Chapter 56, "I haven't had a chance to tell him yet"...
After getting out of bed, Qiao Shu strictly forbade discussing serious matters in bed.
Yu Zeheng lay on his back on the bed, with only a corner of the blanket loosely draped over his lower abdomen. His short black hair was damp with sweat, his eyes were still dark, and his lips were red and his teeth were white, creating a vivid and alluring scene.
Qiao Shu hadn't forgotten how he had seduced her. She grabbed his bath towel and threw it at him, covering his face: "Put on some clothes."
Look at how badly it's burned.
She turned and went into the bathroom, displaying a heartless ruthlessness as if she would forget about anyone once she got out of bed.
Yu Zeheng pulled down the bath towel, lowered his eyelashes, and watched her close the bathroom door, then gave a sleepy smile.
After washing up, Qiao Shu wasn't sleepy at all. She sat on the bed with her laptop, dealing with work emails. Her expression grew increasingly serious and rigid. Those people were really going to any lengths to shift responsibility, and the work she had assigned was making no progress.
"What made our CEO Shu unhappy?" Yu Zeheng glanced at her expression.
Qiao Shu then told him what had happened during this time: "I can understand. They've been following Qiao Kaiyu, so they're definitely not convinced by me. I would find it strange if they didn't try to do something about it."
"A bunch of grasshoppers in autumn won't be able to hop around for long."
"I try to think the best of it, but the old man is still watching, and I think that's why they dare to be so blatant."
Qiao Shu stared at the email, closed her laptop, and tilted her head to ask, "I want to single one of them out and deal with him as an example, but I'm worried it might backfire."
Yu Zeheng moved her computer away, thought for a moment, and then nodded, "They must have thought you would do it too."
"yes."
"Instead of punishment, let's reward someone else, and give that reward to someone else instead."
Qiao Shu suddenly realized: "They originally banded together because of shared interests. If the interests are not distributed equally, they will feel unbalanced and it is easy for infighting to break out. Once the rift is created, they will no longer be a united front."
"clever."
The fog suddenly parted, and Qiao Shu could see the road ahead clearly. She cupped Yu Zeheng's face in her hands and kissed him deeply: "I hereby declare that you are my strategist."
What are the benefits of a strategist?
"I can sleep with you." Qiao Shu's long eyelashes fluttered, her eyes shining. "Now, let's sleep!"
After saying that, she lay down, pulled the blanket over herself, and glanced at him again. Her gaze made him fall down. Yu Zeheng lay down and pulled her into his arms, his chin brushing against her hair, his breath filled with her scent.
Qiao Shu will always be Qiao Shu; he's always been someone you use and then discard.
The next day at the company, Qiao Shu did only one thing: she held a meeting to discuss and reward those who had made contributions. She smiled and said that she was young and inexperienced, and that according to seniority, it was not her place to sit in this position. She thought about it and realized that there were many things she did not understand, and that she needed more capable people to assist her.
"Mr. Zhou, you've been with the company for seven or eight years, and your hard work and contributions are evident to all. No wonder my older brother values you so much. Even my grandfather speaks highly of you and privately tells me to learn from you. But I'm not very bright, and I can't learn anything in a short time. I hope you'll take the trouble to help me out."
General Manager Zhou naturally laughed it off, saying with a smile on his face, "It's all for the company, I'm paid to do the work, and I'm grateful that the company doesn't look down on me for being stupid."
"How could I possibly dislike it?" Qiao Shu leaned on the table, acknowledging that President Zhou was being promoted and given a raise, enjoying immense prestige.
As soon as he finished speaking, someone in the room lowered their head and gave a cryptic, cold laugh.
Qiao Shu said cheerfully, "If there are no objections, our meeting is adjourned for today."
As Mr. Zhou left the meeting room, his subordinates, having received the news, stood up and applauded to congratulate him. He raised his hand, his smile barely concealed, and said, "I'll treat everyone to dinner this weekend."
"Wow, Mr. Zhou is so generous!"
