Sent to the countryside, I turned the health center into a top-tier hospital.

"Just passing by," Chen Ping said.

Su Meng glanced at the gauze on his head, then at the canvas bag on his back. Her lips moved as if she wanted to ask something, but she didn't know how to start.

She pushed open the car door, got out of the car, and walked in front of Chen Ping.

"Who hit you on the head?" Her voice was very low, so low that only Chen Ping could hear it.

"It's nothing," Chen Ping smiled. "I just fell."

Su Meng stared at him for several seconds.

She didn't believe it, of course, but she didn't press the matter.

She took a card out of her pocket and handed it to her: "Take this, there's some money in it. I know you don't have any money on you."

Su Meng knew that Chen Ping left with nothing during the divorce, not even a change of clothes.

Chen Ping looked at the card but didn't take it.

He glanced at Xiao Lei in the car. Xiao Lei was lighting a cigarette, leaning back in his seat, and squinting at them.

"No need," Chen Ping shook his head. "Get in the car, don't be late for your date."

Su Meng's hand froze in mid-air, her expression stiffening for a moment.

She tried to explain something, opened her mouth slightly, then closed it again.

She looked at Chen Ping, her eyes filled with something that wasn't resentment, but resentment—the kind of resentment that comes from wanting to say something but finding oneself unworthy to do so.

"It's not a date."

She finally spoke, her voice very soft, "We just had a meal together."

Chen Ping smiled but didn't reply.

Just then, another car pulled up on the side of the road.

A white Porsche, not yet registered, with a paint so shiny you could see your reflection in it.

The car door opened, and Cui Ying rushed out, wearing a white sweatshirt, her hair loose and hanging over her shoulders, her face covered in tears, and her eyes red.

She saw Chen Ping, rushed over, grabbed his arm, and held it tightly.

Why did you leave without saying goodbye?

Her voice trembled, a mixture of anxiety, anger, and fear, and tears streamed down her face again. "I texted you but you didn't reply, I called but you didn't answer. Do you know how long I've been looking for you?"

Chen Ping looked at her red eyes, wet eyelashes, and the way she was gripping his arm, and felt a pang in his heart.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

Only then did Cui Ying notice that there were other people around.

She turned her head and saw Su Meng, then she saw Xiao Lei in the car with a cigarette in his mouth.

Her gaze lingered on Su Meng's face for a moment, then moved away.

She knew Su Meng; she had met her at the health center. Su Meng was Chen Ping's ex-wife.

When Cui Ying saw Su Meng standing in front of Chen Ping, less than a meter apart, she felt a tightness in her chest.

She tightened her grip on Chen Ping's arm, pressing her whole body against him, her face almost touching his shoulder.

"Chen Ping, come home with me."

Her voice was firm and unquestionable: "I told my mom, and she said that's not what she meant. She wants you to go back, and my dad also wants to see you."

Chen Ping glanced down at her.

Cui Ying raised her head and looked at him, her eyes full of tears, but her gaze was hard, as if to say, "If you don't come with me, I'll die right here."

Chen Ping glanced at Su Meng.

Su Meng stood there, still clutching the bank card she hadn't handed over, her expression calm, as calm as a stagnant pool.

But her eyes betrayed her; something shattered in them, shattered silently.

"You can go now," Su Meng said softly, as softly as the wind. "Don't keep them waiting."

She put the card back in her pocket, turned around, opened the car door, and got in.

The car door slammed shut with a loud bang.

Xiao Lei glanced at Chen Ping in the rearview mirror, a slight smile playing on his lips. He stubbed out his cigarette and started the car.

The sports car roared off and quickly merged into the traffic, disappearing from sight.

Cui Ying was still holding onto Chen Ping's arm, not letting go.

She stared in the direction the car had disappeared for two seconds, then looked away and turned to Chen Ping.

"Let's go," she said.

Chen Ping didn't move.

Cui Ying tugged at his arm, and he followed her.

After getting into the white Porsche, Cui Ying sat in the driver's seat, fastened her seatbelt, and started the car.

Chen Ping sat in the passenger seat, placed his canvas bag on his lap, and remained silent.

Cui Ying didn't say anything, driving with her eyes fixed on the road ahead. The tear stains on her face hadn't dried yet, but the corners of her mouth were already turned up.

"When did you buy the car?" Chen Ping asked.

"My dad bought it for me. I don't know when he bought it. I guess he wanted to coax me to come home with it." Cui Ying's tone was very indifferent, as if a Porsche was just a small toy.

"You just said that your mother didn't mean it that way?" Chen Ping asked.

Cui Ying's fingers tightened on the steering wheel for a moment, then loosened.

She bit her lip, paused for two seconds, and said, "That's what she meant, but I don't care."

Chen Ping looked at her without saying a word.

Cui Ying turned her head to look at him, then turned back to look at the road.

"Chen Ping."

"Um?"

"You're not allowed to leave without saying goodbye anymore."

Chen Ping remained silent.

"Did you hear me?" Cui Ying's voice rose a little.

"I heard you."

Cui Ying took a deep breath and turned the car into the gate of the residential area.

The security guard saw the white Porsche, raised the barrier, and saluted.

Cui Ying didn't look at him. She drove the car to the villa entrance, stopped, and turned off the engine.

She turned her head and looked at Chen Ping.

Sunlight streamed in through the car window, illuminating her face. Her tear tracks were still wet, but her eyes were bright.

"arrive."

Chen Ping glanced at her, then at the three-story villa with red bricks and white windows outside the window.

The gate was open, and Cui Ying's mother stood at the door. When she saw the car stop, she took two steps forward, then stopped again, her expression complex.

Chen Ping pushed open the car door and got out.

Cui Ying came down from the other side, walked to his side, and took his arm again.

This time, she held on even tighter than before.

As Cui Ying's mother watched them approach, her lips moved slightly. "Dr. Chen, I'm sorry, that's not what I meant."

"Auntie, I know." Chen Ping smiled.

"Come inside," Cui Ying's mother invited.

Chen Ping nodded and followed Cui Ying through the gate.

On the shoe cabinet was a pair of new, gray slippers, still unopened. Next to them was a pair of slippers belonging to Cui Ying's father, the same pair Chen Ping had just worn, both neatly arranged.

Cui Ying's mother glanced at the new slippers and said, "I just bought these for you. Try them on to see if they fit."

Chen Ping paused for a moment, then bent down to unpack the slippers and put them on.

The size is just right, neither too tight nor too loose.

"It suits you perfectly, thank you, Auntie," Chen Ping said.

Cui Ying's mother nodded and turned to walk into the living room.

After taking a couple of steps, he stopped and asked, "What would you like to eat tonight? I'll have the housekeeper make it."

"No need, Auntie, I'll do it," Chen Ping said.

Cui Ying's mother turned around, glanced at him, and looked a little surprised.

Cui Ying chimed in from the side, "Mom, Chen Ping's cooking is amazing. We just ate what he made."

Cui Ying's mother's lips twitched, it was unclear whether she wanted to laugh or say something.

She stood there for two seconds, then turned around and continued walking towards the living room.

"Then I'll have to trouble you." Cui Ying's mother's voice came from the living room.

"You don't need to worry about my mom. I'll take you upstairs to see the rooms. You can rest for a bit." Cui Ying pulled Chen Ping upstairs.