Chapter Forty-Nine: Ambiguity

After the two doctors finished bandaging Corning’s right arm and administering the injection, he thanked them politely and walked out of the treatment room at the Railway Hospital, only to be surprised to see Qu Mengmeng and Zheng Yi sitting on the bench in the corridor, engaged in a quiet conversation with Lu Jing.

As soon as the three women saw Corning emerge, his clothes covered in dust and his right arm wrapped in layers of white bandages, they hurried over to greet him warmly.

Qu Mengmeng’s eyes shone with concern as she examined his bandaged arm, then immediately began to scold him. “Do you want to scare us to death? How could you do something so dangerous?”

“If necessary, stay in the hospital for a few days. Wait until you’re healed before leaving, otherwise, if it gets infected, it could be life-threatening,” Zheng Yi said, gently brushing the dust from Corning’s back as she spoke.

Corning thought to himself, “You’re all so young,” but he kept a relaxed expression and replied, “This is nothing serious; there’s no need to stay in the hospital. Let’s go home.”

Lu Jing asked anxiously, “Are you sure? I really think you should stay for observation. What if your bone is hurt?”

“She’s right! Stay in the hospital. I’ll take care of you!” Qu Mengmeng beamed at Corning.

Corning was touched by their concern, but the injury was truly insignificant to him. As he tried to explain, the three women began fussing over him again, exaggerating the situation. In his desperation, he blurted out, “I’m a doctor myself—I know what I’m doing.”

Qu Mengmeng, seeing that Corning didn’t appreciate their concern, immediately rose on tiptoe to tap him on the head. “Nonsense! A mechanic calling himself a doctor—no wonder the streets are full of people selling fake medicine! Listen to me and stay. I’ve never had the chance to care for a patient, so let me enjoy it for once!”

Lu Jing and Zheng Yi were puzzled by Corning’s claim to be a doctor, but Qu Mengmeng’s words made them laugh, and they forgot to press further. After a few teasing remarks, the three women gave in to Corning’s insistence and surrounded him as they walked outside.

Standing at the door, the male doctor watched them enviously, seeing Corning disappear among three beautiful women. Adjusting his thick glasses, he muttered under his breath, “What kind of luck did that guy have in his past lives?”

Just then, the middle-aged female doctor who had given Corning his tetanus shot came out of the room. Hearing the male doctor’s jealous muttering, she loudly retorted, “That young man is good-looking—even this old lady feels a flutter. Unlike a certain someone, looking so scrawny and pitiful. If we weren’t in a hospital but out on the street, strangers would think they’d seen a country vet come to town!”

The male doctor stared in surprise as the woman swayed her ample hips and turned away. Realizing the meaning of her words, he fumed, planting his hands on his thin waist and calling after her, “Just wait, I’ll get you next time! You hammer!”

Sitting in Lu Jing’s car, Corning realized they were heading toward the city center and quickly asked, “Where are we going?”

Before Lu Jing could answer, Zheng Yi leaned forward from the back seat. “To my place. You can’t stay covered in mud like that. Jing said there’s no hot water or tub at the factory—how would you bathe if you went back? Besides, those filthy clothes of yours stink. Change out of them before you kill someone with the smell.”

Qu Mengmeng giggled, “He may be dirty, but I think the torn shirt looks quite good on him—kind of like those trendy cropped tops Hong Kong and Taiwan movie stars wear these days!”

The three women burst out laughing, causing Lu Jing to lose focus and the car to veer dangerously close to a taxi in the next lane. Startled, she immediately straightened out and concentrated on driving.

Zheng Yi, unfazed by the near-miss, half-joked, “I always thought those Hong Kong and Taiwan guys were either too short or poorly built. None of them compare to this one. Didn’t you see how solid his waist is? Not an ounce of fat. Tsk, tsk!”

Laughter filled the car as Corning’s face turned crimson. He turned to stare out the window, which only made Qu Mengmeng and Zheng Yi laugh harder, nearly rolling on the back seat.