Mr. Zhou glanced at the figure in the corridor, called his assistant to go choose a restaurant first, and walked out himself, stopping the other person: "I thought this person was so capable, but in the end I see that he can't even compare to Mr. Qiao's finger. I still miss the days when Mr. Qiao was here. Now I always feel a sense of despair that the company is about to go bankrupt at any moment."
"I don't think you're desperate either, you can't even suppress the smile on your face." The other person didn't look at him, holding their coffee and drinking it without any taste.
Mr. Zhou said dismissively, "She thinks she can win me over with a few nice words and small favors."
"Ah, the district general manager position is just a small favor to President Zhou." The other person turned around, approached him, and said with a sinister look on his face, "If President Zhou remembers correctly, I have always been in charge of this district. I have put in so much effort, and you, on the other hand, can take my position away in an instant."
"You can't blame me for this. That woman gave it to me out of the blue. When have I ever tried to take your things?"
The other person gave a light chuckle, bumped his shoulder, and walked away.
"What bad luck." President Zhou scoffed lightly, straightened his clothes, and stepped inside. His subordinates were already talking about where to eat, determined to rip him off. He smiled broadly, "Eat whatever you want, I've never been stingy."
For every person who is successful, there is someone who is unsuccessful.
Song Yue looked around and heard the gossip from both departments. They used to be as close as family, but now they were indifferent to each other and didn't even bother to put on a show.
Qiao Shu pondered that there would be others who would try to reconcile them, urging them to prioritize the bigger picture and not worry about immediate gains or losses.
However, human nature is inherently short-sighted; people are more concerned with inequality than scarcity.
Qiao Shu rested her chin on her hand: "Let's wait a little longer. All we can do is muddy the waters, the muddier the better. Then who will be able to tell who's on whose side?"
She would occasionally invite executives and their wives to dinner, deliberately choosing occasions where others might bump into them, and then casually greet them with a smile, saying things that seemed ambiguous.
The rift grew wider and wider, to the point where it was irreparable.
After this, things became much easier for Qiao Shu in the company. The old clique split up again and again, each trying to outdo the other, and they had long forgotten what Qiao Kaiyu had told them.
With the company's issues resolved, Qiao Shu felt relaxed and happy. She no longer clung to Yu Zeheng, playing games on and off the bed. Instead, she held Xiao Xi, watched movies, or trained it to perform commands like standing and squatting.
Xiao Xi is a little silly.
Aunt Chu often says that Qiao Shu is a "spoiled child because of a doting mother," so even now when Xiao Xi tells it to sit, it either rolls over on its belly or rubs against her, it just can't follow the command correctly.
Qiao Shu would then cover Xiao Xi's ears, with a loving expression that said, "We children can't hear these things."
It's okay if you're a little slow; puppies don't need to go to university.
Yu Zeheng belatedly realized that he seemed to have fallen out of favor. Qiao Shu touched his face and said that the company's affairs were mostly resolved, and she was in a good mood, so she didn't need any other way to vent.
"Am I your outlet for venting?"
“Wrong, you are my special stress-relieving artifact.” Qiao Shu commanded Xiao Xi to bite him.
Xiao Xi understood at this moment. With its short legs, it pounced towards Yu Zeheng, stepped on his leg, and barked loudly.
"Good girl."
Yu Zeheng raised his hand and touched Xiao Xi's head. Xiao Xi rubbed against him affectionately and closed her eyes comfortably. The other person looked at her with his chin raised, with the pride of taming a wild beast.
"Beast" Xiao Xi made a purring sound.
Qiao Shu was speechless, then chuckled, "It's for you to bite him, not for you to act cute."
"Woof woof".
Xiao Xi responded enthusiastically, grinning from ear to ear, looking naive and innocent.
That evening, Qiao Shu suddenly received a call from Li Ma, saying that the old man had fainted again and had been taken to the hospital. The rest of the family had gone with him, and they did not yet know the situation at the hospital.
