Chapter 51 I dare not acknowledge you
In mid-November last year, Qin Qiao was browsing domestic financial news on her tablet as usual. A news item about the opening of Qiaoshu Group's sixth overseas flagship store appeared prominently on the homepage.
In the photo, there are more than ten people standing at the store entrance. Chen Jiashu stands tall and straight among them, with a calm smile on his lips. The black suit he is wearing makes him look even more upright.
The caption for the photo reads: "Chairwoman of the Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Chen Meiling, personally attended the unveiling ceremony of Qiaoshu Electric in Singapore."
But when she saw the words "physical limitations" and "assistant guidance throughout the process" in small print, they felt like shards of glass in her trachea, causing her to break out in a cold sweat with every breath.
I still remember that meeting in June. Chen Jiashu was perfectly fine. How could this be?
In early December, before her overseas assignment was fully completed, she still insisted on returning to China.
She had secretly visited Chen Jiashu... That day, the north wind was strong. Chen Jiashu got out of the car with a white cane and walked into the building alone, steadily, instead of needing guidance the whole time, as reported in the news.
The north wind was biting. She stiffly withdrew her gaze, lowered her stiff eyelids, turned around, and left hesitantly.
Another chance encounter occurred in March, but Chen Jiashu did not recognize her at the Lanchuan City International Conference Center.
A name tag that should have been tucked into his chest lay on the ground at the man's feet. Looking up, one could see Chen Jiashu putting away his white cane and about to squat down.
She slipped the name tag into Chen Jiashu's hand, but her fingertips, which had been moving quickly, were still warm from his body. For a moment, her heart skipped a beat. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chen Jiashu's assistant appear with a briefcase.
"Thanks."
Chen Jiashu thanked her, but she had already walked past him several steps away. It was getting late, and the media colleagues' seminar in the next hall was about to begin.
Then in May, rumors circulated within the Qiaoshu Group that the chairman was being sidelined by the board members due to illness. She withdrew from the selection process for the Singapore International Media Summit and decided to personally investigate the matter.
She could not forgive his burning, soul-consuming love, yet she could not deceive herself either; the name Chen Jiashu had always been an unshakeable obelisk to her.
*
After listening to Chen Jiashu's account of Qin Qiaoxing's condition after waking up, the doctor pondered for a moment and said, "It is possible for people with concussions to experience short-term memory loss. Sir, please observe him further and let us know if there are any abnormalities."
Chen Jiashu sat on the stool, his ears filled with the doctor's explanation of his condition.
Qin Qiao seemed to have forgotten that his eyes had developed problems. Did he forget everything that happened after they reunited half a year ago?
He leaned down and touched the tip of her nose to hers.
Qin Qiao's uneasy eyelids twitched, and she was still muttering in her sleep: "Jia Shu..."
More than an hour later, Tao Ting and Zhu Ao returned to the ward door, and Zhu Ao knocked on the door.
"Come in," Chen Jiashu said to them from inside.
During this time, the two drove to the supermarket and bought some daily necessities and some fruit. Tao Ting put the things she was carrying on the coffee table and walked over to stand next to Zhu Ao.
Chen Jiashu raised his chin and looked up at Zhu Ao: "I, as an outsider, have no right to interfere in your family affairs, but Zhu Ao, I still remember the night before your wedding to Tao Ting, you cried and laughed in front of me and Zhang Shuang. You told us that Tao Ting was your first love, that you had a crush on her for eighteen years, and that you were finally going to marry her..."
"Are the things you're doing now fair to the person you were back then?"
Chen Jiashu didn't emphasize anything or question anything. His straightforward words made Zhu Ao look slightly stunned. Tao Ting's tears flowed freely, and her red lips trembled. She looked at the man beside her who had become somewhat unfamiliar.
She and Zhuo have two children, the older one is already ten years old, and the younger one was just born at the end of last year. Zhuo always grants her every wish, making her feel like the happiest person in the world.
Two years ago, while she was packing Zhu Ao's coat, a platinum ring fell out of his pocket and rolled to her feet. The inner band was engraved with the character "蔓" (man). She couldn't contain herself and questioned Zhu Ao, but he brushed it off with a perfunctory "a prank between colleagues."
