"Hmm," James Black nodded.
"Youāre paying?" Jane Sampson asked. After asking, she explained again, "So anything I fancy, youāre picking up the tab?"
"Hmm," James Black had wanted to say that his salary card had always been kept at home, inside the drawer of the bedhead cabinet. Besides his salary card, there was also a high-limit credit card, both of which he left at home for Jane Sampson to use after their marriage.
But over the years, Jane Sampson had never touched them.
Janeās face changed in one second, and she suddenly reached out to hold James Blackās waist, "James Black, youāre so good!"
That "so good" was indescribably sycophantic.
The smile also contained boundless excitement.
"Letās go home! Letās go home!" Jane Sampson let go of James Black and turned to shout towards Old Master Black in the house, "Grandfather, Auntie, Uncle-in-law, James Black and I are going home now, weāll come visit you again when we have time! Weāre off! Bye!"
Old Master Black in the house hadnāt heard what James Black and Jane Sampson had said, but he was surprised that James Black managed to persuade Jane Sampson, who originally refused to go home, to not only agree but also to hug him affectionately.
Jane Sampson got into the car willingly, and after James Black started the car and left, the Great General walked to the gate entrance with a pack of potato chips in its mouth, then stared dumbfounded at the departing car, barking several times with its mouth agape, dropping the potato chips to the ground.
"Silly dog, your little buddy doesnāt want you anymore," Old Master Black said laughing while he patted the head of the Great General. Did the dog take out its snacks to cheer up Jane Sampson because she was unhappy just now?
Too bad, Jane Sampson was whisked away by James Black first.
Once in the car, Jane Sampson hugged her mobile phone, looking utterly joyous the entire ride.
"James Black, Iām going to buy a lot of stuff tomorrow," Jane Sampson said after checking all the new product releases from every brand on her phone, then slipped the phone back into her pocket as a preemptive warning to James Black.
James Blackās expression didnāt change, he hummed in acknowledgment, "Donāt worry, I can support you."
He wasnāt short on money.
"Consider it a loan then, Iāll pay you back at the end of the year," Jane Sampson said, still uncomfortable with using James Blackās money, yet she was indeed tempted by his suggestion to go shopping.
The reason she hadnāt considered going shopping after returning home was partly because she had no money, and partly because she had no company.
Pay back?
At that moment, James Blackās face soured a bit, and he spoke with a firmer tone, "Jane Sampson, we are husband and wife."
Seeing that Jane Sampson merely acknowledged with an "Oh" without taking it to heart, James Black then asked something else, "Have you been short on money recently?"
This could be considered James Black feigning ignorance, as knowing something secretly and knowing it overtly are two different matters.
"Yes," Jane Sampson was more candid than James Black had expected. "Nina Rice resigned from the consulting firm to start her own business. Auntie Rice disagreed and cut off some of her financial sources. Nina sold one of her houses and, together with her savings, it still wasnāt enough, so I transferred all my money to her."
"Hmm," Jane Sampsonās honesty pleased James Black quite a bit, "If you need money, you can ask me for it, or just take the card from the drawer and use it."
When the car reached the garage, James Black got down and naturally walked over to Jane Sampsonās side and reached out to hold her hand. Sometimes, habits were truly frightening. Like now, standing at the elevator entrance waiting with James Black holding her hand, Jane Sampson felt nothing was amiss.
James Black had made her accustomed to being led by him, her hand accustomed to the warmth of his palm.
Jane Sampson tapped the palm of James Blackās hand with her fingertips. When he looked down at her, she smiled sweetly with curved eyes and asked, "Tickles?"