Li's mother said, "Actually, he hasn't been in a good state lately, but he didn't want you to know and kept telling you not to talk about it."
"I understand. I'll go check it out first."
Qiao Shu hung up the phone and told him about the old man being hospitalized.
“I’ll go with you,” Yu Zeheng said.
Qiao Shu nodded: "Mm."
Yu Zeheng went to get the car keys, while Qiao Shu was only wearing a coat over her pajamas. On the way to the hospital, she was reminded of the time she flew back to China last year.
On both occasions, the grandfather and grandson did not get along.
Qiao Shu stared out the car window, the more she tried to think of something, the more blank her mind became.
She went upstairs and saw her aunt and uncle talking to the doctor. Her aunt looked at her and her face darkened: "What are you doing here?"
"How is Grandpa?" Qiao Shu ignored him and went to ask the doctor.
The aunt crossed her arms and said coldly, "You're lucky you didn't die of anger. You're fine now, but who knows what will happen in the future."
"Alright, stop arguing with her in the hospital. Let her leave. Nobody wants to see her." The uncle turned around and walked inside.
"You heard that? If you want the old man to live a few more years, then don't stay here. Nobody here welcomes you." Aunt looked at Yu Zeheng next to Qiao Shu, feeling angry. She wondered what he saw in Qiao Shu that made him so devoted to her.
Suddenly, I met his dark gaze.
Yu Zeheng said coldly, "If you don't want people to come, you can buy the hospital."
Just because Qiao Shu isn't in the mood to talk to her right now doesn't mean he isn't.
The eldest aunt was speechless for a long time after hearing one sentence: "Fine, fine, so this is how your Yu family teaches you to treat your elders?"
"The premise is that the elders act like elders."
Qiao Shu ignored her aunt's request to go to the doctor to ask about the situation. The doctor said that the examination had been conducted and there was nothing seriously wrong, but she still needed to stay in the hospital for observation.
She was skeptical: "If there's nothing wrong with him, how could he faint again?"
The doctor smiled and said that due to his age, his body was not as strong as that of a young person, and overexertion could cause him to faint. "I'm sorry, I still have to go make my rounds."
"Thank you." Qiao Shu made way for her.
When she turned back, Yu Zeheng was just one step away from her.
Qiao Shu smiled absentmindedly: "It's nothing, let's go back."
"good."
"Xiao Shu, Grandpa wants you to come in."
Qiao Yizhou came out of the ward and called out to Qiao Shu, who was about to leave. He tilted his head and said, "I'm different from my eldest brother. You know my second brother has always thought highly of you. Actually, it doesn't matter who owns the company, as long as I can get the money I'm entitled to."
Qiao Shu glanced at him, but she wasn't in the mood to deal with him right now.
Yu Zeheng squeezed her hand: "I'll wait for you outside."
Qiao Shu nodded. The path to the ward seemed long, and every step felt strenuous. The other members of the Qiao family came out of the ward, their cold gazes sweeping over her. She passed by expressionlessly, paused for two seconds at the ward door, and then pushed it open and went inside.
In the same ward, Qiao Zhenkai, dressed in a hospital gown, sat leaning against the bed with his back to Qiao Shu. His figure was thin and frail, and he remained motionless until she entered.
The door to the ward closed, and Qiao Shu stopped where she was, without moving forward.
The old man asked, "How's the company doing?"
The sound reminded Qiao Shu of plants that were about to wither and die. She knew it was a bad association, and she restrained herself from thinking about other possibilities.
Qiao Shu briefly and concisely explained the company's affairs in a clear and organized manner. In fact, she received daily reports on these matters, including how she dealt with the people left behind by Qiao Kaiyu.
She spoke quietly, and the person in the hospital bed did not speak either.
After Qiao Shu finished speaking, Qiao Zhenkai hummed in response. He recalled that Yu Xunli had visited him some time ago and their conversation was still fresh in his mind. Yu Xunli was right; it was better to leave the property to someone with the ability than to leave it to anyone else.
