Chapter 53 My Decision: I Disagree...
Chen Jiashu and Yang Shuhua came in together.
The two people inside stopped chatting, and Chu Yutong reacted quickly, stepping forward with a smile even brighter than the sunlight outside the window: "Aunt Yang, I've come to bother you again!"
Yang Shuhua was taken aback by Chu Yutong's arrival and paused for a moment before beaming with joy: "You silly girl, you always surprise me when you come. Qiaoqiao never even told me beforehand."
Chu Yutong turned her head and glanced at Qin Qiao, who was sitting upright, and continued to smile, "Isn't this to give Qiao Qiao a surprise?"
Chen Jiashu's gaze had been fixed on her for a while. Chu Yutong stepped forward, standing in front of Chen Jiashu, and gave him a light punch to the left chest.
Chen Jiashu let out a soft chuckle, and Chu Yutong spoke first: "Mr. Chen, do you only remember Qiao Qiao and not people like us?"
“I wouldn’t dare, your voice is here with me…” Chen Jiashu raised his left hand and tapped his temple with his index finger.
"Oh my, I'm flattered—" Chu Yutong patted her wildly beating chest.
Qin Qiao couldn't sit still any longer and walked over, grabbing Chu Yutong's arm and signaling her to keep a low profile.
"Tongtong, it's rare for you to come all this way, let's have dinner together tonight," Chen Jiashu extended a sincere invitation.
Chu Yutong grabbed Qin Qiao and leaned against her like she had no bones: "Boss Chen, you need to be clear. Are you inviting just me, or—"
Chen Jiashu chuckled and shook his head: "Of course we'll go together. You two are inseparable, how could I invite just one of you?" Then he turned slightly to the side, lowered his eyelashes, and said somewhat solemnly: "Mom, if you don't have any other plans for tonight, I'd like to invite you to join us. You've worked so hard these past few days."
The second half of the sentence was like a thunderclap from a clear sky. Qin Qiao and Chu Yutong were both stunned. They looked at each other, and Chu Yutong immediately smiled and chimed in, "Yes, yes, Auntie, let's join together. It's more fun with more people."
Qin Qiao's doubts, Chen Jiashu's waiting, and Chu Yutong's eagerness—all three gazes focused on Yang Shuhua. Yang Shuhua subconsciously curled her fingers, met Chen Jiashu's eyes, and a bitter smile appeared on her lips.
"Okay, together."
After tidying up in her room, Qin Qiao and the three of them moved to a Chinese restaurant across from the hospital.
The private room had already been booked. Qin Qiao handed the menu to Yang Shuhua and asked her to help order. Then, without saying a word, she pulled Chen Jiashu out. The man understood her intention and obediently followed her. They walked through the long corridor, turned twice, and stopped on the empty balcony.
The moon was perfectly round in the deep blue sky, its bright light outshining even the streetlights. Rooftops, tree branches, alleyways... everything in sight was bathed in a silvery glow.
The winter night was chilly, and the gentle breeze was like cold water. Qin Qiao tucked her hands into her down jacket, and her gaze, which had been fixed on the small building across the street, shifted back to Chen Jiashu's slightly moving Adam's apple.
He was waiting for her to ask a question.
All right.
Qin Qiao raised her chin slightly, looked into Chen Jiashu's eyes, and asked, "You met my mother alone?"
Chen Jiashu hummed in response. Before him was a thick, pale yellow fog, and he couldn't see anything, but he knew that Qin Qiao was staring into his eyes.
He lowered his eyelashes: "I just talked to Mom and asked her to give me another one—".
"Wait!" Qin Qiao interrupted coldly.
Because his back was to the moon, his eyes were exceptionally dark, without a trace of light.
"Did you ask me what I thought?" she asked calmly.
The main reason is that she saw through Chen Jiashu; every time they argued, it didn't solve the problem, but instead brought them back to square one.
She was really tired.
"I know I'm selfish; lately I've had this feeling of racing against time... wanting to take advantage of..."
