The Marriage Harbor CH7
Chapter 7: "I Don’t Have Anyone Else. I Won’t Put a Green Hat on You."
The voice on the other end had been calm, almost unnaturally so. One could easily imagine the composed expression behind it. Yet Mu Yun still caught something beneath the surface. A detached scrutiny. Perhaps even a subtle assertion of territory.
The caller ID read: [President Tang]
So distant.
"Mr. Tang, Jiang Bin is currently in the hospital." Mu Yun replied, his emotions complex. He gave the address and ended the call.
By the third busy tone, Tang Zhisong had already come back to himself.
A faint river breeze drifted through the window. For a moment, his fingertips felt oddly empty, as if something were slipping through them like shifting sand. His gaze drifted back outside.
Assistant Li had already arranged the two bouquets of roses. The terrace, usually a stark space of modern furniture meant for hosting, had never seen greenery before. The vases had been sent over on short notice, looking almost out of place. Now, the roses swayed in the night wind, a soft splash of color against the cold, minimalist apartment.
Tang Zhishong watched them in silence. Then, he grabbed his coat and headed out.
* * *
With work weighing on her mind, Jiang Bin didn't sleep for long.
She opened her eyes blearily to the sight of a sterile white ceiling. After a moment, she sensed a figure in her peripheral vision. She shifted her gaze.
A man in a black tailored suit sat on the sofa with elegant composure, a laptop resting on his lap. From her angle, the dim ceiling light caught the sharp line of his throat and the slight, rhythmic movement of his jaw as he worked. There was a restrained, almost lethal sensuality in his focus.
His elite aura felt out of place in the simply furnished hospital room.
In the final half hour of Qixi Festival, Jiang Bin and Tang Zhishong still ended up meeting.
She blinked, unsure if she was imagining it, then slowly sat up.
“Presi…” She stopped. The words "President Tang" nearly slipped out, but she swallowed them. They had rings and a marriage certificate; "President Tang" felt too distant, yet calling him by his full name felt impolite. As for "Zhisong" or "Husband"...she couldn't bring herself to say them.
“Mr. Tang… why are you here?”
Tang Zhisong lifted his eyes. For a moment, he did not respond. He had asked himself the same question on the way over. Legally, he was her husband. If she was in the hospital, he should be here, by logic and by etiquette.
Or perhaps it was because of that call.
His handsome face remained unreadable.
"The Southwest branch couldn't reach you," he said calmly. "The tech department needs your authorization."
Alright, Understood. It was about work.
Jiang Bin immediately reached for her laptop.
“I’ll handle it now.”
The laptop was on a side table where Mu Yun had left it. She missed it on her first try, so Tang Zhisong stood up, slid the table closer, and handed it to her. As she took it, their fingers brushed. Her skin was icy.
Tang Zhisong’s brow twitched slightly as he glanced at her IV drip.
"How are you feeling?"
Jiang Bin wasn't used to showing weakness in front of him.
"Just a minor reaction to some crawfish, nothing serious." she said dismissively while typing her password.
Within minutes, she logged into the internal system and granted the authorization. She sent a voice message to the regional head.
[It’s done.]
The words were meant for Tang Zhisong’s ears as well. Since she had vomited her entire dinner, she was starting to feel hungry and planned to order a late-night snack once he left.
But Tang Zhisong went back to his work, showing no intention of leaving. Since he had come all this way, she felt she had to be a good host.
“Would you like something to drink?”
She owned shares in this hospital. This was her private suite, fully equipped.
Tang Zhisong took off his glasses and looked at her, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
"No, thank you."
Without his glasses, his face was flawless from every angle. His eyes didn't look like they actually needed a prescription so she quietly wondered why he wore them at all. Since he wasn't drinking, she sat still, curiosity finally getting the better of her.
"How did you know I was in the hospital?"
This time, when he looked at her, his gaze held something unreadable. He paused briefly before answering.
“A man answered your phone.”
