especially soundly, and this morning I woke up brimming with energy."
Jiang Chenghong teased, "Haha, so I say it's your good mood. After all, your favorite grandson sent over such delicious soup."
Great-Grandfather shot him a displeased look. "What nonsense. I'm not a child—my health can't rely on mood. I think that soup truly works."
Jiang Chenghong laughed. "Just joking. But the soup is good stuff; I drank several bowls myself yesterday."
The TCM doctor grew curious. "Oh, what kind of tonic is so effective? Do you gentlemen know which herbs were used?"
Great-Grandfather recalled, "I looked—just warming herbs like ginseng, much like what we drink now and then."
Jiang Chenghong added, "Exactly. Nothing special, yet the flavor was wonderful."