Tao Ting was not one to swallow her anger. She discovered the second time the two were still in contact in January of this year, meaning they had been in close communication for over a year. That very night, she took a fruit knife to kill the scoundrel. But when the knife actually pierced his chest, she was terrified and frantically dialed 120.
I don't want him to die.
That day at the hospital, Zhu Ao not only didn't blame her for almost killing her, but also opened a fund account in her name when she was about to be discharged. This man loved her, but was just temporarily infatuated, she told herself.
It was this incident that made Chen Jiashu aware of the conflict between the couple, which led her to discover, one after another, that Zhu Ao was still entangled with that woman.
Tao Ting had considered that as long as she had the money, she wouldn't mind living separately from Zhu Ao. However, her husband's behavior towards her was increasingly inappropriate, which eventually made her unable to bear it any longer. That's why she went to Chen Jiashu. On the one hand, Chen Jiashu was Zhu Ao's good brother and could help persuade him; on the other hand, Chen Jiashu was also Zhu Ao's boss and had a certain authority, so Zhu Ao wouldn't disobey him.
But listening and changing are two different things. Chen Jiashu's words made her realize a reality: the man in front of her had completely betrayed the boy who loved her back then.
Enough. Life is only a few decades long. Why keep making yourself suffer? If you really can't stand it, then get a divorce. No one in this world is indispensable.
After a brief silence, Zhu Ao said, "Let's go back." Chen Jiashu nodded in agreement, and he and Tao Ting left the ward together.
“In February, I saw Yao Man get into Zhu Ao’s car from upstairs. I didn’t think much of it at the time,” Qin Qiao suddenly spoke, her voice hoarse. “I thought they were just… business partners.”
Chen Jiashu was slightly taken aback. He turned his head, his eyelids half-closed, and he could vaguely see Qin Qiao's eyes blinking. He thought she would have 'amnesia' for a while. He smiled slightly. It was a good thing that she woke up.
"woke up."
"Hmm..." Qin Qiao looked up to meet his gaze. "I just remembered something. Back in March at the conference center, did you recognize me?"
His thoughts were indeed a bit unpredictable. Chen Jiashu hummed in agreement and told the truth: "...I could tell from my eyes. My eyesight was still good back then."
The curve of his lips was just right.
She loved seeing him smile; it was so warm, like the first ray of sunshine on a winter morning.
The hospital lights were always exceptionally bright, and because he was looking down, the lower half of his face was somewhat dark. Even so, his features were still very defined, giving him a strikingly handsome appearance.
The smooth, white lines of his neck were visible above the unbuttoned collar. His shoulders were broad, and they shrugged slightly as he spoke to her, easily drawing her gaze.
Her hand remained in Chen Jiashu's palm, the man's thumb gently rubbing in circles on the smooth back of her hand: "...After the surgery last May, my vision was reduced to only 0.04. When I opened my eyes, everything around me was blurry. I could only see the eyes and lips of people's faces... At that time, I felt like the sky had fallen. I couldn't walk. I kicked a stool, bumped into a wall... and fell to the ground... I felt like I was useless."
"This past year I've been trying to adjust myself, hoping to at least look somewhat presentable when I see you... That day you were right in front of me, but I felt it wasn't good enough, and I didn't dare to acknowledge you..."
The man spoke in a calm and measured tone, maintaining his composure and restraint, "But your appearance has made me eager to see you again. I don't know who spread the rumor that I've been sidelined, but I didn't have the PR department deny it. I just wanted to see if you would come to the shareholders' meeting..."
It turns out that when conditions get worse, people tend to miss the past. It's like taking an exam; you might get a 90 this time and miss the 92, even though you cried all night that time.
He often reminisces about the days when he could still recognize Qin Qiao's figure, and sometimes he regrets not going to see her sooner.
He hadn't finished speaking when he gazed deeply into her eyes, "...You really came. I was both surprised and nervous that day, afraid that I would disappoint you now."
Qin Qiao fluttered her eyelashes frequently, her vision becoming increasingly blurry. All sounds were stuck deep in her throat, and her saliva turned into sharp, razor-sharp knives, making each swallow excruciatingly painful.
