Chapter 61 The Woman I Cherish
Qin Qiao went home first. Just as she parked her car, she saw Yang Shuhua driving a tram from a distance.
Qin Qiao picked up her phone from the armrest compartment and slowly swiped to read the messages in the work group.
Only after Yang Shuhua turned off the car did she open the door, grab her bag, and get out.
Yang Shuhua slammed the car door shut and practically pounced on her, grabbing her shoulders tightly as if afraid she would disappear in the next second.
"Qiaoqiao! Where have you been?!"
Yang Shuhua's eyes were red from crying, her face streaked with tears, and every word she spoke was trembling heavily. In the past, Qin Qiao would never have been able to bear seeing her mother like this; her heart would have ached along with hers.
Yang Shuhua staggered backward in shock, nearly falling.
"Qiaoqiao... let Mom explain." She finally managed to stand up, raised her hand to cover her chest, and put on a heartbroken look.
She was wearing khaki casual trousers, but her knees were covered in mud, as if she had fallen somewhere. This was completely different from the woman who was usually fastidious, impeccably dressed, and extremely concerned about how others perceived her.
A pang of heartache had barely surfaced when Qin Qiao immediately shifted her gaze upwards, forcing herself to stare into Yang Shuhua's tear-streaked eyes: "How could you hit Jia Shu!"
The basement was empty, and her sorrowful and angry voice echoed in the vast space.
Yang Shuhua walked towards her, but stopped three steps away: "I...I thought it was Jiashu...Qiaoqiao, Mom misunderstood Jiashu, Mom...misunderstood him."
Qin Qiao had imagined that Yang Shuhua might make a tearful accusation or explain her good intentions with tears streaming down her face, but she never expected that she would bow her head and admit her mistake.
The arrow was already on the bowstring, but in an instant, without the target to counter it, the energy in Qin Qiao's chest dissipated.
"What's the use of you knowing you were wrong now?" Qin Qiao growled angrily. With tears blurring her vision, she could no longer tell whether Yang Shuhua was genuinely remorseful or just 'acting'.
"You used 'for my own good' as an excuse to hurt the person who is good to our family! What did Jia Shu ever do to you that you would hit him?!"
A car approached in the distance, its blinding headlights sweeping across Qin Qiao's trembling shoulders.
Her heart felt like it was being twisted again and again in her chest, until bright red blood was squeezed out. With great effort, she raised her arm and pointed at Yang Shuhua's eyes: "If he goes blind, I will never forgive you!!"
In that instant, Yang Shuhua's sobs stopped, her shoulders slumped limply, and a flicker of fear flashed in her eyes before she quickly lowered them.
As soon as Yang Shuhua opened her mouth, Qin Qiao immediately turned her back, not wanting to hear or see.
Just then, a man and a woman walked towards them, talking and laughing. Never before had their laughter sounded so jarring. She gripped her bag strap tightly, turned around, and resolutely walked away.
Yang Shuhua called out mournfully from behind, "Qiaoqiao! Qiaoqiao,"
This only spurred her to walk faster and faster until the elevator doors closed, completely shutting out the unbearable noise from outside.
*
At 1 p.m., Qin Qiao sent a voice message to Chen Jiashu saying that she was going home to get some things, and that trip took her all afternoon.
Chen Jiashu touched the edge of the watch again, and a soft female voice clearly announced: "It is now 5:21 PM Beijing time."
In broad daylight, and with over ten years of driving experience, Qin Qiao should have been perfectly capable of driving without incident, but he still couldn't help but let his mind wander.
He had sent a message to Qin Qiao half an hour earlier, but she was probably busy and hadn't replied.
The window, half-open for ventilation, let in a few snowflakes carried by the wind through the cracks. They lightly brushed against Chen Jiashu's face before melting away. The air conditioning was set high in the room, and this cool sensation actually felt quite comfortable.
It's snowing.
"Old Song," he called softly.
The room was completely silent, but the footsteps and ringing of the doorbell outside were clearly audible.
Oh, I forgot. Old Song went back to get him some daily necessities and brought him some food along.
Chen Jiashu turned around and slowly moved to the right front, stopping in front of the side cabinet that was about waist-high. He stood there for a long time before reaching out, his fingertips gliding across the smooth tabletop, and picking up the white cane on it.
With his cane tapping the ground, Chen Jiashu walked towards the door.
Although he wasn't as familiar with this place as Dongxin, he was still a regular. Besides, the layout outside the hospital was pretty much the same, so he couldn't possibly go to the wrong place.
