CH 23

While watering the flowers in the garden, Zhong Yabai suddenly heard a panicked shout.

It was her son screaming for He Zhou.

The sound was so shrill that Zhong Yabai's heart involuntarily ached. The watering pot in her hand rolled with a clatter to the ground.

She immediately ran outside, only to find Qiu Yanzhi lying on the ground, his right leg mangled. Zhong Yabai stopped breathing for several moments. Her legs softened, but luckily Qiu Qingcang came out in the nick of time and caught her before she fell.

On the way to the hospital, Zhong Yabai was too frantic to even wipe her tears. She cried even harder when the driver handed her the sapphire earrings Qiu Yanzhi had bought for her.

When Qiu Qingcang took the watch out of the box, even his eyes became rimmed with red.

He Zhou carefully cradled Qiu Yanzhi in his arms. He held on tightly to Qiu Yanzhi's hands, placing them on his forehead. He closed his eyes and whispered hoarsely, “...He’s in this state because of me.”

A large group of people frantically accompanied Qiu Yanzhi to the emergency room. When they arrived, Zhong Yabai was still crying. Qiu Qingcang grit his teeth and swore that he would hold He Zhou responsible if his son’s leg injury couldn’t be healed.

They were relieved when the doctor took a look and said that the wound was only a serious abrasion. There were no broken bones or torn muscles.

After working for two hours, the doctor left, saying that Qiu Yanzhi should be awake within the hour if everything went well.

Only then did Zhong Yabai finally stop crying.

The one Zhang Yuxuan wanted to call was Qiu Yanzhi, but it was He Zhou who picked up. After finding out that Qiu Yanzhi was in an accident, he quickly grabbed a jacket and rushed to the hospital.

Zhang Yuxuan only relaxed when he saw Qiu Yanzhi lying peacefully in bed.

Qiu Qingcang knew that Zhang Yuxuan was Qiu Yanzhi's friend. He also trusted him more than He Zhou. Therefore, he told Zhang Yuxuan to keep an eye on Qiu Yanzhi while they went out with He Zhou to discuss some matters.

"This is the dashcam footage I got from the black box of my parked car." He Zhou handed the tablet to Qiu Qingcang.

Zhong Yabai had already calmed down, but those words made her tears fall again. She covered her mouth and averted her head, unable to handle watching that video.

It was Qiu Qingcang who took the tablet.

In consideration for Zhong Yabai, he didn't turn on the sound as he quietly watched the two minute video of the accident.

He Zhou spoke calmly: "That car appeared out of nowhere and didn't have a license plate. It also didn't slow down at all after injuring someone. Currently the motive is unknown, but I’ve already contacted the police and assigned some of my subordinates to investigate. After finding the one responsible, I’ll definitely bring him before Qiu Yanzhi to decide their punishment."

Qiu Qingcang was silent for a while before he handed the tablet back to He Zhou. "I believe in your ability."

Then Qiu Qingcang suddenly looked up and said, "He Zhou, you should also understand that the injuries that Yanyan suffered this time were entirely because of you. If it wasn't for him, you wouldn't be standing here right now."

He Zhou hung his head and whispered, "I know."

"He Zhou, I know that you are a very capable young man, but to be honest, I’ve never approved of your marriage to Yanyan. If Yanyan wasn’t so stubborn, I wouldn’t have..."

Qiu Qingcang's tone couldn't help but become intense. He paused for a moment, calming himself. "Yanyan likes you a lot, so much so that he was willing to risk his life to save you..."

"And that chandelier from last time..." Zhong Yabai wiped her tears, feeling heartache for her son. "I really don't understand why he likes you to this extreme."

He Zhou was silent. He didn't tell them the truth about the chandelier incident, but he looked up at Zhong Yabai and Qiu Qingcang and slowly spoke, "I will treat him well. No matter what he wants to do in the future, I will be there for him. No matter what’s going through that head of his, I will yield to him and keep him company.”

Zhong Yabai said, "You know best what’s going through our Yanyan’s head. He just likes you and wants to spend the rest of his life with you.”

"Then I'll be with him for the rest of my life."

He Zhou's voice was steady and calm. His pure black eyes shone with unknown emotions under the fluorescent lights.

His words were appropriate and mature, but it gave others a strange feeling.

For some reason, this promise seemed even more solemn than a wedding vow.

Just then, the driver happened to come out of the elevator. He handed the item he was carrying to He Zhou. "President He, here is the meal you told me to buy for Mr. Qiu."

Zhong Yabai looked at the window between the corridor and the hospital room. She saw that Qiu Yanzhi seemed to have moved, so she wiped the tears on her eyes to make herself look more energetic. "Let’s go in, Yanyan seems to have woken up."

He Zhou nodded, taking the food inside the hospital room.

As he was about to open the door, Qiu Yanzhi's agitated voice could be heard.

"I'll kick out He Zhou and live with you, alright?!"

"No way!"

