Category: Qin Auntie, Save Me [Rebirth]

Chapter 28

Qin Qianrou put down her bag and brushed the rainwater off her clothes. Hearing hurried footsteps, she remembered there was someone else at home.

“You’re soaked! Go take a hot shower.” Shen Yiqiu saw Qin Qianrou’s normally sleek long hair completely drenched and frowned with concern.

“Mm, I’ll go to my room then.” Qin Qianrou, looking dishevelled, didn’t want to say much to Shen Yiqiu.

Shen Yiqiu strained her ears until she heard the sound of running water from the bathroom, then returned to the kitchen with a relieved sigh. Opening the cupboard, she took out the brown sugar and ginger she had found the other day, placed a small saucepan on the stove, and started making ginger tea.

Her mother had said it was very effective for preventing colds.

She used to drink it often, and it really worked.

Qin Qianrou took a comfortable hot shower, washing away the lingering dampness of the rain. However, when she emerged in her silk bathrobe, she still felt unwell.

Summer was over, but the lingering summer heat was still formidable. The evening rain had been stifling, and the hot shower now made her sweat profusely. The cool air from the fan sent shivers down her spine, and she felt inexplicably weak.

When Shen Yiqiu entered with the ginger tea, she saw Qin Qianrou holding her forehead, her face pale with discomfort.

“Drink this quickly, to prevent a cold.”

“You know how to make this?” Qin Qianrou didn’t refuse, taking the bowl with both hands.

It had cooled down slightly, the temperature just right. The warm, not scalding, liquid felt comforting as it flowed down her throat, dispelling the chill she had felt earlier.

“Actually, this is the first time I’ve made it myself. I used to just watch from the side.” Shen Yiqiu watched as Qin Qianrou finished the entire bowl, her brow finally smoothing out.

“Dry your hair and rest early. Don’t stay up late tonight, or you’ll feel worse.”

A faint blush lingered on Qin Qianrou’s face. Hearing Shen Yiqiu’s nagging, she couldn’t help but laugh. “When did you learn to nag like this?”

“Uh?” Shen Yiqiu held the empty bowl in one hand and scratched her head sheepishly with the other, muttering, “Was I being too nagging?”

As she left the room, she still couldn’t resist adding another soft reminder, “You were caught in the rain today, so you need to rest properly and keep warm. It’ll be bad if you catch a cold.”

Catching a cold in this weather would be truly awful!

Washing the dishes in the kitchen, Shen Yiqiu realized she had forgotten to ask Qin Qianrou if she had eaten dinner. Her own omurice was takeout; there wasn’t any cooked food at home.

She wasn’t a very good cook herself, her repertoire limited to a few simple “instant dishes.”

After tidying up the kitchen, Shen Yiqiu paused to listen. Qin Qianrou’s room was quiet, and she assumed she must be resting. However, her feet still involuntarily moved towards the room, step by step, until she reached Qin Qianrou’s door.

To her surprise, the door was slightly ajar. The light inside was dim; only a bedside lamp seemed to be on.

Shen Yiqiu knocked softly. Qin Qianrou’s slightly hoarse voice came from inside, “Come in.”

Pushing the door open, Shen Yiqiu saw the figure leaning against the headboard.

Her long hair was dry, and her bathrobe was neatly arranged. Qin Qianrou was still the same Qin Qianrou, but she was hugging a pillow, exuding an aura of vulnerability.

Shen Yiqiu’s heart ached. Without thinking, she walked in.

“I brought you some hot water. The lukewarm one is in the glass, and the rest is in the thermos, so you can drink it during the night.”

Looking at the two cups on the bedside table, Qin Qianrou’s slightly dazed gaze cleared, and she chuckled softly, “You seem very experienced.”

Shen Yiqiu unconsciously replied, “My mother always did this.”

After saying this, they both froze, then fell silent.

Shen Yiqiu hadn’t realized she was imitating her mother, and although Qin Qianrou was worried that Shen Yiqiu would become sad, she didn’t have the energy to offer comfort right now.