Ultimately, what sustains a family through thick and thin is not something just anyone can do; starting a business is difficult, and maintaining it is no easy feat either.
Qiao Zhenkai knew perfectly well that he just couldn't get over his own mental block.
He knew that Qiao Kaiyu was eager for quick success, but he still thought that if he could be patient and give him a chance, let him hit a few walls and suffer setbacks, maybe he could grow.
This belief has sustained Qiao Zhenkai to this day.
Qiao Zhenkai looked out the window. The leaves that had fallen in autumn and winter had grown back, hanging strong and powerfully on the branches, rustling in the wind.
“I remember when your mother was sick, you would come to the hospital after school and stay by her bedside. Kids your age are usually restless and want to play and jump around, but you don’t. You just sit there and don’t even leave when your mother is asleep.”
"I asked you if you weren't bored staying here all the time. You shook your head and said you wanted to spend more time with her, afraid that she would forget you after she left. At that time, I thought you were a good kid who valued relationships and family."
Qiao Shu slowly exhaled.
She was too young at the time to remember clearly, and even her mother's appearance was now blurry.
Qiao Zhenkai continued, "I never expected that I would be bitten by the wolf cub I raised."
This was his miscalculation.
Qiao Shu's hands and feet were ice cold. She heard herself say, "I won't touch other people's interests. What they get won't change. I don't think I did anything wrong. This position is for capable people. You clearly know that I am more capable than Qiao Kaiyu."
She has done so much over the years, growing up as he wished, becoming a useful person to the Qiao family.
Is it really a person, or just a convenient tool?
Qiao Shu's eyes welled up with tears: "Grandpa, do we have to get stuck in this stalemate?"
When she learned he was hospitalized in Australia, she didn't close her eyes on the plane. If that confrontation was their last time seeing each other, would she regret it?
Of course it's a pity.
She still had so much to say to him, so much to show him how outstanding she was, how she could be someone he could be proud of. She... always remembered the image of him leading her back to the old house.
"I can back down."
Qiao Zhenkai spoke, turning his head to look at her with his deep-set eyes: "I can give Zhongcheng to you, everything to you. I only have one condition."
"I want you to give birth to the child, and the child will have the surname Joe, regardless of gender."
"After this, I will hand over the company to you."
He closed his eyes, a gesture of concession and his last bit of stubbornness. He thought that when people reach a certain age, some of their beliefs are already deeply ingrained, and even if they are wrong, they don't want to change them.
The ward fell silent for a moment.
It sounds like there's no problem. She will get married and have children in the future, and even if the old man doesn't bring it up, she might ask Yu Zeheng to let the child take her surname.
"I don't want to."
After calming down, Qiao Shu said three words.
Cause and effect mean that there is a cause before there is an effect; one should not seek the cause in order to achieve the effect.
"If I have my own child someday, I hope it will be because of love or because I want it, not for any other reason or with any other purpose."
This statement may sound contradictory, but she should be in charge of her own body and her uterus.
She couldn't accept this argument, so she resolutely refused.
Qiao Shu choked up: "You may never understand how I felt when I said this to you."
Qiao Zhenkai was not surprised by her answer. He paused for a moment and said, "You don't need to reject me right away. Tell me your final answer later."
After leaving the ward, Yu Zeheng stood in the corridor. Hearing the noise, he looked up, but did not speak. He simply stretched out his hand.
Qiao Shu didn't know how she got out of the hospital. She only realized it after she had been in the car for a long time. Yu Zeheng hadn't been driving or saying anything, leaving her completely immersed in her own world.
After regaining consciousness, she asked, "How long have I been sitting like this?"
Yu Zeheng replied, "Less than ten minutes."
Qiao Shu was somewhat surprised and went to fasten her seatbelt: "Why didn't you call me for so long?"
Yu Zeheng gazed into her eyes: "I'm waiting, waiting for you to speak."
Qiao Shu smoothed her long hair and smiled. He sounded so pitiful, like Xiao Xi waiting for her to finish her work without bothering her: "Let's go home."
