It was Zheng Ma who came in, carrying a thermos.

The expectant look on Qiao Wanwan's face vanished in an instant. "Aunt Zheng, what brings you here?"

“Madam, I only found out this morning that you hadn’t come home all night, so I called Young Master Yin and he told me that you were hospitalized.”

Has Zhan Jingting gone home?

"No."

"Madam, you look terrible. What happened? Why are you in the hospital?"

Qiao Wanwan lay down wearily. "I just have a fever, it's nothing serious."

"I left in a hurry and didn't have time to prepare food, so I brought the porridge you usually like to drink for breakfast. Please have some when you get up."

"I'm not hungry."

"Then I'll call the young master and have him come pick you up from the hospital. It's more comfortable to recuperate at home than in the hospital."

Qiao Wanwan remained silent, indicating her agreement.

Zheng's mother immediately took out her phone and called Zhan Jingting.

The call was answered quickly, and Zheng Ma said respectfully, "Young Master, Madam has a high fever and has been hospitalized. I just asked the doctor, and he said she can go home to rest. Would you like to come and pick her up?"

The man on the other end of the phone said something, and Zheng Ma's expression gradually became indescribable. "...Yes, I understand. Goodbye, young master."

Qiao Wanwan stared at Zheng Ma, and after she hung up the phone, she asked, "What did Zhan Jingting say?"

Zheng Ma said with difficulty, "Young Master said he is busy with something right now and can't come over, so he asked me to accompany you out of the hospital."

Qiao Wanwan's heart sank to the bottom, and she shivered from the cold.

"Aunt Zheng, where is Zhan Jingting now?"

"Madam, I don't know."

"Never mind." Qiao Wanwan closed her eyes wearily. "Go and help me with the discharge procedures. I want to go back."

"yes."

Zhan Yin accompanied Qiao Wanwan back to Wutong Bay, but Zhan Jingting was not at home.

"Qiao Wanwan, I'll stay here with you and wait for my uncle to come back."

"No need, I've already kept you up all night, you should go back and get some rest."

Are you sure you don't need me to come with you?

“I’m an adult now. I can handle anything myself, so you don’t need to worry about me.”

"Alright, call me if anything comes up. Putting aside my uncle's relationship, we're still classmates, and even deskmates."

"Thanks."

Qiao Wanwan returned to her room, took a hot shower, and then lay down on the bed.

She didn't want to think about anything; she just wanted to get a good night's sleep.

I was awakened by a nightmare again shortly after falling asleep!

Qiao Wanwan sat up in shock, only to find herself covered in a cold sweat!

She wiped her face, finally calming herself down. She lay down for a while, then picked up her phone and called Zhan Jingting.

The phone rang for a while before being answered, and a deep, gentle male voice came through, "Wanwan?"

"Aren't you coming back?" Qiao Wanwan asked softly. "Aren't you going to give me an explanation for what happened last night?"

"Wanwan," Zhan Jingting's deep voice slowly sounded, "I'm sorry."

Qiao Wanwan felt as if her heart had been pierced by a sharp weapon, the pain making it hard to breathe. "Is this your explanation? Zhan Jingting, you don't seem like this kind of person."

"I can't explain what you saw with your own eyes, Wanwan. I can only apologize."

"Can you come back?" Qiao Wanwan asked blankly. "I want to hear your explanation in person."

"Okay, I'm coming back."

Qiao Wanwan saw Zhan Jingting two hours later. She didn't have the strength to get out of bed, so she could only lean against the headboard and quietly watch the man in the wheelchair at the foot of the bed.

Zhan Jingting's handsome face was expressionless, his eyes lowered, lost in thought.

Qiao Wanwan imagined many things, such as whether she would hysterically question him after seeing him, or whether she would vent her anger first.

But she now realizes that she can't do it.

The moment she saw Zhan Jingting, the turmoil in her heart seemed to suddenly subside, and she felt calmer for the first time since last night.

"Zhan Jingting, let's talk." Qiao Wanwan smiled. "First of all, I don't think you're a scumbag, but your behavior last night was definitely scumbag in my opinion. What do you think?"

Zhan Jingting never looked up, his tone flat and even, as if he were on the same horizontal line, "Wanwan, men inevitably have to socialize when they're out. It's normal to put on an act in those kinds of situations. You should understand."

"You call that kind of scene 'playing along'? You expect me to understand?" Qiao Wanwan looked at him in disbelief, almost thinking she had misheard. "Zhan Jingting, I always thought we shared the same values, especially when it came to relationships and marriage. But I never expected that we would have a conflict in just a few days."

“Wanwan, I don’t think this is a contradiction.” Zhan Jingting finally looked up at her. “I said, this is a normal social occasion, and it’s inevitable to put on an act. At least it’s not a problem for me. If you mind, I’ll be more careful next time.”

"You know you've gone too far?" Qiao Wanwan finally couldn't hold back the piercing pain, and her voice involuntarily rose a few decibels. "You hugged and kissed him last night. If I hadn't gone, would you two have taken things further?"

"Zhan Jingting, why do I think you are a cold and aloof person? Am I wrong about you, or have we known each other for too short a time and I haven't had time to fully understand you?"

“Wanwan, I don’t think I’ve been pretending or hiding my true self from you. As you said, we haven’t known each other for very long,” Zhan Jingting said calmly. “Besides…”

"And what?" Qiao Wanwan pressed. "Don't be so hesitant. Just say what you have to say."

"Wanwan, I'm a man, I have normal physiological needs. Do you remember that night..."

Zhan Jingting did not continue speaking.

Qiao Wanwan was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized what she meant and suddenly sneered, "Zhan Jingting, I understand now. You're saying that you were drunk that night and I didn't satisfy your physical needs, so as a normal man, you need to find other women to solve your problems, is that right?"

Zhan Jingting looked at her quietly and intently, without saying a word.

At this moment, silence naturally meant denial. Qiao Wanwan closed her eyes in pain, tears streaming down her face and landing on the blanket in front of her.

The girl's voice trembled as she spoke, "Zhan Jingting, do you know what your words just said mean?"

What does it represent?

Qiao Wanwan slowly opened her eyes, tears streaming down her face like broken pearls, completely uncontrollable.

"This means we can't continue like this. I can't accept your views on marriage, and I can't accept your betrayal anytime, anywhere."

Zhan Jingting frowned slightly. "Wanwan, is there something we can't talk about? I didn't take the final step last night, did I?"