Chapter 59 Isn't this just a show?
Chen Jiashu gently stroked her hair with his slender fingertips and let her cry for a while.
Despite thinking about it all night, she still didn't know what to do. On one side was her biological mother who gave birth to her and raised her; on the other side was the man who lifted her up and loved her unconditionally.
But Yang Shuhua's lies almost killed Jia Shu... Blocking, hiding messages, deceiving... all kinds of evil deeds are unforgivable and cannot be forgiven.
The crying was accompanied by waves of throbbing pain in his eyes. Chen Jiashu knew that Qin Qiao was suffering no less than him at this moment.
Each sob felt like a sharp blade twisting inside him, tearing his heart apart.
Last week, he met with Yang Shuhua privately, and he got straight to the point: "Auntie, if you're worried that Qiaoqiao will find out that you hid the letters I sent and blocked me on Qiaoqiao's phone, I assure you, this is a secret between us."
During the six years they were apart, Chen Jiashu once thought that Qin Qiao's decision to block him from all social media and refuse to reply to the letter he sent meant she was completely disappointed in him. Even when they reunited six months ago, he deeply felt Qin Qiao's resentment and hatred towards him.
But during the earthquake a while ago, Qin Qiao ran to him without hesitation. At that moment, he suddenly realized that this woman who was willing to die with him clearly loved him so much... How could she possibly block him and not even reply to his messages?
Therefore, there is only one possibility: Yang Shuhua was angry at his actions and, in order to protect her daughter from being hurt by him again, she hid the letter and blocked him.
In Yang Shuhua's logic, his "abandonment" of Qiaoqiao was an unforgivable sin. Therefore, he could understand the blocking, deception, and obstruction, seeing it as a mother's deep love for her daughter.
Having gotten used to revealing one's bargaining chips first at the negotiating table, one's tone may unconsciously take on a cold, businesslike quality.
Yang Shuhua was not only unmoved, but also disgusted, pressing her with only one question: "Can you take good care of Qiaoqiao? Can you guarantee that you won't be a burden to Qiaoqiao in the future?"
So he took out the trust fund he had prepared for several years, hoping that the word "irrevocable" would put the mother at ease and that she would see his sincerity and his current... strength.
His response was a very soft laugh, slightly mocking, as if to say, "Chen Jiashu, you've really made something of yourself now, all you talk about is money."
Gradually, he realized that a mother's obsession could not be persuaded by logic.
He walked around the coffee table, went to her side, and knelt down without hesitation.
"Mom, I was wrong!"
Yang Shuhua almost jumped up and ran over to help him up.
He won this time.
With such poor eyesight, he often had to kneel down and grope for things he had dropped; his knees weren't exactly precious.
At that moment, he was eight parts sincere and two parts testing the waters. He wanted to know this mother's bottom line—just how much did she hate him?
As predicted.
Since that's the case, he stopped investigating and let bygones be bygones.
Who slapped you in the face?
Qin Qiaowen cupped his face in her hands, asking with a mixture of nervousness and heartache.
His thoughts were pulled back by her voice. Chen Jiashu smiled slightly: "Qiaoqiao... I'm glad you believe me." He raised his hand and placed it on the back of her hand. "Mom just misunderstood."
"My mom?"
She tried to pull her hand away, but he gently held it.
Chen Jiashu didn't want her to confront Yang Shuhua: "Listen to me, this matter... is entirely directed at me, not entirely Mom's fault."
As he spoke, he gently pulled her up, and Qin Qiao obediently got up and sat sideways on the edge of the bed.
She stared at Chen Jiashu's somewhat empty left eye, which was dark and dull, without a trace of luster.
Her eyelids twitched, as if she could feel a sharp pain coming from there.
Qin shook his head excitedly, "I'm going to find her! I have to make her apologize!"
Chen Jiashu has a history of internet addiction and simply cannot withstand such a slap. Yang Shuhua must come and apologize!
The hand gripping her wrist tightened, unwilling to let go. Chen Jiashu slowly shook his head: "My eyes have been damaged for a long time..."
He found her other hand, cupped both of her hands in his palms, and said, "This time... the doctor said it's okay... maybe we can still salvage her vision."
"I know it's because of me..." Qin Qiao sobbed, her words broken and fragmented, "that I've been tolerating her all this time. I'm sorry... I'm the one who's wronged you."
Chen Jiashu was sincere, but he had principles that could not be trampled on. It was precisely because Yang Shuhua was his mother that Chen Jiashu kept backing down.
"...The most important thing right now is to resolve those issues online. Qiaoqiao...we need to calm down and think of a solution together."
