Chapter 204 Mr. Zhuang Can't Hide Anymore

Yan Shu stared wide-eyed at Qing Lan, incredulous.

She had planned everything, but she never expected that this seemingly innocent college student would secretly record the conversation.

You actually recorded me?

"Otherwise what?"

Qinglan held her phone, her face expressionless, and played the recording on a loop. "I believe that all the media friends and colleagues here are smart people. You all have your own judgment on who is behind this and has ulterior motives."

Yan Shu felt betrayed by the whole world, and the people around her looked at her with contempt and disgust.

She completely lost her mind, screaming as she tried to rush forward to snatch Qinglan's phone: "Delete the recording! You bitch!"

The bodyguards immediately stepped forward to stop Yan Shu.

In the chaos, Qinglan was bumped and staggered backward.

"careful!"

Qu He reacted quickly, stepping forward to support Qing Lan's arm.

Qinglan leaned against Quhe, smelling the faint scent of her perfume, and her heart was already screaming like a chicken.

[Ahhhhh! My goddess helped me up! Her hands are so soft! I'm so happy!]

But on the surface, she just blushed and whispered her thanks: "Thank you, Sister Qu He."

Qu He smiled gently at her: "I should be thanking you."

Just then, the meeting room door was opened again.

Two uniformed police officers walked in and showed their identification: "Ms. Yan Shu, you are suspected of participating in online defamation and are related to a recent traffic accident case. We are now summoning you to the police station for investigation in accordance with the law. Please cooperate."

"No! I didn't! I've been framed! Zhuang Bieyan, please help me!"

Yan Shu struggled, looking at Zhuang Bieyan in despair, hoping to gain a shred of his pity.

However, Zhuang Bieyan didn't even spare her a glance; all his attention was on Qu He beside him.

The police officers expressionlessly handcuffed Yan Shu's wrists and led her away from the venue.

Also taken away were the reporter who had been paid to spread rumors and several fans who had caused trouble.

The farce has finally come to an end.

Qu He had no intention of giving any more interviews. After exchanging a few words with the organizers, she prepared to leave.

Turning around, she saw Qinglan still standing beside her. Remembering that it was this little girl who had helped her earlier, she thanked her again: "Thank you so much for what you did earlier."

Qinglan's face turned even redder. She waved her hands, "No...it's okay! Sister Quhe, I actually..."

She took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and looked at Qu He with sparkling eyes, "Can I take a picture with you? I've liked your work for a long time! You're my idol!"

Looking at her adorable fangirl expression, Qu He softened her tone even more: "Of course you can. So you stayed here the whole time because you wanted to take a picture with me?"

"Mmm!" Qinglan nodded vigorously, twisting her fingers shyly. "I don't know how to start the conversation, and I'm afraid of bothering you."

"It's nothing, I'm just happy that my work is liked by people."

Qu He smiled and handed her phone to Zhuang Bieyan next to her, "Mr. Zhuang, could you please take a group photo for us?"

Zhuang Bieyan took the phone and saw his wife and his little fan standing together intimately. Qu He even put her arm around Qinglan's shoulder.

The two made several hand gestures towards the camera, appearing very intimate.

He suppressed the subtle pang of jealousy in his heart and dutifully pressed the shutter.

After taking the group photo, Qinglan excitedly hugged Quhe, then quickly let go, blushing as she added her on WeChat, and ran off, not forgetting to turn back and wave vigorously.

Qu He smiled unconsciously as she watched the girl's youthful and energetic back.

Zhuang Bieyan stepped forward, gently turned her face back, forcing her to look at him, his tone tinged with bitterness and grievance.

"Ahe, now everyone knows that I've liked you for so many years. Isn't it time for me to get a proper recognition?"

Qu He rested her chin on his warm palm, blinked, and pretended to think, "Well..."

Just then, her phone rang.

Qu He picked up her phone and waved it in front of Zhuang Bieyan. "Mr. Zhuang, the final test is here. Are you ready?"

The carriage was unusually quiet on the way back to Baiyu Bay.

Zhuang Bieyan appeared calm and composed on the surface, but at an intersection where he should have turned right, he almost went straight, but fortunately he reacted in time.

Qu He chuckled inwardly, but didn't say anything.

She knew that any words of comfort at this moment might only increase his anxiety, and that letting him process his unease on his own was the best approach.

The car was parked flat downstairs at Baiyuwan. Zhuang Bieyan got out of the car and took a gift box from the trunk.

