Shen Qingzhou was in a terrible state when he returned to the hospital. He lay on the bed resting while the doctor scolded Du Xinling nearby. Xiao Ning sat beside the bed, resting her chin in her hands, watching her father with closed eyes and sighing from time to time.
When Shen Qingzhou returned to the hospital, he was in a terrible state. He lay on the bed to rest while the doctor scolded Du Xinling beside him. Xiao Ning sat by the bedside, chin in hand, watching his father with closed eyes, sighing from time to time.
After the doctor left, Du Xinling walked over and crouched down next to Xiao Ning, asking curiously, “Sweetie, why are you sighing?”
Xiao Ning said, “Uncle Du, Dad is too foolish.”
“Oh? You think he’s foolish too?” Du Xinling asked with interest.
Xiao Ning nodded. “Yeah, whether it’s someone else’s mistake or his own, he always tortures himself and hurts the people who care about him. Isn’t he foolish?”
Du Xinling was taken aback and asked in surprise, “Sweetie, where did you learn all this?”
Xiao Ning sneakily pulled a phone out of his pocket and whispered, “I read it online. Please don’t tell Dad I have a phone.”
Du Xinling narrowed his eyes. “I can keep it a secret, but you have to tell me who bought you the phone.”
“Well…” Xiao Ning scratched his head shyly. “Grandma gave it to me.”
Du Xinling nodded. “Alright, it’s getting late. Uncle will take you back to sleep. Your dad will be fine here.”
Xiao Ning agreed, hid the phone in his hospital gown, slid off the chair, and stretched out his arms to Du Xinling. Du Xinling skillfully picked him up and quietly left the room.
Once the two were gone, only Shen Qingzhou remained in the room. His eyes had been closed, but now they slowly opened. He glanced silently at the door, paused for a moment, and then reached for the phone on the bedside table with his free hand—the one not hooked up to an IV.
The phone screen was black. He pressed the power button for a long time, but there was no response. It must have gotten wet in the rain, and something had malfunctioned.
He closed his eyes, sighed, tossed the phone back onto the table, and rubbed his temples in frustration. A troubled expression crossed his pale face.
When Du Xinling returned, Shen Qingzhou was still lost in thought. Du Xinling leaned over the bed, hands behind his back, and said, “Oh, awake already?”
Shen Qingzhou shot him a glare. “I never passed out.”
“Tch. Lately, you’ve been like Lin Daiyu, fainting at the drop of a hat. And here I am, playing the role of your devoted friend, taking care of your kid and dealing with your mom. I’ve been working hard—how about adjusting our partnership cut?” Du Xinling seized the opportunity to negotiate.
Shen Qingzhou caught the key point in his words. “Dealing with my mom? What happened?”
Du Xinling sat down in a chair and shrugged. “What else? It’s about you being sick. She called me on an international line, demanding to know how I’ve been taking care of you. She insisted I hire a good nurse for you. When I told her Lin Qiao was here, she went silent.”
“I know all that,” Shen Qingzhou frowned. “What I’m asking is, what else did she do?”
Du Xinling hesitated, then lowered his voice. “This is just my guess—I don’t know if it’s true.”
“Go on,” Shen Qingzhou said tiredly, waving a hand and closing his eyes again.
“Why do you keep closing your eyes?” Du Xinling asked, puzzled. “I’m talking to you. Don’t you think it’s disrespectful not to look at me?”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t move. “I can’t bear to look.”
“…” Well, he’d been hit again.
“Just say it,” Shen Qingzhou urged impatiently.
Du Xinling sighed meaningfully. “You know your mom met Lin Qiao when she was here. She must have made her stance clear—she doesn’t want you and Lin Qiao together. From what I understand, she probably doesn’t want you with any woman. This is tricky. Who would’ve thought Auntie would be such a son-con? Too bad her son isn’t a mama’s boy.”
“Get to the point.”
“Alright, alright. Again, this is just my guess. Its accuracy needs verification.” Du Xinling emphasized before continuing, “Don’t you think Lin Qiao going out without telling you has something to do with your mom?”
Shen Qingzhou opened his eyes and looked at him. “But I saw Qin Muyao bringing her back.”
Du Xinling said, “She has her own car. Why didn’t she drive it? Did you see her car in the garage?”
Shen Qingzhou was stunned. After a moment of silence, he said, “No.”
“Exactly.” Du Xinling spread his hands. “Maybe something happened, and she just ran into him by chance? You can’t expect your wife to walk back alone in the rain, can you? It was pouring—even taxis were hard to get. Don’t be unreasonable; that’s something women do.”
