Chapter 52 He put his own photo in the center
Tong Zhongyuan was gone. She was a little dazed. Was she being overly suspicious? Could Tong Zhongyuan be in love with Qin Tian? No, no, no, no, she shook her head. Just now, when he asked her for the key, his expression was calm and his tone was composed, making people feel that his actions were entirely motivated by selfless concern for his fellow human beings from the depths of his humanity. Her realm was still too shallow, no wonder she couldn't become a master.
Tong Zhongyuan took the key from the mailbox and stood at Qin Tian's door for a long time. How did he get here? How did he think of entering her house without her permission? What was he thinking? Was it too late to go back now? He closed his eyes. Forget it, she was waiting. Calling Song Suiyang over now would only be a cover-up and a waste of time.
He opened the door. Her room was surrounded by windows on three sides, bright and airy. Besides a small wardrobe, the bedroom contained a row of bookshelves. No dressing table, just a desk. He placed his fingers on the wardrobe door and, with a sudden determination, opened it. Her clothes were mostly simple and neutral, nothing suggestive or glamorous. He grabbed a few T-shirts and trousers, his face flushing.
There were several framed photos on the bookshelf, including one from her graduation. He picked one up and looked at it for a moment. Aside from her shorter hair, she looked much the same as she does now. Her eyes sparkled when she smiled. Next to it was a photo of her mother, who looked mixed-race, with amber eyes, fair skin, and a softer demeanor. Qin Tian looked a lot like his mother.
He took the photo and put it in his bag. Just as he was about to leave, he saw a photo frame lying on its side in the corner, covering the photo. He reached out to flip the frame over and was stunned.
Qin Yizhang smiled brightly, but Tong Zhongyuan looked unhappy. She held his arm tightly, as if he would break free if she let go.
Deep in his drawer was a photo like this one, one he hadn't seen in years. He had written her twelve letters that year, one a month, but she never replied. He mailed his final letter of farewell, removed the photo from its frame, and locked it in the drawer.
His fingers traced her smiling face in the frame. The frame was dust-free; it must have fallen there recently. He stood it upright and placed it in the center of the row.
Qin Tian settled Qin Yunjie in and went to the hospital commissary to buy daily necessities. After two days of assessments, Qin Yunjie's disease progression and physical condition met the requirements for the experimental group. Today was his first day in the hospital, and she was so focused on packing his belongings that she forgot she would also be staying overnight. Fortunately, small items were easy to buy; she only needed a few changes of clothes.
She returned to the ward carrying a large bag of food and supplies. Before she even entered the room, she heard Qin Yunjie's voice. His voice sounded cheerful, even cheerful. She hadn't heard him speak in such a tone for a long time. She was surprised. He hadn't told anyone about his hospitalization. Could there be another medical staff member that he could get along with so well? She opened the door and called out, "Dad. Who are you talking to?"
The man sitting in the chair in front of his bed turned his head, his brows like distant mountains and a smile on the corners of his lips.
She was stunned. Qin Yunjie greeted her with a smile, "Why didn't you tell me that Zhongyuan had been back for so long? He said he contacted me when you were in England."
She closed the door, walked in silently, took out the things she bought one by one, and put them in the cabinet. Tong Zhongyuan's eyes followed her. After she put the things away, she walked over slowly and asked stiffly, "Why are you here?"
Tong Zhongyuan pointed at a bag of clothes on the cabinet.
"Song Suiyang can't leave, so let me see him off."
Qin Tian was speechless. This was outrageous. It was a rare occasion for her to ask Song Suiyang to help her with something, and she'd actually said she couldn't leave. Everyone knew she was always slacking off and had plenty of time. She'd only asked her to help with the clothes because she was a girl, otherwise she'd have asked Tang Zhixu to do it. Why would she agree to do this if she was so busy?
She asked in disbelief, "She asked you to come to my house to get the clothes?"
Tong Zhongyuan turned his gaze away, staring at Qin Yunjie, and said warmly, "I'm sorry for being so impolite. I could have just called for a quick delivery. But if I had known Uncle Qin was in the hospital and I hadn't come to visit, my mother would have been unable to sleep or eat. She's been thinking about Uncle Qin all these years and often talks about the past. It's my fault. I should have come to visit you as soon as I returned home."
Qin Yunjie waved his hand and said with a smile: "In the past, He Wu would lose his appetite when he was busy, so he had no time to think about anything else. Cultural relics are important, whether he sees them or not is not my concern."