"Okay, let's go home."
They held hands again when they returned to Nanwan.
Qiao Shu used to dislike this sticky feeling, but when it happened to her, she found that she had done it without even realizing it.
Perhaps after visiting the hospital, Qiao Shu became sentimental, propping herself up on her arms and looking up at Yu Zeheng, pressing him for what he liked about her.
Yu Zeheng said, "Didn't we talk about this before?"
Qiao Shu said she didn't remember: "Maybe I didn't really believe it, and I still think in my heart that you were after my beauty."
Yu Zeheng twirled her hair with his fingers, then sighed after a moment: "I can't think of anything."
“Or you might need to go to another room to calm down and think things through.” Qiao Shu smiled and nudged his chest.
Yu Zeheng smiled and grasped her fist, asking in return, "Then what do you like about me? Is it me, or the feeling that I like you?"
It's a sentence that sounds like a tongue twister.
Qiao Shu lay on his chest, her fingers lightly lifting his chin: "I like... your face. I told you a long time ago that I'm superficial and look at faces, and you just happen to be exactly my type."
This answer is also very Qiao Shu.
“Ethan is good-looking too, why don’t you like him?” Yu Zeheng suddenly asked.
He suddenly brought up someone Qiao Shu had almost forgotten. She wondered how many years it would take for her jealousy to dissipate, and smiled, "Who said I don't like it..."
Before he could finish speaking, he got a slap on the butt.
Qiao Shu lowered her head to bite his shoulder, but Yu Zeheng just held her head to prevent her from biting too hard. She groaned and let go of his teeth, but then buried her head again, pressing her face against his shoulder.
Her breathing was shallow, and her voice was muffled: "I've thought about who will be by my side when I'm very old. I close my eyes, and it feels like I've really become a little old lady. I turn my head, and the person I see is you."
"Besides that, I can't think of anyone else."
So this is what she likes. I can't explain why, but I can definitely feel it.
"I saw it." Yu Zeheng stroked her hair gently, lightly and casually. "You like it."
Qiao Shu asked softly, "Yu Zeheng, will you always stay with me?"
Yu Zeheng replied confidently, "I will."
Qiao Shu hugged him tightly, her eyes pressed against his skin: "You must always stay with me."
Yu Zeheng pulled her into his arms, her whole body pressing against him. He rubbed his chin against her hair and gave her a hundred reasons why he liked Qiao Shu. He said she was kind to everyone except him, and that she was independent and charming.
"Is this why you like me?" the person in my arms asked, sounding dissatisfied.
"I haven't finished speaking yet."
"Do I have so many flaws?"
Yu Zeheng pressed her head down and continued talking, saying that she had a poor appetite and was picky about food, that she was domineering and would mark her territory. He sighed, as if he had suffered from her, and then said that she was smart, could do everything well, that her baked cookies were delicious, and that she was full of energy, and that being around her would be infectious.
Qiao Shu scoffed: "You'd better have more flaws than you have flaws."
She remained motionless, like a cat being stroked and then purring softly.
Yu Zeheng continued, saying that she was tough on the outside but soft on the inside. She seemed more carefree than anyone else, but in reality, she was full of emotions, which she just habitually hid. The Qiao Shu he knew was kinder than most.
The more he talked, the more cheesy it became. Qiao Shu said, "Okay, okay, I don't want him to continue. It's all goosebumps."
Yu Zeheng's voice was low: "These things make up all of you, and I love everything about you."
It was as if it were destined; she was his calamity.
Qiao Shu hugged him and said, "Thank you."
Yu Zeheng murmured, "So you want me to stay with you forever, and my answer will always be yes. Even if you change your mind one day, I will still cling to you."
Qiao Shu chuckled, "That sounds terrifying."
Life goes on and on, until death do us part.