Shen Qingzhou slowly withdrew his gaze and stared expressionlessly at the ceiling. Du Xinling thought he needed time to process, but Shen Qingzhou quickly looked back at him and said, “Take out your phone.”
“Why?”
“I need to make a call.”
“To whom?” Du Xinling asked, though he already knew.
Shen Qingzhou didn’t mind, answering bluntly, “Call Lin Qiao. Ask her to come over.”
“Me?” Du Xinling pointed at himself.
“Of course, you,” Shen Qingzhou said matter-of-factly. “My phone is broken.” He glanced at the “evidence” on the table.
“It’s probably a minor issue. Such an expensive phone shouldn’t break just from a little water.” Du Xinling reached for the phone to inspect it.
Shen Qingzhou stopped him. “Just make the call. Your job is to follow orders, not give opinions.”
Du Xinling rolled his eyes. “You brought this on yourself. If you had listened to her explanation back then, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Now you want her to come, but she probably won’t agree.” Despite his words, he took out his phone and dialed Lin Qiao’s number.
Lin Qiao was already asleep, her phone left in her clothes pocket and tossed on the washing machine. She couldn’t hear it ring.
She wasn’t exactly asleep—she was exhausted, her head hurt, and she felt like she was coming down with a cold. After taking a shower and some medicine, she lay down. Cold medicine often makes people drowsy, and she was in a half-awake, half-asleep state.
Du Xinling waited for a long time until the call went to voicemail. He put down the phone and looked helplessly at Shen Qingzhou. “She’s not answering.”
Shen Qingzhou suppressed his emotions. “No one picked up, not that she refused to answer.”
“Fine, fine. No one picked up.” Du Xinling stood up. “I’m going to get some food. I’m starving after all this. We’ll talk when I get back. Rest well. I’ve got a client waiting for you to recover.”
“What kind of job?” Shen Qingzhou refused. “I’m not in the mood to work lately. Turn it down.”
“You have to go, whether you’re in the mood or not. Someone needs help selecting a burial site. It’s a rare opportunity. I’ll even trick Lin Qiao into going with us.” Du Xinling wore a confident smile. “Are you sure you want to turn it down?”
Shen Qingzhou opened his mouth, paused for two seconds, and said, “Do as you please.”
“I knew it.” Du Xinling sighed, half-amused, half-exasperated. “Alright, I’m going to eat. Rest up.”
Shen Qingzhou closed his eyes and said calmly, “Goodbye.”
While Shen Qingzhou lay restlessly in bed, Lin Qiao had already fallen asleep. The cold medicine knocked her out until noon the next day. If her father hadn’t called her for lunch, she might have slept until evening.
She got up, her whole body aching, numbly washed up, tied her hair into a simple ponytail, and went downstairs.
During lunch, her father subtly asked about her relationship with Shen Qingzhou. Without looking up, Lin Qiao said, “It’s fine.”
Her father was taken aback. “Then what was all that about yesterday?”
Lin Qiao took a sip of porridge and said casually, “It was nothing, just a small misunderstanding. I’ll go to the hospital to see him this afternoon and clear things up.”
“You’re going?” Her father disapproved. “A girl shouldn’t be so proactive. It might put you at a disadvantage later.”
Lin Qiao said indifferently, “Given how things are between us, it’s best to clear things up. Even if we can’t be together, I don’t want any lingering resentment between us.”
Her father sighed helplessly. “Forget it. I’m old. I can’t meddle in you young people’s affairs.”
Lin Qiao looked up and smiled. “How could you say that? Dad, you’re not old at all. You could even find a second spring.”
Her father blushed. “You child, what nonsense are you talking? Shame on you!”
Lin Qiao laughed and said no more. After finishing her porridge, she ran upstairs to put on makeup and change clothes, preparing to visit Shen Qingzhou at the hospital.
She was a woman of her word. Before falling asleep last night, she had already decided what to do today. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to sleep peacefully.
Because she was slightly under the weather and her complexion wasn’t great, she took extra care with her makeup, which took a bit longer.
By the time she was done, it was already past one in the afternoon.
Since her car was in the shop, she borrowed her father’s car to go to the hospital. The large black SUV looked oddly charming driven by a tall, slender girl like her. The traffic was smooth, and she arrived at her destination in no time.
After parking, Lin Qiao entered the hospital holding a bouquet of flowers she had bought on the way. Because her dark circles were noticeable, she wore a pair of sunglasses. Her shoulder-length black hair was shiny and sleek, and her fitted light-wash jeans and white blouse accentuated her slim, graceful figure. Wherever she went, she exuded an undeniable goddess vibe, attracting plenty of attention along the way.
