Mad Dog

Time passed particularly quickly while accompanying Zhi Qi in the hospital. The young girl, despite her delicate and tender appearance, had been using a crutch for half a month and had adapted to it as her “one-legged hero.”
However, the girl remained dissatisfied with her bandaged calf and the crutch, unable to help but complain in a wronged tone, “So ugly.”
Though it was inconvenient to walk with the crutch, it was secondary; girls loved beauty after all.
“Then don’t go out. Just rest well at home.” After all, a fracture was no small matter. The school had directly suspended her for three months. Jiang Qi rubbed Zhi Qi’s hair with his long fingers. “With a bandage on your leg, it’s not convenient to go out in the summer.”
She would always have to wear long skirts and pants, which were hot and uncomfortable.
If the wound got infected, it would be bad.
Zhi Qi’s clumsy attempts at walking resembled that of a little penguin. Hearing his words, she paused for a moment, her dark eyes seemingly troubled as she looked at Jiang Qi and hesitantly asked, “Um… whose house are we going to?”
In fact, she had been worried about this issue for a couple of days. It was reasonable for Jiang Qi to spend the night in the hospital with her; it was the responsibility of a boyfriend, and there were doctors and nurses at night, so they weren’t alone, especially under the watch of Mei Ran and Zhi Minglin.
But if she honestly told them that she was already living with Jiang Qi, Zhi Qi didn’t have the courage to do so yet.
Thinking of this, the girl’s pupils reflected a hint of anxiety.
“Of course, it’s your own home. My leave is over, and I need to go back to filming, so I can’t take care of you.” Jiang Qi’s usually subtle smile became even more faint, but his voice was low and gentle. He raised his head, his glassy eyes deep and unfathomable, asking her, “Qi Qi, you won’t blame me, right?”
Zhi Qi was stunned for a moment and slowly shook her head.
After a while, she bit her lip and asked him, “Jiang Qi, I actually really want to live with you.”
She didn’t want Jiang Qi to be sad.
But her parents were genuinely worried about her; if she continued “cohabiting” with Jiang Qi at this time, it wouldn’t be good. Zhi Qi couldn’t help but sigh, truly feeling conflicted.
If only Mei Ran and Zhi Minglin could like Jiang Qi.
They didn’t have to like him as much as she did; just… be able to accept him a little so that her heart could feel more at ease.
“Qi Qi, don’t overthink it.” Jiang Qi couldn’t stand seeing Zhi Qi in a difficult situation, so he stopped helping her pack and walked over to hug her shoulders, gently resting his chin on her slender shoulder, softly saying, “It’s me who delayed the crew’s progress for too long. Director Qu requires that I stay with the crew next, not for any other reason.”
He was telling a lie, but he held her tightly in his arms, as if he were holding the entire world.
“Mm.” Zhi Qi nodded slightly, obediently leaning her head against his cheek.
“When you’re able to let go of the crutch…” Jiang Qi forced a smile and looked at her intently. “Can I come to pick you up?”
He wanted to pick her up openly, in front of the girl’s parents.
Then tell them that he could protect Zhi Qi safely for a lifetime.
“Okay.”
Zhi Qi understood the principle that “everything needs time to transition”; she just felt a bit sad thinking about how she would be at home and Jiang Qi would be with the crew, and they wouldn’t see each other for a while.
She suppressed the gloomy emotions in her eyes and quickly changed the subject, smiling as she asked, “Didn’t you say you would give me a gift when I was discharged? What is it?”
She remembered Jiang Qi’s promise very clearly.
The boy smiled and, to Zhi Qi’s surprise, unexpectedly knelt on one knee on the hospital floor.
“Jiang Qi?” Zhi Qi was startled, her hands hanging by her side were grasped by Jiang Qi, unable to move, and she could only look at him in a daze. “What are you doing?”
She didn’t know what the boy was up to, feeling inexplicably nervous.
“Gift.” Jiang Qi took a small box out of his pants pocket, raised it high, and handed it to Zhi Qi. He was clearly nervous, but his voice feigned calmness: “Qi Qi, can you accept it?”
The small, exquisite box Jiang Qi held up was obvious enough that even a fool would know what was inside.
To accept this gift, one might usually think it over and hesitate… but Zhi Qi was different; she took it immediately.
She opened the box and looked at the simple ring inside, her eyes brightening as she looked down and asked him, “Why did you think to give me a ring?”
Jiang Qi watched as the young girl held it up, trying it on her finger, and a genuine smile appeared in his eyes as he muttered to himself, “I want to tie you down.”
Zhi Qi didn’t catch that and was still immersed in the surprise he gave her, instinctively asking, “What?”
“Qi Qi.” Jiang Qi took a deep breath, looking up at her ivory-white, youthful face, and this time, he enunciated each word clearly: “I want you to keep your promise.”
The promise that the girl had made years ago, the one he had allowed her to break but she hadn’t wanted to.
Now Jiang Qi wanted Zhi Qi to keep that promise.
Zhi Qi was taken aback for a moment, looking at the boy’s obviously tense expression beneath his calm brow, unable to help but laugh: “So you’re proposing to me?”
No wonder he was kneeling, and he wouldn’t get up no matter how much she called him.
But…
Zhi Qi looked at him with innocent eyes: “Do you want me to steal the household registration book?”
Jiang Qi froze for a moment, the tension in his brows and eyes instantly relaxing.
—The girl’s response was equivalent to agreeing with him. They could go get their marriage certificate anytime; it was just that the person who controlled the “household registration power” at home didn’t agree. What Jiang Qi really needed to figure out was how to win them over.
But even so, the boy was still overjoyed.
