Chapter 14 The Treasure Girl of Hong Kong
Qin Guanlan avoided eye contact awkwardly, lowered his head, and hurriedly refused, "This won't do, you keep it yourself."
Shen Qingtang blinked her long, slender eyes, and said with some distress, "Brother Qin, are you really not going to?"
Time seemed to stand still for a moment. Qin Guanlan involuntarily raised his head and looked at Shen Qingtang's bright, star-like eyes, which were filled with distress. His lips turned down slightly, revealing a hint of helplessness and pleading.
His throat tightened, and an urge to agree immediately welled up inside him.
no!
Shen Qingtang was too young, only 21 years old. If she hadn't experienced being abducted, she would still be in college like her sister. How could she understand such profound emotions?
—But does she really not understand? Didn't you notice it in every word and action of hers? It's only a six-year age difference, is that really that big?
Still not working!
I'm already crippled in both legs, how can I be worthy of an able-bodied person? It's simply unfair to her. Even if Shen Qingtang is willing to take good care of me and keep me company now out of guilt, won't she get tired of it later?
—But don't you know her character? Would she really do such a thing? So what if it's unfair to her? Isn't she the one who caused all of this? Isn't it normal to let the culprit take the blame? She should take care of you and stay with you for the rest of her life.
Qin Guanlan's gaze toward Shen Qingtang grew increasingly dark and unpredictable. Just then, a beam of light fell upon him from above, causing half of his face to be hidden in the shadows and the other half exposed to the light, symbolizing the two opposing thoughts in his mind.
Those dark and selfish thoughts that cannot be openly expressed also gradually grow in the suddenness of what was so hard-won.
Seeing Qin Guanlan staring at her without answering for a long time, Shen Qingtang was puzzled. She frowned slightly, leaned closer, and asked with concern, "Brother Qin, what's wrong?"
A faint, pleasant fragrance wafted into his nostrils, interrupting the dark thoughts that had been swirling in Qin Guanlan's mind. Reason finally returned, and he took a deep breath, clenched his fist, and said with restraint and distance, "I'm sorry, I really can't accept this ring."
He put his right hand into his jacket pocket, knowing he had a blue handkerchief to hand to the person if they cried.
Unexpectedly, Shen Qingtang did not show the slightest sadness. Instead, she frankly put the item back in her pocket and said, "In that case, I'll keep it here for now."
Qin Guanlan: ? ? ?
He belatedly realized something was wrong, and he swallowed hard, saying, "Isn't this the ring you... used to propose to me?"
Shen Qingtang smiled calmly and shook her head, saying, "Brother Qin, this pink diamond is not mine. I don't have any extra money to buy a ring. All my money is for your treatment of your legs."
She explained, "This was given to me by Sister Ying in the kitchen just now. She said it was to reward me for taking good care of you, and I tried to refuse for a long time but couldn't, so I accepted it to return it to you."
Qin Guanlan had barely heard the first half of the sentence when a loud rumbling sound filled his ears, his fingers trembled slightly, and he couldn't hear the rest of the words at all.
It turns out that the pink diamond didn't belong to Shen Qingtang, which means that the other party never intended to propose to him, and it was all just wishful thinking on his part.
After quickly drawing this conclusion from his mind, Qin Guanlan's usually calm expression showed signs of collapse. His chest heaved rapidly as a mixture of embarrassment, awkwardness, and disappointment surged into his heart. His arms were tense, and his eyelids twitched incessantly, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists.
"Oh, right, Brother Qin, there's something else I wanted to tell you. I'm..."
"I don't want to hear it, I want to read now!" The angry voice exploded like a firecracker, followed by the sound of Qin Guanlan pushing his wheelchair across the floor.
The tall figure had his back to Shen Qingtang, so his facial expression was not visible; all that could be seen was the blush on the base of his ears, as red as a ripe peach.
This sudden outburst of anger left Shen Qingtang completely bewildered, but seeing that the other party was indeed furious, she immediately cleared away the plates and left. Before leaving, she added, "Brother Qin, it's not good to be angry for too long. I'll make you a cup of chrysanthemum tea later to help you calm down."
