Then he sprang up like a carp flopping around. Giang Chỉ jumped off the bed, a miserable scream ringing out. He staggered like a deflated balloon and face-planted onto the floor. Oh no. Something bad had definitely happened. The doctor pushed up his glasses, his shifty, meaningful eyes darting between us as he pronounced it a minor fracture. Half a month of rest should do it, but absolutely no strenuous activity.
No one could have imagined that my sweet little brother would put walnuts, peanuts, and chestnuts on the bed. They were all hard. The moment Giang Chỉ jumped down, a rock-hard walnut on the floor took dead aim at his ankle. It silently delivered a fatal blow and sent him crashing down.
Our wedding night had successfully escorted him into the hospital ward. I called Quý Sơ Tinh and scolded him. “Other people put peanuts, longans, and red dates on the bed during their wedding nights. Why did you put walnuts and chestnuts on ours? What were you trying to do? Other people hope to have a precious son soon, while your sister was clearly trying to create a nuclear bomb early.”
After chewing out Quý Sơ Tinh, I handed the phone to Giang Chỉ. “I already scolded him for you. Now you’re not allowed to blame me, okay?”
Who could have guessed that Giang Chỉ would put on an understanding expression and say, “Thank you, brother-in-law. I understand your good intentions. Your sister and I will definitely work hard to give you a whole herd of eighteen nieces and nephews someday.”
I immediately ended the call, then kicked his broken leg.
Giang Chỉ’s face twisted with pain. He turned to Huống Vi, who was standing beside him, and begged, “Doctor Vi, help me call the women’s federation and report that I’m being abused by my spouse.”
Huống Vi rolled her eyes. “Ugh, you’re too much.” She shoved both hands into the pockets of her white coat and said, “Don’t put on that CEO’s-best-friend-doctor act with me. Unless you’re about to die, don’t call me. I mean me.”
When Giang Chỉ was in so much pain that he bared his teeth and bugged out his eyes, the first person I thought of was Doctor Huống Vi. Unfortunately, she worked in the emergency department, where they didn’t treat minor ailments—they only saved lives.
Giang Chỉ looked at me with tears in his eyes. “It’s all my wife’s fault. She’s way too high-strung.”
Before he could finish, a voice suddenly cut across his words.
A girl in a modest, elegant dress stood at the clinic door. She removed her mask and baseball cap, then gently swept back her long hair, revealing a delicate, gentle face and reddened eyes as she asked, “Brother Giang Chỉ, are you sick?”
She was the hottest rising young actress in the industry: Lục Vãn Lăng.
I was pretty familiar with her too. She had both the looks and the acting skills. Every movie she appeared in received great reviews. Giang Chỉ had devoted three years to supporting her, and now her fame was soaring. She was already a strong contender for the upcoming Best Actress award.
I knew her because I was the one who had introduced her to Giang Chỉ.
Lục Vãn Lăng hurried inside, her eyes immediately filling with tears. “Brother Giang Chỉ, how did you hurt your ankle? Is it serious?”
Giang Chỉ frowned. “Why did you come all the way to the hospital instead of filming on set?”
Lục Vãn Lăng examined his carefully bandaged ankle and asked the doctor whether it was serious, how long it would take to heal, whether he needed to avoid spicy food, and when the cast could be removed.
Huống Vi nudged my arm, her expression dark and unreadable.
Giang Chỉ followed her gaze.
The doctor stopped writing the prescription, perked up his ears, and asked, “Who am I supposed to give instructions to?”
Giang Chỉ and I pointed at each other at the same time and said, “Her.”
I pointed at Lục Vãn Lăng, while Giang Chỉ pointed straight at me.
Without missing a beat, Giang Chỉ put on a pained expression and complained, “Honey, you don’t care about me anymore?”
He staggered to his feet, conveniently dodging Lục Vãn Lăng’s hand as she reached out to support him.
Lục Vãn Lăng said, “Brother Giang Chỉ, let me help you.”
Huống Vi gave a cold laugh. “Huh. This is interesting.”
Lục Vãn Lăng’s expression shifted slightly, but she quickly composed herself. “Brother Giang Chỉ, just let me take care of you.” She lowered her head, looking a little melancholy.
Giang Chỉ pulled his hand back, then draped an arm over my shoulder and edged over to stand beside me. “The Golden Statue Award ceremony is coming up. You should focus on preparing for it.”
Lục Vãn Lăng immediately lifted her head. Her gaze swept over me, and her eyes shone brightly. “I’ll definitely work hard and win Best Actress.”