Chapter 33:

Such an intense confession would be hard for any woman to handle, let alone coming from a man like Shen Qingzhou.

Just like that female student who picked up the black rose said, what kind of woman could possibly reject an apology from someone like Shen Qingzhou?

Perhaps such a woman exists, but clearly Lin Qiao is not one of them.

Lin Qiao didn’t directly respond to his words. She simply wiped away her tears and softly said, “I’ll go find the doctor,” before running out.

Shen Qingzhou was no stranger to reading people’s emotions—in fact, he was quite skilled at sensing others’ feelings. That was precisely why he didn’t stop her this time.

She needed some time, so he would give it to her.

Just a short while after Lin Qiao left, Shen Qingzhou’s phone rang. He glanced at the number, hesitated for a moment, then answered.

“Hello,” he said softly, his voice gentle. “Mom, you’re back in the country?”

On the other end of the line, Xie Jiayi replied, “Yes. If I didn’t come back, who would take care of your body if you died?”

Shen Qingzhou frowned slightly and remained silent. Xie Jiayi continued, “I forced Xiling to tell me. Don’t blame him.”

Shen Qingzhou replied politely, “I never blame friends with words.” Yes, only with words.

Xie Jiayi exhaled, “I’m driving now, almost at the hospital. Since you can’t eat much right now, I didn’t bring anything.”

Immediately, Shen Qingzhou said, “Actually, I’m not at the hospital right now.” Lin Qiao was still here. Given Xie Jiayi’s previous attitude, it wasn’t the right time for them to meet.

Xie Jiayi paused on the line, then coldly chuckled, “Qingzhou, you’re my son. Do you really think I don’t know what you’re thinking?”

Shen Qingzhou didn’t respond. Xie Jiayi continued, “Lin Qiao is there, isn’t she?”

It was a fact. Since she had already guessed, Shen Qingzhou had no intention of hiding it. He simply hummed in acknowledgment.

“I won’t hurt her for now. She’s taken care of you for several days, and I’m a person who repays kindness,” Xie Jiayi said in a joking tone. “That kind of girl, once you lose interest, I won’t have to worry anymore.”

Shen Qingzhou replied calmly, “Then you might be disappointed. I probably won’t lose interest in her before I marry her.”

Xie Jiayi was surprised. “You actually plan to marry her?”

“What do you think?”

After that, Xie Jiayi fell silent. Shen Qingzhou estimated that Lin Qiao would be back soon, so he said, “Although I’d like to ask you not to come over for now, I know you won’t agree. Do as you please. I have something else to attend to, so I’ll hang up now.”

Before he could end the call, Xie Jiayi quickly said, “Qingzhou, you should understand what I mean. Lin Qiao’s personality doesn’t suit life in our family. Xiao Zheng was the first trouble, her father the second, and you the third.”

“Why would I become her problem? What do the first and second have to do with her? No, what do they have to do with us?” Shen Qingzhou replied coldly. “That’s just your second husband and his stepson, nothing to do with me. Goodbye.” With that, he hung up decisively.

Soon after, Lin Qiao returned. The doctor dressed Shen Qingzhou’s wound, administered a tetanus shot, and reminded him to avoid getting the wound wet before leaving.

After seeing the doctor off, Lin Qiao returned and sat on the chair, staring blankly at Shen Qingzhou’s hand.

Shen Qingzhou waved his injured right hand slightly, hinting, “Now I’m not only a patient but also disabled. You’ll have to take good care of me.”

Lin Qiao opened her mouth, wanting to reply, but the hospital room door was suddenly and unceremoniously pushed open. Xie Jiayi’s beautiful face appeared at the doorway. She carried the latest Hermès bag, wore a Chanel aristocratic suit, and had her black hair neatly tied back. Her elegant and luxurious demeanor made her attire seem not gaudy like a nouveau riche, but truly noble.

“Son,” Xie Jiayi smiled, “Mom has come to visit you.”

Shen Qingzhou turned his head away helplessly with a sigh but said nothing. He simply shifted his gaze to Lin Qiao, observing her reaction.

To his surprise, Lin Qiao remained unusually calm. She politely greeted Xie Jiayi, “Good afternoon, Madam.”

Xie Jiayi didn’t make things difficult for her. She raised her hand, signaling Lin Qiao to relax, then walked to the bedside and pinched Shen Qingzhou’s ear, turning his face toward her jokingly, “Only a few days, and you’ve already forgotten your mother for a wife. You’re truly my good son.”

Shen Qingzhou frowned, dodging her hand. He glanced awkwardly at Lin Qiao, only to find her watching him with a smile in her eyes.

Thus, the awkwardness deepened. Shen Qingzhou simply pulled the blanket over himself and turned his back to the two women.

Seeing that he refused to face her, Xie Jiayi immediately pretended to be serious and said to Lin Qiao, “Miss Lin, thank you for taking care of Qingzhou during this time. From now on, leave it to me. Your family must be busy too. Recently, Mr. Lin’s business has been thriving—you should go back and help.”

Lin Qiao was momentarily stunned by her words. As expected, Shen Qingzhou immediately turned around and grabbed her wrist. The speed of his movement left Xie Jiayi in awe.

After a long pause, she sighed, “As the old saying goes, raising a son is indeed raising him for someone else.”

Shen Qingzhou frowned, “That saying is about raising a daughter.”

“From today on, you’re my daughter,” Xie Jiayi replied dismissively.

