Chapter 863 Temptation "If you encounter any difficulties later, you can tell me."
Zhou Fang's voice softened considerably, "But for now, you should focus on taking good care of your mother and not neglect your studies too much. Don't rush the money issue; we can talk about it after you start working."
Qiuhe looked up at him with tears in her eyes and nodded heavily.
The next day, Zhou Fang accompanied Qiu He to transfer her mother to the city hospital and settle her in a ward. After leaving some money and his contact information for the Suicheng Textile Factory, he prepared to leave.
He has other matters to attend to in Guangzhou, so he won't stay any longer.
Before leaving, he said to Qiuhe, "I've already spoken to the doctors and nurses here. You can contact them if you need anything. I've left my phone number; call me if there's an emergency. Take good care of your mother, and take good care of yourself too."
Qiuhe saw him off at the hospital entrance and bowed deeply: "Manager Zhou, I, Qiuhe, will never forget your kindness for the rest of my life."
Zhou Fang waved her hand, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
Upon arriving in Guangzhou and returning to my lodgings, that sense of emptiness became even stronger.
Zhou Fang dialed the phone number at her home in Beijing. It rang several times before being answered. The background noise was a bit noisy, with children playing and the sound of spatulas clattering.
"Hello?" It was Fang Xiaojing's voice.
"Xiaojing, it's me."
"Oh, Fang." Fang Xiaojing's tone was very casual, with a familiar, homey feel. "Arrived in Guangzhou? Was the journey smooth?"
"Yes, we've arrived. Everything went smoothly. How's everything at home? Are you and the kids alright?"
"Everything's fine. Niu Niu has a bit of a cough, so I made her some pear soup. Oh, and Mom brought over some of her pickled vegetables yesterday, saying they'd make you something to eat with rice..."
As she spoke, the sound of boiling water overflowing from the pot and a child calling "Mommy" came from the other end of the phone.
"Oh dear, my soup!" Fang Xiaojing exclaimed hurriedly.
"Ah Fang, wait a minute, I have soup simmering in the pot, it's about to overflow, I'll go check it first and then I'll talk to you later."
"Okay, you go first..."
"Beep...beep...beep..."
The call has been disconnected.
Zhou Fang held the microphone, listening to the busy tone coming from it, and remained motionless for a long time.
The expected busyness was mixed with an indescribable sense of melancholy that washed over me like a tide.
He wanted to say a few more words, ask her if she was tired, and tell her about his situation, but the call had already ended.
He slowly put down the microphone and walked back to his room.
The room was so quiet that I could hear my own breathing.
He lit a cigarette, and in the swirling smoke, Qiuhe's pitiful, dependent face unexpectedly appeared before his eyes again.
So young, so in need of help, the way people looked at him revealed a kind of complete reliance and emotion that he hadn't seen in his wife's eyes in a long time.
He irritably stubbed out his cigarette.
He knew better than anyone how much Xiaojing had sacrificed for him and for that family.
In the following days, Zhou Fang forced herself to immerse herself in her work in Guangzhou.
Review material samples, discuss with partners, and verify order details.
He tried his best to appear as capable and focused as usual.
During breaks from work, Zhou Fang would still think about the situation at the hospital and wonder about Qiu He's mother's condition.
On the third night, while he was organizing documents at the factory, he received a phone call.
"Hello, Manager Zhou? This is Qiuhe. My mother had a thorough examination today, and the doctor said the situation is more optimistic than expected. She needs to be hospitalized for a period of time, but she doesn't need surgery... She's much better today and can sit up and eat something."
Zhou Fang secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, that's great, you can relax a little now."
Qiuhe's voice was filled with sincere gratitude, "Manager Zhou, thank you so much. Without you, I really don't know what I would have done. After my mother is discharged from the hospital, I will make arrangements at home and find a way to pay you back as soon as possible. I will go to work."
"No rush, your mother's health is the most important thing. You should also take care to rest and not overwork yourself."
Zhou Fang paused for a moment, then asked, "Did you ask for leave from school? Won't it cause too much disruption to your studies?"
"I asked for leave, and the teachers in the department knew about it and were very understanding. As for my studies... I'll find a way to catch up." Qiuhe's answer was sensible, but it also revealed the pressure she was under.
The two chatted briefly about their recent situations, and then Qiuhe seemed to be calling her, so she quickly said goodbye and hung up the phone.
Zhou Fang shook his head and continued working, trying to stop thinking about it.
After her mother's condition stabilized, Qiuhe's panic subsided, but another heavy worry weighed on her mind: Zhou Fang's feelings for her.
She attends school in Baekguk and only gets a chance to catch her breath after watching over her mother until she falls asleep at night.
But I couldn't help but recall Zhou Fang's arrival: his efficient arrangements, the fact that he didn't even flinch when paying, and the reassuring figure of his back as he left.
These days, it's so rare to find someone so genuinely willing to help a poor student who's not even a relative.
Qiuhe felt a warm glow in her heart; besides gratitude, an indescribable feeling quietly welled up inside her.
Having lived this long, she's seen countless cold shoulders and excuses, and she's used to gritting her teeth and enduring it all.
Zhou Fang's unconditional help was like a thick cotton-padded coat thrown on her head in the dead of winter, warming her to the point of being a little dazed, and a corner of her heart also felt warm.
She suddenly remembered that during their last phone call, she was so focused on talking about her illness that she forgot to ask him when he would come to Haishi again.
Once the thought arose, it was hard to stop.
She thought that when he came again, she would definitely thank him properly, even if it was just by treating him to a bowl of noodles.
But then I thought about it again and my face felt a little hot.
Don't be like the previous Boss Lu. He was kind-hearted at all, but why did he keep thinking about all sorts of things?
She quickly nipped the idea in the bud and pulled her mind back: the most important thing right now is to take good care of her mother, study hard, and pay back the money as soon as possible.
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