Lu Jing, still giggling, pulled into a small parking lot in a busy shopping district. After parking, she and the other two women got out, telling Corning to behave and wait in the car. With peals of laughter, the three of them walked off hand in hand into the shopping mall ahead.

Corning shook his head, guessing they had gone to buy him some clothes. He considered leaving but thought it would be impolite, so he stayed put and waited patiently. He glanced at the digital clock on the dashboard to estimate how long they might take, but as he waited, exhaustion overtook him and he fell asleep.

About an hour and a half later, the three women returned to the car. Seeing Corning asleep through the window, Lu Jing felt a surge of emotion. Uncle Wang had told her that for the past four days, Corning had slept less than five hours a night, working around the clock to meet the five-day deadline. Often, Yusheng would fall asleep sitting on the floor, leaning against a pillar, while Corning was still poring over blueprints and parts.

Zheng Yi and Qu Mengmeng, seeing Lu Jing standing motionless by the car, remembered what she had told them about Corning, and realized he must be truly exhausted. They all fell silent, quietly opened the door, and carefully placed their shopping bags inside. Even so, the faint sounds woke Corning, ever alert.

When the women saw him wake, they resumed their playful banter, closing the car doors and laughing again.

Corning glanced at the digital clock, then at the expressions on their faces, and silently sat up straight, staring ahead.

“Hey, do you have a problem with this?” Qu Mengmeng shouted as she noticed him shaking his head.

Corning knew that if he said anything, no matter what, it would only lead to more endless chatter. He decided to play deaf and dumb, pretending he hadn’t heard a thing. Annoyed, Qu Mengmeng pinched his shoulder, only to find his muscle as hard as iron from instinctive tension. She ended up with nothing but a palmful of dust, and, frustrated, muttered, “You’re like a bull!”

Through laughter and chatter, the car drove into a luxurious community on the southern bank of the Tuojiang River. After a few turns, they stopped in front of a two-and-a-half-story villa. Zheng Yi’s housekeeper, hearing the car, had already opened the gate. Zheng Yi got out, instructed the maid, and led the group into the first-floor living room.

Corning was struck by the grandeur of the spacious room: white marble columns of the finest quality, accented by bands of dark green stone, tastefully decorated. A set of white luxury leather sofas, flanked by a few broad-leafed shade plants, made the place feel even more impressive.

“Well? Why are you standing there like an idiot? The first floor is for guests. Family always go to Sister Yi’s parlor upstairs. Come on!” Qu Mengmeng gave Corning another playful push.

Corning had no choice but to follow the three women upstairs. Entering the second-floor parlor, Zheng Yi put down her shopping bags and pointed to the bathroom door. “Don’t you dare sit down in those filthy clothes. Wash up first, then come out.”

Lu Jing came over, concern in her voice. “You can’t get the wound wet. What should you do?”

“Do you need us to help?” Qu Mengmeng teased, tilting her chin mischievously, drawing out her words, making the cheerful and voluptuous Zheng Yi laugh out loud.

Zheng Yi grabbed Qu Mengmeng around the waist and teased Corning, “Why not let Mengmeng help you wash up?”

Corning’s head was spinning. He slipped between Lu Jing and Qu Mengmeng, darted into the bathroom, and quickly shut the door behind him.

The three women were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. Qu Mengmeng, her face flushed, chased after Zheng Yi, while Lu Jing collapsed on the sofa, covering her mouth as she laughed. After a bout of roughhousing, Qu Mengmeng and Zheng Yi finally fell onto the sofa, gasping for breath.

Still a little put out, Qu Mengmeng grabbed a tissue from the coffee table to wipe her sweat, grumbling, “You think I wouldn’t dare? It’s not like I haven’t seen it before. Hmph!”

Zheng Yi and Lu Jing exchanged glances and dissolved into laughter again.