By the ti Zhou Yuwen arrived at the hospital, it was almost 11 PM. From a distance, he spotted Qu Jing sitting on a public bench, with Lu Hui standing nearby waiting.
When Zhou Yuwen approached, Qu Jing imdiately stood up, her expression shifting to a mix of surprise and delight. Zhou Yuwen walked briskly to her and asked about her condition.
“What did the doctor say?”
“It’s nothing serious,” Qu Jing said, shaking her head. “I just had trouble breathing for a mont when she choked , but it passed quickly. I didn’t expect you to co all the way here just for .” Her face turned slightly red.
Zhou Yuwen didn’t respond to her words. Instead, he reached out and gently touched her neck. The red marks left behind told him just how aggressive Tao Tian had been. Luckily, he had foreseen trouble and arranged for Qu Jing to move out beforehand. Otherwise, things might have taken a disastrous turn.
“All this commotion, and now there’s no ti to prepare the new place. Looks like we’ll have to spend the night at a hotel,” Lu Hui muttered, clearly not thrilled about the situation.
Now that Zhou Yuwen was here, Lu Hui felt relieved she wouldn’t have to shoulder the hotel expense herself. She held up a stack of receipts, including those for the dical check-up and dication for Qu Jing. The total wasn’t high, just over 100 yuan, but Lu Hui was hesitant to ask Zhou Yuwen directly for reimbursent.
Noticing the receipts in her hand, Zhou Yuwen took the initiative and asked, “Are these all the expenses?”
“Yes, and so anti-inflammatory dication,” Lu Hui replied. “I didn’t think it was necessary, but the doctor insisted.”
Zhou Yuwen nodded, took out his wallet, and handed Lu Hui 200 yuan. “Thank you, Sister Hui, for handling all this. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting so late.”
“Oh, it’s nothing! It’s part of my job,” Lu Hui said, waving her hands modestly. However, she still accepted the money, mumbling under her breath about how a hotel seed unavoidable at this point.
“Qu Jing can stay at my place tonight,” Zhou Yuwen said decisively.
Qu Jing’s eyes lit up, and a wave of emotions passed over her face: first disbelief, then excitent. She stared at Zhou Yuwen without saying a word.
Lu Hui, on the other hand, looked skeptical. She knew Zhou Yuwen well enough to suspect ulterior motives. To her, Zhou Yuwen was nothing more than a classic playboy, juggling multiple won at once.
Zhou Yuwen explained calmly, “I have a spare room at ho. Qu Jing can stay there for the night and move into her new place tomorrow.”
His explanation did little to ease Lu Hui’s doubts. In her eyes, Zhou Yuwen was a textbook example of a scumbag—always entangled with one woman or another, while managing to maintain an air of innocence.
Despite her frustrations, Lu Hui decided to let it go. Zhou Yuwen then turned to her and asked, “Sister Hui, how are you getting ho? Should I ask Liu Shuo to drive you?”
“No need. I live nearby. I’ll walk,” Lu Hui replied curtly.
“Alright then,” Zhou Yuwen said. “Qu Jing isn’t feeling well, so I’ll take her back to rest.”
With Zhou Yuwen supporting her, Qu Jing leaned into him, her deanor soft and delicate.
“I can walk on my own, really,” she said shyly.
“Alright, let’s see you walk,” Zhou Yuwen replied, releasing her arm.
As soon as he let go, Qu Jing stumbled slightly and clung back onto him. “No, no, better if you help !” she said, giggling nervously.
Zhou Yuwen glanced at her but said nothing as he helped her into the car.
When they arrived at Zhou Yuwen’s upscale apartnt in Lanyuan, Qu Jing was imdiately enchanted.
“This place is beautiful!” she exclaid, her eyes wide with wonder.
Zhou Yuwen smiled faintly. “The previous owner handled most of the renovations. I just added so soft furnishings.”
“Even the furnishings are so tasteful!” Qu Jing said with admiration.
“It’s getting late,” Zhou Yuwen said. “I’ll grab a set of Yanyan’s pajamas for you. You can shower if you’d like, and then rest in the guest room.”
He handed her the pajamas and gestured toward the bathroom. “Take your ti.”
Qu Jing accepted the pajamas eagerly and stepped into the bathroom. Her heart raced as her imagination ran wild. This is where he showers every day!
She noticed the bottles of shampoo and body wash, and even a pale pink shirt hanging on a rack. Holding the shirt close, she closed her eyes and took in its scent.
Her thoughts began to spiral: What if he has a secret room hidden here, just like in those novels? What if he brought
here to fulfill so twisted fantasy?
She had started entertaining such ideas even back in the car. Now, in his bathroom, her fantasies took on a life of their own. Will Zhou Yuwen drop his mask after I shower and reveal his true nature? Yes, that must be it! He’s just waiting for the right mont.
Unfortunately for Qu Jing, Zhou Yuwen was not the villain she had conjured in her mind. In truth, Zhou Yuwen wasn’t even thinking about her in that way.
For reasons unknown, Qu Jing had always imagined Zhou Yuwen as a bad guy—soone with dark, ulterior motives. It seed she had been anticipating a novel-like scenario, where his ho turned out to be a place of hidden horrors, and his offer to take her in was part of a grander, more sinister plan.
But reality was far more mundane. To Zhou Yuwen, Qu Jing was just another problem to manage. The only thing on his mind was to get through the night without further complications.
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