The man's voice was very soft, but it felt like a sea-soaked sponge pressing down on her head. Qin Qiao's heart tightened, and she felt very uncomfortable.
"While I can still see a little, I want to marry you..."
"What?" Qin Qiao couldn't understand, but her heart ached.
He said, "This explanation might be easier to understand: marrying you is my wish for the rest of my life."
Her icy face was wet with hot tears, and Qin Qiao managed to utter a trembling breath: "Are you crazy?"
Chen Jiashu curled his lips slightly.
He wanted to take advantage of the time when he was "still somewhat useful" and "still somewhat like a normal person" to accomplish the most important thing in his life.
He's terrified... that in the future, he'll never dare to mention it again...
He's gone mad...
Qin Qiao's breath, sometimes heavy and sometimes rapid, burned his cheeks like flint. Chen Jiashu tilted his head slightly, lowered his head, and gently pressed his cool forehead against hers.
“He’s gone mad,” he admitted.
In the silence, their breaths intertwined and entangled, just like the struggle and entanglement between them. Qin Qiao's voice was as cold and deep as if it were tinged with the chill of the night: "What did you promise my mother?"
A soft spot pressed against his earlobe, and Chen Jiashu's lips moved slightly: "I admitted my mistake to her, Mom, and she finally forgave me."
Qin Qiao felt a lump in his throat.
She used to think Chen Jiashu was incredibly strong, forgetting that he also felt fear and dread... The pain of losing his sight halfway through life is enough to destroy anyone's mind, but he endured it all alone with that one stubborn belief.
...That's precisely why she couldn't agree. If she did, it wouldn't mean she agreed with his idea that he thought he was a normal person worthy of marrying her. In other words, he wouldn't be worthy in the future.
"Jia Shu" Qin Qiao said seriously, "I'm telling you, I disagree with my decision."
As soon as he finished speaking, the wind stopped, and only the distant, rapid breathing of the two remained in the world.
The warm breath exhaled from his mouth and nose dissipated into the night, leaving no trace.
As if he had expected this, Chen Jiashu remained silent, only reaching out to put his arm around her waist and pulling her into his embrace with a slight pull.
His broad palm gently stroked her back, and slowly his chin rested on her shoulder. He chuckled softly, with a hint of self-deprecation, "The moral blackmail didn't work."
“Jiashu, when you finally understand, we still have plenty of time…” Qin Qiao’s tone remained cold and hard, but she still raised her left arm to wrap around his waist. One of them was wearing a down jacket, and the other was wearing an overcoat; the heavy fabric rubbed together, making a soft sound. “Let’s talk again.”
*
The next day, the sun shone brightly, filtering through the leaves. A gust of wind blew, and withered yellow leaves swirled and landed on Tao Ting's shoulders, swaying a few times before falling onto the concrete ground.
A long, thin shadow fell on the stone table. Qin Qiao leaned forward slightly and glanced indifferently at the divorce agreement on the screen of the phone that Tao Ting handed her.
Neither party has signed yet.
Tao Ting withdrew her arm, and the shadow disappeared.
"Have you made up your mind?" Qin Qiao raised her eyes.
“Hmm… He said it was up to me.” Tao Ting laughed easily. “Back then, everyone said he liked me more… My friends all advised me that it was good to find a husband like that, and that I would definitely be happy in the future. And it’s true… He was the one who always gave all those years.”
Qin Qiao listened quietly, the shadows of the trees swaying on her recently rounder face.
Tao Ting came to visit him in the hospital, and Qin Qiao wanted to go for a walk, so the two of them went to the small park downstairs together.
The conversation rambled on and on, with Tao Ting doing most of the talking while Qin Qiao remained a quiet listener.
Tao Ting propped her chin on her hand and said, "A woman with children, a single woman, is highly sought after in the workplace, right?"
Qin Qiao nodded and said, "Yes, at least on the resume it looks pretty 'perfect' - stable, responsible, and with no risk of maternity leave."