After a long while, a low, muffled "hmm" sound came from inside the room, and Qin Guanlan's whole body was flushed red, like a boiled shrimp.
Seeing Shen Qingtang being yelled at, Qi Yi and Qi Er showed unusual puzzled expressions.
Qi Yi scratched his head and said, "Sister Chen, what's going on? Why is Brother Qin suddenly angry?" He even dared to yell at Sister Chen.
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "I'm not too sure either. I'll go find some chrysanthemum tea first, and then brew a cup for Brother Qin and take it up to him."
Hearing this, Qi Yi couldn't help but give a thumbs up and say, "Sister Chen, your magnanimity is truly admirable." Not only did she not get angry after being yelled at for no reason, she was also able to calmly make chrysanthemum tea for the instigator.
Putting himself in her shoes, he really didn't have that kind of magnanimity. Qi Er suddenly spoke up, "Sister Chen, I'll take the chrysanthemum tea up for you later."
Because of Shen Qingtang's actions these past few days, Qi Er was genuinely impressed and decided to take this opportunity to change his tune, just like Qi Yi.
Shen Qingtang blinked, but before she could respond, the person upstairs seemed to have overheard the conversation.
"Shen Qingtang, is your chrysanthemum tea ready yet?"
Qi Yi and Qi Er exchanged a glance, then chuckled softly, their eyes full of teasing, and reached a consensus.
Qin Ge can't live without Chen Jie these days.
The kitchen is filled with a wide variety of canned dried chrysanthemums, including Hangzhou white chrysanthemum, bud chrysanthemum, tribute chrysanthemum, Hao chrysanthemum, Kunlun snow chrysanthemum, and golden silk chrysanthemum, all neatly arranged in rows.
Considering that Qin Guanlan's taste was not as sweet as his tough appearance suggested, Shen Qingtang brewed a cup of Chrysanthemum tea.
This chrysanthemum is entirely golden yellow. Because of its large flowers and slender petals that resemble golden threads, it looks as if it is blooming when brewed with boiling water, making it very visually appealing. The brewed tea is golden and clear, with a mellow and sweet taste and a refreshing flavor. It also has significant effects in nourishing the lungs and reducing internal heat, hence it is given the title of "Royal" Chrysanthemum.
Don't be fooled by this tiny jar, which is only two fingers tall; it can fetch a price of 3,000 yuan per kilogram in China.
After brewing, Shen Qingtang nodded in approval. This cup of chrysanthemum tea was perfect for Brother Qin.
The knock had barely sounded when a single word came impatiently from inside Qin Guanlan's room.
"Enter."
But soon the person inside coughed, softened their tone, and repeated, "Please come in."
Shen Qingtang didn't notice the subtle difference between the two sentences. She pushed open the door with a tea tray in hand and called out, "Brother Qin."
Qin Guanlan held a book in his hand, seemingly engrossed in reading, showing no sign of responding. Shen Qingtang had entered and exited this room more often than her own, so she didn't seem timid at all. Instead, she acted as if she were in her own room, gently setting down the tea tray, then expertly finding a folding table and setting it up in front of Qin Guanlan. She placed the tea tray on the table, adjusted the stem of the teacup to face Qin Guanlan, and then gently touched it with her right middle finger, instructing, "Brother Qin, it's still a little hot. Please drink it later."
Qin Guanlan looked at Shen Qingtang, who was squatting down in front of him so unguardedly, and saw her raise her head to look at him and speak in a calm tone. His gaze followed her, and the anger in his heart had long since dissipated.
She casually turned a page and said, "I understand, just put it there." Then she nodded slightly and said, "Since Grandma gave you that pink diamond, it's yours now. You don't need to keep it for me."
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "Brother Qin, this is not appropriate. That pink diamond is far too valuable."