—
Qiao Shu didn't tell anyone about the conversation in the ward. She would regularly go to the hospital to bring soup and flowers, and ask the doctor about the situation. She had met her aunt twice, but didn't get any kind words from her. She learned from her aunt that Qiao Kaiyu and Chen Yi had divorced, and that Qiao Yan was living with her mother.
Qiao Yan didn't quite understand what divorce was. He only knew that he was living at his maternal grandmother's house, and his father, whom he rarely saw, was nowhere to be found.
Chen Yi later called Qiao Shu again, saying that she didn't know whether she hated her more or was grateful to her more. She hated her for breaking up her family, but was grateful to her for letting her see the true colors of a rotten person.
"Qiao Yan still keeps thinking about you. How ironic. He knows nothing, yet he treats you like the best aunt in the world."
Qiao Shu thought for a moment and said, "Whether you believe it or not, my feelings for Qiao Yan are genuine. In the entire Qiao family, he is the only close friend I have."
Chen Yi vaguely said that no one knew what she was thinking. Later, she couldn't resist Qiao Yan's constant requests to see Qiao Shu, so she took Qiao Yan to see Qiao Shu a few times. Their relationship wasn't exactly good, but it wasn't to the point of never speaking to each other again.
"Auntie!"
Qiao Yan saw Qiao Shu from afar, stretched out her arms, ran over, and rushed into her arms.
Qiao Shu caught him and pinched his cheek. He tilted his head back, frowned, and said in an exaggerated tone, "We haven't seen each other for a long time. I've finished building all the Lego sets you gave me. I did it all by myself. My mother didn't help me, and I didn't even tell you."
"I'm sorry, can Auntie go next time?"
"It's okay, Mom said you're very busy, we can't bother you." Qiao Yan smiled obediently.
Chen Yi crossed her arms and watched them come and go. Afterwards, they went to the amusement park, where she accompanied him on the rides and they ate hamburgers and fries. By the time they got on the bus, Qiao Yan was completely drained and fell fast asleep in Chen Yi's arms.
"Thank you for taking the time to play with him."
Qiao Shu gently pinched Qiao Yan's nose: "No need to thank me. This is something I promised him before. Xiao Yan values promises, and I can't break my word."
Chen Yi hummed in agreement, then thought for a moment and asked her how she was doing.
Since her divorce, the Qiao family's affairs have been none of her concern, and she has intentionally avoided paying attention to them.
Qiao Shu said it was alright.
"You and Yu Zeheng, you two..."
Before she could finish speaking, Qiao Shu's ringing phone interrupted her. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and said, "You answer it first."
"Hold on."
When Qiao Shu saw Li Ma's phone call, her heart skipped a beat, as if something was pressing down on her, making it hard for her to breathe. She waited almost two seconds before answering the phone.
Li's mother's voice was choked with sobs as she asked where she was and to come to the hospital immediately. The old man had fainted and was wheeled into the operating room.
Qiao Shu's face turned pale instantly.
Chen Yi hugged Qiao Yan and noticed her strange expression: "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"
Qiao Shu was still holding her phone, her voice trembling: "Grandpa has gone into the operating room."
Chen Yi was shocked and stunned. She stood there with her mouth agape for a long time, unable to recover. She held Qiao Yan in one arm and said, "It's okay. It's not the first time. It'll be alright, right?"
Everything happened suddenly after that. She had just been told to have Uncle Qin drive to the hospital, but before she even got there, she received a call from Aunt Li saying that she couldn't be saved.
Qiao Shu seemed dazed, as if she didn't understand what she meant. She said she would be at the hospital in ten minutes, that she would be quick, that she was already very quick...
When Qiao Shu returned to the hospital, all she saw was the body.
Li Ma's eyes were already red and swollen from crying. She had been in the Qiao family for decades and was like family to them. When she saw Qiao Shu, she said that the old man was inside: "Go see him one last time."
The eldest aunt rushed out first, tears streaming down her face: "Get out! It's all your fault! This family is in such a mess because of you!"
"Now that the person is dead, are you satisfied? What else do you want? Do you want my life and your uncle's life? Or do you want the lives of our whole family? If you want them, take them all. What sins has our Qiao family committed?"