"Baby Yu, I can wash clothes, cook, clean, get a job and even be a bed warmer..."

He Zhou: "......"

Qiu Qingcang: "......"

Zhong Yabai: ...Wait, something seems off about my son?

Two minutes ago, she was tearfully lamenting how much her son loved He Zhou. But then her son started acting out like this once she turned around?!

Actually, she knew in her heart why Yanyan was behaving this way. Her son has always gone through life by the seat of his pants. Back then, he cried and screamed to marry He Zhou only a short time after they met. There was just no time for the two of them to build any chemistry. In addition, He Zhou didn’t like Yanyan back. It seemed like Yanyan had finally realized this and started to explore other options.

Of course she was biased, this was her son they were talking about.

But still...the person he planned to cheat with, that little boy called Zhang Yuxuan, didn’t seem too bright...

Forget it. Him not being too smart would prevent her son from being bullied again.

It was with this rather complicated emotion that Zhong Yabai watched her son-in-law slam open the door.

Qiu Yanzhi and Zhang Yuxuan turned their heads in unison.

The atmosphere quickly became awkward as they came face to face with the person they were just talking about.

Right now, Qiu Yanzhi was busy working through a few questions in his head.

The first and most important question was, who was letting him see and interact this world, Zhang Yuxuan or He Zhou who was outside the door?

Although the latter was probably the answer, if it really was Zhang Yuxuan…

He would immediately kiss He Zhou goodbye and dive into the warm and loving arms of Baby Yu!

“I didn't seduce him!" Zhang Yuxuan jumped nervously to his feet. "And I immediately rejected him!! There’s no way I'm going to live with him!!!"

Qiu Yanzhi: "......"

Qiu Yanzhi gave Zhang Yuxuan a sharp look: Zhang Yuxuan! I didn't think you were the kind of person who would betray me like this!! Aren’t you ashamed of how cruel and heartless you’re being?!!!

Zhang Yuxuan looked at Qiu Yanzhi pitifully: I can't help it, your husband's eyes are so scary...and your mother's sudden smile at me was even scarier! Besides, who asked you to warm the bed?! I have to keep my body safe from you! How could I let you sully my innocence?!!!

Zhong Yabai knew then that Zhang Yuxuan would never be her next son-in-law. She actually felt a little disappointed.

"Qiu Yanzhi." He Zhou’s deep voice called out.

Qiu Yanzhi was sitting up now and desperately trying to think his way out of this. How was he supposed to prove to He Zhou that he and Zhang Yuxuan were innocent?!

After all, he had just threatened to kick He Zhou out and dive into Zhang Yuxuan's embrace. This time the evidence was indisputably clear-cut and damning.

He Zhou's expression had already calmed. He put the food on the table and said, “...Don’t joke around like that in front of Mom and Dad.”

Qiu Yanzhi: "......?"

He Zhou was actually giving him a way out?! Did he take the wrong meds this morning?!! He wasn’t this kind of person the last time Qiu Yanzhi checked, ah!!

Wasn’t this guy easily jealous and cruel with words?! Every time he was caught by He Zhou, he always looked like he wanted to murder Qiu Yanzhi.

However, He Zhou wasn't the only one who heard Qiu Yanzhi's words. More specifically, He Zhou wasn't the only one who heard the excitement and impatience in Qiu Yanzhi's words.

Qiu Yanzhi sounded ready to pack up his bags and move into Zhang Yuxuan’s house the instant he said yes.

How could that be covered up by He Zhou as a light joke??

Zhong Yabai's eyes were complex as she looked at He Zhou.

She seemed to see a man who knew his partner was cheating on him but could only endure to avoid losing face. He even went so far as to cover for the adulterers…

But He Zhou’s unusually strong self confidence prevented him from noticing how everyone was looking at him. He walked over to Qiu Yanzhi’s bedside and opened up the attached folding table, placing the purchased meal on top. “Are you hungry? Fill your stomach with this first."

Qiu Yanzhi looked at the meal and asked hesitantly, "Did you make it?"

He Zhou looked up at him: "No."

Qiu Yanzhi immediately opened the carton with glee.

"If you really want to eat my cooking, I'll bring some to you tomorrow night." He Zhou said.

Qiu Yanzhi immediately froze: "......"

No thanks, my dude.

"What do you want to eat? Fried rice?" He Zhou’s features softened.

Qiu Yanzhi's face paled in a flash.

Fortunately, he was able to react quickly. He scrambled to hold He Zhou's hand. “I don't want you to leave."

Tsk...

On the side, Zhang Yuxuan cringed when he heard that.

Zhong Yabai and Qiu Qingcang were beginning to doubt whether Qiu Yanzhi was really joking around with Zhang Yuxuan earlier or not.

Because, looking at them now, He Zhou and Qiu Yanzhi were...strangely harmonious. The duo seemed like they were off in their own little world.

Qiu Yanzhi happened to notice his mom’s ears as he ate. He smiled, "Mom, these earrings look so good on you!"