She wasn't very knowledgeable about jewelry, but even so, she could tell that the three-carat small square pink diamond had a rich, rare, vibrant pink color without any overtones. Its crystal-clear brilliance and stunning purity, combined with the clean lines of the cut, clearly the work of a master craftsman, made it even more precious than other colors of diamonds. Furthermore, pink diamonds are extremely rare, accounting for less than 5% of global annual production.
The one she accepted alone is worth between 6 million and 10 million. If it were sent to an auction, the price might rise even more if it found a suitable buyer.
Hearing this, Qin Guanlan jokingly said, "Just accept it without worry. Grandma is a famous Hong Kong heiress, with diamonds galore. She won't care about a mere pink diamond." For a moment, even the usually composed Shen Qingtang was speechless, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart: As expected, top-tier wealthy families are top-tier wealthy families. Other wealthy families don't have the magnanimity to casually throw away millions of dollars.
Qin Guanlan picked up his cup, took a sip of chrysanthemum tea, turned a page of his book, and then said, "By the way, what did you want to tell me earlier?"
Interrupted by Qin Guanlan's furious outburst, Shen Qingtang hadn't had a chance to speak. Unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better, and he brought it up himself. Shen Qingtang naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity, saying, "Brother Qin, I've found a way to cure your legs." Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Qin Guanlan, then she took out the book "Complete Collection of Ancient Prescriptions from Huangpu" and a bundle of tightly wrapped gold needles of varying thicknesses and lengths from next door, recounting her extraordinary encounter: "I went to buy groceries this morning and unexpectedly met a descendant of the Huangpu family... This medical book clearly records a formation called the Thirteen Ghost Needles. Once I master the formation, your legs will be saved."
“However…” Shen Qingtang touched his nose and said, “I am still a beginner. Although I understand the theory, the human nervous system is unpredictable. I need to practice constantly, and this will take anywhere from six months to two years, depending entirely on my personal comprehension.”
“Besides mastering the skills, I also need to learn other things by analogy, and I need to find patients with similar symptoms to you to treat…” Shen Qingtang frowned and said with some distress, “I can’t estimate the time for this step. If I’m lucky enough, it will only take one or two years. If I’m not so lucky, I can find patients who are paralyzed in both legs due to bone marrow problems. It could take eight or ten years.”
"So..." Shen Qingtang took a deep breath, her eyes seemingly reflecting a sky full of stars, and pleaded with a look like a little animal, "Brother Qin, are you willing to give it a try? Or rather... are you willing to believe in me, willing to wait for me for so long?"
The longer Qin Guanlan spent with Shen Qingtang, the more she could sense the other's "cold" nature. Her words and actions were always detached, and even if something earth-shattering happened in front of her, she could remain calm, as if she had shut herself off from all emotions. Most of the time, she was more like a block of wood; as long as one was outside her protected zone, even if someone left a mark on her, she wouldn't hold it against them.
Therefore, such vivid and lively moments of emotional expression are extremely rare. The increasingly rapid speech, the excited and pleading eyes... at least, this was one of only two times he had ever witnessed it.
The first time was because he wanted to drive the other person away, but Shen Qingtang took the initiative to use the word "revenge" to stir up his evil thoughts and make her stay.
Now she is repeatedly talking about the tiny possibility that his legs might recover.
To be honest, Qin Guanlan was not unmoved. As a person who was born able-bodied, he had almost forgotten the real feeling of his feet touching the ground during the days when his legs were crippled and he could only move around in a wheelchair.
Perhaps it was the hard feel of the tiled floor, or the soft, fluffy texture of the earth... but the reality was that his legs were numb and devoid of feeling. It was as if two wooden sticks were attached to his lower limbs, and he couldn't perceive any sensation of heat or cold.
Since Shen Qingtang arrived, his condition has undoubtedly improved a lot. He eats, sleeps, reads, strolls in the small garden... and even resumes his long-neglected upper limb training. But all of this is based on the premise that he has come to regard himself as a disabled person.
He acknowledged his disability with a mindset that was both confronting and escaping it, abandoning the moments when he was an able-bodied person, and preparing to live his life as a disabled person, so he actively responded and actively changed.
Sometimes hope doesn't just lead people in a new direction in life, but rather in a bad one. Especially the kind of hope that is vague and doomed to failure.