Lin Qiao was the kind of beauty no one could deny. With her good temper, excellent upbringing, and high education, she was practically perfect.
Even for someone like Shen Qingzhou, she was a well-matched partner.
When Shen Qingzhou saw Lin Qiao enter the room holding flowers, he thought the same.
Du Xinling looked at her in surprise, phone in hand. “Miss Lin?” He chuckled. “We were just talking about you, and here you are. What a coincidence! I thought it was the nurse knocking.”
Lin Qiao said calmly, “Really? What were you saying about me?”
Shen Qingzhou awkwardly turned to look out the window, the tips of his ears turning faintly pink. Du Xinling glanced at him and, when he wasn’t looking, silently mouthed to Lin Qiao: He regrets it.
Lin Qiao read his lips, and her tense heart relaxed. She mouthed back: Thank you.
Du Xinling smiled and said, “Come, don’t stand on ceremony. Have a seat. I’ll go buy some drinks. You two talk.” He canceled the call he was about to make to Lin Qiao, pocketed his phone, and quickly left without looking back. His speed surprised Lin Qiao.
She took the old flowers out of the vase and said softly, “I’ll put these fresh ones in for you.”
Shen Qingzhou turned to look at her profile and gave a soft “Mm.”
Lin Qiao glanced at him. He still looked unwell, indicating that his condition had been quite serious the day before.
After arranging the flowers, Lin Qiao tidied up the bedside table. Once everything was done, she sat by the bed and said, “I came to explain what happened yesterday. After I’m done, whatever you decide is up to you.”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t speak, just looked at her silently. His gaze was intense, as if he wouldn’t look away as long as she stayed.
Lin Qiao took a deep breath and said quietly, “Auntie Xie invited me to dinner at Senior Qin’s restaurant last night. I don’t know why she chose that place, but as a junior, I couldn’t very well ask an elder to change venues, right?” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and sighed. “She asked me not to tell you about the dinner, which is why I didn’t mention it yesterday. When we were about to leave after dinner, there was a fight at the street corner, and my car was damaged. It was towed away for repairs, so Senior Qin offered to drive me back.”
Shen Qingzhou narrowed his eyes, listening intently. Lin Qiao watched him for a moment and said, “That’s what happened. Senior Qin and I have known each other for years. He’s helped me a lot, and we’re friends. I can’t avoid him like he’s an enemy. Besides, him driving me back didn’t mean anything. We didn’t even speak on the way. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t comment much on Qin Muyao. Instead, he asked, “Since my mother asked you not to tell me, why are you telling me now?”
Lin Qiao was momentarily dazed. Her bright eyes fixed on him as she said, “You can pretend you don’t know. Even if you tell her I said something, it doesn’t matter. Between you and her, I have to choose one. Choosing her would be foolish.”
“So,” Shen Qingzhou slowly sat up. Lin Qiao hurried to support him, but he refused her help. He turned to look at her and asked, “You’ve chosen me?”
Lin Qiao was taken aback. “In what sense?”
“Everything,” he said without hesitation.
Lin Qiao fell silent for a moment, as if thinking. Just as Shen Qingzhou began to grow impatient, she said, “Yes.”
Xiao Ning replied, “Du Shushu, Dad is too silly.”
“Oh? You think he’s silly too?” Du Xinling asked, intrigued.
Xiao Ning nodded. “Yeah, whether it’s someone else’s mistake or his own, he always tortures himself, making those who care about him feel sad. Isn’t that silly?”
When Shen Qingzhou returned to the hospital, he was in a terrible state. He lay on the bed to rest while the doctor scolded Du Xinling nearby. Xiao Ning sat by the bedside, chin in hand, watching his father with closed eyes, sighing from time to time.
After the doctor left, Du Xinling walked over to Xiao Ning and crouched down beside him, asking curiously, “Sweetie, why are you sighing?”
Xiao Ning said, “Uncle Du, Dad is too foolish.”
“Oh? You think he’s foolish too?” Du Xinling asked with interest.
Xiao Ning nodded. “Yeah, whether it’s someone else’s mistake or his own, he always tortures himself and makes those who care about him sad. Isn’t he foolish?”
Du Xinling was taken aback and asked in surprise, “Sweetie, where did you learn all this?”
Xiao Ning sneakily pulled a phone out of his pocket and whispered, “I read it online. Please don’t tell Dad I have a phone.”
Du Xinling narrowed his eyes. “I can keep it a secret for you, but you have to tell me who bought you the phone.”