When Jiang Qi’s eyes curved into a smile, the indifference that usually concealed his youthfulness faded away, and he looked like a clingy puppy, gently kissing the corner of her lips.
Zhi Qi heard him mumble softly, “Qi Qi, you promised me.”
“I’m really happy.”
As long as Zhi Qi could agree to this request, he could handle everything else.
Jiang Qi was confident he could win over Zhi Minglin and Mei Ran—protected by the girl’s love, he was no longer that insecure boy who wanted to escape.
And in Zhi Qi’s memory, this was the first time Jiang Qi had clearly expressed that he was genuinely happy.
Zhi Qi was momentarily dazed, then she returned the kiss with a soft peck, biting her lip and smiling: “Me too.”
“Qi Qi, take good care of your injury. Wait for me…”
Jiang Qi paused for a moment and said seriously, “Wait for me to marry you.”
With Jiang Qi’s words, Zhi Qi obediently waited.
She rarely experienced such a peaceful moment, quietly resting at home, drinking soup and tea, and when bored, browsing online for news related to Jiang Qi—though most of the time, she didn’t look because the mindless criticism online was too infuriating.
Zhi Qi followed the crew’s information for “Proud Princess,” essentially tracking the film’s progress.
She saw news of the film wrapping up and the wrap party… In fact, Jiang Qi would mention these to her every night after finishing his work.
For instance, “That wrap party was a mixed bag; he didn’t want to go but still went,” a situation Jiang Qi felt wronged about, but was somewhat amusing.
Zhi Qi understood that the boy was trying his best to adapt to that circle, wanting to integrate, which meant he couldn’t just isolate himself from everything. Perhaps after going around in circles, he would discover that “acting” was indeed a profession that suited him best?
What Zhi Qi didn’t expect was that her “fiancé” was more impressive than she imagined.
One morning, the girl opened her eyes to see “Jiang Qi’s new drama officially announced” trending on Weibo. Only then did she realize that Jiang Qi had already prepared to shoot a new drama, and according to Meng Chunyu, the production team was top-notch.
But Zhi Qi felt a bit strange… when did Jiang Qi become this ambitious?
Hadn’t he just finished filming a movie? Wasn’t he supposed to take a break?
Zhi Qi couldn’t help but frown, feeling somewhat unhappy.
—Autumn was approaching, she could even throw away the crutch she was using, but Jiang Qi was still busy with the crew and hadn’t come to see her.
How annoying, so annoying.
Thinking of this, the girl felt a bit listless at dinner that evening, barely eating a few bites before putting down her chopsticks.
“What’s wrong?” Mei Ran noticed and served her a small bowl of
rib soup: “Is this all you’re eating? Did Auntie’s cooking not suit your taste?”
“It’s nothing.” Zhi Qi shook her head, propping her chin on her hands, her ring on her ring finger very prominent, shimmering under the overhead light.
Since returning from the hospital, Zhi Qi had been wearing the ring that Jiang Qi gave her.
After Mei Ran found out where the ring had come from, she couldn’t help but feel it was rather “obtrusive,” but at the same time, she had mixed feelings.
Seeing her daughter’s pale face devoid of any hidden disappointment, Mei Ran knew she must be thinking about Jiang Qi.
She lowered her gaze, ignoring Zhi Qi’s state, taking a sip of soup, feeling as if something was stuck in her throat.
In fact, there was one thing she hadn’t told Zhi Qi, which was that during her hospital stay, Jiang Qi had come to visit her and Zhi Minglin.
It was the night before the girl was discharged. After coaxing Zhi Qi to sleep, the boy came for a visit alone, without any formalities—because Jiang Qi knew very well that Mei Ran and Zhi Minglin lacked nothing material.
What they lacked was confidence in him and the courage to agree to him being with Zhi Qi.
This kind of thing should be something he showed them.
Mei Ran vividly remembered their conversation that night, and she could still recall Jiang Qi’s steady determination hidden within his cold voice.
The boy never beat around the bush; he got straight to the point, showing only a contract to her and her husband—he had signed a contract for a new film.
“I will also sign with a company after this, ensuring a stable income.”
After Mei Ran and Zhi Minglin read the contract with some shock, Jiang Qi paused before continuing: “Uncle, Auntie, I know the entertainment industry isn’t a good place. You’re worried about Zhi Qi’s future boyfriend making a living there, but… but this is the only way I can think of to give her the highest quality of life.”
“I know Zhi Qi has been pampered by you two, so I want to take care of her like this.”
“In the entertainment industry, the income is guaranteed, and I’ll let her manage all my cards.”
“Uncle, Auntie, I hope you can trust me and give me a chance.”
“I will treat Zhi Qi better than anyone else.”
…
Treating him on equal terms and giving him a chance.
In fact, whether in terms of appearance, character, or earning ability, Jiang Qi was not lacking.
Moreover, in a certain sense, he had once been the Liang family’s “benefactor,” having saved Zhi Qi, and his feelings for her were beyond doubt.
Emotionally and logically, Mei Ran and Zhi Minglin couldn’t coldly say “no” to such a sincere boy, yet accepting him without reservations was too difficult, leaving them in silence.
That Jiang Qi could do well in the entertainment industry and had financial security was certainly good.
But Mei Ran and Zhi Minglin were not the kind of people who despised the poor and loved the rich. From the very beginning, their greatest concern was Jiang Qi’s unstable and “neurotic” illness.
Could his condition truly be cured?
But now, looking at the two kids wearing rings, it was evident that their worries were unnecessary.
Ultimately, whether the two could be together still depended on “mutual affection.”
Mei Ran stared at her daughter with a complicated gaze for a while, then suddenly let out a long breath—feeling a sense of enlightenment wash over her.
Forget it, let it be.