The white cane struck the section of the wall that was broken, where he felt a distinct temperature difference between hot and cold. The elevator lobby had no heating and would be several degrees colder than the ward; it must be the elevator lobby, no doubt about it.
Chen Jiashu paused for a moment, then walked over.
There was a very faint whistling sound of wind coming from the left, where there was a window. Someone liked to stand there smoking, and a faint smell of smoke lingered in the air.
Although Chen Jiashu quit smoking two years ago, he is still very sensitive to the smell of smoke, and he cleared his throat uncomfortably.
He waved his cane and continued forward, recalling the scenes from when his eyesight was still good, and combined with the faint sound of the elevator running, he finally stopped in front of the wall next to the elevator door.
He reached out and touched it; sure enough, it was a cold, hard wall.
Next, he had to find the button. Logically, it should be at arm's length. Just as he began to feel the outline of the button, another elevator door beside him opened with a "ding."
"Excuse me, is this going up or down?" Chen Jiashu politely asked the person who came out.
The man answered him, "Are you going down now? Are you going down?"
"Yes, I'm going downstairs."
The man suddenly took two steps closer to him, brushed his arm against his, and said, "Go in, I'll hold the door for you."
Chen Jiashu nodded slightly to express his gratitude: "Thank you."
He waved his cane and stepped into the elevator. The man followed him in and pressed the button for the first floor: "I've already pressed it for you."
After saying that, the man quickly left. The elevator doors slowly closed behind him.
In the year or so since his eyesight deteriorated, Chen Jiashu has been accompanied by an assistant every time he goes out, except for a few days when he goes out to train his cane. He has almost lost the ability to survive independently.
That's why he often thinks about retirement. If he stops pursuing efficiency then, he might be able to gradually train himself to truly learn to live independently, and maybe... even travel alone.
The elevator descended for about half a minute, and a man and a woman walked in, chatting. Chen Jiashu quietly asked which floor this was. Seeing that he was blind, one of them kindly told him that this was the sixteenth floor and even asked him which floor he was going to.
When she learned that he was going to the first floor, the woman said, "We're going to the first floor too, we'll remind you later."
The elevator continued its descent, with people getting in on almost every floor, quickly making the car crowded. Yet, an invisible boundary seemed to exist around Chen Jiashu, with people tacitly leaving him a small space.
The elevator came to a stop again, and someone announced, "We've arrived at the first floor."
Chen Jiashu thanked them softly and followed the group out of the elevator.
Footsteps faded away in all directions. Along this short stretch of road, I encountered a group of warm-hearted and kind people.
Chen Jiashu pursed his lips, a comforting smile quietly appearing on his face.
“Jia Shu…”
Qin Qiao turned into the elevator lobby and immediately saw Chen Jiashu standing alone outside the elevator door.
He wore a relaxed smile until she called out and he turned his head slightly to face the direction she was coming from.
"Why did you come downstairs?" Qin Qiao stopped in front of him, her eyes scanning the surroundings, but she didn't see Lao Song.
Chen Jiashu: "Just taking a walk."
The east-facing window was wide open, letting in a blast of cold wind carrying snowflakes. It was already minus twelve degrees Celsius outside, and the air inside was equally biting cold, yet Chen Jiashu was only wearing a thin hospital gown.
"Want to continue shopping?" Qin Qiao asked.
Chen Jiashu shook his head: "Let's go back." He turned around.
With a thermos of chicken soup in her left hand, Qin Qiao quickly walked to Chen Jiashu's left side and naturally took his arm with her free hand.
He paused for a moment, then a smile appeared on his lips, his arm muscles completely relaxed, and he let her lead him into the elevator that had just opened.
Chen Jiashu caught a faint, intermittent salty aroma and turned his head: "What did you bring?"
Qin Qiao lifted the thermos: "I was making chicken soup this afternoon... I tasted it and it was alright."
Speaking of chicken soup, Chen Jiashu recalled the old hen that Qin Qiao bought for him at the market half a year ago, which he ate by himself for three whole days.
It was lunchtime, and the narrow passageway was filled with the aromas of rice, meat, and vegetables. The various smells mixed together, which actually made it unpleasant to smell.
Qin Qiao pulled her arm away, pushed open the ward door, and suddenly felt that the smell of disinfectant was no longer so unpleasant.
She walked towards the coffee table, while Chen Jiashu went to the side cabinet. The thermos was gently placed on the coffee table. Qin Qiao turned back, wanting to ask him if Old Song had gone back to get dinner?