“Well…” Xiao Ning scratched his head shyly. “Grandma gave it to me.”
Du Xinling nodded. “Alright, it’s getting late. Uncle will take you back to sleep. Your dad will be fine here.”
Xiao Ning agreed, hid the phone inside his hospital gown, slid off the chair, and stretched out his arms to Du Xinling. Du Xinling skillfully picked him up and quietly left the room.
Once the two were gone, only Shen Qingzhou remained in the room. His eyes had been closed, but now they slowly opened. He glanced silently at the door, paused for a moment, then reached for the phone on the bedside table with his free hand—the one not hooked to an IV.
The phone screen was black. He pressed the power button for a long time, but there was no response. It must have gotten wet in the rain, and something had malfunctioned.
He closed his eyes, sighed, tossed the phone back onto the table, and rubbed his temples in frustration. A troubled expression crossed his pale face.
When Du Xinling returned, Shen Qingzhou was still lost in thought. Du Xinling leaned over the bed, hands behind his back, and said, “Oh, awake so soon?”
Shen Qingzhou shot him a glare. “I never passed out.”
“Tch. These days, you’ve been like Lin Daiyu, fainting at the drop of a hat. And here I am, playing the role of your precious brother, taking care of your kid and dealing with your mom. I’ve been working so hard—how about adjusting our partnership cut?” Du Xinling seized the opportunity to negotiate.
Shen Qingzhou caught the key point in his words. “Dealing with my mom? What happened?”
Du Xinling sat down on a chair and shrugged. “What else? It’s about you being sick. She called me on an international line, demanding to know how I’ve been taking care of you. She insisted I hire a good nurse for you. When I told her Lin Qiao was here, she went silent.”
“I know all that,” Shen Qingzhou frowned. “What I’m asking is, what else did she do besides that?”
Du Xinling hesitated, then lowered his voice. “This is just my guess—I’m not sure if it’s true.”
“Go ahead,” Shen Qingzhou said tiredly, waving a hand and closing his eyes again.
“Why do you keep closing your eyes?” Du Xinling asked, puzzled. “I’m talking to you. Don’t you think it’s disrespectful not to look at me?”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t move. “I can’t bear to look.”
“…” Well, he’d been hit again.
“Just say it,” Shen Qingzhou urged impatiently.
Du Xinling sighed meaningfully. “You know your mom met Lin Qiao when she was here. She must have made her stance clear to you—she doesn’t want you and Lin Qiao together. From what I understand, she probably doesn’t want you with any woman. This is really tricky. Who would’ve thought Auntie would be such a son-con? Too bad her son isn’t a mama’s boy.”
“Get to the point.”
“…Alright, alright. Let me say it again—this is just my guess. Its accuracy needs verification.” Du Xinling emphasized before continuing, “Don’t you think Lin Qiao going out without telling you has something to do with your mom?”
Shen Qingzhou opened his eyes and looked at him. “But I saw Qin Muyao bringing her back.”
Du Xinling said, “She has her own car. Why didn’t she drive it? Did you see her car in the garage?”
Shen Qingzhou was stunned. After a moment of silence, he said, “No.”
“Exactly.” Du Xinling spread his hands. “Maybe something happened, and she just ran into him by chance? You can’t expect your wife to walk back in the rain alone, can you? It was pouring—even taxis were hard to get. Don’t be unreasonable; that’s something only women do.”
Shen Qingzhou slowly withdrew his gaze and stared expressionlessly at the ceiling. Du Xinling thought he needed time to process, but Shen Qingzhou soon looked back at him and said, “Take out your phone.”
“Why?”
“Make a call.”
“To whom?” Du Xinling asked, though he already knew the answer.
Shen Qingzhou didn’t mind his明知故问 and said bluntly, “Call Lin Qiao. Ask her to come over.”
“Me?” Du Xinling pointed at himself.
“Of course, you,” Shen Qingzhou said理所当然. “My phone is broken.” He glanced at the “evidence” tossed on the table.
“It should be a minor issue, right? Such an expensive phone can’t break just from a little rain.” Du Xinling made a move to pick up the phone and inspect it.
Shen Qingzhou stopped him. “Just make the call. Your job is to execute, not to give opinions.”
Du Xinling rolled his eyes. “It’s all your own doing. If you had listened to her explanation back then, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Now you want to call her over—do you really think she’ll agree?” Despite his words, he took out his phone and dialed Lin Qiao’s number.
Lin Qiao was already asleep. Her phone was in her clothes pocket, tossed on top of the washing machine, so she couldn’t hear it ringing.