Chen Jiashu answered her question about why he hadn't acknowledged her as his wife. He explained that he wanted to improve himself, while she simply didn't want to acknowledge him.
...
Since the patient with cerebral palsy needed to rest, Chen Jiashu asked Zhang Zhu to arrange for her transfer to another hospital. They arrived at Dongxin Hospital at four o'clock in the afternoon. During the transfer, Qin Qiao vomited again in the gurney. This time, she vomited acidic fluid, which wet her neck and stained her clothes.
Chen Jiashu was very familiar with this ward. He went into the bathroom, filled a basin halfway with warm water, wet a towel, and slowly walked back to Qin Qiao's side, holding the basin.
For Qin Qiao, looking up was torture; she could only lie flat on her back.
Under the covers, Qin Qiao had unbuttoned her hospital gown, leaving it slightly open.
Qin Qiao's face was burning. Just moments ago, the two of them had been at odds over asking the caregiver to come in and help her change her clothes.
What kind of logic is it to expect an ex-husband to bathe and change his ex-wife's clothes? After hearing her explanation, Chen Jiashu gave a bitter smile. "You think I can't even take care of myself, let alone you, right?"
Chen Jiashu, a normally logical person, was perhaps genuinely hurt in his pride, and for the first time, he became 'unreasonable'. When Qin Qiao saw him turn away sadly because he was not trusted, and his lonely figure, she surrendered, saying, "Go get me a basin of water."
These words were like a shot of adrenaline, and the man went to fetch water for her with great enthusiasm. Looking at his unfathomable back, Qin Qiao felt the illusion of reality growing stronger.
She was only distracted for a short while when she felt her back being lifted up. In a flash, someone ripped off her clothes... She was completely naked from the waist up, but thankfully the blanket was still on her body.
“Chen…” Her face flushed red, “You… took advantage of me in my vulnerable state…”
The man seemed not to hear her, sitting sideways on the edge of the bed, the half-dry towel in his hand precisely silencing her incoherent ramblings.
After gently wiping his face, he washed the towel again and sat down on the edge of the bed: "Wipe your neck."
Despite the somewhat commanding tone, Qin Qiao actually obediently pulled the blanket down a few centimeters.
The towel gently slid down her chin and stopped at her collarbone.
The man's face was almost indifferent, and even the slight curve of his lips revealed a detached and indifferent attitude.
But the towel clearly wanted to go further down, but Qin Qiao pressed the blanket tightly and refused to let it go.
Chen Jiashu smiled and withdrew his hand: "I'll go get some water and come back to change your clothes."
The man went into the bathroom, and Qin Qiao pulled the blanket over her face, trying to suffocate herself.
A change of clothes was already prepared on the bedside table. Chen Jiashu used the same method as before, first reaching his right hand between Qin Qiao's back and the mattress, and then slightly raising her upper body to give her a comfortable height that would not make her dizzy.
Qin Qiao needed to cooperate with getting dressed. Chen Jiashu held Qin Qiao's left sleeve with his other hand and let her put her left hand through it. He repeated the same method, and Qin Qiao put on the clean hospital gown. She buttoned the buttons herself, and Chen Jiashu did not help.
It was getting dark outside the window. Qin Qiao looked at the sky and said, "You should go back. Zhao Ye and Xi Xi are still at home."
"We have a housekeeper at home..." Chen Jiashu said casually.
Qin Qiao looked at him with disbelief: "They are only five years old... when they need their parents by their side."
“You mentioned your parents too. Their mother is still in the hospital.” Chen Jiashu paused for a moment, then said, “We’ll go back together when you’re better.”
“Chen Jiashu, I can hire a caregiver.” Qin Qiao’s voice was a little louder than before. “Right now, you should be more concerned about the child’s growth than about me, his…ex-wife.”
Chen Jiashu nodded in agreement. “Okay, as you said, we are ex-husband and ex-wife. But in front of the children, we are still their parents. In your current state, what am I supposed to say when Zhaoye and Xixi ask, ‘Why doesn’t Daddy care about Mommy?’ ‘Why did Daddy leave Mommy alone in the hospital?’” He paused, his voice softening. “Qiaoqiao, we are their parents… Do you know what two questions Zhaoye often asks me? ‘Why did Daddy and Mommy separate?’ ‘Daddy, can you please not make Mommy angry?’ For the sake of the children… Qiaoqiao, we need to appear together, or not appear together.”