At first, it was a kite soaring high in the sky. Its owner kept flying it, hoping that one day he could also fly away. However, in the day-to-day waiting, the kite string became a trap that bound him for life.
Qin Guanlan has always been a decisive and action-oriented person. It's not that he doesn't want to believe in Shen Qingtang, but rather that he doesn't want to live on fragmented hopes. If that's the case, he'd rather abandon hope altogether.
But when he looked into Shen Qingtang's clear, doe-like eyes, he felt as if he were being burned by two scorching fireballs. He subconsciously pursed his lips, turned his head away, and looked away, his eyes darting around, unable to meet her gaze.
Shen Qingtang, who had been eagerly anticipating the moment, sensed an ominous sign as the silence stretched on. The atmosphere between the two became strange, as if a tug-of-war was taking place, with the rope in Shen Qingtang's and Qin Guanlan's hands respectively, creating a bizarre standoff.
At the other end of the rope, someone was holding on tightly, unwilling to let go; this force was conveyed through their eyes.
As time passed, Qin Guanlan's eyes became moist. After taking quick breaths to force back the tears, he struggled to speak, "Shen Qingtang, let's just forget about it. Time..." His lips trembled, but he still chose to finish his sentence, "Time is really too long."
He smiled slightly and said in a relaxed tone, "Actually, there's nothing wrong with being a person with both legs disabled. Modern society is so developed, life, work, and travel are all quite convenient, not to mention I'm a member of the Qin family."
Although Qin Guanlan disliked associating himself with the Qin family's wealth and power, at this moment he had to admit that he had indeed been born into a good family.
Therefore, even though he became disabled, he was destined to be the most carefree disabled person in the world.
Shen Qingtang bit her lip and remained silent. After an unknown amount of time, she managed to squeeze out a weak, soft voice from her throat: "Not good."
The volume was so low that even though the two were face to face, Qin Guanlan still couldn't hear clearly, so he asked, "What did you say?"
Shen Qingtang suddenly stood up, placed her hands on the armrests of Qin Guanlan's wheelchair, lowered her head, and stared at Qin Guanlan with eyes that seemed to be hooked with a hidden hook. She dared not move an inch. From a distance, the two looked so intimate that they seemed to have merged into one.
Immediately following was Shen Qingtang's resounding and clear voice, like a long red whip lashing through the air, leaving a loud whooshing sound in one's ear.
"not good."
"I would say it's not good at all." Shen Qingtang seemed to be born with a lack of emotion. Even when she forcefully said these two sentences, it didn't make people feel that she was angry. Instead, it carried a kind of inexplicable sense of certainty that made people believe her.
Qin Guanlan was trapped in a cage called his body, surrounded by Shen Qingtang. He watched helplessly as Shen Qingtang stretched out her long, slender fingers and gently brushed across the corner of his moist eyes, like a teacher reprimanding a student: "Brother Qin, lying is not a good habit."
With an encouraging look in her eyes, she said, "You actually want to stand up too, don't you?"
Qin Guanlan's throat bobbed, and the strange, tingling sensation from his pale fingertips brushing against his cheek hadn't faded. Shen Qingtang was so close to him that he could clearly see her open her mouth to speak, her bright red tongue covered with a moist film.
He was so close that he could count the number of her eyelashes, so close that he could kiss her with just a lean.
At this moment, it was a torment that was both beautiful and painful for him. He struggled to resist with his willpower, maintaining an unmoved expression, and said in a gentler tone, "Qingtang, actually I..."
Before he could finish his polite refusal, he found Shen Qingtang suddenly squatting down and deftly rolling up his trouser leg, folding it over his thigh.
Because of the wide hem of the pants, the bottom of the black underwear was faintly visible.
Qin Guanlan felt a sudden panic, a vague sense of foreboding rising within him. He licked his lips and swallowed hard, saying, "Shen Qingtang, what are you doing?" He tried to grab Shen Qingtang's head and lift her up, but she was as agile as a little earthworm and he couldn't catch her at all.