Ordinary doctors did not answer patients’ phones. Jiang Bin understood the implication immediately.
Valentine's Day, late at night, and then a man answering her phone... just imagining it was enough to guess his mood at the time. He didn’t have feelings for her so jealousy was unlikely but no man wants to be a cuckold.
She cleared her throat.
“That was my cousin, Mu Yun. He’s my uncle's adoptive son and the Director of this hospital.”
"Thank you, Mom." Jiang Bin said sincerely. This kind of affection that required nothing in return was a rarity in her life.
"This place is a bit small, though." Madam Tang quietly remarked.
Small? A 600 square meter penthouse?
Jiang Bin caught the hint but pretended not to.
After lunch, Madam Tang sent a dozen photos to her phone.
"Your grandfather wants to give you two a wedding house. It’ll be in your name. Pick whichever one you like."
The message was clear: a couple that lives apart won't last. Living together was the only way to make this marriage real.
Jiang Bin scrolled through the luxury listings. She had treated this marriage like a business project, promising not to interfere with Tang Zhisong's life. But family expectations were pulling the project off-course. She didn't mind the idea of living with him, but she wasn't going to be the one to ask. In business, whoever makes the first move loses the upper hand.
She had no intention of losing.
"These are all lovely. I'll discuss it with Zhisong." She said, though she had no intention of asking him.
Madam Tang knew a girl had to be reserved. She didn't push. But the moment she got into her car, she messaged her son.
[I sent the photos of the wedding houses to Binbin. Help her choose and take her to see them. You're the man, you need to be proactive.]
The message sat on "delivered" for a long time without a reply.
Translator's Notes:
The voice on the other end had been calm, almost unnaturally so. One could easily imagine the composed expression behind it. Yet Mu Yun still caught something beneath the surface. A detached scrutiny. Perhaps even a subtle assertion of territory.
The caller ID read: [President Tang]
So distant.
"Mr. Tang, Jiang Bin is currently in the hospital." Mu Yun replied, his emotions complex. He gave the address and ended the call.
By the third busy tone, Tang Zhisong had already come back to himself.
A faint river breeze drifted through the window. For a moment, his fingertips felt oddly empty, as if something were slipping through them like shifting sand. His gaze drifted back outside.
Assistant Li had already arranged the two bouquets of roses. The terrace, usually a stark space of modern furniture meant for hosting, had never seen greenery before. The vases had been sent over on short notice, looking almost out of place. Now, the roses swayed in the night wind, a soft splash of color against the cold, minimalist apartment.
Tang Zhishong watched them in silence. Then, he grabbed his coat and headed out.
* * *
With work weighing on her mind, Jiang Bin didn't sleep for long.
She opened her eyes blearily to the sight of a sterile white ceiling. After a moment, she sensed a figure in her peripheral vision. She shifted her gaze.
A man in a black tailored suit sat on the sofa with elegant composure, a laptop resting on his lap. From her angle, the dim ceiling light caught the sharp line of his throat and the slight, rhythmic movement of his jaw as he worked. There was a restrained, almost lethal sensuality in his focus.
His elite aura felt out of place in the simply furnished hospital room.
In the final half hour of Qixi Festival, Jiang Bin and Tang Zhishong still ended up meeting.
She blinked, unsure if she was imagining it, then slowly sat up.
“Presi…” She stopped. The words "President Tang" nearly slipped out, but she swallowed them. They had rings and a marriage certificate; "President Tang" felt too distant, yet calling him by his full name felt impolite. As for "Zhisong" or "Husband"...she couldn't bring herself to say them.
“Mr. Tang… why are you here?”
Tang Zhisong lifted his eyes. For a moment, he did not respond. He had asked himself the same question on the way over. Legally, he was her husband. If she was in the hospital, he should be here, by logic and by etiquette.
Or perhaps it was because of that call.
His handsome face remained unreadable.
"The Southwest branch couldn't reach you," he said calmly. "The tech department needs your authorization."