Qin Qiao didn't mention the negative side, not to comfort her, but because it was unnecessary.
The world is so diverse that the wind that blows one person down may only cause a ripple in another. She should be able to get a considerable amount of property in her divorce from Zhu Ao, just like she got six million when she divorced Chen Jiashu. Although she didn't touch a penny, it gave her confidence and she didn't have to worry about career changes, allowing her to devote herself wholeheartedly to what she loves.
Tao Ting talked a lot more. She had many expectations for the future. She wanted to travel all over the world and open a clothing design studio to fulfill the dreams she hadn't been able to achieve back then... The wind gradually picked up, and the leaves rustled and fell like snowflakes.
Tao Ting suddenly asked her a question, "Qin Qiao, do you know who Zhu Ao is most afraid of?"
Her hands were freezing cold. She put them in her pockets and, playing along perfectly, guessed, "Daughter?"
I had added Zhu Ao on WeChat before, and he would post photos and videos of his one-year-old daughter on his Moments every few days. In one video, his daughter was pinching his cheek with her little hand, and his laughter was full of pampering and indulgence.
“No…” Tao Ting shook her head, writing three words on the table with her index finger. Qin Qiao recognized them, her pupils widening slightly in the sunlight, finding it incredible.
Tao Ting found her expression quite amusing, raised an eyebrow, and asked her a question: "Do you know why the Crown Prince, who is second only to the Emperor, is still so trembling with fear every time he sees the Emperor?"
That's because the emperor's trust in the crown prince is absolute, but also fragile. Once this trust cracks, the crown prince's position will be shaken to its core.
Qin Qiao intended to answer seriously, but her eyes inadvertently turned and she saw Yang Shuhua carrying two large bags of things out of the building.
"Tao Ting, it's getting late, let's talk another day."
She'll be discharged tomorrow, so Yang Shuhua is heading home to move her things. Qin Qiao quickly went over to help, but Yang Shuhua was hesitant to give it to her, worried that she'd get tired. After a few seconds of hesitation, she finally handed over the bag containing the washbasin to her in her left hand.
Qin Qiao didn't plan to sleep at the hospital today. As soon as she got home, she sent a message to Chen Jiashu to avoid him making a wasted trip.
Chen Jiashu replied to her message in the evening with just two words, "Okay." She had hoped he would offer some words of concern, but those two simple words left her feeling empty.
Around 8 o'clock, Gordon Chan sent a photo. In the photo, Xi Xi and Zhao Ye were kneeling on a toy blanket. Xi Xi was holding a musical rattle, and Zhao Ye was holding a toy guitar. Their smiles were as beautiful as flowers.
A certain string in her heart was plucked twice, and Qin Qiao immediately made a decision. Twenty minutes later, Qin Qiao rushed to Chen Jiashu's house.
She was changing into slippers in the entryway when she heard children's laughter occasionally erupting from the playroom on the second floor.
Jingjie told her that Chen Jiashu came back this afternoon and bought two sets of toys to give to the children. After dinner, the three of them stayed in the playroom until now.
Qin Qiao went upstairs, and worried about disturbing their harmonious atmosphere, so she walked very quietly.
“Come on, let’s give it a serious try. Xixi, you’re in charge of hitting the drum once every time I count to three. Zhaoye, you play the simplest C chord, just like I taught you yesterday…”
Chen Jiashu's bright and cheerful voice came from inside the house. This tone, somewhere between that of a father and a playmate, was something Qin Qiao had never heard before, not only six years later, but also rarely during their passionate love period.
"one two three"
As the third note fell, the drumbeat squeezed out a single sound amidst the chaotic music.
Conductor Mr. Chen then counted: "One, two, three."
The guitar sounds and electronic drums mixed together created a cacophony of noise that was truly unpleasant to the ear.
After several attempts, Chen Jiashu overestimated the children's ability to cooperate, and his counts of "one, two, three" were repeatedly interrupted by his own laughter.
"Zhaoye, come here, I'll teach you one more time."