The other party only left one sentence: "Brother Qin, you can lie. I don't want to hear you say it. I want to hear your body speak for itself."
Before Qin Guanlan could even grasp the meaning behind Shen Qingtang's words, he watched as Shen Qingtang lowered her head and kissed his withered, ugly thigh, which was even thinner than a child's arm, and continued upwards. Whether it was the visual or psychological stimulation, or perhaps his crippled legs weren't completely crippled, he actually felt the touch of those warm lips and tongue and the burning breath from her nose. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but it seemed as if Shen Qingtang even stuck out her tongue.
The wet, moist sensation was fleeting.
He felt as if struck by lightning; his body stiffened, and his back suddenly tensed like a fully drawn bowstring. Then, an inexplicable fire erupted in his chest, and he shouted, "Shen Qingtang, get up right now! Stop... kissing me!"
"Don't you know that men and women shouldn't touch each other? You have no shame, you're clearly a hooligan."
His whole body was flushed red, his face and ear tips were the worst affected areas, like the most beautiful sunset clouds. During the struggle, even his neck and collarbone were affected. He spoke quickly and urgently, and suddenly resented himself for choosing science in high school. In his stammering, he could only add the word "shameless".
Unlike liberal arts students who can speak eloquently and fluently, they stopped this indecent "indecent assault".
Hearing Qin Guanlan's reprimand and seeing that the other party was as red as a boiled shrimp, Shen Qingtang stopped what she was doing and calmly explained, "Brother Qin, don't be shy, this is just palpation."
"Isn't palpation diagnosis done by feeling the pulse with the hands? Where...where do you need to use your lips..." The rest of his words grew softer and softer until they became incoherent. Qin Guanlan, who was usually known as the King of Hell in the army, had completely lost his usual aloof and cold demeanor. He looked as if he had been rolled in boiling water, unable to exhale even a breath of cold air.
He didn't even dare to make eye contact with Shen Qingtang.
He was secretly astonished, gaining a deeper understanding of Shen Qingtang's boldness.
Shen Qingtang looked at Qin Guanlan with clear eyes and patiently explained, "Brother Qin, palpation also includes tongue diagnosis. The tongue is one of the most sensitive organs in the human body, with a high degree of specificity in perception. The surface of the tongue is covered with 2,000 to 8,000 taste buds, which can accurately identify basic tastes such as sour, sweet, bitter, spicy and salty. However, few people know that the tongue can also taste the emotions of organs and transmit them to the brain quickly through nerve signals."
“Brother Qin, I’ve just finished the diagnosis. Your thigh has told me that it doesn’t want to give up treatment. It wants to stand up again.”
After listening to this long passage, Qin Guanlan's first thought was: it wasn't his imagination just now; the other party really stuck out his tongue.
Will the glossy sheen of moisture also remain on the overly pale thighs?
For a moment, his breathing became rapid, his ears were filled with the pounding of his heart, and the dryness in his mouth became more and more obvious. Along with the feeling of heaviness that he didn't want to pay attention to, he licked his dry lips, slumped his waist, grabbed the chrysanthemum tea and gulped it down, ignoring the still scalding temperature.
Unfortunately, it was like pouring a cup of water into the desert; he still didn't feel any thirst quenched.
Shen Qingtang snatched the empty cup and said, "Brother Qin, let me get you some water."
Qin Guanlan's throat was hoarse, and he couldn't utter a complete word. He could only sit sideways and nod his head, making a muffled "hmm" sound. However, he didn't dare to look at Shen Qingtang's fair fingers and delicate wrists for a moment. He tugged at his collar and lowered the air conditioner temperature by two degrees, but found that Shen Qingtang was standing to the side, motionless.
He frowned, casting a puzzled look at the other person, his eyes hinting at urging.
Shen Qingtang calmly stated her condition: "If Brother Qin agrees to let me treat your legs, I will go."
Her tone was serious, clearly not joking. But she had no idea how much she secretly wanted to be taught a lesson for her "dutiful" demeanor.