She wasn’t exactly asleep—she was just exhausted, with a headache and signs of a cold. After taking a shower and some medicine, she lay down. Cold medicine often makes people drowsy, and she was in a half-awake, half-asleep state.
Du Xinling waited for a long time until the call went to voicemail. He put down the phone and looked helplessly at Shen Qingzhou. “She’s not answering.”
Shen Qingzhou suppressed his emotions. “It’s not that she’s not answering—it’s that no one picked up.”
“Fine, fine. No one picked up.” Du Xinling stood up. “I’m going to get some food. I’m starving after all this. We’ll talk when I get back. You rest well. I’ve got a client waiting for you to recover and take on a job.”
“What job?” Shen Qingzhou refused. “I’m not in the mood to work lately. Turn it down.”
“You have to go, mood or not. Someone wants to choose a burial site. This is a rare opportunity. I’ll even help you trick Lin Qiao into going.” Du Xinling wore a confident smile. “Are you sure you want to turn it down?”
Shen Qingzhou opened his mouth, stayed quiet for two seconds, and said, “Do as you please.”
“I knew it.” Du Xinling sighed, half-amused, half-exasperated. “Alright, I’m going to eat. You rest for a bit.”
Shen Qingzhou closed his eyes and said calmly, “Goodbye.”
While Shen Qingzhou lay restlessly in bed, Lin Qiao had already fallen asleep. The cold medicine knocked her out until noon the next day. If her father hadn’t called her for lunch, she might have slept until evening.
She got up,浑身酸痛, numbly washed up, tied her hair into a simple ponytail, and went downstairs.
During lunch, her father subtly asked how things were going with Shen Qingzhou. Without looking up, Lin Qiao said, “Pretty good.”
Her father was taken aback. “Then what was all that about yesterday?”
Lin Qiao took a sip of porridge and said casually, “Nothing, just a small misunderstanding. I’ll go to the hospital to see him this afternoon and clear things up.”
“You’re going?” Her father disapproved. “A girl shouldn’t be so proactive. It might put you at a disadvantage later.”
Lin Qiao shrugged. “Given how things are between us, it’s best to clear things up. Even if we can’t be together, I don’t want there to be any resentment between us.”
Her father sighed helplessly. “Forget it. I’m old. I can’t meddle in you young people’s business.”
Lin Qiao looked up and smiled. “How could you be old? Dad, you’re not old at all. You could even find a second spring.”
Her father blushed. “You child, what nonsense are you talking? Shameless!”
Lin Qiao laughed and said no more. After finishing her porridge, she ran upstairs to put on makeup and change clothes, preparing to visit Shen Qingzhou at the hospital.
She was a woman of her word. She had already decided what to do before falling asleep last night; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to rest peacefully.
Since she was feeling under the weather from the cold, she took extra care with her makeup, which took a bit longer.
By the time she was done, it was already past one in the afternoon.
Her car was in the shop for repairs, so she borrowed her father’s car to go to the hospital. The large black SUV looked quite反差萌 driven by a tall, slender girl like her. The traffic was smooth, and she arrived at her destination in no time.
After parking, Lin Qiao entered the hospital holding a bouquet of flowers she had bought on the way. Since her dark circles were noticeable, she wore a pair of sunglasses. Her long, black shoulder-length hair was shiny and sleek. The fitted light-wash jeans and white blouse accentuated her slim and graceful figure. Wherever she went, she exuded an undeniable goddess vibe, attracting plenty of attention along the way.
Lin Qiao was the kind of beauty no one could deny was stunning. A girl like her, with a good temper, excellent upbringing, and high education, was truly flawless.
Even someone like Shen Qingzhou was a good match for her.
When Shen Qingzhou saw Lin Qiao enter the room holding flowers, he thought the same thing.
Du Xinling looked at Lin Qiao in surprise, holding his phone. “Miss Lin?” He chuckled. “We were just talking about you, and here you are. What a coincidence! I thought it was the nurse knocking.”
Lin Qiao said calmly, “Really? What were you saying about me?”
Shen Qingzhou awkwardly turned to look out the window, the tips of his ears turning a suspicious shade of red. Du Xinling glanced at him and, when he wasn’t looking, silently mouthed to Lin Qiao: He regrets it.
Lin Qiao read his lips, and her anxious heart relaxed. She mouthed back: Thank you.
Du Xinling smiled and said, “Come, don’t stand on ceremony. Have a seat. I’ll go buy some drinks. You two talk.” He canceled the call he was about to make to Lin Qiao, pocketed his phone, and quickly left without looking back. His speed made Lin Qiao slightly astonished.