Then I saw Chen Jiashu put away his white cane, raise his other hand slightly, and gently grope across the table with his palm.
"What are you looking for?" Qin Qiao asked as she walked over.
"Is there a vase up here? I'd like to put my white cane next to it so it's easy to reach."
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt his wrist being wrapped by soft fingers, and a gentle yet powerful force guided his arm to move diagonally forward.
"Right here." Qin Qiao's voice rang in my ears.
"good."
In unfamiliar surroundings, Chen Jiashu had to rely on trial and error to rebuild his mental map for every step he took. Although his assistant would try his best to book familiar chain hotels for him, new layouts were still inevitable.
At this time, he must touch all the furnishings as soon as he enters the room. His remaining vision allows him to perceive blurry images, and combined with his sense of touch, he can quickly sketch the outline of the room in his mind.
Old Song returned just in time. After setting the food on the coffee table, he left the ward without a word.
Judging that it was about time, Lao Song returned again, just as the two had finished their meal.
Qin Qiao took out a wet wipe and gently touched Chen Jiashu's fingers. The man understood and took it, slowly wiping the grease from the corner of his mouth.
*
Having just undergone surgery that morning and having not slept all day, Chen Jiashu leaned against the headboard in a daze and unknowingly fell asleep.
Qin Qiao went out to throw out the trash and took the opportunity to call Huang Tai to apologize for the negative impact she had caused at the station. Huang Tai, on the contrary, comforted her, telling her to make the best of it since she was already there. Even though it was just official politeness, it brought her a sense of relief.
A dozen minutes later, Qin Qiao returned to the ward and saw Chen Jiashu with his head tilted to the side, his eyelashes lightly closed, fast asleep.
Old Song came in from outside. Qin Qiao turned around and made a "shh" gesture to him. Then she gently pulled the pillow away from behind Chen Jiashu's head. Old Song then cooperated by slowly rocking the headboard flat.
Throughout the entire process, Chen Jiashu was completely unaware, only breathing evenly, clearly exhausted to the extreme.
Qin Qiao stood by the bed, her gaze sweeping over his slightly open collar and the porcelain-like sheen of his neck under the light. She watched him quietly for a moment before leaving the room with Lao Song.
She advised Lao Song to go back and rest, expecting it would take a lot of persuasion, but to her surprise, she managed to convince this dutiful assistant of Chen Jiashu in just a few words.
Chen Jiashu went to bed early and woke up at nine o'clock. Seeing this, Qin Qiao immediately got up from the sofa and went over to him.
"Jiashu, you're awake."
Because of his lying position, the light from above focused on his left eye. As if he could see it, he turned his face towards her, stared at her intently for a few seconds, and then moved his lips: "What time is it?"
"Nine o'clock," Qin Qiao replied.
He propped himself up in bed, lowered his legs, and rummaged around for a bit before finding his slippers. Chen Jiashu put on the slippers: "It's so late, you...you should go back to sleep."
Qin Qiao sat down on the edge of the bed, turning to gaze at his distinct and taut jawline: "Didn't you say that day, 'We are Xixi and Zhaoye's parents, we either appear together or we don't appear together'?"
She quoted his words perfectly. Chen Jiashu surrendered, a faint smile appearing on his face: "Did you persuade Old Song to go back?"
"Hmm... he's quite easy to persuade," Qin Qiao said truthfully.
"..." Chen Jiashu gently grasped her wrist, smoothly sliding it to her fingers, then slowly finding her ring finger and pinching her fingertip, "I'm going to propose to you tomorrow... I haven't even prepared an engagement ring yet."
He recalled how he knelt down and proposed to Qin Qiao amidst the dazzling fireworks by the river, and she readily agreed.
He was so excited that his hands trembled and he almost dropped the ring.
Qin Qiao took out their wedding ring from her pocket and put her own ring into his other hand.
Chen Jiashu was suddenly stunned when a familiar round, hard object pricked his palm.
"Well... let's use this one."
A look of disbelief flashed across Chen Jiashu's face at first, followed by a sudden surge of surprise that made his lip muscles twitch slightly.
He picked up the ring with his fingertips, caressing the band and the tiny diamonds, as if he could see their dazzling brilliance.
As brilliant as the stars.
“Still here…” he murmured.
Then, Chen Jiashu lowered his eyes and smiled, his eyes welling up with hot tears: "Then wear this one for now... I'll get the rest another day."
Qin Qiao raised her long, slender, fair ring finger and said in a light tone, "Let's rehearse first, Mr. Chen, please help me put this ring on."
