The winter days always get dark quickly. It was only a little past six, yet the sky had already drawn a dark curtain over it.
Jiang Li had been in the studio for nearly the entire afternoon.
To cheer her up and keep her from thinking about past events, Fang Ruan took her to several places.
Unfortunately, Jiang Li's mood wasn't very high, and Fang Ruan, feeling helpless, eventually decided to send her back home.
After Fang Ruan left, Jiang Li stayed in the studio.
Her right hand, which she had applied medicine to last night, no longer hurt as much, but she still couldn't lift heavy objects.
She spread some rice paper on the table and picked up a brush to copy the Tao Te Ching.
Whenever she felt frustrated or unsettled, she would practice like this to calm herself.
In one corner of the studio was a large box, filled with all the Heart Sutras she had copied.
She had written about one and a half pages when Jiang Li put down the brush and gently massaged her right hand with her left to relax the muscles.
Xie Huaichu was right—she couldn't overwork this hand anymore.
After putting away the rice paper, she picked up another book, opened it, and sat there quietly, reading.
The afternoon passed quietly without a sound.
As the light in the studio was gradually swallowed by the darkness, Jiang Li finally realized that it was getting late.
She rubbed her sore arm, stood up, and walked out of the studio.
She hadn't taken more than a few steps when she saw the man who had come with her grandmother.
Jiang Li furrowed her brows instinctively and coldly asked, "Grandma, what did you buy?"
She deliberately ignored Xie Huaichu, leaning against the pillar in the corridor as she asked.
Lin Gui Fang was in high spirits. She had been supported by Xie Huaichu as they walked over, and everything she had bought was carried by him.
"I bought some ribs and fish. Little Xie said he likes fish soup."
In truth, Xie Huaichu had said that on purpose.
After work today, he had specifically gone to the market, intending to buy some meat and fish to bring to Jiang Li to help her recover.
By coincidence, he ran into Lin Gui Fang, who was there to buy groceries, and accompanied her while telling her he liked fish soup.
It was actually a way for him to have a legitimate reason to visit Jiang Li.
Jiang Li curled her lips in disdain, lazily glancing at Xie Huaichu.
This man was truly persistent. She didn't want to repeat the same words; it was really exhausting.
This time, Xie Huaichu didn't look at her. Instead, he kept reminding Lin Gui Fang to be careful with her steps and walk slower.
When they were almost at the kitchen door, Lin Gui Fang turned around and called to the person trailing behind.
"Xiao A Li, come over and help Grandma with some things."
Jiang Li hadn't told Lin Gui Fang about her injury, and of course, Xie Huaichu had kept it a secret as well. They didn't want to worry the elderly woman.
Jiang Li was about to speak, but Xie Huaichu interrupted her. "Grandma, I'll do it."
"How can that be?" Lin Gui Fang refused. "You're the guest; how can I let you do the cooking?"
Xie Huaichu leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "Grandma, give me a chance to show off in front of A Li, okay?"
Upon hearing this, a bright smile appeared in Lin Gui Fang's eyes. She glanced at the girl and couldn't help but nod. "Alright, alright, Grandma will listen to you."
The two of them entered the kitchen, and Jiang Li followed.
What Xie Huaichu had whispered in Lin Gui Fang's ear, Jiang Li didn't know.
She didn't care to know either. She just felt that this man was starting to really irritate her.
But deep down, a voice echoed in her mind: "He's so nice, why can't you just give him a chance?"
Jiang Li grew more frustrated. She squeezed her fingers and turned to head to the bedroom on the second floor.
After they had left, Xie Huaichu finally raised his gaze and looked at the spot where she had disappeared. His expression darkened, his thin lips pressing down, his mind seeming to wander.
After dinner, Lin Gui Fang went to bed early, and Jiang Li went straight upstairs to her room, locking the door and ignoring the person who hadn't yet left.
Xie Huaichu stared at the closed door for a moment, then sighed heavily.
He went to the backyard, pacing back and forth, and soon found a corner. With a swift motion, he climbed up.
In no time, he reached Jiang Li's bedroom. Fortunately, the window was open, and he easily jumped into the room.
Jiang Li was in the wardrobe looking for something. Hearing the sound, she grabbed a nearby hanger and walked out.
When she saw that the person standing in her room was Xie Huaichu, she immediately became furious.
"Are you crazy? Climbing into other people's windows in the middle of the night? Do you want me to call the police and have you arrested?"
Xie Huaichu strode over to her, took the hanger from her hand, and spoke in a weary tone.
"Fine, but before you call the police, let me help you with your medicine again."
Jiang Li: "..."
This guy was impossible. She had said so many times already, how long would he keep pestering her?
"Xie Huaichu, you're really annoying, do you know that?" Jiang Li took a deep breath, looking at him and snapping.
"I've never seen someone so stubborn. Can you just leave me alone?"
"I just want to live my life peacefully. Please, stop bothering me, alright?"
Xie Huaichu opened the medicine box, took out some safflower oil, and poured it into his palm, rubbing it to warm up.
Then, he reached for Jiang Li's hand, gently placing it on her forearm and rubbing it softly.
"Are you even listening to me?" Jiang Li, seeing his indifferent demeanor, felt her patience gradually slipping away.
"Don't think you can avoid everything just because you pretend not to hear or understand."
Xie Huaichu rubbed her arm back and forth several times, making sure the medicinal oil had fully absorbed into her skin before finally raising his gaze to look at her.
"Jiang Xiaoli, are you calm now?"
"?" Jiang Li was taken aback, confused by his sudden question.
"I apologize for what happened earlier today. I shouldn't have lost control and bullied you."
"If you're still angry, how about you get back at me?"
Jiang Li instinctively clenched her fist, her temples throbbing. She felt as though the words she had just spoken had landed like a punch on a cotton pillow—utterly ineffective.
"Xie Huaichu, can you just face the things I said? I really don't want to—"
"Jiang Li, three months." Xie Huaichu, unwilling to listen to more of the words he didn't want to hear, interrupted her with a calm tone.
"Give me three months to try dating you. If, after that, you still can't accept me, I'll step out of your world and never bother you again. How about it?"