After a long standoff, a drop of sweat slid down Qin Guanlan's forehead with a "plop." He licked his lips, then turned to the side, arching his back as if to conceal the outline of some monstrous beast.
After an unknown amount of time, Qin Guanlan sighed helplessly, "Shen Qingtang, you win. Go get me a glass of water." He had already rolled around in the karmic fire, and his lustful eyes grew even deeper.
Shen Qingtang, however, was completely unaware of all this, and a triumphant smile curved her lips.
Qin Guanlan lay in bed early that day, but tossed and turned. The more he suppressed his desires, the clearer they became in the dead of night. But soon he pursed his lips, denying his true desires and blaming it on Shen Qingtang being too beautiful, which made it hard to have other thoughts during physical contact.
He closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep, but images of things he couldn't let others see surfaced in his mind. After a long sigh, he decided to succumb to his desires and slowly reached his hand down to his waist.
The wooden bed creaked and groaned, and after a long while, the low, suppressed groans finally ended. A damp, fishy smell lingered in the air, carrying a hallucinatory effect.
Rewind a few hours, and Sister Ying happily served the claypot rice to Old Mrs. Qin, coaxing her with a smile, "Miss, come and see what this is?"
Grandma Qin looked at the bowl of crystal-clear claypot rice in front of her, carefully sniffed the aroma, glanced at the neatly arranged Cantonese sausages and marbled pork ribs on top, and nodded in satisfaction, saying, "This is the authentic Hong Kong style claypot rice topping, unlike those weird and haphazard combinations."
Kyoto residents have always loved both savory and sweet flavors, and it's a trendy hub for young people. Therefore, even claypot rice, which originated in Kyoto, has had to be modified to cater to the market and the tastes of younger generations.
It was one thing that the sausages were salty, but even the classic spare ribs were replaced with steak and chicken cutlets. Old Madam Qin was extremely dissatisfied, and even if she was craving them, she would only wait for Chef Huang An to return.
The enticing aroma tempted her stomach, and since Grandma Qin had only eaten two pieces of pastry for lunch, her appetite was instantly whetted. She took out a spoon and first ate a bite of the crispy rice crust at the bottom of the pot. After chewing for a while, she tasted a bite of the claypot rice mixed with other ingredients and couldn't help but exclaim, "Yingzi, where did you buy this claypot rice? The taste is no less than Chef Huang's."
"Quickly grab a small bowl and sit down with me to eat. It really tastes just like the old-fashioned restaurants in Guangzhou when we were kids. It feels like we've gone back to our teenage years when we were in school every day."
The sweetness of the Cantonese sausage and the umami of the soy sauce complement each other perfectly. The pure white rice absorbs the broth, and each bite is soft yet chewy, instantly winning over Madam Qin's discerning palate.
Yingjie raised her eyebrows, looking somewhat surprised.
She naturally thought the claypot rice was delicious, which is why she specially packed it up and brought it back, but she never expected that her young lady would give it such a high rating.
In Hong Kong, this woman was known as a notoriously sharp-tongued food critic, even contributing articles to a food magazine. She could scathingly critique any new restaurant opened by a famous chef, leaving many renowned Hong Kong chefs avoiding her altogether. It's only now, as she's gotten older and married into a mainland family, that her sharp tongue has gradually softened.
If I encounter something that tastes bad, I'll just offer a few words of criticism and then leave it aside without eating it.
She smiled and deliberately kept everyone in suspense, saying, "Miss, this wasn't something I bought from outside; it was made by the people inside the Qin Mansion."
Grandma Qin clearly didn't believe it. While enjoying her meal, she waved her hand and said, "The chefs in the Qin Mansion don't have such culinary skills. Yingzi, you're an old woman, don't joke with me." If there were such talent, she would have already gathered them around her, and she wouldn't have to wait so long for Master Huang to finish the Culinary King Competition.
"Yes, there is." Sister Ying smiled slightly and revealed the answer: "This claypot rice was made by Shen Qingtang. She also made some other dishes, and Guan'er praised them highly."