Alright, Understood. It was about work.
Jiang Bin immediately reached for her laptop.
“I’ll handle it now.”
The laptop was on a side table where Mu Yun had left it. She missed it on her first try, so Tang Zhisong stood up, slid the table closer, and handed it to her. As she took it, their fingers brushed. Her skin was icy.
Tang Zhisong’s brow twitched slightly as he glanced at her IV drip.
"How are you feeling?"
Jiang Bin wasn't used to showing weakness in front of him.
"Just a minor reaction to some crawfish, nothing serious." she said dismissively while typing her password.
Within minutes, she logged into the internal system and granted the authorization. She sent a voice message to the regional head.
[It’s done.]
The words were meant for Tang Zhisong’s ears as well. Since she had vomited her entire dinner, she was starting to feel hungry and planned to order a late-night snack once he left.
But Tang Zhisong went back to his work, showing no intention of leaving. Since he had come all this way, she felt she had to be a good host.
“Would you like something to drink?”
She owned shares in this hospital. This was her private suite, fully equipped.
Tang Zhisong took off his glasses and looked at her, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
"No, thank you."
Without his glasses, his face was flawless from every angle. His eyes didn't look like they actually needed a prescription so she quietly wondered why he wore them at all. Since he wasn't drinking, she sat still, curiosity finally getting the better of her.
"How did you know I was in the hospital?"
This time, when he looked at her, his gaze held something unreadable. He paused briefly before answering.
“A man answered your phone.”
Ordinary doctors did not answer patients’ phones. Jiang Bin understood the implication immediately.
Valentine's Day, late at night, and then a man answering her phone... just imagining it was enough to guess his mood at the time. He didn’t have feelings for her so jealousy was unlikely but no man wants to be a cuckold.
She cleared her throat.
“That was my cousin, Mu Yun. He’s my uncle's adoptive son and the Director of this hospital.”
After a brief pause, she added evenly, “I don’t have anyone else. I won’t put a green hat on you.”
Tang Zhishong’s gaze shifted back to the laptop. His fingers flew across the keyboard, his expression finally softening slightly.
“Neither do I. I won’t betray the marriage.”
Jiang Bin wasn't surprised. If he had someone else, he wouldn't have married her. Whether his last sentence was a deliberate promise or not, she thought of her own parents and fell silent. Their initial agreement was not to interfere in each other's lives, yet here they were, being honest about their romantic status for the first time. Perhaps that was a good sign.
A knock interrupted the silence.
Tang Zhishong set his laptop aside. A doctor stood before him in a crisp white coat, his tall and lean frame carrying an air of quiet confidence. The familiarity in his gaze was enough to confirm Tang Zhishong’s suspicion that this was Mu Yun.
“Doctor Mu.”
“Mr. Tang.”
Tang Zhisong stepped aside with a faint, relaxed smile.
"Thank you for looking after my wife today, Doctor Mu." His voice was crisp, his posture effortless.
Mu Yun paused. He knew Tang Zhisong was aware he was Jiang Bin’s cousin and yet Tang Zhisong had thanked him as if he were an outsider. With that single sentence, he had drawn a clear line between the husband and the mere relative. He really was a master of subtle power plays.
Mu Yun didn't enter. He simply handed over the takeout and a clear pillbox.
"Make sure she eats before taking her medicine." He nodded to Tang Zhisong and turned to leave.
Jiang Bin observed the exchange in silence.
Tang Zhisong closed the door and placed the takeout beside the bed. He adjusted the tray table and poured a glass of water for her medicine. She watched his awkward movements, clearly unaccustomed to playing the caretaker.
“Thank you.” she said softly.
As she opened the containers, she looked at him.
"I'm fine now. It's late, you should go back and rest." Having him here made her incredibly restless.
Tang Zhisong sat back down with his laptop.
"No rush. I'll wait a while."