Zhao Ye knelt opposite Chen Jiashu, and upon hearing Chen Jiashu's call, he responded and crawled to Chen Jiashu's side.
Chen Jiashu first grasped Zhao Ye's arm, then moved it down to his small hand, and then guided his fingers to the neck of the violin: "Right here, lightly press the first fret with your index finger, imagine crossing a stream..."
Xi Xi listened intently, her little ears perked up. She remembered Jiao Jiao saying that her father was a pianist and played the piano beautifully.
Her father is even more amazing; he can not only play the piano but also the guitar and drums. On Monday, she will tell Jiaojiao that her father can do even more.
The sound of the door opening gently interrupted Chen Jiashu's fingers as he plucked the strings. He turned to look at the doorway and froze in shock.
Zhao Ye and Xi Xi burst out excitedly, "Mommy!" and rushed over, each hugging one of Qin Qiao's legs.
"It's already nine o'clock and you're still not asleep?" Qin Qiao smiled and bent down to rub Xi Xi's little head.
Upon being reminded, Chen Jiashu immediately put on a serious face: "Even though you don't have school tomorrow, you still need to develop the habit of going to bed early and getting up early. That's all for today's music class. Go to sleep."
"Dad...play a little longer?" Xi Xi tugged at his sleeve, then yawned.
Chen Jiashu shook his head, his tone slightly heavier: "No."
The "big friend" who was just playing with them transformed into a strict father in an instant.
"Xixi has already yawned for the third time; Zhaoye, if you don't put the guitar away properly, the strings will loosen tomorrow... So, if you want to play again next time, go to sleep."
Zhaoye immediately ran back and put his guitar into the box. Xixi followed suit, and the two quickly cleaned up the floor.
Goodnight, Dad and Mom.
Qin Qiao suppressed a laugh and watched as the children obediently passed in front of her, then raced away as if in a competition.
Worried that the children might get hurt while chasing each other, Qin Qiao followed them out. She stood at the door and only came back in after seeing them safely enter her bedroom.
Chen Jiashu got up from the ground, walked to the cabinet by the wall, touched it slightly and got the white cane. He opened it and the white cane touched the ground.
Then, turning to look at her, he said, "Never mind, just leave it here."
He pointed to the toy box.
"Let's go downstairs and sit for a while."
Sister Jing brought over two glasses of plain water and placed them in front of them. Steam swirled around the rims of the glasses. Chen Jiashu placed his phone on the table with a crisp "tap." Qin Qiao looked up at the man opposite her.
His face still held a warm smile, as if he hadn't quite shaken off the playfulness from earlier; the smile was pure and unburdened.
"What time are you leaving the day after tomorrow?" Qin Qiao asked first.
When Chen Jiashu heard at the dinner table that Guangguang was getting married, he offered to attend and even asked his uncle if it was convenient for him.
When his uncle came back and told him, he scratched his head and laughed, "Jiashu himself has already asked, so there's nothing inconvenient about it. We couldn't be happier!"
They had considered inviting Jia Shu before, but weddings always involve the issue of monetary gifts. Considering their current relationship, sending invitations directly might make people think they had ulterior motives.
Although everyone knows that Jia Shu is a big boss and doesn't lack money, it's still not acceptable in terms of face or reason.
"And you?" Chen Jiashu asked her in return.
Qin Qiao replied, "I came here to talk about this. After we finish the discharge procedures at eight o'clock tomorrow morning, I will come to pick up Zhao Ye and Xi Xi. Our flight is at noon tomorrow."
Since she's still on vacation, she should go back early to help out with some small tasks.
"We have to meet a big client this morning, and we'll be leaving this afternoon..." As Chen Jiashu said this, Qin Qiao let out a soft "ah".
The wedding is the day after tomorrow, what is he doing here so early? Qin Qiao thought to herself.
"I want to stroll along that old street you used to take me to, and eat some of the big meat dumplings there."
Chen Jiashu seemed to have the ability to read minds, and answered her questions seriously.
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