Fortunately, Shen Yiqiu quickly recovered. Although her mother was gone, the care and concern she had shown her daughter were deeply etched in Shen Yiqiu’s heart. It was another way for her mother to continue on in this world, and Shen Yiqiu decided to cherish this “replica.”

Qin Qianrou seemed genuinely thirsty and silently drank from the glass. Shen Yiqiu watched her for a while, then hesitantly asked, “Is something bothering you?”

“Hmm?”

“You seem down today.”

Qin Qianrou was usually busy and didn’t talk much, but Shen Yiqiu could sense a strong force driving her. But today, she suddenly seemed vulnerable and fragile, making one want to embrace her and offer support.

“A little.” Qin Qianrou had initially intended to deny it, as usual, but after a moment of consideration, she admitted it softly.

“Can you tell me about it?” Shen Yiqiu took the glass from her hand, her fingers brushing against Qin Qianrou’s, which were cold.

Seeing Qin Qianrou’s slightly puzzled look, she explained, “When I was in the hospital, the nurses often told me not to bottle things up, that talking about them would make me feel better. Later, Aunt Rong also mentioned that sharing unhappy things with someone would make it easier to bear.”

So that was it. Hearing this, Qin Qianrou felt even more drained, a strong urge to vent her frustrations rising within her.

“This afternoon, I was supposed to meet someone special. They said they had important information about Dongsheng Group and wanted to meet in person to hand it over to me.”

Hearing “Dongsheng Group,” Shen Yiqiu’s brow furrowed.

Shao Qidong had been quiet lately, but Shen Yiqiu never believed he would simply give up.

“But I waited for over three hours, and they didn’t show up.”

Shen Yiqiu sat down on the sofa beside the bed. Qin Qianrou must have encountered a setback; otherwise, she wouldn’t be like this.

“Did you ask them why they didn’t come?”

Qin Qianrou shook her head weakly.

After a moment, she softly said, “I can’t contact them anymore.”

Shen Yiqiu’s heart sank. This was not a good sign. A key figure suddenly disappearing right before revealing information was definitely something Shao Qidong would do. However, her first thought was for Qin Qianrou’s safety.

“Did you go alone today?”

“Yes, they specifically said they only trusted me and only wanted to talk to me alone.”

“That’s too dangerous! What if they were lying to you?”

Shen Yiqiu’s tone was a little harsh. After saying it, she felt she was overreacting, but she was genuinely worried.

Qin Qianrou was clearly not a novice at this. She had considered the safety risks, so while she agreed to meet alone, she chose a relatively safe public place.

“I considered that, so don’t worry. I just suddenly feel that dealing with Dongsheng Group is much more difficult than I imagined.”

The station directors still hadn’t approved the official investigation, so investigating Dongsheng Group lacked official authorization. The anonymous letters about Dongsheng and Qin Qianrou’s reports were treated as if they never existed, no longer mentioned within the television station.

However, increasing evidence pointed towards suspicious activities within Shao Qidong and his Dongsheng Group, warranting a thorough investigation. Why, despite the clear suspicions, were their hands tied? Was this not a form of condoning his actions?

Or perhaps, a form of desecration. Desecration of the public’s trust and expectations, and desecration of the media’s responsibility.

Hearing the clear dejection in Qin Qianrou’s voice, Shen Yiqiu sensed something was amiss.

“Is there something else bothering you?”

Qin Qianrou was startled, staring intently at Shen Yiqiu. She had thought her explanation was sufficient. She hadn’t expected this child to see through her.

She bit her lip, as if deliberating or struggling. In truth, she lacked experience. She had never revealed her inner vulnerability to anyone, not even Li Wan.

However, at this moment, Qin Qianrou desperately wanted to unburden herself, to dispel the unpleasant feeling of helplessness, and to seek a bit of strength from the person before her.

“I’m worried that if we delay any longer, we’ll just watch all the evidence disappear.” And I can’t tolerate this powerlessness, nor can I accept such blatant disregard for the law.

Shen Yiqiu, recalling her past life, was all too familiar with Qin Qianrou’s feelings.

“I’m here this time. That won’t happen.”