Jiang Bin assumed he was waiting for her to finish eating. The silence was thick with awkwardness. Trying to ease it, she changed the subject.
“I heard WestTech is about to release a new product?”
WestTech was a leading American chip manufacturer and a direct competitor to Ningsheng Technology. Since romance was impossible between them, work was the only common ground they had.
Tang Zhisong paused.
"Yes. Their stock is worth buying for now."
For now?
WestTech was a legendary "blue-chip" stock. The implication of his words was heavy with hidden meaning. Since it involved business secrets, Jiang Bin wisely pivoted to their upcoming collaboration on smart home integration.
Ten minutes later, she finished eating and took her medication.
There was another knock and a nurse in a high-end uniform entered. She bowed respectfully.
"President Tang."
The Tang family had their own elite medical team. On his way over, Tang Zhisong had already arranged for his people to take over her care. As a husband, he would fulfill his duties but he couldn't stay the night.
Jiang Bin realized then that when he said he would "wait a while" he was waiting for the professional help to arrive. It wasn’t necessary but since she was already here, she didn’t refuse.
Tang Zhisong gave the nurse a few instructions and packed his laptop.
“Will you stay hospitalized tomorrow?” He asked as he stood up.
"I’ll probably go to the office to work." She replied. She had no weekends.
He looked at her pale face.
"Call me if you need anything."
His gaze drifted to her phone. He wondered how she had him listed in her contacts, otherwise, why hadn't her cousin recognized his name?
“Happy Qixi.” He quietly said as he left and closed the door.
Remembering his gaze, Jiang Bin looked at her phone and checked the call log. It still displayed [President Tang]
Ah. Who would label their husband so distantly?
No wonder Mu Yun hadn’t recognized it. She immediately changed it to [Tang Zhishong].
* * *
The next morning, Jiang Bin showered, changed, and went to the office fully recharged. Her driver, Uncle Liu, picked her up in a black Bentley. He had been her grandfather’s driver and had stayed with her ever since the accident. She viewed him as family.
Uncle Liu grumbled all the way.
"Why didn't you call me last night? What if something happened?"
The car accident that killed her grandfather was still a thorn in his heart.
"Mu Yun was there so I didn't want to bother you." She laughed.
Halfway to the office, her stomach began to ache. Realizing her period had actually started, she turned back home.
"Uncle Liu, let's go back. I'll stay at home today. You go ahead and rest."
Back at the apartment, she took the herbal medicine Mu Yun had prepared, changed into loungewear, and began reviewing approvals in the study. Grandpa Qiu messaged her about WestTech's chip launch and the surge in stock price. Offering to help her buy on her behalf. She agreed.
At 11:00 AM, Madam Tang called.
“Binbin, A-Song said you weren’t feeling well. I’m coming to see you. Where are you?”
“I’m fine, Mom. Just resting at home.”
“Send me your location. I’m already on the way.”
Jiang Bin quickly changed out of her loungewear into something presentable. Twenty minutes later, Madam Tang arrived with a small army: a head chef, an assistant chef, and another female assistant pushing a cart filled with fresh, air-flown ingredients. The Tang family owned their own fisheries and orchards so every meal was at the level of a private luxury banquet.
“Mom, that was fast.” Jiang Bin said, surprised.
“Not too bad. It’s the weekend, traffic wasn’t heavy.”
While the chefs took over the kitchen, Jiang Bin showed Madam Tang around the 600-square-meter penthouse. She usually didn't let people come upstairs, but she made an exception for her mother-in-law.
With permission, the older woman asked her assistant to take note on Jiang Bin’s favorite brands and skincare, wanting to treat her like the daughter she never had. She then saw Jiang Bin’s four walk-in closets. Though Jiang Chengxiao only gave her a salary of 10 million a year to try and force her into a quiet life, Jiang Bin lived off her grandfather’s inheritance and her own investments.
"I'll arrange for someone to come and measure you for custom gowns tomorrow," Madam Tang said.
