"I'm coming down now," Sang Qian called out towards the door and got out of bed. After washing up, she came downstairs to see Chen Qiurong sitting on the sofa, talking to a little boy around five or six years old.
The little boy was dressed in a tailor-made suit, with shiny black round-toed leather shoes. His delicate features and fair skin made him bear a striking resemblance to Ji Chengzhou—it was almost uncanny.
Sang Qian was puzzled. Wasn't this child adopted from an orphanage?
How could he and his father look so alike?
She went over and greeted Chen Qiurong, "Grandma."
Chen Qiurong nodded slightly and looked at the little boy beside her, "Sang Yu, call her auntie."
Ji Sangyu glanced at Sang Qian and snorted, turning his head away with a haughty air.
Yet, Sang Qian was taken aback—in that brief moment Ji Sangyu looked at her, she realized his eyes were remarkably similar to those of her daughter.
Both had double eyelids, with big, round eyes full of soul, and their pupils were exceptionally clear and bright.
Chen Qiurong's eyebrows knitted slightly in apparent anger, yet her eyes were filled with indulgence; it was evident she was very fond of her little great-grandson.
She turned to Sang Qian with a solemn voice, "I'll leave him in your care from now on."
Perhaps it was because his name also contained the character "Sang," or because his eyes looked so much like her daughter's, or maybe because he was about the age her son would have been if he hadn't died.
Whatever the reason, Sang Qian felt an inexplicable kinship towards Ji Sangyu.
Even though he made his dislike for her quite obvious, she didn't find it annoying. On the contrary, she thought he was incredibly adorable.
"I will take good care of him," Sang Qian said as she approached, wanting to pat his head.
But Ji Sangyu dodged her hand, wriggling his little backside as he slid off the sofa and hurriedly walked to the door with his short legs, "I'm going to school."
His childish tone was obviously tinged with huffiness.
Chen Qiurong watched her great-grandson disappear through the doorway before turning back to Sang Qian, "Sang Yu is shy with strangers. You'll get along better after spending more time with him."
Sang Qian nodded.
"You are Chengzhou's wife, so all matters concerning his care are now entirely your responsibility. If you take good care of him and Sang Yu, the father and son, I will certainly not let you down," Chen Qiurong said.
"Caring for my husband and child is my duty," Sang Qian replied.
Chen Qiurong was pleased with Sang Qian's well-behaved and sensible demeanor. She had managed the entire wedding ceremony alone the day before without a hitch, despite the absence of the groom, "I have already set in motion the registration and school enrollment for your daughter."
This fulfilled the reason that Sang Qian offered to marry Ji Chengzhou willingly, "Thank you, Grandma, for taking the trouble."
"You mentioned before that staying at home alone is too boring and you would like to work at Bowei Fashion. I've also passed the word there; you can start the job anytime," Chen Qiurong continued.
"Thank you, Grandma."
Chen Qiurong tested the waters, "Otherwise, wouldn't you prefer to work at your own family's company? It's easier to be looked after when your relatives are around."
Bowei Fashion was her father's company. After her father passed away five years ago, Su Miaotong inherited his legacy as his daughter.
It wasn't long before Su Miaotong's biological father, Luo Yutang, took over as the CEO, like a cuckoo usurping the nest.
Going to work at Bowei Fashion was Sang Qian's way to take back her father's company; naturally, she wouldn't agree to Chen Qiurong's suggestion, "Thank you for your kindness, Grandma, but I have limited abilities and fear I wouldn't be fit for any position at the Ji Corporation."
Chen Qiurong nodded in satisfaction, "They have already agreed that you can bring work home. Chengzhou cannot talk to you, and it would be boring for you to just sit with him. It's better to have something to do."
"Okay."
Chen Qiurong gave Sang Qian a few more instructions on taking care of Ji Chengzhou before leaving.
After eating breakfast, Sang Qian returned to the bedroom. According to Chen Qiurong, Ji Chengzhou had to be wiped down twice a day. Before, these tasks were performed by a caretaker, but now they were her duty as his wife.
Fetching a basin of warm water from the bathroom, Sang Qian first wiped Ji Chengzhou's face and hands. When it came time to wipe his body, she paused.
The thought of undressing Ji Chengzhou to clean him made her feel somewhat embarrassed.
But she had to do it—this was going to be a daily chore for her; she might avoid it for a day, but not forever.
He was just a vegetative person, after all. Why make a fuss? It was just like wiping a table.
Besides, she'd greened him out last night; taking care of him could be considered a form of compensation.
Sang Qian psyched herself up for the task and bent down to start unfastening the buttons on Ji Chengzhou's shirt.
After unbuttoning two, the man's sensual collarbone was exposed. Unbuttoning one more would likely reveal his chest.
As she thought this, Sang Qian suddenly remembered how, when being pressured by Song Shijing the night before, she had spitefully scratched at his chest in frustration.
She had been ruthless, likely leaving scratch marks on his skin – it could even have bled.
Why was she thinking about that damned man?
Sang Qian felt annoyed with her wandering thoughts, shook her head to dispel the image of Song Shijing's punch-worthy face from her mind, adjusted her emotions, and looked down, ready to continue unbuttoning.
But as soon as her hands touched the third button, she suddenly felt something staring at her.
Following her intuition, she looked up and found herself crashing into a pair of unfathomable dark eyes.
"Ah!"
Sang Qian screamed, staggering backwards, almost falling to the floor. She steadied herself and ran outside.
He had woken up!
Ji Chengzhou had woken up!