Chapter 27 Part 7

Zhao Xuning’s cool gaze swept over Liang Shi’s hand, which quickly retreated. Liang Shi flashed her a smile.

Zhao Xuning sighed. “You’re in a good mood today.”

“Life just feels beautiful,” Liang Shi said. “So I might as well be happy.”

Zhao Xuning: “…”

As she opened the door, she quipped, “That doesn’t sound like you at all.”

Liang Shi shrugged. “Whatever I say, I’m still me.”

Zhao Xuning didn’t respond. She’d already stepped outside, answering the person there: “Shen Hui. I’m here.”

Whether it was Liang Shi’s imagination or not, she thought she detected a note of tenderness in the way Zhao Xuning said “Shen Hui.”

Completely unlike the Zhao Xuning she’d seen so far.

Driven by the logic of “nothing better to do, might as well watch the drama,” Liang Shi opened the door and stepped out too.

The VIP ward corridor was empty and spacious. The only other person was Chen Liuying on a bench at the far end, quite a distance away.

Zhao Xuning was standing with a tall, slender woman.

Liang Shi could only see her back.

The woman wore a gray wool coat with a clean, tailored cut. Long brown hair cascaded to her waist. She was about the same height as Zhao Xuning.

Liang Shi happened to be heading back to the ward to check if the two crying Omegas had finished, so she had to pass by them.

As she passed, she heard Shen Hui say, “Here. Take this back. And stop leaving things at my place.”

Liang Shi: “…?”

Oh? Ex-girlfriend?!

Liang Shi couldn’t resist a curious glance back, and unexpectedly locked eyes with Shen Hui.

Shen Hui’s eyes were lovely: light brown irises, somewhat similar to her own.

Her skin was fair and smooth as milk, though she was a bit too thin.

She seemed to have been born with a face made for cold-heartedness.

But Liang Shi found her oddly familiar.

She racked her brain and couldn’t place where she’d seen her before.

She could only conclude that the original host had encountered this person, and the body still carried the memory.

It’s just that she couldn’t recall it.

She offered Shen Hui a polite smile, then turned and walked away.

Shen Hui, however, kept watching her retreating figure, feeling an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.

Zhao Xuning also turned to look. Once Liang Shi had disappeared into the ward, she said with a hint of displeasure, “She’s gone.”

Only then did Shen Hui look away.

Her gaze fell on the ring box in Zhao Xuning’s palm, her voice cool and detached. “Who was that?”

Zhao Xuning’s eyes darkened, her brow creasing. She didn’t answer directly, but turned the question back. “You like her?”

Shen Hui didn’t answer directly either. She smiled faintly. “She’s got a certain something.”

She felt like she’d seen her somewhere before.

Zhao Xuning said, “She’s married.”

Shen Hui looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “You cheated when you had a girlfriend.”

“I told you, that was a misunderstanding,” Zhao Xuning said. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Right. It was her who stripped you, then.” Shen Hui smiled, her eyes so cold they could have frozen over. “Anyway, Miss Zhao, I’ve got things to do. I’ll be going.”

“Shen Hui,” Zhao Xuning said. “Whether you believe it or not, I really never did anything to betray you.”

Shen Hui didn’t even turn around. “Oh.”

“I loved you so much back then…” Zhao Xuning’s voice trailed off. She looked down with a bitter smile and swallowed every word of explanation. But the look she fixed on Shen Hui’s receding figure shimmered with tears.

Not just back then.

She loved her now, too.

She couldn’t help calling out, “Shen Hui, eat more. And stop being so picky.”

Shen Hui’s steps faltered. She turned back, her tone flat. “You really do leave a trail of affection wherever you go.”

Zhao Xuning’s voice grew heavy, edged with reluctance. “And don’t lose any more weight.”

Shen Hui laughed coldly. “Then I hope Dr. Zhao stops calling her ex in the middle of the night about her current girlfriend’s problems.”

She looked Zhao Xuning up and down. “It only makes me lose respect for you.”

Zhao Xuning immediately explained, “I’m single.”

Shen Hui: “The news articles are everywhere. Wasn’t that you in the photo? So you hugged, kissed, maybe even slept with her, and she’s still not your girlfriend? I didn’t know Dr. Zhao’s boundaries had gotten so… flexible.”

Zhao Xuning: “…”

“I never touched her,” Zhao Xuning said. “I simply rescued her.”

Shen Hui gave her one cold look, then said lightly, “Suit yourself.”

With that, she left the hospital.

Zhao Xuning walked back to the ward with a heavy heart, leaning against the wall and staring into space.

Inside the ward.

Xu Qingzhu had finished comforting Bai Weiwei and had learned the truth from her, taking the opportunity to condemn Chen Liuying on her behalf.

Bai Weiwei had been silent at first, then took Xu Qingzhu’s hand and said, “I’m going to cut ties with her.”

Xu Qingzhu patted her shoulder. “It’s okay. You still have me.”

She smiled. “When love’s gone, there’s still family. I’m always here.”

Bai Weiwei was caught up in her smile and smiled back, though she still asked quietly, “You weren’t hurt that night, were you?”

“No,” Xu Qingzhu said. “Liang Shi and the others got there in time. My clothes were still on. Thank goodness for them.”

“Yeah.” Bai Weiwei sighed. “That night was pretty desperate.”

“It’s all in the past. Just be more careful going forward.” Xu Qingzhu asked her, “Are you still going to work as a talent agent?”

This industry was too complicated. One wrong step and you’d fall into an abyss.