Qiao Shu was shoved hard, and she lost her balance and almost fell.
Li's mother helped her up, but that was all she could do; she had no right to speak.
Qiao Shu was pale and instinctively wanted to go inside, but Qiao Kaiyu appeared and forcefully told her to leave: "The person has already left, there's no need to pretend anymore. Now it's all yours, you've become the biggest winner."
"Let me in." Qiao Shu acted as if she hadn't heard him and shook off his hand.
"Don't even think about it. Even if you want to go in, Grandpa doesn't want to see you. Don't make that face. Qiao Shu, you're probably laughing inside right now. Grandpa's gone, nothing can stop you anymore. Is your next step to kick us all out?"
Qiao Shu repeated one sentence: "Let me in."
She couldn't believe that the person who had been talking to her just two days ago would suddenly die. The doctor said he was fine, just old.
How could someone suddenly die if there was nothing wrong with them?
Li Ma said that the old man's condition had been somewhat abnormal for some time, and it looked worse and worse with no signs of improvement. After he passed away, the doctor finally told the truth: the old man had not allowed him to tell anyone else and kept it strictly confidential. In fact, his condition was already very serious, and if he had been forced to have a second surgery, there was a high chance that he would have died on the operating table.
The old man refused surgery, inquired about the remaining time, and finally chose conservative treatment.
He already knew the outcome and hadn't told anyone.
"You have no right to stop her from coming in." Qiao Mingjie arrived as soon as he heard the news, about ten minutes later than Qiao Shu.
Ye Yuzhen came from behind and hugged Qiao Shu's arm, supporting her swaying body.
"Second Uncle, I don't want to argue with you here. You can go in, but she can't." Qiao Mingjie's attitude was firm.
“I didn’t consult you. Your family has been domineering for so many years, and I’ve tolerated it for so many years. Now that the old man has passed away, what exactly do you want to do?”
Qiao Mingjie blocked Qiao Shu's path, shielding her behind him, and looked directly at Qiao Kaiyu: "Or is this your father's idea?"
Qiao Kaiyu eventually stepped aside, and his aunt shouted that he had done something terrible.
Qiao Shu lifted her leg and walked in, her steps feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds. She finally stepped through the door, and the first thing she saw was that white figure. Her eyes felt as if they were being stung, and tears rolled down her cheeks without warning.
This shouldn't have ended like this.
—
When Yu Zeheng learned of the news, Qiao Shu had already returned to Nanwan.
It was Qiao Mingjie who called him. The old man's death was sudden, and no one was prepared. He said that Qiao Shu was not in good condition and needed his care.
When Yu Zeheng arrived at Nanwan, Aunt Chu pointed upstairs with a solemn expression.
Xiaoxi stood anxiously at the stairwell.
Yu Zeheng walked around it and went up. The bedroom door was open, but the lights were off inside. The outside lights couldn't shine in, so it was dim and silent.
He walked over.
In the dim light, I saw a deeper shadow, right by the bedside, remaining motionless in one position for a long time.
"Xiao Shu," Yu Zeheng called tentatively, turning on the light.
Qiao Shu sat on the floor, barefoot. She looked as if she had been sitting there for a long time, her tears long since dried up, leaving only her swollen red eyes and numb expression.
Yu Zeheng walked over, squatted down, and asked softly, "The ground is cold, shall we sit up?"
Qiao Shu snapped out of her daze, recognized the person in front of her, and tears streamed down her cheeks again: "Husband?"
"I am here."
Yu Zeheng's heart clenched. He wiped away her tears and bent down to put her slippers on.
Qiao Shu's tears flowed even more, and she tried to force a smile: "That day in the ward, he gave me a choice, telling me not to rush to answer him."
"I haven't had a chance to tell him yet."
Her answer remained unchanged, but she would never have the chance to tell him again.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Sorry for the wait, this chapter includes 100 red envelopes!
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