Shen Huaichuan stopped in his tracks, his gaze sharp as he looked toward the terrace, his brows furrowed.
Although a little unhappy, he still interrupted Zhou Shuhua:
“Madam, what do you mean by ‘provoking’? Does a woman talking to a man mean she’s provoking him? You have too much prejudice against him. I believe in my wife’s character.”
"It's not that I don't believe her, it's that..."
Zhou Shuhua was speechless, feeling a tightness in her chest. She instinctively tried to find an excuse for herself, but couldn't find one.
"So you don't believe in Lei Ming?"
Shen Huaichuan countered, his tone calm yet penetrating, "Or do you only believe the 'facts' you want to believe?"
Zhou Shuhua choked for a moment, then immediately retorted, "Of course I believe Lei Ming! He's my own nephew!"
"Okay,"
Shen Huaichuan's gaze sharpened as he looked at Zhou Shuhua.
"Since you also believe in Lei Ming, then let's go over and listen. Let's see if it's really my wife who's messing with men, or if you're just judging people with your old eyes. Let's hear what we hear!"
As he spoke, before Zhou Shuhua could object, he pushed the wheelchair silently behind a heavy, dark green velvet windowsill at the entrance to the terrace.
This spot happens to be a blind spot; people on the outside terrace can't see them, but their conversations can be faintly heard.
"Comrade Zhou,"
Lei Ming's voice came through the gaps in the fluttering bed sheet, carrying a distinct heaviness and sincerity.
“This time, it wasn’t just my aunt who was confused; I was also at fault.”
He took a deep breath, his voice growing increasingly agitated.
"On her behalf, and on my own behalf, I sincerely apologize to you! I'm sorry!"
As he spoke, he bent down deeply towards Zhou Qiqi.
Zhou Qiqi slightly turned her body to avoid his grand gesture:
"Lei Ming, I cannot accept your apology. This matter has nothing to do with you, and you do not need to apologize."
Lei Ming shook his head.
"No, you don't understand. I am largely to blame for this..."
“Every time, I only thought about my own emotions and didn’t explain things properly to my aunt, so the misunderstanding just deepened little by little…”
The sound of thunder was filled with bitterness and helplessness.
"Do you remember the train you took to S City? That was the first time we met, and I... fell in love with you at first sight. You had no idea who I was! I told my aunt when I got back, but she thought you were trying to seduce me."
Lei Ming's voice was filled with regret as he dissected the scenes that Zhou Shuhua had "believed" one by one.
“That time during the heavy rain, you rushed out to save the child who was about to be hit by a tree. I was a little later than you. We were protecting the child from falling on either side, and it wasn’t like we were... hugging each other at all! But your aunt only saw that scene and immediately concluded that you were indecent!”
"And then there was that time we caught a thief. I'm a policeman, catching thieves is my job, and when I rushed up to arrest him, I had no idea it was you. Later, when I took you back to your family compound, you deliberately avoided suspicion and asked me to only see you to the gate, which led to my aunt misunderstanding..."
As he spoke, his shoulders slumped, and he gave a bitter tug at the corner of his mouth.
"I should have explained things properly back then. I'm the one who hurt you and Auntie. I was too immature. Compared to Commander Shen, I'm far inferior. It's understandable that you look down on me. I must mature from now on..."
"Don't say that, what's this about looking up or down?"
Zhou Qiqi's voice was clear and melodious, carrying a soothing power.
"When it comes to relationships, fate is the most important factor. My coming together with Huaichuan was an arrangement of fate and a choice we made for each other. But that doesn't mean you're bad or 'far from good enough'."
She paused, then looked at Lei Ming with an honest gaze.
"As for being immature, there's no need to change that for now. You are sincere, passionate, emotional, and have a strong sense of justice. You will naturally mature when you meet your soulmate."
On this side, Zhou Qiqi was comforting Lei Ming.
But unexpectedly, just outside the wall—
With each statement Lei Ming made, his tone grew more sorrowful, each word like a heavy hammer striking Zhou Shuhua's heart!
So that's how it is!
It turns out that the love on the train was just a one-sided infatuation on the nephew's part!
It turns out that rescuing people in the rain is such a heroic act of disregarding one's own safety, but I only saw the "shameless" aspect of it in my imagination!
It turns out that catching a thief in the city and handing him over was purely an act of bravery and a duty, and had nothing to do with any "seduction"!
It turns out that Zhou Qiqi was completely innocent and upright from beginning to end!
Especially when she heard Zhou Qiqi's sincere affirmation and blessings for Lei Ming, her open and honest heart, without any reservations, was like the clearest mirror, reflecting all the filth and unbearable things she had imagined in the past!
"Wrong...all wrong..."
Zhou Shuhua muttered to herself absentmindedly, her voice barely audible.
"It was me... I was blind... I was senile... I... how could I..."
Overwhelming regret and shame engulfed her like a tidal wave.
Her whole body began to tremble uncontrollably, turning as white as paper. Her lips trembled, but she could no longer utter a complete sound.
One hand gripped her hospital gown tightly at her chest, as if an immense weight was pressing down on her, making it hard for her to breathe.
"Teacher's wife?!"
Shen Huaichuan noticed her unusual behavior immediately and exclaimed in surprise.
However, it was too late.
Zhou Shuhua's vision suddenly went black, and her body felt as if all the bones had been removed. Clutching her aching chest, she slid limply off the wheelchair!
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