He nodded and put the ring on her finger, this time more composed than he had been that year, his hand not trembling.
Thankfully, the ring could still be worn. Qin Qiao stared at it; despite the many years that had passed, it was still dazzling.
Her eyelashes felt heavy, and in the blink of an eye, tears silently slid down her cheeks. Yet, the corners of her lips involuntarily curved into a smile; she was truly happy.
Qin Qiao pulled Chen Jiashu's left hand and slipped the ring that belonged to him back onto his finger.
Beneath his sword-like eyebrows, his dark pupils narrowed slightly, and a layer of glistening water appeared on them.
“Jiashu…we’ll register after you’re discharged from the hospital and then take a family photo.”
Qin Qiao said softly, "But... don't have any wedding. We've already had that one. For me, it has completed my entire girlhood and is enough for me to relive in all the years to come. There is no need for any later ceremony to surpass it."
*
8:55 a.m.
A press conference hosted by Qiaoshu Group was held at the Lanchuan International Conference Center.
Invited mainstream and independent media outlets gathered in the largest banquet hall on the third floor. Staff craned their necks as various recording devices were held high, forming an impenetrable wall in front of the four-to-five-meter-wide stage.
The hall was filled with a cacophony of voices, a mix of speculation and whispers.
Chairman Chen, who rarely makes public appearances, personally faced various media outlets this time, undoubtedly to respond to some rumors circulating online about him yesterday.
In fact, it wasn't really negative news at all, but it did portray him as a devoted and tragic lover. However, for an entrepreneur who leads a large corporation, the image was ultimately a bit too soft and gentle.
Some people have heard rumors that the provincial TV station director will also be present today; it's unclear whether it's for a face-to-face confrontation or something else entirely...
The overhead lights and the occasional flashes of spotlights shone on the crimson carpet and the dark velvet of the stage, creating dazzling, diamond-like sparkles.
All the whispers, curiosity, and scrutiny were focused on the empty stage in front of them.
The side door opened with a "click".
Chen Jiashu and Qin Qiao appeared before everyone at the same time, and all the noise seemed to be cut off in an instant.
Chairman Chen was wearing a pair of dark sunglasses, which made his facial features appear even sharper and gave him a more ruthless look.
What's most striking is his tall stature, paired with a well-tailored black suit, exuding a calm and composed aura that sets him apart from others, as if he were a born leader.
All eyes then fell on Qin Qiao, who was clinging to his arm. The woman was wearing a pearl-white business suit, her hair tied up in a loose ponytail that hung down her back, with strands of hair falling naturally at her temples, outlining a delicate and capable face.
Compared to Chen Jiashu's infrequent appearances, this media worker is a familiar face to them, especially given his status as a highly talked-about figure in the past two days.
At exactly nine o'clock, the sound of camera shutters and flashes of light suddenly erupted.
Amidst the clicking sounds and the sea of light, the two walked with smiles on their faces to the table.
The waiting waiter immediately pulled out chairs, and they calmly took their seats.
After they were all seated, Li Rong gracefully walked onto the stage and took her seat.
The media in the audience saw Chen Jiashu sitting in the center, flanked by the group's public relations director and Qin Qiao from the provincial TV station.
Li Rong adjusted the microphone: "Dear media, I am Li Rong, Director of Public Relations at Qiaoshu Group. First of all, thank you for attending. This press conference aims to address matters of recent public concern..."
Another round of frantic shooting ensued, with flashes raining down like a storm.
At the back of the crowd, Gu Xu, dressed in a dark blue suit, calmly watched the two people on the stage with his arms crossed.
One of them has been tempered by the ups and downs of the business world, and the other has seen many storms on the front lines of news; neither of them can possibly be intimidated.
He waited there to hear what Chen Jiashu had to say, and he also wanted to witness the proposal in person, just like the others.
After Director Li finished her introductory remarks, Chen Jiashu began to speak: "Thank you all for coming here today. Recently, there have been many voices about me and about Qin Qiao. Personally, these noises are not worth taking up public resources. But these matters concern the innocence and reputation of this woman whom I cherish as my life, and I cannot remain silent."
The audience erupted in uproar.
Yang Shuhua, who had just stepped through the gate, happened to hear the last sentence. She gripped her bag strap tightly, walked along the wall to a secluded corner, and looked up to continue gazing into the distance.
Chen Jiashu looked up, and the flash of the camera illuminated his smiling face: "My pursuit of several years has finally been 'officially recognized' a week ago. If there was any extra help in this process, it was the blessings of millions of netizens. Thank you everyone."