Zhong Yabai reached out and touched the earrings, smiling gently as she said, "It’s because Yanyan has a good eye for these things.”

Qiu Qingcang quietly coughed and shifted his arm, deliberately revealing the watch on his left hand.

Qiu Yanzhi never knew that his dad could be so cute. His eyes curved into crescents as he laughed, “Dad too. That watch highlights what an extraordinary person you are."

Qiu Qingcang: "...En, good eye."

Qiu Yanzhi: "He Zhou helped me pick it out."

Qiu Qingcang gave He Zhou a look. He coughed and didn't speak again.

Qiu Yanzhi didn't hurt his muscles or bones, so he was expected to make a full recovery. Therefore, he told his parents and Zhang Yuxuan to head back home, leaving only He Zhou to stay at the hospital with him.

"Oh, that’s right. He Zhou, why didn't you run when that car came over? I know it was really fast but you didn’t move a single muscle.”

"When people are in an accident, they usually don't have time to react." He Zhou paused for a moment, adding, "And I...tend to have flashbacks when there’s a car accident. That’s why I didn’t move.”

Qiu Yanzhi tossed a few chocolate beans in the air and caught them with his mouth. Munching on them, he carelessly asked, “Flashbacks to what?”

Actually, Qiu Yanzhi wanted to scold himself for putting his foot in his mouth right after he asked that.

--What else could it be?

Of course it was the car accident in which He Zhou’s parents died before his eyes.

Fortunately, He Zhou didn't want to talk about that either. He picked up the chocolate beans on the bed that Qiu Yanzhi had missed, throwing them in the trash. "Why did you save me?"

Qiu Yanzhi was stunned: "Huh?"

He Zhou turned to Qiu Yanzhi, his eyes were like inky pools of darkness in the not so well lit room. He asked again, “During today’s car accident. Why did you jump up to save me."

Qiu Yanzhi blinked. "Because I like you."

Qiu Yanzhi's pupils were very dark with scattered dots of light within, reflections of the incandescent lamp overhead. His expression looked serious and sincere. When someone confessed with such an expression, it was easy to be fooled into thinking that he was deeply affectionate. It even made He Zhou’s heart tremble a little.

...He seemed to be telling the truth.

--But his words were obviously all lies.

"Qiu Yanzhi," He Zhou suddenly reached over to cover Qiu Yanzhi's eyes. His voice was slightly hoarse, "go to sleep."

In the end, this was all just a game.

The doctor that treated him this time was the same guy who came after the chandelier incident and when Qiu Yanzhi had twisted his back. Qiu Yanzhi found himself gradually accepting that maybe that guy was the only doctor in this world.

And that doctor was just as unprofessional as before. Although no one questioned his dubious methods, Qiu Yanzhi’s injury healed at a rapid pace.

Qiu Yanzhi was able to run and jump after just three in the hospital. In the meantime, He Zhou never left his side.

Qiu Yanzhi found himself getting used to He Zhou’s attentiveness. The man was gentle and considerate. He really never left for a single moment after Qiu Yanzhi asked him not to.

Obviously Qiu Yanzhi only had a leg injury, but He Zhou’s warm treatment made him feel like a quadriplegic.

...But Qiu Yanzhi didn’t mind.

All in all, as long as He Zhou didn't cook for him, they could still be good pals!

The day Qiu Yanzhi was discharged from the hospital, he stretched out his hands and inhaled the fresh air outside.

He suddenly realized he’s done nothing in this game but being rushed to the hospital all the time. How many times has he been hospitalized so far?!

Now that he was finally out, the mental and physical relief he experienced made him sincerely wish to never step foot in that place again.

"He Zhou, let's go have a big meal!" Qiu Yanzhi excitedly took He Zhou's hand.

He Zhou securely held his hand and turned to ask him, "What do you want to eat?"

Qiu Yanzhi: "Hotpot, hotpot! I want to eat super, super spicy hot pot!!! The food at the hospital was way too bland… I couldn’t take another day of it! I want to eat salty and--”

Qiu Yanzhi's voice stopped abruptly.

He was staring at a nearby flower bed.

In that bush, there was a yellow mass sitting there dejectedly.

He Zhou noticed Qiu Yanzhi’s silence. He thought that he had seen someone, but there was no one where Qiu Yanzhi was looking.

He Zhou called out to him, confused, "Qiu Yanzhi?"

“...Wait here. I’ll be right back."

Qiu Yanzhi let go of He Zhou’s hand, walking step by step towards that yellow thing.

He bent down. Only when his shadow covered the yellow thing did it react and slowly look up. It stared at Qiu Yanzhi with a shocked expression.

Qiu Yanzhi's tone was cold: "Big Yellow, long time no see."

Big Yellow trembled.

Fluttering its wings, it tried to flee.

Qiu Yanzhi, however, had foreseen this development. He quickly grabbed it and squeezed tightly.

He said grimly, "Move again and I'll rip your wings off.”