She took out the old flowers from the vase and said softly, “I’ll put these fresh flowers in for you.”
Shen Qingzhou turned to look at her profile and gave a soft “Mm.”
Lin Qiao glanced at him. He still didn’t look well—it seemed yesterday’s illness had been quite severe.
After arranging the flowers and tidying up the bedside table, she sat down by the bed and said, “I came to explain what happened yesterday. After I’m done, whatever you decide is up to you.”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t speak, just looked at her silently. His gaze was intense, as if he wouldn’t look away as long as she didn’t leave.
Lin Qiao took a deep breath and said quietly, “Auntie Xie invited me to dinner at Senior Qin’s restaurant last night. I don’t know why she chose that place, but as a junior, I couldn’t very well ask an elder to change locations, right?” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and sighed. “She asked me not to tell you about the dinner, which is why I didn’t mention it yesterday. Later, when we were about to leave, a fight broke out at the street corner, and my car was damaged. It was towed away for repairs, so Senior Qin offered to drive me back.”
Shen Qingzhou narrowed his eyes, listening intently. Lin Qiao watched him for a moment and said, “That’s what happened. Senior Qin and I have known each other for many years. He’s helped me a lot, and we’re friends. I can’t avoid him like he’s an enemy. Besides, him driving me back didn’t mean anything. We didn’t even exchange a word on the way. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing more I can say.”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t comment much on the matter involving Qin Muyao. Instead, he asked, “Since my mother asked you not to tell me, why are you telling me now?”
Lin Qiao was momentarily dazed. Her bright eyes glanced at him. “You can pretend you don’t know. Even if you tell her I said something, it doesn’t matter. Between you and her, I have to choose one. Choosing her would be foolish.”
“So,” Shen Qingzhou slowly sat up. Lin Qiao hurried to support him, but he declined her help. He turned to look at her and asked, “You’re choosing me?”
Lin Qiao paused, hesitating. “In what sense?”
“Everything,” he said without hesitation.
Lin Qiao fell silent for a moment, as if thinking. Just as Shen Qingzhou began to grow impatient, she said, “Yes.”
Xiao Ning secretly pulled out a mobile phone from her pocket and whispered, “It’s from the internet. Don’t tell Dad I have a phone.”
Du Xinling narrowed his eyes. “I can keep your secret, but you have to tell Du Shushu who bought you this phone.”
“This…” Xiao Ning shyly scratched her head. “It was Grandma.”
Du Xinling nodded. “Alright, it’s getting late. Let Uncle take you back to sleep. Your dad will be fine here.”
Xiao Ning agreed, hiding the phone inside her hospital gown. She slid off the chair and stretched her arms toward Du Xinling. Du Xinling skillfully picked her up and quietly left the ward.
Once the two had gone, the ward was left with only Shen Qingzhou. He had been lying with his eyes closed but now slowly opened them, glancing quietly toward the door. After a pause, he used his free hand to reach for the phone on the nearby cabinet.
The screen was black, and the power button wouldn’t respond after being pressed for a while. It must have gotten wet during the rain, causing some malfunction.
He closed his eyes and sighed, then tossed the phone back onto the cabinet. Rubbing his temples with a pained expression, his pale face showed inner turmoil.
When Du Xinling returned, Shen Qingzhou was still deep in thought. Du leaned over the bed with his hands behind his back and said teasingly, “Hey, you woke up quickly.”
Shen Qingzhou gave him a glare. “I wasn’t even unconscious.”
“Tsk, these past few days you’ve been like Lin Daiyu, fainting at the slightest provocation. I’ve been helping take care of your kid and dealing with your mom—how hard do you think I’ve worked? How about we renegotiate our partnership profit split?” Du Xinling seized the opportunity to negotiate.
Shen Qingzhou caught the key point in his words. “Dealing with my mom? What happened?”
Du Xinling shrugged as he sat on the chair. “What do you think? She called me from overseas, questioning how I was taking care of you. She insisted I hire a good nurse. I told her Lin Qiao was already here, and she went quiet.”
“I know that,” Shen Qingzhou frowned. “I’m asking what else she did.”
Du Xinling hesitated and lowered his voice. “This is just my guess, I’m not sure if it’s true.”
“Go on,” Shen Qingzhou said tiredly, waving his hand before closing his eyes again.
“Why are you always keeping your eyes closed?” Du Xinling asked, puzzled. “I’m talking to you. Isn’t it disrespectful not to look at me?”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t budge. “I can’t bear to look.”