Bai Weiwei thought for a moment, then smiled helplessly. “Probably not. The whole thing blew up so big, my parents saw the news and told me to come home and work at the family company.”

“That’s good too,” Xu Qingzhu said. “I’ve gone back to the family company myself now.”

They chatted for a while. Bai Weiwei hadn’t fully recovered and was soon drowsy. Xu Qingzhu sat beside her and coaxed her to sleep.

Once she was asleep, Liang Shi said in a low voice, “She looks exhausted.”

Xu Qingzhu smoothed the crease between Bai Weiwei’s brows, then gestured to Liang Shi. They left the ward together.

But the moment the door clicked shut, Bai Weiwei opened her eyes.

Those vacant eyes were brimming with despair.

Why had Liang Shi been able to get there so quickly?

Why, after what happened, were A-Zhu and Liang Shi growing closer?

Why was she the one being accused of cheating?

She loved Chen Liuying so much.

A single tear slid from the corner of Bai Weiwei’s eye. She closed her eyes again in despair.

When Liang Shi and Xu Qingzhu returned home that night, neither was in good spirits.

Xu Qingya was still waiting for them. The moment they walked in, she jumped up and rushed over. “Oh my god, I thought you two were going to sleep at the company!”

Xu Qingzhu gave her a look. “Can’t you tell? We’re avoiding you. That’s why we’re late.”

“Hey!” Xu Qingya pouted. “I’m your own sister.”

“Oh.” Xu Qingzhu hung up her bag and asked casually, “Have you eaten?”

“I ate,” Xu Qingya said. “Oh, right. I start school this Sunday.”

Xu Qingzhu leaned against the sofa, pressing her fingers to her temples in exhaustion. “Do you need us to drop you off?”

Xu Qingya turned to Liang Shi. “Sister Liang, you take me. Drive the Porsche.”

Xu Qingzhu: “…So vain.”

“A teenage girl, what’s wrong with a little vanity?” Xu Qingya said, unapologetic. “Do I have to be a bookworm like you?”

Xu Qingzhu shot her a cold glare.

Xu Qingya knew when to quit. She stopped bickering, waved to Liang Shi, and went back to her room.

Liang Shi, seeing how tired Xu Qingzhu was, went over and asked if she wanted to go upstairs for a shower before bed. Xu Qingzhu said, “You use the upstairs one. I’ll wash downstairs.”

Living in someone else’s house, there was no sense making yourself too at home.

Liang Shi didn’t stand on ceremony, though. She brought Xu Qingzhu’s toiletries down from upstairs.

Liang Shi always showered quickly. When she came out, she stood upstairs looking down. She was always worried that with Xu Qingzhu’s constitution, she might pass out in the shower.

Soon, Xu Qingya came out of her room with a water glass.

She looked up. “Sister Liang, what are you looking at?”

Liang Shi’s face reddened slightly. “Nothing… just admiring the view.”

Xu Qingya: “?”

She went to the kitchen for some water and then noticed her sister walking out of the downstairs bathroom, hair soaking wet, steam still curling off her.

Clearly, she’d just showered.

Xu Qingya carried her glass over. “Why did you shower downstairs?”

Xu Qingzhu was drying her hair with a towel. When she opened her mouth to answer, her throat was dry, so Xu Qingya helpfully passed her the glass.

Xu Qingzhu took a sip to wet her throat before replying, “Liang Shi was using the upstairs one.”

Xu Qingya: “…You two could shower together, you know.”

Xu Qingzhu had just taken a second sip from the glass. She choked and broke into a fit of coughing.

Xu Qingya patted her back. “Do you have to react like that?”

Xu Qingzhu: “…”

“You’re married. Showering together isn’t a big deal, is it?” Xu Qingya said. “You could even put body wash on each other or whatever.”

Xu Qingzhu: “…”

Shut up.

Her ears had gone completely red.

But she was secretly relieved that Liang Shi hadn’t heard this. Otherwise, she might think her sister was too brazen.

Then Xu Qingya said, “Right, Sister Liang?”

Xu Qingzhu: “…”

She looked up and met another thoroughly embarrassed face.

Their eyes locked. They both looked away at the same time.

Both wanted the floor to swallow them whole.

Xu Qingya pouted. “I don’t get you grown-ups. So coy after getting married.”

Xu Qingzhu: “What do you know, kid? Go to bed.”

Xu Qingya scoffed, looked up at Liang Shi, and shrugged nonchalantly. “You two had better not turn out to be in a marriage of convenience.”

Xu Qingzhu: “…”

“Marriage of convenience, my foot.” Xu Qingzhu flustered, though she pretended to stay calm. “What kind of things are you reading all day?”

Xu Qingya: “Proper reading material.”

She raised an eyebrow at Xu Qingzhu. “The Domineering Little Wife Falls in Love with Me. Want to read it? I’ve got two copies.”

Xu Qingzhu: “…”

Please shut up.

Xu Qingya looked up again. “Sister Liang, do you want to read it?”

Liang Shi: “…”

She’d stopped reading those kinds of novels in high school, thank you.

Xu Qingya put on an air of mystery. “I’ve got one that’s perfect for you.”

Liang Shi, wanting to spare her the awkwardness, cleared her throat. “What is it?”

Xu Qingya: “The Tsundere Sweet Wife Falls in Love with Me.”

Liang Shi: “…”

Xu Qingzhu swatted her sister. “Go to bed.”

Xu Qingya made one final push. “Seriously, Sister Liang. It’s really good. Totally worth the investment.”