Chapter Thirty-Nine: Medicine for the Heart

Han Ning hugged a pillow, lying on the desk, her tears flowing like rain, the emotions she had been accumulating for so long finally erupting at this moment.

Outsiders only saw the aura that surrounded her, but had no inkling of the bitterness and sorrow hidden behind those dazzling halos. In truth, deep down, Han Ning wished she were born to an ordinary family, living a carefree, uneventful life.

Just then, the door was knocked several times.

Han Ning stopped crying, wiped her eyes with a wet tissue, and, with reddened eyes, went to open the door.

She expected to see Madam Wang, but instead, Yang Jiekai stood before her, his face beaming, holding a tray of peculiar things.

“Is there something you need?” Han Ning, still grateful for Yang Jiekai’s earlier actions, found herself less annoyed by his presence, though her tone remained cold.

“No, I just came to deliver some medicine,” Yang Jiekai raised the tray, saying, “You’re suffering from a heartache, so I’ve specially prepared a remedy for your heart. Take it, and your troubles will be cured.”

“Heart medicine?”

Han Ning looked curiously at the neatly sliced bananas on the tray. Yang Jiekai smiled, “What, are you going to leave me standing at the door?”

Han Ning hesitated, then reluctantly let Yang Jiekai in. He strode over to a chair, sat down with abandon, stabbed a piece of banana with a fork, dipped it in wasabi and chili sauce, and offered it to Han Ning, “Eat it. Once you do, you’ll feel better.”

Han Ning eyed the bizarre concoction, knowing without tasting how dreadful it must be, and frowned, “I won’t eat it!”

“Really?”

“Not even if you threaten me!”

“Well, that’s your choice,” Yang Jiekai put the fork back on the tray, stood up, and began loosening his belt with a wicked grin.

“What are you doing?” Han Ning was startled by his actions, instinctively shielding herself and stepping back.

“Nothing,” Yang Jiekai grinned as he moved closer, “You have two options: eat the medicine, or fulfill your wifely duties. You know I’m capable of anything.”

Han Ning’s face turned pale, recalling the time he robbed her, and hurriedly said, “Don’t come any closer. I’ll eat it!”

“That’s better!” Yang Jiekai fastened his belt again, picked up the fork, and handed it to Han Ning, “Go ahead. Once you finish, you’ll feel the effects.”

Han Ning, though inwardly unwilling, had no choice. She frowned, took a bite of the banana slathered in wasabi and chili sauce.

The moment it touched her tongue, a fiery heat rushed straight to her head, mingling with the banana’s flavor in a strange combination. Under Yang Jiekai’s “coercion,” she could only grit her teeth, chew it thoroughly, and swallow.

Banana with chili sauce and wasabi—anyone could guess how awful that tasted. If there was a contest for the worst dish, this would surely be among the winners.

“Feeling better?” Yang Jiekai smiled at Han Ning, whose face was flushed red from the spiciness.

Han Ning gulped down several mouthfuls of water, took a deep breath, and realized that after the sharp assault of that bizarre taste, her mood had indeed lightened.

“Sit,” Yang Jiekai gestured for her to take a seat, as if it were his own room, then took a deep breath, “Are you feeling wronged?”

At his words, Han Ning recalled her tragic fate and those relatives who constantly sought to bully her, but after the chili sauce’s impact, her mood was not as bleak.

“To be honest, I envy you. If I were you, I’d be so happy I’d announce it to the whole world,” Yang Jiekai looked at her, his expression earnest.

Han Ning gave a bitter smile, “You only see the glamorous side of me.”

Yang Jiekai shook his head, “The reason I envy you isn’t because of your wealth, but your background. Madam Wang told me about your misfortunes, but to me, you’re blessed without realizing it.”

Han Ning smiled bitterly and said nothing. Blessed without realizing it? If her life was considered fortunate, then nothing in the world could be called tragic.

She always believed fate was unfair, always saw herself as a pitiful creature.

Yang Jiekai sensed her thoughts and sighed, “Let me tell you something: Many people complain about their shoes, yet never realize some have no legs at all.”

“Let me tell you a story. Once, there was a boy abandoned by his parents at birth, taken away by a wolf, and raised among wolves. By the age of six, he ate raw meat and slept in tree hollows like the wolves.”

“One day, he was discovered and rescued from the wolves, gradually learning to walk upright and tasting his first cooked meal. Only then did he realize he wasn’t a wolf, but a human.”