On her way here, Qin Qiao had already thought things through. She could give up her career. She didn't care, she really didn't care.
Six years ago, to protect her reputation, Chen Jiashu reluctantly let go. And as the blog post said, she indeed left without a trace, and during the year and a half he was imprisoned, she never visited him even once.
At that time, she felt not only resentment, but also a trace of hatred.
If she hadn't discovered that letter, she would never have known that Chen Jiashu had written to her admitting his mistakes shortly after he was imprisoned, and that it was Yang Shuhua who had hidden the letter.
If Chen Jiashu were to learn the truth, it would surely shatter all his beliefs in "love" and "sacrifice".
He'll break down...
Qin Qiao leaned forward and hugged Chen Jiashu, gritting her teeth to hold back her sobs, and made a decision in her heart:
I can't tell him.
Just then, her phone rang. Qin Qiao took it out of her bag and checked it.
“Teacher Gu…” Qin Qiao said, looking at the screen.
Chen Jiashu leaned back; he was actually very tired, probably because the anesthesia hadn't completely worn off.
Qin Qiao listened attentively to Gu Xu on the phone, occasionally humming in agreement or replying with "I know."
As Chen Jiashu drifted off to sleep, he heard Qin Qiao mention him: "Jiashu... is in the hospital."
Chen Jiashu sat up again, the bed shifted, and Qin Qiao leaned close to his left ear and asked, "Teacher Gu wants to come see you, is that convenient?"
Gu Xu wanted to come see him at this time, presumably because of Qin Qiao's matter. This was naturally the best outcome; Gu Xu's abilities were probably unmatched by ten public relations directors.
Chen Jiashu nodded, and Qin Qiao then conveyed his meaning to Gu Xu. The two exchanged a few more words, concluding with "Teacher Gu, let's leave it at that for now," before Qin Qiao slapped her phone back onto the bedside table.
Chen Jiashu asked Qin Qiao to call Lao Song in. Qin Qiao didn't think much of it and went out to call Lao Song. When she came in, Chen Jiashu was already sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Qiaoqiao...you go out first, I'll change my clothes." Chen Jiashu said, "looking at" her.
His broad shoulders accentuated his slender frame. Such a physique would look exceptionally good in a suit, but now, clad in a loose hospital gown, he exuded only a heartbreakingly sickly aura.
Qin Qiao was even more reluctant to leave.
Old Song also looked at her, quietly waiting for her to leave.
“Jiashu… I’ll help you,” Qin Qiao said, stepping forward.
Chen Jiashu shook his head slightly: "Old Song can take care of me, don't worry."
Qin Qiao reluctantly walked outside and, through the glass in the door, saw Lao Song helping Chen Jiashu walk towards the bathroom.
Even in his illness, his back remained upright, though with a resolute aloofness.
For over six years, nearly two thousand days and nights, he has never forgotten his love for her, but he... Yesterday at the banquet, Old Song, his assistant, served him food with utmost respect, always fulfilling his duties, without needing her intervention at all.
Chen Jiashu ate his food with complete concentration and slow, deliberate movements, a stark contrast to his demeanor when he confided in her in the car. She thought that since his eyesight was poor, he needed to concentrate even more while eating, but she still felt that something was different... This wasn't the first time she had felt this way; it had been as far back as six months ago when he had fallen and fractured his bone.
The two people went into the bathroom. Qin Qiao's fingertips trembled, and a thought suddenly popped into her head: Qiao Qiao, for our future, you don't need to take care of me, you don't need to work so hard.
Six months ago, he listed funds, bonds, deposits... wasn't that exactly what he meant?
Trouble... Why does he always think like that?
With tears streaming down her face, Qin Qiao turned and walked to the end of the corridor. Facing her was a huge glass window, outside which lay a network of elevated city roads, neither too far nor too close.
During peak traffic hours, a dense network of vehicles stretched out on the bridge, slowly circling and moving forward.
Looking at this traffic jam, I felt uncomfortable inside, as if I had a thick sponge stuffed inside me, and I couldn't find a way out.
Yang Shuhua's phone stopped ringing because she had blacklisted him... just like Yang Shuhua had used her phone to blacklist Chen Jiashu years ago.
Dad... what should I do?
*
Gu Xu arrived quickly. He turned into the ward and first saw Qin Qiao leaning against the wall, looking somewhat helpless. He called out to her.
The two walked side by side to the door of the ward, and Qin Qiao raised her hand to knock on the door.