Qin Tian watched them singing the same tune, chatting happily, and felt even more frustrated. She had always believed that Tong Zhongyuan didn't know she was Qin Yizhang, but now, he was just being too clever. She didn't know when he found out, but if Qin Yunjie hadn't been sick, he probably wouldn't have wanted to recognize her. Ultimately, it was Song Suiyang who was to blame. Even if she was busy, she could have asked anyone for help, but she chose Tong Zhongyuan. She was so bold that she even dared to order Tong Zhongyuan around.
Qin Yunjie asked: "Is your mother doing well these years?"
"My mother arrived in the UK a few years ago, and her work and life have been going smoothly. However, she always feels uneasy when she thinks of the Shanghai Museum. She often misses her old friend but dares not ask about him. She has finally let go of him since she retired. A few days ago, she asked about Uncle Qin's recent situation on the phone. If Uncle Qin doesn't mind, my mother would very much like to reconnect with him."
Qin Yunjie sighed, "She's a very hard-hearted person. In fact, she has already fulfilled all her promises. She has done nothing wrong to Shanghai Museum. Why bother to tie herself up in knots? It's just a pity that Feng Qi had such a tragic fate. It's also a loss for Shanghai Museum."
Tong Zhongyuan lowered his head and said nothing. Qin Tian, however, noticed something strange. The name Feng Qi sounded very familiar, but it had been so long that she couldn't quite remember it. She couldn't help but ask, "Is Feng Qi a person's name?"
Qin Yunjie replied, "Zhang Fengqi. He was He Wu's disciple and also worked in the restoration department of the Shanghai Museum. You've seen him, the thin, pale boy, a recent college graduate."
Qin Tian tried hard to recall and vaguely remembered this person: "What happened to him?"
Qin Yunjie sighed, "The British Museum strongly invited He Wu and offered very generous conditions. But He Wu kept hesitating. It was Team Leader Ming who told her that people always strive for higher positions. How could the Shanghai Museum, with its strength at the time, compare with the British Museum? He Wu said, then I will leave my skills. At that time, Zhang Fengqi was the youngest and most talented in the restoration department. He Wu spent two years teaching him with all his heart, delaying his trip to the UK for two years. Zhang Fengqi was indeed capable and inherited your mother's true teachings. Later, just one year after He Wu passed away, Zhang Fengqi was hit by a car while on a business trip and passed away before he could receive medical treatment."
This was the first time Qin Tian had heard the full story. She had confidently confronted Tong Zhongyuan at the Shanghai Center, claiming He Wu owed the Shanghai Museum, but he had simply said that even if he did, it wasn't his debt, without mentioning the underlying circumstances. Her gaze gradually shifted towards Tong Zhongyuan; he looked calm, his eyelashes lowered.
She felt an inexplicable irritation in her heart. She stood up and said, "Dad, it's getting late. I have to go back to eat. Let's stop talking here for today."
Tong Zhongyuan looked up at her and stood up tactfully.
"Then I'll take my leave first. Uncle Qin, take good care of yourself and get well soon."
Qin Yunjie agreed to say goodbye and asked Qin Tian to see Tong Zhongyuan off.
Even if he didn't say it, she would still send it off. He came with a lot of information this time, and she was not as tolerant as him, so naturally she had to ask a few questions.
She and he walked out of the inpatient area, both of them silent. Beyond the hospital, there was a large lawn where groups of patients were strolling and relaxing. The setting sun was just right, and the tips of the grass shimmered with golden light.
She knew that he was always patient, and was about to speak first when he opened his mouth.
"Uncle Qin, what's wrong with you? He's in the neurology ward. Is it a cerebrovascular disease?"
Qin Yunjie had just been admitted to the hospital, and his medical records hadn't even been hung on his bed yet. No wonder he didn't know. Given his personality, he definitely wouldn't ask directly. Fortunately, she hadn't told Song Suiyang about this, otherwise the whole hospital would have known about it by now.
"It's nothing serious. I'm just here for an assessment," she said evasively.
Tong Zhongyuan looked at her and it seemed that she didn't want to mention this matter.
"You..." She couldn't help but ask, "When did you know that I was Qin Yizhang?"
"Director Ming said so the day before I returned to England," he replied.
She stopped, his back bathed in golden sunlight, he stopped and turned to look at her. His hair and eyelashes were dyed golden, gentle and illusory.
Director Ming said she had performed a great service by keeping him. She had never understood what he meant, but now she understood. He was commemorating that childhood companionship in his own way. He had spent two months writing off their entangled emotional debt.
That's fine.
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