Tang Zhishong’s gaze shifted back to the laptop. His fingers flew across the keyboard, his expression finally softening slightly.
“Neither do I. I won’t betray the marriage.”
Jiang Bin wasn't surprised. If he had someone else, he wouldn't have married her. Whether his last sentence was a deliberate promise or not, she thought of her own parents and fell silent. Their initial agreement was not to interfere in each other's lives, yet here they were, being honest about their romantic status for the first time. Perhaps that was a good sign.
A knock interrupted the silence.
Tang Zhishong set his laptop aside. A doctor stood before him in a crisp white coat, his tall and lean frame carrying an air of quiet confidence. The familiarity in his gaze was enough to confirm Tang Zhishong’s suspicion that this was Mu Yun.
“Doctor Mu.”
“Mr. Tang.”
Tang Zhisong stepped aside with a faint, relaxed smile.
"Thank you for looking after my wife today, Doctor Mu." His voice was crisp, his posture effortless.
Mu Yun paused. He knew Tang Zhisong was aware he was Jiang Bin’s cousin and yet Tang Zhisong had thanked him as if he were an outsider. With that single sentence, he had drawn a clear line between the husband and the mere relative. He really was a master of subtle power plays.
Mu Yun didn't enter. He simply handed over the takeout and a clear pillbox.
"Make sure she eats before taking her medicine." He nodded to Tang Zhisong and turned to leave.
Jiang Bin observed the exchange in silence.
Tang Zhisong closed the door and placed the takeout beside the bed. He adjusted the tray table and poured a glass of water for her medicine. She watched his awkward movements, clearly unaccustomed to playing the caretaker.
“Thank you.” she said softly.
As she opened the containers, she looked at him.
"I'm fine now. It's late, you should go back and rest." Having him here made her incredibly restless.
Tang Zhisong sat back down with his laptop.
"No rush. I'll wait a while."
Jiang Bin assumed he was waiting for her to finish eating. The silence was thick with awkwardness. Trying to ease it, she changed the subject.
“I heard WestTech is about to release a new product?”
WestTech was a leading American chip manufacturer and a direct competitor to Ningsheng Technology. Since romance was impossible between them, work was the only common ground they had.
Tang Zhisong paused.
"Yes. Their stock is worth buying for now."
For now?
WestTech was a legendary "blue-chip" stock. The implication of his words was heavy with hidden meaning. Since it involved business secrets, Jiang Bin wisely pivoted to their upcoming collaboration on smart home integration.
Ten minutes later, she finished eating and took her medication.
There was another knock and a nurse in a high-end uniform entered. She bowed respectfully.
"President Tang."
The Tang family had their own elite medical team. On his way over, Tang Zhisong had already arranged for his people to take over her care. As a husband, he would fulfill his duties but he couldn't stay the night.
Jiang Bin realized then that when he said he would "wait a while" he was waiting for the professional help to arrive. It wasn’t necessary but since she was already here, she didn’t refuse.
Tang Zhisong gave the nurse a few instructions and packed his laptop.
“Will you stay hospitalized tomorrow?” He asked as he stood up.
"I’ll probably go to the office to work." She replied. She had no weekends.
He looked at her pale face.
"Call me if you need anything."
His gaze drifted to her phone. He wondered how she had him listed in her contacts, otherwise, why hadn't her cousin recognized his name?
“Happy Qixi.” He quietly said as he left and closed the door.
Remembering his gaze, Jiang Bin looked at her phone and checked the call log. It still displayed [President Tang]
Ah. Who would label their husband so distantly?
No wonder Mu Yun hadn’t recognized it. She immediately changed it to [Tang Zhishong].
* * *
The next morning, Jiang Bin showered, changed, and went to the office fully recharged. Her driver, Uncle Liu, picked her up in a black Bentley. He had been her grandfather’s driver and had stayed with her ever since the accident. She viewed him as family.
Uncle Liu grumbled all the way.
