Furthermore, they were just strangers who happened to meet by chance.
Although Mu Wansheng could not tell what his appearance was like, she knew that he was a kind soul.
After she’d been staying with him for some time, her burns gradually began to heal. She could finally get out of bed and start walking around, though she had yet to fully recover. Desperately wanting to know what had happened to her eyes, she requested Tang Yucheng to bring her to the hospital.
Tang Yucheng agreed.
It was summer time.
Due to the burns on her body, Mu Wansheng had no choice but to wrap herself up in tight clothing, despite the immense heat. She did not wish to expose the burns and scars on her arms and legs. Although she could not see, she could roughly tell what they looked like just by touching them.
After breakfast, Tang Yucheng brought her to the hospital.
They registered for a consultation with the optometrist.
Her long-sleeved ensemble was already eye-catching enough. Everyone around her could not help but take another glance at her, especially since she was clad in a cap and a surgical mask as well.
When it was her turn, Tang Yucheng held her hand and walked her to the doctor’s office.
Upon the sight of her, the optometrist immediately said, “Have a seat.”
Mu Wansheng sat down on the chair with Tang Yucheng’s guidance.
“What’s wrong with your eyes?”
“I can’t see anymore and I’d like to have my eye examined.”
“Why? Did you lose your vision all of a sudden? Or did it occur after an accident?”
“It occurred after an accident,” said Mu Wansheng.
The doctor handed Tang Yucheng the receipt for the checkup and said, “Please proceed to make payment.”
Tang Yucheng exited the room while Mu Wansheng waited for him.
When he returned, the doctor instructed Mu Wansheng to remove her mask, claiming that it was getting in the way.
After some hesitation, she decided to remove the mask.
As soon as she removed her mask, the female optometrist shrieked, “Oh, my god!”
Hanging her head low, Mu Wansheng put her mask back on and said, “Sorry to have frightened you.”
Clutching her chest, the optometrist remarked, “How did you get burned so badly? Your burns are way too severe.”
“Yeah, they are.”
Mu Wansheng’s heart sank to rock bottom after hearing the optometrist’s diagnosis.
“You’ve become permanently blind. There are no viable treatment options because the damage done is too severe.”
“Is there really no solution at all?”
“No.”
Her hopes were once again dashed.
Mu Wansheng knew that she had to resign herself to fate, as much as she didn’t want to.
They exited the hospital.
Although the sun was shining brightly and the weather was hot and humid, she felt like she was freezing from head to toe.
She was consumed by the coldness that came from within.
She rode in Tang Yucheng’s trishaw, which had curtains to cover her.
Upon returning home, Mu Wansheng lay down in bed and cooped herself up all day.
Although she had already adjusted to living without vision, she did not want to spend the rest of her life in darkness.
In fact, she even felt that she would be better off dead.
Living in pain and misery was far more terrible.
——
“Qixing, you’ve been married to Luo Hang for so long. Has he gotten intimate with you yet?” Mrs. Luo asked eagerly.
Mu Qixing smiled and said, “Mother, you can’t rush such things.”
“Seems like I’ll have to implement another measure to deal with you two,” said Mrs. Luo, who left as soon as she’d said her piece.
Mu Qixing could not wrap her head around what Mrs. Luo was thinking. Another measure? What could it be?
She headed upstairs to see that Luo Hang was sitting on the bed and talking to his girlfriend over the phone. She gestured for him to stop, hinting to him that she had something to talk to him about.
Luo Hang ended the call reluctantly and said, “Shoot.”
“Mother asked me just now if we had gotten intimate yet and I said no. She then said that she’s going to implement another measure.”
“What is she going to do?” Luo Hang asked with a frown.
“How would I know? Mother is so mysterious. Is she going to watch us get intimate?”
Luo Hang hissed and said, “Dream on.”
“It’d be great if I’m just dreaming. You may be my husband, but I don’t want to sleep with you.”
“It’s not like I want to sleep with you either.”
Mu Qixing rolled her eyes and pulled him forcefully to drag him out of the bed. “It’s my turn to sleep today. You can take the couch.”
“I’ve been cooped up at home all day and I’m not allowed to go anywhere at all. Why don’t we just forget it? I’ll force myself to get intimate with you once so you can get pregnant. Once you’re pregnant, we’ll both be free.”
Mu Qixing rebuked, “You’re nuts.”
“I’m nuts? I’m the one who has something to lose here, okay? Do you know how much courage it’ll take for me to get intimate with you?”
“Don’t you feel disgusted by your own words at all?”
“…”
After they’d been staying silent for half an hour, someone began knocking on their door.
Knock, knock, knock…
Luo Hang answered sluggishly, “Come in.”
A maid entered with some fruits, hanging her head low. Luo Hang took a casual glance at her, only to discover who she really was. He immediately rushed forward and exclaimed, “Banqin!?!”
Mu Qixing sat up straight to look at the maid as well.
She chuckled and sneered, “Tsk, tsk, tsk, your girlfriend actually disguised herself as a maid and sneaked in here. However, if Mother were to find out…”
Luo Hang warned with a sullen expression, “You’ll get it from me if you dare to tell Mother about this.”
Staring at him with a look of disdain, Mu Qixing said, “Go ahead and do whatever you want elsewhere, but you’d better not get up to any hanky-panky business in my nuptial room. If you dare do that in front of me, I’ll definitely tell on you to Mother. Luo Hang, I may not love you and you may not care about me, but I still want my pride and dignity. You may do anything you’d like except get intimate right in front of me.”
Without hesitation, Xia Banqin chastized, “Who do you think you are? You may be Luo Hang’s wife on the surface but in reality, you’re a nobody. Get over yourself. It’d be best if we can get along harmoniously. It’s not like we’re forbidding you from dating others anyway. Don’t create any trouble for yourself.”
Mu Qixing closed her eyes and opened them again before gibing, “Luo Hang, you’ve got such poor taste in women.”
“What… did you say?” Xia Banqin barked angrily.
“I said Luo Hang has poor taste in women. You’re not as pretty as I am and your figure is average as well. You’re much shorter than me too. No wonder Mother-in-law doesn’t want you as her daughter-in-law. You’d better put in more effort to keep Luo Hang by your side. It’d be the end of you if he ever falls in love with me one day.”
The couple turned pale and sullen immediately.
Xia Banqin said to Luo Hang, “Look how arrogant this woman is.” She then retorted, “Do you really think you’re his wife?”
“That’s not for you to decide. I’m his lawful wife, you’re not. Enjoy your rendezvous. I’m going out now.”
She picked up her purse and left. Luo Hang said, “Don’t tell Mother. Did you hear me?”
