Chapter 28: Shen Chaoyi, Peerless Elegance

“What are you standing there for?” Shen Chaoyi walked a short distance and realized Yi Qingzhuo wasn’t following, so she looked back.

She spotted the untouched MP3 player still on the stone table. “Don’t you want it? It’s not expensive. It just has some piano pieces on it; you can give them a listen.”

Yi Qingzhuo lowered her head, a clear light shimmering in the corners of her eyes. She pondered for a long moment.

Then, with a wave of her hand, the pure white MP3 player landed in her palm.

Her long fingers closed around it, the outline of its buttons pressing into her hand.

No one knew except Yi Qingzhuo herself.

She said, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Yi Qingzhuo. I hope you like it.” Shen Chaoyi’s eyes were clear and bright when she smiled. Her long dress fluttered, making her look stunning.

Shen Chaoyi — peerless elegance, transcendent and extraordinary.

Perhaps she had developed a filter for Shen Chaoyi, but Yi Qingzhuo felt that this was the right way to describe her.

Yi Qingzhuo stiffly averted her gaze and didn’t respond.

Shen Chaoyi turned around and walked over to Pei Zhoujin, who was leisurely working as a gardener while bent over. She said respectfully, “Then, Elder Pei, take your time and be careful. I’ll be going now. I’ll come visit you again when I’m free.”

Pei Zhoujin looked up, one hand propped on his shovel.

He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Alright. Come visit me more when you’re free. You young folks have good taste in aesthetics, so you can give me some advice for this flower nursery.”

“Okay, I will.” Shen Chaoyi nodded.

Yi Qingzhuo stood behind Shen Chaoyi, took off her hat, gave a slight nod, and said in a low voice, “I’ll take my leave.”

Pei Zhoujin looked at her, squinting. Suddenly he asked, “Yi Qingzhuo, what do you think of that cluster of daisies over there? I noticed you stood in front of them for a while.”

Yi Qingzhuo had already put her hat back on and was about to step forward.

Hearing his question, she turned back to face Pei Zhoujin.

Perhaps Pei Zhoujin had been quite handsome in his youth, with a tall and slender build. Now that he was old, one could still faintly imagine his youthful demeanor.

Even though he had shrunk with age, when facing Yi Qingzhuo, who was about 1.70 meters in height, he still didn’t seem less imposing.

His deep wrinkles held an inscrutable meaning.

“They’re growing pretty well,” Yi Qingzhuo answered honestly.

Hearing this, Pei Zhoujin threw his head back and laughed heartily twice.

He waved his hand. “See you around.”

Yi Qingzhuo didn’t understand the implication, but her eyes showed no ripple.

She pursed her lips and gave a slight nod, then walked out alongside Shen Chaoyi, who also appeared surprised.

“Elder Pei is far-sighted and always speaks with hidden meaning. I don’t know what he meant by that. But don’t worry, it’s not malicious,” Shen Chaoyi said, pushing open the gate of the flower nursery to let Yi Qingzhuo exit first.

Yi Qingzhuo lifted her eyes and glanced at Shen Chaoyi, whose red lips and white teeth were striking. “I don’t know either.”

The daisies were blooming well, so what?

Was that because the gardener’s effort was indispensable?

Yi Qingzhuo was never one to dwell on things she couldn’t understand.

So she didn’t take it to heart.

But Shen Chaoyi seemed intrigued by the question. “Was there anything different about that cluster of daisies compared to the other flowers?”

“No difference,” Yi Qingzhuo replied.

Flowers all looked pretty much the same.

“Then why did you stop only there?” Shen Chaoyi pressed.

Without thinking, Yi Qingzhuo said, “Because I happened to stop there when my wound started aching. I was tired, so I stopped.”

Just like that?

Shen Chaoyi raised an eyebrow, momentarily speechless at this unexpected answer.

Yi Qingzhuo was Yi Qingzhuo — so casual, so straightforward.

No hidden meaning; she stopped because she was tired.

She followed her heart.

“You did quite a bit of exercise today. How’s your wound?” Shen Chaoyi, upon hearing about the pain, dropped the strange question.

“It’s fine.” Yi Qingzhuo was wearing a fixator, and moving slowly wouldn’t cause any problems.

Besides, she could tolerate pain. Even if there was a tingling ache, she could bear it silently.

Hearing this, Shen Chaoyi felt relieved.

Just as she raised her hand to say something, a crisp “Sis!” came from ahead.

“Sis! Over here! Over here!”