The bustling crowd paused for a second, then erupted in good-natured laughter.
Despite being questioned by netizens, Gu Xu thanked them instead, raising an eyebrow and smiling knowingly.
He recalled Chen Jiashu's thousand-word blog post, which reflected on the team's inappropriate behavior while humorously responding to the jokes about personal health, handling the matter with ease.
With such wisdom and vision, he is destined to be a winner no matter where he is.
Chen Jiashu spoke at length about his experiences. The story began in a smoky internet cafe. Later, on a stormy night, he was isolated and helpless due to night blindness when he was sheltered by an umbrella. This girl became his ever-present umbrella, empowering him and shielding him from the wind and rain in every hardship he faced. Later still, Chen Jiashu confessed that he had personally lost this invaluable umbrella.
Apart from the soft rustling of clothes, there was no sound from the audience; everyone was moved by Chen Jiashu's touching story.
If a skilled actor can evoke empathy, then the blind Mr. Chen's words—recalling past sweetness, gratitude for being saved time and time again, and even his heart-wrenching regret at the end—can truly resonate with the audience.
Only genuine feelings can 'act out' this sincere and profound love.
Chen Jiashu turned his face and 'looked' at Qin Qiao.
The media snapped photos incessantly.
Qin Qiao leaned slightly forward, her red lips touching the microphone: "Thank you, Jia Shu. He just said he appreciated everyone's 'urging for marriage,' but I want to say that I only accepted his 'proposal' because he is Chen Jia Shu. Jia Shu and I missed each other for six years, had misunderstandings, and went through a lot. It is these experiences that have made us understand more clearly what is worth cherishing..."
A clear and melodious voice came from all directions in the hall. Perhaps it was a professional habit, but the woman spoke clearly and solemnly, and her volume was neither too loud nor too soft, but enough for everyone present to hear.
Those standing nearby could see tears welling up in the corners of her slightly red eyes.
Meanwhile, in that deep corner, Yang Shuhua's vision was already blurred by tears.
"...We've decided to stop letting anything be the last reason for separation," Qin Qiao said, standing up and glancing around the room with tearful eyes. "This is the story we want to share."
She bowed deeply to her media colleagues.
Chen Jiashu suddenly knelt on one knee, took out a very 'ordinary' ring that he had prepared in his pocket, and held it up: "Qiaoqiao, all the media are here today, I've thought it through. With so many people here to witness this, you're soft-hearted and will definitely feel bad refusing me. So, I'm asking for one last confirmation here, please give me a chance to be your husband again, okay?"
People held their breath; in the vast banquet hall, it seemed only their heartbeats remained.
With nearly a hundred people as witnesses, Qin Qiao nodded emphatically, tears streaming down her cheeks. Without the slightest hesitation, she extended her left hand, raising her ring finger: "Mr. Chen Jiashu, I'll tell you again, I'm willing, not because there are witnesses here, but because... the person standing in front of me is you."
Those closest to the platform saw Qin Qiao touch the outside of Chen Jiashu's hand with her finger. The man immediately grasped her finger, and with the hand holding the ring, he pinched the band, reached out, and steadily slipped the ring onto her finger. The band reflected a silver light, and a charming smile of relief appeared on the man's lips.
Qin Qiao bent down and supported his arms to help him up. The two turned around at the same time and faced the media together.
Li Rong, who stood up with the two of them, realized that Chen Jiashu still had something to say, so she immediately pulled out the microphone, walked quickly to Chen Jiashu's right side, and handed the microphone to him.
Chen Jiashu grasped the microphone, raised it to his lips, and said with utmost sincerity, "Thank you all for coming to the media. You are not only here to work, but also to serve as our most important witnesses today. We have prepared a small banquet next door and cordially invite you to join us so that we can personally toast and express our gratitude."
Someone in the audience shouted, "Bravo!"
The crowd burst into laughter and clapped enthusiastically, the warm and good-natured applause instantly filling the entire banquet hall.
But outside the bustling doorway, two men wearing blue medical masks walked quickly past.
Lu Jun nearly bumped into a man in a suit who was coming out of the restroom. He stepped aside to avoid him and walked about half a meter away, but then, on some inexplicable intuition, he subconsciously turned around and his eyes met the man's.
Behind the reflective lenses, a hint of suspicion flickered in those gentle eyes, as if she recognized him.
Lu Jun's heart skipped a beat. He touched his mask and, under the man's piercing gaze, hurried after his older brother.
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