Old Song opened the door from the inside, nodded slightly to them, and then quickly walked away. The two entered the ward one after the other and saw Chen Jiashu sitting on the long sofa.
He faced them, wearing black sunglasses to cover the gauze over his right eye. He had changed out of his hospital gown into a crisp white shirt, the top button neatly fastened.
"Jiashu...Teacher Gu is here," Qin Qiao introduced softly.
Chen Jiashu smiled slightly and greeted him, "Teacher Gu."
"Jiashu, I apologize for disturbing you."
Gu Xu walked to the single sofa, casually draped his coat over the back of the sofa, and then sat down calmly. "It's true that right now, I'm afraid only you can break this deadlock."
What Gu Xu wanted to say was exactly what happened to her. While listening intently to their back-and-forth conversation, Qin Qiao went to boil water and make tea for them.
A long table was placed against the wall, with a kettle on it, three transparent glasses and a canister of tea on a plate. Qin Qiao first went to the bathroom to fill the kettle with water, then plugged it in to boil the water. After that, she picked up the canister of tea and examined it closely.
Biluochun tea.
But looking at this green tea canister, the workmanship is rough, and it doesn't seem to be something Chen Jiashu brought himself.
The two were engrossed in their conversation when Qin Qiao turned around and interrupted them reluctantly: "Teacher Gu, would you like some Biluochun tea? But the quality might be a bit inferior."
Gu Xu looked over and said with a smile, "Jia Shu, this VIP ward has some really nice hidden perks, it even has Biluochun tea, let me try it."
Chen Jiashu raised his chin slightly, his face subconsciously turning half an inch to the right to meet her gaze precisely, and then said gently, "Qiaoqiao... make me a cup too."
Not yet used to his blindness, especially this state of being blind, Qin Qiao felt a prickling pain in her heart, as if pricked by a needle. She quickly composed herself and responded with a smile.
Qin Qiao leaned against the table, waiting for the water to boil, and continued to listen to the two men's lively conversation. Every time Gu Xu threw out a sentence, Chen Jiashu could always catch it with ease, and then throw it back at him in a light touch, but Gu Xu would patiently answer it.
Gu Xu paused deliberately for a moment, and just as Chen Jiashu was about to speak, he gave the answer: "It's your reputation, Chen Jiashu."
With her ten fingers clasped behind her back on the table, Qin Qiao instantly understood what Gu Xu was about to say.
My heart suddenly started pounding rapidly, and if there were a sound, it would be like the faint buzzing of water boiling in a kettle.
Then Chen Jiashu, his interest piqued by Gu Xu, put on an expression of listening attentively.
“You are now a conscientious entrepreneur with national backing. As long as you use the reputation you have built up over half a lifetime to endorse Qin Qiao, all the rumors will seem pale and powerless.”
Chen Jiashu didn't quite understand the ways of the media, but Qin Qiao noticed that his fingers were unconsciously tightening around his knees, and his hands, with their distinct knuckles, looked as white as if they were coated with a layer of light against the black fabric.
Gu Xu spoke at length, from Chen Jiashu's company's acts of helping the disabled, to the recent act of the earthquake relief group holding an umbrella for others even after getting soaked in the rain, to the immense injustice suffered by Chen Jiashu, this "good Chinese man," and finally, Gu Xu concluded:
"A conscientious entrepreneur who can still strategize even with physical limitations will not misjudge people, much less fall in love with an ungrateful woman... Jia Shu, we will not respond to the allegations. Now, just use your halo of being a good person to directly involve her, forcing all those who want to attack her to avoid her."
"Afterwards, the public's emotions will instantly shift from 'angry condemnation' to 'touched blessings.' From now on, when people mention you, they will no longer say 'the first sword strike after you came ashore,' but 'this is what a fairy-tale love is all about.' We have regained all the power of discourse in one fell swoop."
The water in the kettle had already boiled, but Qin Qiao was focused on Chen Jiashu the whole time and forgot to make tea for them.
The man's face was already showing signs of unease, his lips moved slightly, he clenched his fist, and then asked Gu Xu for advice: "Teacher Gu, what do you need me to do?"
Gu Xu immediately added, "Holding a press conference isn't to clarify anything, but rather, to propose to Qin Qiao."
Chen Jiashu's body stiffened, and he slowly turned his face to look at Qin Qiao.
His lip muscles twitched slightly, as if he had something to say but couldn't bring himself to speak.
Qin Qiao straightened up, blinked her moist eyes, looked back at him, and said softly but solemnly, "I do."
But Chen Jiashu said, "No."
"Isn't this just a show?" A lump formed in my throat.
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