Looking up, she saw Shen Gan sitting cross-legged on a stone bench.

His long legs were folded, and he waved generously at Shen Chaoyi. “I’m here to pick you up and take you home.”

Patients and visitors passing by couldn’t help but glance at Shen Gan’s posture.

Partly because his voice was a bit loud and he didn’t care about being seen, and partly because of his striking appearance in that pose.

Shen Chaoyi stared for a moment, then raised her hand to cover her forehead.

She exchanged an awkward glance with Yi Qingzhuo, practically writing “I don’t know him” on her face.

But Shen Gan was completely unfazed by others’ stares. He pushed his waist up and deftly jumped off the stone bench.

In just a few long strides, he was in front of Shen Chaoyi.

The smile on his face vanished the moment he saw that the person beside his sister was Yi Qingzhuo.

He lowered his voice. “Today’s Friday, I have no classes, so I came to pick you up.”

Officially, it was to take Shen Chaoyi home, but in reality, after school, Shen Gan took the bus to the hospital, waited for Shen Chaoyi to get off work, and then rode home with her.

Shen Chaoyi lowered her hand, glanced around, and said seriously, “Next time, find an inconspicuous spot. Either wait in my office or in the parking lot. Don’t make such a big scene. This is where I work; I still have to work here. What will my patients and colleagues think if they see you like this?”

“Oh, I heard from Aunt Liu the Cleaner that you came over here, so I waited here,” Shen Gan pouted, his eyes fixed warily on Yi Qingzhuo.

Yi Qingzhuo’s dark, beautiful eyes looked at Shen Gan with obvious detachment, her face expressionless, giving off an air of aloof coldness.

Shen Chaoyi tugged at Shen Gan’s sleeve. “You’ve met before, so I don’t need to introduce you.”

One was an internet cafe owner, the other was a frequent customer.

The only reason the atmosphere between them felt awkward and weird was Shen Chaoyi.

“Boss Yi, recovering well? Looks like you’re in pretty good shape,” Shen Gan said first.

Although he had some sympathy for her, seeing her walk with Shen Chaoyi still made him uneasy.

Yi Qingzhuo glanced at him coolly. “I’m fine.”

Thanks to your sister.

Shen Gan frowned slightly at her indifferent attitude. He looked at her hospital gown, then stood beside Shen Chaoyi, not bothering to put on a polite smile.

“I’ll head back to the ward now,” Yi Qingzhuo said, then shot Shen Gan a glance before turning and walking toward the elevator.

After Yi Qingzhuo turned her back, Shen Gan put his arm around Shen Chaoyi’s shoulder.

His face changed like turning a page, and he smiled. “Let’s go home! Mom made our favorite sweet-and-sour ribbonfish. We’re in for a treat tonight.”

After saying that, Shen Gan cast a dissatisfied look at Yi Qingzhuo’s retreating figure. “Sis, why were you walking with her after work? Where did you two go? The flower nursery? What were you doing there?”

“Alright, you already know enough about my schedule.” Shen Chaoyi removed Shen Gan’s arm, her gaze falling on the black figure fading into the distance.

“I’m doing this for your own good. I’m afraid you’ll get targeted by ill-intentioned people.” Shen Gan tugged at his hoodie to defend himself.

Actually, every time he came to the hospital, he claimed it was to take Shen Chaoyi home.

But in reality, he was checking up on her — seeing who she was getting close to.

Who was most likely to develop a romantic relationship with her.

He wanted to vet them in advance, even stricter than Wu Huiyi and the others.

Shen Gan had only one sister, and he couldn’t relax at all.

Shen Chaoyi walked out. “What ill-intentioned people? I think you’re the most suspicious one.”

Don’t think Shen Chaoyi didn’t notice; she just didn’t want to call him out.

Shen Gan shrugged and walked out shoulder to shoulder with Shen Chaoyi.

“So far, I’m the person in this world who cares about you the most, besides Mom and Dad. I’m the last person who’d hurt you. You can’t think of your brother like that; it hurts my feelings.”

“Flattery.”

“Don’t you believe me? Sis, look at me; don’t you trust me?”

“I trust you. I trust you very much.”

…

The two siblings bantered back and forth, the atmosphere indescribably warm.

From the corner, a dark figure watched them. Although their expression was unclear, it was certain that the corners of their mouth were lifted.

Clearly a smile — a smile directed at the siblings.

To be precise, a smile directed at Shen Chaoyi as she spoke.