"Really?" Upon hearing this unexpected name, Old Mrs. Qin rolled her eyes and exclaimed in disbelief, "How can her cooking skills be so good at such a young age?"
Sister Ying showed a hint of pity and said, "I heard before that Shen Qingtang was abducted when she was a child, and that family was very poor."
"A farming couple with a mentally challenged son and an old woman, their house was made of mud walls and couldn't even keep out the rain. The poor man's child naturally had to learn to be independent early."
Grandma Qin nodded knowingly, sighed, and said, "What a tragedy." Then she asked, "Did you give her the pink diamond?"
Yingjie chuckled and said, "I naturally handled the matters that Miss instructed perfectly. I went to check on her today, and what I told the other servants was pretty much the same. Guan'er is in much better spirits now, she can talk and laugh, unlike before when she always locked herself in her room. Shen Qingtang is a very thoughtful person and has taken good care of Guan'er. So I will naturally give her the pink diamond."
“However…” Sister Ying lowered her head, somewhat puzzled, and said, “Miss, this pink diamond was a gift from the Queen of England, and its price is at least eight million. Even if it's a reward for her, shouldn't we…”
Sensing the hesitation in Yingjie's voice, Old Mrs. Qin put down her chopsticks and said, "Do you think I gave you too much?"
“But think about it carefully, what was Guan’er like before Shen Qingtang came, and what is she like now?” Even though Old Madam Qin’s legs were not very strong, she still managed to visit her once in the past two or three months.
Old Mrs. Qin did not want to see that desolate figure and despairing look a second time.
Pink diamonds may be precious, but for her, no amount of expensive diamonds can compare to a healthy and lively grandson.
Yingjie patted her lips and said, "Miss, I was overthinking it. I remember that this pink diamond was a wedding gift you reserved for Miss Lin, so I thought you had your eye on Shen Qingtang."
Hearing this, Old Mrs. Qin shook her head and said with certainty, "With her family background, how could she possibly marry into the Qin family?" Marrying someone of equal social standing is the basic rule of marriage in wealthy families, and no one is an exception.
"Besides..." she paused, then continued, "Guan'er has always had high standards and has lived a life of purity and abstinence for so many years, how could he possibly fall for a mere little girl?"
Yingjie echoed softly, recalling the scene she had witnessed that evening, but she had different thoughts.
Guan'er has high standards, but he is also a complete romantic. Once he sets his sights on someone, he will love that person for life, which is the complete opposite of his philandering father.
*
"Brother Qin, wake up, wake up."
"Time to get up and have breakfast."
Qin Guanlan stayed up very late yesterday, so he naturally went to bed late as well. His usually disciplined routine was disrupted, and he overslept this morning.
Qi Yi said that this had never happened before, and fearing that it would trigger the other party's morning grumpiness, he could only timidly ask Shen Qingtang to provide a wake-up service.
Qin Guanlan opened his eyes groggily, thinking for a moment that he was in a dream. He subconsciously reached out and touched Shen Qingtang's fair face. His broad and strong hand went through her neck and pressed down hard, wanting to continue the deep kiss.
Unexpectedly, the person in front of him quickly broke free and asked with a puzzled look, "Brother Qin, what's wrong?" The lingering warmth in his palm made Qin Guanlan suddenly realize that this was reality, not a dream.
Shen Qingtang in front of him was not someone he could take advantage of. He coughed awkwardly twice and said, "It's nothing. I just saw things and thought there was something on your face."
Shen Qingtang didn't delve into it and said "Oh, oh" twice, "Brother Qin, get up, wash up, and have breakfast."
Qin Guanlan nodded and gripped the wheelchair beside the bed tightly.
Shen Qingtang suddenly walked to the foot of the bed and said in a light tone, "Brother Qin, remember to put your underwear in the laundry basket after you take it off. I'll take this over and hand wash it for you."
Wait, underwear?
Qin Guanlan was startled awake and immediately turned around to grab her, refusing to let go. He blocked Shen Qingtang with his other hand and tried to remain calm, saying, "No need, I can wash it myself."