"Why didn't you call me last night? What if something happened?"
The car accident that killed her grandfather was still a thorn in his heart.
"Mu Yun was there so I didn't want to bother you." She laughed.
Halfway to the office, her stomach began to ache. Realizing her period had actually started, she turned back home.
"Uncle Liu, let's go back. I'll stay at home today. You go ahead and rest."
Back at the apartment, she took the herbal medicine Mu Yun had prepared, changed into loungewear, and began reviewing approvals in the study. Grandpa Qiu messaged her about WestTech's chip launch and the surge in stock price. Offering to help her buy on her behalf. She agreed.
At 11:00 AM, Madam Tang called.
“Binbin, A-Song said you weren’t feeling well. I’m coming to see you. Where are you?”
“I’m fine, Mom. Just resting at home.”
“Send me your location. I’m already on the way.”
Jiang Bin quickly changed out of her loungewear into something presentable. Twenty minutes later, Madam Tang arrived with a small army: a head chef, an assistant chef, and another female assistant pushing a cart filled with fresh, air-flown ingredients. The Tang family owned their own fisheries and orchards so every meal was at the level of a private luxury banquet.
“Mom, that was fast.” Jiang Bin said, surprised.
“Not too bad. It’s the weekend, traffic wasn’t heavy.”
While the chefs took over the kitchen, Jiang Bin showed Madam Tang around the 600-square-meter penthouse. She usually didn't let people come upstairs, but she made an exception for her mother-in-law.
With permission, the older woman asked her assistant to take note on Jiang Bin’s favorite brands and skincare, wanting to treat her like the daughter she never had. She then saw Jiang Bin’s four walk-in closets. Though Jiang Chengxiao only gave her a salary of 10 million a year to try and force her into a quiet life, Jiang Bin lived off her grandfather’s inheritance and her own investments.
"I'll arrange for someone to come and measure you for custom gowns tomorrow," Madam Tang said.
"You have many events and you can't wear the same thing twice."
"Thank you, Mom." Jiang Bin said sincerely. This kind of affection that required nothing in return was a rarity in her life.
"This place is a bit small, though." Madam Tang quietly remarked.
Small? A 600 square meter penthouse?
Jiang Bin caught the hint but pretended not to.
After lunch, Madam Tang sent a dozen photos to her phone.
"Your grandfather wants to give you two a wedding house. It’ll be in your name. Pick whichever one you like."
The message was clear: a couple that lives apart won't last. Living together was the only way to make this marriage real.
Jiang Bin scrolled through the luxury listings. She had treated this marriage like a business project, promising not to interfere with Tang Zhisong's life. But family expectations were pulling the project off-course. She didn't mind the idea of living with him, but she wasn't going to be the one to ask. In business, whoever makes the first move loses the upper hand.
She had no intention of losing.
"These are all lovely. I'll discuss it with Zhisong." She said, though she had no intention of asking him.
Madam Tang knew a girl had to be reserved. She didn't push. But the moment she got into her car, she messaged her son.
[I sent the photos of the wedding houses to Binbin. Help her choose and take her to see them. You're the man, you need to be proactive.]
The message sat on "delivered" for a long time without a reply.
Translator's Notes:
- “putting a green hat on someone” (给某人戴绿帽子): The phrase comes from the idiom 戴绿帽子 (dài lǜ màozi), literally “to wear a green hat,” which means a man has been cheated on by his partner.
- 威斯特 (Wēisītè) is a transliteration of “West,” a fictional American semiconductor company created for the novel. I changed the name to "WestTech" so I don't get confused when translating.
- A "blue-chip" stock is a share in a high-quality, financially stable, and nationally recognized market leader. In short: Stable, high-value, and reliable.
- A-Song: Tang Zhisong's nickname. The Chinese "A-" (阿/ Ah) prefix is added to names to signify familiarity, affection, and informality, acting as a friendly nickname rather than part of a formal name.
Comments
Post a Comment