“…” There he went again, caught in the crossfire.
“Just tell me,” Shen Qingzhou urged impatiently.
Du Xinling sighed, speaking meaningfully, “You know your mom met Lin Qiao when she came here. She probably conveyed her feelings to you—she doesn’t want you two together. From my understanding, she probably doesn’t want you with any woman. It’s really a tough situation. Never thought your mom was such a momma’s boy type, but unfortunately, her son isn’t.”
“Get to the point.”
“…Okay, okay. Again, this is just my guess, and the authenticity needs verification,” Du Xinling emphasized before continuing slowly. “Don’t you think Lin Qiao going out secretly might have something to do with your mom?”
Shen Qingzhou opened his eyes and looked at him. “But I saw Qin Muyao bring her back myself.”
Du Xinling replied, “She has her own car, so why didn’t she drive? Did you see her car in the garage?”
Shen Qingzhou hesitated. After a moment of silence, he said, “No.”
“Exactly,” Du Xinling shrugged. “Maybe something happened, and she just happened to run into him. You can’t expect your wife to walk home in the rain, right? It was pouring, and even taxis were hard to get. Don’t be unreasonable—that’s something only a woman would do.”
Shen Qingzhou slowly turned his gaze away, expressionless as he stared at the ceiling. Du Xinling thought he might need time to process, but to his surprise, Shen Qingzhou soon looked at him again and said, “Give me your phone.”
“What for?”
“To make a call.”
“To who?” Du Xinling asked, pretending not to know.
Shen Qingzhou didn’t mind and said bluntly, “Call Lin Qiao and ask her to come.”
“Me?” Du Xinling pointed at himself.
Shen Qingzhou naturally replied, “Of course you. My phone is broken.” He glanced at the “evidence” thrown on the table.
“It’s probably just a minor issue. Such an expensive phone shouldn’t break from a little water,” Du Xinling said, pretending to pick up the phone to check.
Shen Qingzhou stopped him. “Just make the call. Your job is to execute, not to give opinions.”
Du Xinling gave him a look. “It’s all your own fault, you know. Who told you not to listen to her explanation back then? Now you want her to come again—it’s unlikely she’ll agree.” Despite his complaints, he still took out his phone and dialed Lin Qiao’s number.
Lin Qiao had already gone to sleep. Her phone was in her clothes pocket, which were now on the washing machine, so she couldn’t hear the ringing.
She wasn’t exactly asleep either—just too exhausted, with a headache and signs of a cold. After taking a shower and some medicine, she had lain down. Cold medicine usually made her drowsy, and she was now in a half-asleep, half-awake state.
Du Xinling waited for a long time until the call ended with a busy signal. He put the phone down helplessly and looked at Shen Qingzhou. “No answer.”
Shen Qingzhou suppressed his emotions. “It’s not that she refused—it’s just that no one answered.”
“Alright, alright, no one answered,” Du Xinling stood up. “I’m going to grab a bite. I’m starving after all this. If anything comes up, I’ll deal with it later. You rest well. I’ve got a job waiting for you to recover.”
“What kind of business?” Shen Qingzhou refused. “I’m not in the mood for work lately. Cancel it.”
“You have to go. Someone wants to choose a burial site. It’s a rare opportunity. I’ll bring Lin Qiao along too,” Du Xinling said with a determined smile. “Are you sure you want to cancel?”
Shen Qingzhou opened his mouth, stayed silent for two seconds, and said, “Whatever.”
“I knew it,” Du Xinling sighed with a mix of exasperation and amusement. “Alright, I’m off to eat. You rest.”
Shen Qingzhou closed his eyes and calmly said, “Goodbye.”
While Shen Qingzhou lay restless, Lin Qiao had already fallen asleep. The cold medicine had knocked her out until noon the next day. If her father hadn’t come to wake her for lunch, she might have slept until evening.
She got up stiffly, numbly brushed her teeth, and tied her hair into a loose ponytail before heading downstairs.
During lunch, her father subtly asked about her relationship with Shen Qingzhou. Lin Qiao didn’t look up and said, “It’s fine.”
Her father was taken aback and instinctively asked, “Then what were you doing yesterday?”
Lin Qiao took a sip of porridge and said casually, “Nothing, just a small misunderstanding. I’ll go to the hospital this afternoon to see him and explain everything.”
“You’re going?” Her father disapproved. “Girls shouldn’t be too proactive. It might put you at a disadvantage later.”
Lin Qiao shrugged. “We’ve already gone that far. It’s best if we can clear things up. Even if we can’t be together, I don’t want any lingering resentment between us.”