“Later, the boy was raised, living each day as if it were his last amid battlefields. Eventually, he amassed great wealth, but felt no happiness. Do you know why?”

Yang Jiekai continued, “Because he lacked the most important thing—warmth. No one truly cared for him; he was merely a tool for others to make money. His greatest dream was to have a home, friends, relatives—even simple meals would be a blessing.”

“Yet, I despise a certain kind of person!” Yang Jiekai suddenly raised his voice, pointing at Han Ning, “People like you, raised in luxury, loved by others, yet constantly complaining. Do you know, while you grumble, many are struggling for their lives? While you complain, countless others can’t even fill their stomachs! How can people like you not be hated?”

His words were passionate, each syllable heartfelt. In this peaceful nation, there were too many who took their blessings for granted and spent their days complaining.

All these grievances and sorrows—compared to life and death, what do they amount to?

Han Ning opened her mouth, but no words came. Yang Jiekai snorted, stood up, and left.

At the doorway, Han Ning finally summoned her courage, “Wait.”

“Speak!” Yang Jiekai, recalling his own memories from the conversation, felt unsettled.

Han Ning stood and softly said, “Thank you.”

Yang Jiekai smiled, turned back with a gentle expression, “No need to thank me. Rest early, take care of yourself. Let me leave you with one last thought: In this world, except for life and death, everything else is trivial.”

With that, he whistled as he leisurely departed Han Ning’s room.

As always, Han Ning rose promptly at six, spent half an hour dressing and washing, fashioned her hair into a simple yet elegant bun, slung her purse over her shoulder, and headed downstairs for breakfast. At the stairway, she saw Yang Jiekai and Madam Wang sitting on the sofa, discussing the morning news on TV.

“Son-in-law, do you think the rumors about zombies on the mountain are true? It sounds frightening—the army came,” Madam Wang asked.

Yang Jiekai gnawed on a steamed bun, speaking between bites, “What zombies? Just gossip. The news says the troops are there for military exercises.”

“I’m not so sure,” Madam Wang insisted, “Just after the zombie rumors, the army showed up. I’ve lived in Anhai City for years and never heard of exercises on the mountain. It must be connected to the zombies!”

Han Ning descended the stairs, glanced at the news headline, and frowned slightly at Madam Wang’s words, “Madam Wang, how can you believe such rumors? There are no zombies in this world.” With that, she walked toward the dining table.

“My wife is right, there are no zombies,” Yang Jiekai said, watching Han Ning approach. Though she paid him no attention, he could still catch a whiff of her pleasant fragrance.

Han Ning had long grown numb to Yang Jiekai’s shamelessness, so she said nothing, merely shot him a glare from the corner of her eye and continued toward the table.

Yang Jiekai, accustomed to her coldness, stuffed the remaining half of his bun into his mouth.

“Madam Wang, I’m off to work,” he called indistinctly as he strolled out the door.

“Hmm?” Han Ning, approaching the table, noticed that besides a bowl of millet porridge and a few slices of bread, there was a covered metal bowl. She wondered aloud, “Madam Wang, what’s under here? Is it today’s breakfast too?” She turned to ask, puzzled, as Madam Wang always kept the house tidy and never left leftovers on the table, making the covered dish unusual.

Madam Wang smiled mysteriously, “It’s something the son-in-law prepared just for you. I don’t know what it is, but he said you’d love it. Seems he really cares for you.” With that, she went off to tidy the kitchen, leaving Han Ning in confusion.

Han Ning eyed the gleaming metal cover, wondering if that rogue was up to some trick again.

After some consideration, her curiosity got the better of her. Alert and cautious, she lifted the lid.

When she saw what lay beneath, her delicate face stiffened, then slowly relaxed like snow melting under sunlight. A warm current filled her heart, and a knowing smile appeared at her lips.

Under the metal lid lay a plate, and on it, a segment of banana dipped in chili sauce and wasabi.

Beside the plate was a note. Han Ning picked it up, and couldn’t help but laugh.

In beautiful cursive, the note read: “Confucius says, spicy banana is good for the heart.”

“When did Confucius ever say that?” Han Ning muttered, her brows relaxing. After a moment’s hesitation, she thought, “He won’t see me, I’ll just say I threw it away,” and slowly took a bite of the banana slathered in chili sauce and wasabi.

The sharp spiciness, heightened by the wasabi, rushed straight to her head; as her teeth gently bit down, sweet and sour juice flowed, filling her mouth, as if all her troubles were suddenly washed by a clear stream.

Her mood truly improved…