Qin Qiao was rendered speechless by his reasoned and relentless questioning. She struggled futilely, saying, "Chen Jiashu... don't think that using the child as a shield will make me forgive you..."
Her tone softened noticeably, and Chen Jia deeply condemned her past behavior: "It was all my fault. I will never make the children's 'mother' angry again."
Qin Qiao twitched her lips speechlessly. Only now did she realize one thing: Chen Jiashu was a cunning old fox.
First, they pretended not to know each other when they met at the conference center, then at the shareholders' meeting, and now they are taking advantage of her inability to "take care of herself" to launch a precise psychological offensive against her, leading her deeper and deeper step by step to destroy her psychological defenses.
Qin Qiao closed her eyes tightly, giving up the struggle and letting things take their course.
She took a nap and woke up at only eight o'clock. A jumble of chaotic dreams filled the room; it felt like she had climbed two mountains, and every bone in her body ached terribly.
Only when her mind was clear and lucid could she hear the assistant outside reporting to Chen Jiashu in a very low voice, which sounded like the buzzing of a mosquito to her ears.
Qin Qiao put her phone back on the bedside table, intending to do it quietly so as not to disturb them. But as if that was what happened, she lost her grip and the phone fell onto the table with a "thud".
"Qiaoqiao!"
They must have thought something had happened to her.
Footsteps clattered on the ground as Chen Jiashu turned in. He knew this place well and went straight to the bedside. He then half-squatted down, reached out twice in the air, and gently covered her cheek.
The man's fingers were all smooth and delicate, with only a thin layer of calluses on the fingertips, giving them a slightly rough feel that made her face itch.
"I'm fine," Qin Qiao explained softly, "My phone just fell onto the bedside table."
If someone had normal vision, they would see the phone lying face down on the table. Chen Jiashu couldn't see it at a glance, so Qin Qiao had to explain the situation clearly to prevent him from overthinking.
Chen Jiashu breathed a long sigh of relief, his voice low and gentle, with a hint of coaxing: "It's still early, are you hungry? The doctor said you can have some porridge, I'll have them go buy some."
"I have no appetite." Qin Qiao glanced at the bedside table. "Can I sit up? I want some water."
"The doctor said I can lean back a little."
After rising about seven or eight centimeters, Qin Qiao felt the height was suitable and immediately said, "That's enough." Any higher and she would get dizzy again.
Chen Jiashu pressed the button again, and the headboard stopped rising.
"By the way, your boss called, but I refused their visit because you're still unconscious." Chen Jiashu sat down on the edge of the bed.
Qin Qiao was quite surprised: "How did you know my screen unlock password?"
As soon as she said it, she immediately understood. It's just that so much time had passed, and she'd forgotten some of it.
From this perspective, it seems somewhat like asking a question one already knows the answer to.
Chen Jiashu chuckled: "Didn't you say before that you couldn't remember overly complicated secrets? You've never changed the password for any of your phones, it's always 3344."
Qin Qiao: "Yeah, you know I'm pretty lazy."
He was too lazy to remember or change his password. His bank card password was still the last six digits of his birthday, because the teller had reminded him that the last six digits of his birthday were too simple and suggested that he reset it.
Chen Jiashu: "Auntie called you at 5:30 pm, and I briefly told her what happened when you were admitted to the hospital. She was very anxious and hung up the phone. When I called back, the phone was always switched off."
Chen Jiashu knew that Yang Shuhua had a lot of opinions about him and was unwilling to answer his calls. However, twenty minutes ago, he tried to call her using Qin Qiao's phone but was unable to reach her, which was quite worrying.
"Does Mom know where I live?" Qin Qiao asked.
Chen Jiashu's eyes conveyed a sense of "yes".
Qin Qiao immediately reached out, grabbed the phone, and swiped through the call log. The first missed call was from Yang Shuhua.
With a tap of your finger, you can swipe across.
The bell rang nearby. Qin Qiao and Chen Jiashu exchanged a glance. The bell, mixed with the crisp and rapid "clack-clack" of high heels, quickly reached the door of the ward.
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