Her father sighed helplessly. “Alright, I’m old. I can’t keep up with you young people anymore.”
Lin Qiao smiled and looked up. “Don’t say that, Dad. You’re not old at all. You can still find a second spring.”
Her father blushed. “This child, what are you saying? Shameless!”
Lin Qiao smiled and said nothing more. After finishing her porridge, she ran upstairs to put on makeup and change clothes, preparing to visit Shen Qingzhou at the hospital.
She was a woman of her word. Before falling asleep last night, she had already decided what she would do today, which is why she could sleep peacefully.
Because of her cold, her complexion wasn’t great, so she put extra effort into her makeup, taking more time than usual.
By the time she was done, it was already past one in the afternoon.
Since her car was in the shop, she borrowed her father’s car to go to the hospital. The large black SUV looked quite contrasting with Lin Qiao’s tall and slender figure. The traffic was smooth, and she soon arrived at her destination.
After parking, Lin Qiao entered the hospital carrying flowers she had bought along the way. Because of her dark circles, she wore sunglasses today. Her long, jet-black hair shone beautifully, and her slim figure looked even more graceful in light-colored jeans and a white shirt. She was undeniably a goddess-like figure, drawing many glances and high attention wherever she went.
Lin Qiao was the kind of beauty no one could deny. With a good temperament, excellent upbringing, and high education, she was practically flawless.
Even someone like Shen Qingzhou, she was well-matched with him.
That’s exactly what Shen Qingzhou thought when he saw her walk in with flowers.
Du Xinling looked up in surprise, holding his phone. “Miss Lin?” He chuckled. “We were just talking about you, and you showed up. What a coincidence. I thought it was a nurse knocking.”
Lin Qiao replied calmly, “Is that so? What were you saying about me?”
Shen Qingzhou awkwardly turned to look out the window, his ears slightly reddening. Du Xinling glanced at him, then subtly mouthed something to Lin Qiao when Shen wasn’t looking—He regrets it.
Lin Qiao understood his lip-reading and felt the tension in her heart ease. She silently replied with—Thank you.
Du Xinling smiled. “Come in, don’t be shy. Sit down. I’ll go get you something to drink. You two talk first.” He canceled the call he had just prepared to make to Lin Qiao, put the phone in his pocket, and quickly left without looking back. He moved so fast that Lin Qiao couldn’t help but be slightly amazed.
Taking the old flowers out of the vase, Lin Qiao said softly, “Let me put these in for you.”
Shen Qingzhou turned to look at her side profile and quietly said, “Mm.”
Lin Qiao glanced at him. His face still looked pale, so yesterday’s illness must have been quite severe.
After arranging the flowers, Lin Qiao tidied up the cabinet and then sat beside the bed, looking at him as she began, “I came to explain what happened yesterday. After I finish, you can decide whatever you want.”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t speak but continued to look at her silently. His gaze was intense, as if he wouldn’t look away unless she left.
Lin Qiao exhaled softly and said, “Last night, Madam Xie invited me to dinner at Qin Xuechang’s restaurant. I didn’t know why she chose that place, but as a junior, I couldn’t ask her to change the location, right?” She brushed her hair behind her ear and sighed. “She told me not to let you know she invited me, so I didn’t tell you yesterday. Later, when we were leaving, there was a fight at the street corner, and my car got caught in it. I had to send it for repairs, so Qin Xuechang offered to drive me home.”
Shen Qingzhou narrowed his eyes, clearly listening intently. After watching him for a while, Lin Qiao continued, “That’s what happened. After all, I’ve known Qin Xuechang for many years. He’s helped me a lot. We’re friends, and I can’t treat him like an enemy. Besides, he didn’t have any ulterior motives when he drove me home. We didn’t even exchange a word on the way. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.”
Shen Qingzhou didn’t comment further on Qin Muyao but asked, “Since my mother said she didn’t want you to tell me, why are you telling me now?”
Lin Qiao hesitated, her bright eyes looking at him. “You can pretend not to know. Even if you tell her I told you, it’s fine. Between you and her, I have to choose one. Choosing her would be foolish.”
“So,” Shen Qingzhou slowly sat up. Lin Qiao hurried to help him, but he refused her assistance, turning his face to look at her and ask, “You’re choosing me?”
Lin Qiao was taken aback and hesitated. “What do you mean exactly?”
“All of it,” he said without hesitation.
Lin Qiao was silent for a moment, as if thinking. Until Shen Qingzhou began to show signs of impatience, she finally said, “Yes.”
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