Chapter 25: The Scar

Shen Suining truly loved her career. Especially now, having made up her mind to divorce Jiang Runlang, her career had become even more significant to her. Yet, she had always held the belief that her professional life was her own private matter. Hearing Jiang Ji say that he would support her unconditionally genuinely moved her.

Suppressing the surge of emotion in her heart, Shen Suining said to him, "Thank you." Regardless of the circumstances, the feeling of being supported was wonderful.

Jiang Ji reached out to gently stroke the top of her head, his voice deep as he said, "So, Sui-Sui, whenever you make a decision or have any plans, you can tell me directly, okay?" He was completely open with her, and naturally, he hoped for the same in return.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Shen Suining’s eyes. After a long moment, she replied, "I’ve already booked my flight; I need to head to the airport soon."

Although he had already guessed as much, hearing Shen Suining say it aloud still left Jiang Ji feeling a sense of loss. How much, he wondered, did his Sui-Sui really not want to be with him, that she would choose to leave in the middle of the night?

Jiang Ji fell silent, leaving Shen Suining feeling flustered. She was a deeply sensitive person, always worrying that she might be causing others unhappiness. Especially after five years of marriage to Jiang Runlang, she had become a shadow of her former self. Jiang Ji’s silence now made her anxious; she nervously clenched her fingers, wanting to say something, yet unable to find the words.

After what felt like an eternity, Jiang Ji spoke: "Reschedule the flight, will you?"

Shen Suining blinked, stunned. "What?"

"Change the flight, okay?" Jiang Ji continued. "Get a good night’s sleep first, then leave when you’ve rested, alright?"

For some reason, Shen Suining felt as though she heard a hint of pleading in Jiang Ji’s tone. She wasn't sure if she had misheard. She opened her mouth to speak, but ultimately declined: "You just said you would support me."

Jiang Ji sighed helplessly. "I just don't want you to sacrifice your sleep and wear yourself out like this." It went without saying that once she landed, she would rush straight back to work without resting at all. How could he not be worried?

Shen Suining was not someone who didn't appreciate kindness; she could intuitively feel the care Jiang Ji had for her. Not daring to meet his gaze, she lowered her eyes and mumbled, "I’m used to it." In her line of work, she often lost track of time; to her, this was nothing.

Jiang Ji insisted, "Just this once, please?"

Shen Suining was most helpless against this kind of attitude. If Jiang Ji had forcefully demanded she reschedule, she might have flatly refused. But because he was using such a gentle tone, offering advice out of concern for her, she found it impossible to say no. Of course, it also helped that she still had two days left of her leave; she wasn't actually in a rush to return.

So, Shen Suining nodded and said, "Alright."

The corners of Jiang Ji’s lips curled upward; he found her so adorable it was nearly unbearable. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her deeply. Shen Suining felt her mind go blank, and she didn't even realize when Jiang Ji had picked her up.

Jiang Ji held her with one arm, his long limb wrapped firmly around her waist, prompting her legs to naturally wrap around his sides. His other hand held the glass of warm water he had poured for her earlier, and he walked steadily toward the master bedroom.

It wasn't until her back hit the soft mattress that Shen Suining suddenly realized what she was doing with Jiang Ji. She grew instantly uncomfortable, pressing her hands against his shoulders to push him away. However, Jiang Ji was kissing her with such intensity—as if he longed to swallow her whole—that her meager strength couldn't budge him in the slightest.

Just as his hand slid beneath the hem of her shirt, the warmth of his palm shocked Shen Suining back to reality. She pinned his hand down and pleaded in a low voice, "Don't..."

Jiang Ji propped himself up, his burning gaze fixed on her. Seeing the genuine look of resistance, he felt a sting of hurt. But he would never force her; he had always wanted her to come to him willingly. He tenderly kissed her forehead and soothed her, "I will wait for the day you are ready, Sui-Sui."

Shen Suining turned her face away in a panic; she truly did not want to discuss this with him. At that exact moment, her phone rang. She had adjusted the volume when she was booking her flight, and the sudden sound startled her.

She immediately pushed Jiang Ji away to find her phone. She didn't notice that because her shirt had been pulled up by Jiang Ji, her midriff was now clearly exposed to his sight.

A jagged, hideous scar caught Jiang Ji’s eyes, causing his breath to hitch. It was the C-section scar from when she gave birth to Jiang Yinuo, a consequence of the difficult delivery. He had never imagined it would be so long and deep. His eyes instantly reddened.

The lingering, romantic atmosphere vanished in an instant, replaced by an overwhelming sense of heartache. Jiang Ji knew that the timid, cowardly personality Shen Suining had developed over these years was in no small part tied to this scar.

Shen Suining did not notice the shift in his mood. She had found her phone and sat up on the bed. Just as she was about to answer the call, Jiang Ji suddenly got off the bed and knelt before her.

Shen Suining looked at him, bewildered, forgetting the phone in her hand. She watched as Jiang Ji rolled up the hem of her shirt, bowed his head, and pressed a deep, lingering kiss onto the scar on her stomach.

Shen Suining’s lips parted in surprise; her mind went blank, and she completely forgot how to react. The phone, which had stopped ringing, began to chime again a few seconds later, snapping her out of her shock.

She hastily pushed Jiang Ji away and scrambled to pull her shirt down. Jiang Ji was caught off guard and stumbled, landing on the floor. Shen Suining, however, had no time to spare; she clutched her phone and rushed onto the balcony.

After taking a deep breath, she answered the call. A stranger’s voice sounded on the other end: "Is this Ms. Shen Suining?"

Shen Suining acknowledged it and asked, "May I ask who this is?"

The person replied, "Ms. Shen, I am the new attending physician for your grandmother. Her condition is currently not optimistic. Please come to the hospital immediately."

The moment she heard the word "grandmother," a ringing sound filled Shen Suining’s ears. All color drained from her face, and she hurriedly replied, "I’m coming right now!"

Without waiting for another word, she rushed back into the room and bolted toward the door.