“You’ve seen me, and I’m fine now. If there’s nothing else, please go back. You’ve been away for so long; your husband must miss you,” Shen Qingzhou clearly meant to send her away.

Xie Jiayi put on a sorrowful expression, emotionally turning to Lin Qiao, “Miss Lin, look at Qingzhou like this. How heartbroken do you think a mother feels? I flew all the way from France just to see him, and all my worries turned into pieces when I arrived here.”

Lin Qiao stood stiffly, her wrist still held tightly by Shen Qingzhou, looking from him to Xie Jiayi with difficulty. But Xie Jiayi, being who she was, didn’t give her a chance to react and directly said, “Miss Lin, what I said earlier was sincere. Please leave now. I’ll take care of things here.”

After all, she was Shen Qingzhou’s mother. If Lin Qiao truly wanted to marry Shen Qingzhou, she had to maintain a good relationship with her. Therefore, she really had no way to refuse this request, or else it would put Shen Qingzhou in an awkward position between them.

Lin Qiao tried to pull her hand back, but Shen Qingzhou held it too tightly for her to break free. Helplessly, she whispered, “I’ll visit you another day. I’ll leave for now.”

Shen Qingzhou looked at her with his lips pressed tightly together, stubbornly uttering a single word: “No.”

Xie Jiayi saw this and immediately stepped forward, forcefully pressing on Shen Qingzhou’s injured fingers. Instinctively, he loosened his grip. She quickly positioned herself between them and said to Lin Qiao, “Miss Lin, goodbye.”

Lin Qiao looked at Shen Qingzhou, whose face had turned pale, with concern. She then slightly bowed to Xie Jiayi and left, glancing back repeatedly as she walked out, clearly reluctant.

Shen Qingzhou watched her back disappear, then wearily lay back on the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling without uttering another word.

Xie Jiayi waited until Lin Qiao left and the door was closed behind her before turning around and emotionlessly confronting Shen Qingzhou: “Shen Qingzhou, you’re my son, and I understand your personality. At first, you might be very interested in a girl like Lin Qiao, but once you realize she’s no different from other girls when she falls in love, will you still treat her the same way as you do now?”

Shen Qingzhou was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting her to say such a thing, and couldn’t respond right away.

Xie Jiayi continued, “I said earlier, you’re my son, but don’t think I see you as flawless. You’re still a man, and I’ve seen too many men like you. If you truly like Lin Qiao now, don’t give yourself the chance to hurt her in the future. Do you want her to end up like me, abandoned after marrying you?”

Shen Qingzhou narrowed his eyes, staring at his mother for a long time without speaking.

Indeed, what Xie Jiayi said wasn’t wrong. Once a woman falls in love, weren’t they all the same?

Shen Qingzhou had once clearly stated that the reason he first liked Lin Qiao was because she was beautiful and indifferent to him. So how long could such an initial admiration last? Only time would tell.

After leaving the hospital, Lin Qiao drove back to her company. There, she encountered someone she least expected to see.

Qin Muyao leaned casually against his black Lexus, occasionally glancing up at the tall office building. Noticing someone watching him, he turned his head. His handsome, refined face was without glasses.

Lin Qiao froze in place, not stepping forward. The time was already late, and the night sky covered the entire city. In the darkness, Qin Muyao slowly walked toward her, meeting her gaze amidst the bustling crowd, remaining silent for a long time.

Lin Qiao noticed passersby quietly stealing glances at them. Helplessly, she finally spoke first, “Senior Qin, why are you here?”

Qin Muyao replied concisely, “I came to find you.”

Lin Qiao gave a dry laugh, feeling she was asking the obvious. He had come to the doorstep of her company—of course, it wasn’t for business.

After a brief silence, she took a deep breath and said, “You didn’t wear your glasses today.”

Qin Muyao narrowed his eyes slightly, “Because I was afraid of seeing things too clearly that I might not want to see.” He glanced around her, then slowly said, “But the heavens were kind to me, not letting you two appear together.”

Lin Qiao naturally understood who he meant. She stood there, awkwardly facing him, her hand gripping her phone slightly tighter.

After a while, Qin Muyao let out a long sigh and softly asked, “Can we talk?”

Lin Qiao wasn’t the type to keep someone waiting. She knew how Qin Muyao felt about her—he had clearly stated it before. He was the ideal man many girls dreamed of. Even now, she wouldn’t deny that fact. If she hadn’t met Shen Qingzhou, perhaps she really would have ended up with him. But reality had no “what if.”

So, Lin Qiao seriously said to him, “Senior Qin, I think you already know what we need to talk about. We’re good friends. Let’s not make things awkward so we can’t meet in the future, okay?” She continued with difficulty, “If we really talk today, I think we won’t be able to meet naturally ever again.”

Qin Muyao frowned at her, remaining silent for a long time. Just as she thought he wouldn’t speak, he nodded and got into his car, driving away.

Lin Qiao watched the black Lexus disappear into the distance before slowly turning and walking into the company building.

Qin Muyao drove rapidly, and at a red light, he slammed on the brakes. The tires screeched loudly, barely stopping at the stop line. The car’s rear slightly lifted from the sudden halt, while cars continued to pass in front of him, showing how dangerous it would have been had he not braked in time.

Qin Muyao exhaled, ignoring the angry curses from the drivers ahead, his mind blank and unable to hold onto a single thought.

He couldn’t remember who had once said that you never truly know how much you love someone until she’s with someone else.

And now, he was living proof of that saying.