He straightened his trench coat, which had no wrinkles, and took Qu He's hand as they went upstairs.

Qu He entered the password and pushed open the door.

In the living room, Director Lian sat on the sofa, holding a cup of hot tea, his expression unreadable.

Teacher Qu sat on a single sofa to the side, giving her daughter and Zhuang Bieyan a look that said, "Good luck to you."

Zhuang Bieyan placed the gift on the coffee table in the living room.

His height of over 1.8 meters made him appear somewhat cramped in the living room.

At this moment, he abandoned all the airs of a business tycoon and acted like a naive young man visiting for the first time, eager for recognition.

"Mom, Dad," he called out.

Qu He originally thought that Director Lian would be angry and would question when they got back together and why they didn't tell her, and might even bring up the past.

However, Director Lian merely raised his eyes, his gaze falling on Zhuang Bieyan, and scrutinized him for a moment.

The first question she asked surprised everyone: "Have you fully recovered?"

Zhuang Bieyan was taken aback for a moment, then immediately replied, "Thank you for your concern. Everything is fine now. I've had a check-up, and there are no aftereffects."

Director Lian nodded, put down his teacup, and turned his gaze to Qu He, looking at the mutton-fat jade buckle that was showing on her neck, a complicated look flashing in his eyes.

Qu He couldn't help but ask, "Mom, aren't you angry? You didn't even ask us..."

Lian Juping looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"You think your mother was really so blind and didn't know anything when you hid him in the room last time?"

Qu He's face turned red instantly!

So she already knew!

“I saw the farewell car downstairs that day. When I came back, I saw that the balcony floor was mopped so clean, and there was a bowl of noodles in the kitchen that you obviously couldn’t make. Plus, the guilty look on your face when you were blocking the bedroom door made it all seem like you were just blatantly guilty.”

You are a piece of my flesh, and I know better than anyone what you're thinking.

She shook her head and looked at Qu He with loving eyes. "Mom hopes that your marriage will be smooth and that you won't suffer any grievances. That's why I made all those arrangements and had all those worries before. That's why I thought it's better to have a short pain than a long one."

“But, Ah He, what Mom wants most is to see you happy, truly happy, not forced to be happy to please anyone or because of any external factors.”

Qu He's eyes reddened, and she threw herself into her arms, choking out, "Mom... please don't say anymore."

Director Lian patted the back of her hand, then looked at Zhuang Bieyan.

“Bie Yan, your Uncle Qu and I have read every single thing you did online today, every single word you said, and every single photo you posted.”

“Our Ah He,” Director Lian’s voice trembled slightly as she tried to remain calm.

“She suffered a lot when she was young. Later, because of some things, she also carried burdens in her heart and was hurt. We, as her parents, don't have any great abilities, nor do we have any high expectations…”

She looked at Zhuang Bieyan and said, word by word, "We hope that someone can truly care for her, love her, protect her, and never let her suffer any injustice again, and never let her secretly shed tears alone again."

This simple wish is a mother's deepest and most unconditional love.

Zhuang Bieyan's heart was struck by those words. Without any hesitation, he stepped forward and bowed, "Dad, Mom, please rest assured."

His gaze swept over Qu He, whose eyes were moist. "In the past, because of my cowardice and mistakes, she missed out on a lot of the happiness and security she should have had. I will make up for this debt in the future."

He looked at Director Lian again, his eyes earnest, "I promise my parents that I will not fail you both today. I will treat Ahe well for the rest of my life, I will never make her sad or cry, I will make her happy forever."

This is a man who, with his truest heart and heaviest promise, makes a vow about the future to the parents of the woman he loves.

Director Lian listened quietly, looking into his eyes at the genuine affection and determination.

She stood up, a relaxed smile on her face. "Alright, stop standing there like you're being punished. Old Qu,"

She called out to Teacher Qu, who hadn't said much but whose eyes were equally moved, "Don't just stand there, come and help me wash the vegetables and take that sea bass out to defrost."

As she spoke, she walked towards the kitchen. "Alright, everyone stay for lunch. Try your Uncle Qu's cooking. We can also discuss the wedding details. Her dad and I haven't finalized the guest list yet."

Zhuang Bieyan looked at Qu He, who was also looking at him with tears of happiness in her eyes.

Their eyes met, and a thousand words were left unsaid.

All the anxiety and unease settled down and turned into a perfect ending with Director Lian's casual remark.