Shen Qingtang frowned in confusion, glancing at the other's blushing ears before realizing what she meant and said, "Brother Qin, don't be shy, I've washed plenty of your clothes." As she spoke, she tried to snatch them again, and the two of them moved back and forth, attacking and defending each other with graceful and clean movements.
Qin Guanlan, being a well-trained soldier, preemptively tucked his underwear under his buttocks, defending his right to wash his own underwear.
His face flushed red, and he raised his voice, scolding with displeasure, "I already said I'd do it myself, and you're not allowed to do this kind of thing again."
"What kind of innocent young woman would wash someone else's underwear?"
Shen Qingtang was somewhat puzzled: "But you're not just anyone, you're Brother Qin." Qin Guanlan was speechless for a moment, his face turning even redder, and he coughed repeatedly before finally saying, "That won't do either."
Shen Qingtang had no choice but to concede, saying, "Okay, Brother Qin."
After washing up, Qin Guanlan glanced at the chicken soup with Panax notoginseng in front of him and moved away a little without making a sound.
Shen Qingtang's promise to cure Qin Guanlan's leg was not just empty talk; besides taking care of Qin Guanlan, she devoted all her time to studying the medical book.
Qin Guanlan saw Shen Qingtang's shadow reflected in the window next door as she flipped through medical books in the early morning more than once, and he also saw her holding gold needles of varying thickness and length, sometimes inserting them into her acupuncture practice kit, sometimes into the acupuncture point model, and sometimes into her own body.
Qin Guanlan was terrified and deeply distressed. The other person's persistent dark circles, the inexplicably bleeding wound, the sudden swelling of their thigh...
Whenever he tried to dissuade her, he was always met with a casual retort from Shen Qingtang.
"Brother Qin, I don't want to be unable to cure you."
The other person's resolute gaze was as unbreakable as obsidian, even radiating an intense brilliance. Qin Guanlan had no choice but to do what he could to avoid troubling Shen Qingtang and try to get her as much sleep as possible, which was already scarce.
Time flies, and two weeks have passed in the blink of an eye.
That noon, right after lunch, Qi Yi rushed to Shen Qingtang and said, "Sister Shen, Sister Shen, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to take care of Brother Qin by yourself today."
"I was just playing around with Qi Er and he accidentally rolled off the bed. He bruised his back and twisted his lumbar spine while protecting me. I have to take him to the hospital right away." Qi Er had injured his lumbar spine before, so it's no wonder Qi Yi was so anxious.
Shen Qingtang nodded and said, "It's alright, you can go ahead."
As Qi Yi struggled to help Qi Er out the door, Shen Qingtang pursed her lips and suddenly asked, "Do you want me to give it a try?"
Seeing the blank looks on their faces, she added, "I've been practicing acupuncture quite well lately, and I also know a few ways to treat lumbar spine problems."
She looked at the area around Qi Er's waist that was swollen all around, and reminded him, "This injury is quite serious. I think it would be better to do acupuncture right now."
Qi Yi finally realized what was happening and swallowed nervously, politely declining, "Sister Chen, maybe we should just forget about it. This isn't like stabbing a wooden doll in your heart." This is a living, breathing person, after all.
After saying that, he said, "The car I called has arrived. Qi Er, let's go quickly."
Unexpectedly, Qi Er did not keep up and, ignoring Qi Yi's obstructive expression, said, "Sister Chen, how confident are you that you can cure me?"
Hundreds of treatment methods flashed through Shen Qingtang's mind in an instant. After a moment of thought, she uttered softly, "Ten out of ten."
Although it looks serious, it's just a minor injury for Shen Qingtang.
Qi Er's lips trembled with pain, his voice hoarse but willing to entrust her with his trust: "Then I'll have to trouble Sister Chen."
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Author's Note: Qingtang is a bit of a blockhead, lacking the shyness of most people. Many of the illnesses I'll describe will be fabricated. If you're sick, please go to the hospital honestly [panda head emoji]. Leave a comment, and I'll randomly send out small red envelopes. Also, could you please give me some nutrient solution?
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