Whether it was hope placed in Shen Yiqiu’s special intuition or the shared goal they had, Qin Qianrou found the strength she needed in that simple sentence.

Her body seemed to regain its energy.

Talking about Dongsheng Group, they found they had more in common than they thought. Previously, they had been busy with other matters and hadn’t had a chance to properly discuss the case that had initially brought them together.

“I suspect Shao Qidong is already on alert and won’t reveal any obvious weaknesses in the near future. He might even be secretly destroying evidence, erasing all traces of the past.”

Qin Qianrou frowned; she was worried about that too.

“Perhaps we can find a breakthrough elsewhere, starting with the people connected to him.”

“Connected to him?”

Qin Qianrou had investigated Shao Qidong’s background. He was in his early forties, unmarried but had a girlfriend who had borne him two children in recent years and was currently living abroad. As for his family, there was only a simple mention of his parents being ordinary workers; nothing else could be found.

“What if I said He Chao and Jiang Yuan are suspicious? Would you believe me?” Shen Yiqiu hesitated, then spoke.

As expected, a look of confusion flashed across Qin Qianrou’s eyes.

“Are you surprised I suddenly brought them up?”

“I’m surprised you think there’s something wrong with them.”

Qin Qianrou had no personal feelings towards He Chao and Jiang Yuan, so she could remain objective, but she didn’t understand Shen Yiqiu’s reasoning.

“Last time, when Jiang Yuan took me out for dinner, she mentioned Shao Qidong.”

“So?”

“She had argued with Shao Qidong at the hospital before, but when she mentioned him again, her tone was different. So I think they must have been in contact since then.”

This deduction alone was weak. However, Qin Qianrou didn’t interrupt Shen Yiqiu.

“The day before yesterday, I met a senior student at school. She was sitting by the lake, crying. Everyone was worried she might be suicidal.

Later, I went to comfort her and, after talking to her, I learned she was desperately searching for a large number of invoices and was crying because she couldn’t find enough.”

“Looking for invoices? What would a university student need so many invoices for?”

Qin Qianrou immediately realized that she didn’t need them for herself; it was highly likely she was looking for them on behalf of someone else.

“She was looking for them for her boyfriend.”

Oh, another foolish girl. Qin Qianrou felt a pang of regret. She had seen too many girls lose themselves for love; it was truly a pity.

“And her boyfriend needed so many invoices because his advisor needed them.”

Advisor? Qin Qianrou sat up straight, seemingly having guessed the answer.

“He works for He Chao.”

 

Chapter 27

The fiery summer was coming to an end, and the chain car accident on the highway out of the city was gradually fading from people’s memories with the passage of time. Only those involved were still working tirelessly to uncover the truth.

The name Shen Yiqiu was no longer so widely recognized. Students from other cities didn’t immediately connect her with the car accident. Only occasionally would she overhear local students whispering behind her back.

“She seems fine, looks like she’s recovered pretty well.”

“Who knows? I heard that kind of psychological trauma can be severe. You might not see it normally, but if she encounters a trigger, it’s hard to say.”

“Ah? Then what should we do? We can’t constantly watch her, that’s too tiring! We’re in the same class, we see each other every day.”

“What are you worried about? Her roommates are so calm. If there was really something wrong, her roommates would be the first to suffer.”

“Oh my god, that’s exaggerating. I don’t think she’s that kind of person. She doesn’t talk much, but she seems nice.”

“A barking dog never bites. Have you forgotten what they were saying online during that time? It’s better to be safe than sorry. That person is probably abnormal.”

A small group of students huddled together, gossiping. It wasn’t clear who had steered the conversation towards Shen Yiqiu. They spoke cautiously, frequently glancing around, yet unable to resist the urge to gossip, each adding their own comments.

Shen Yiqiu overheard them on her way back from the library. She initially intended to ignore them; it wasn’t the first time she had encountered such discussions. However, this group was particularly animated, as if they had already dissected her psychology, even going so far as to call her abnormal.

Rong Fei had clearly said that as long as she maintained a stable mindset, there wouldn’t be any major problems. Shen Yiqiu knew that the only thing abnormal about her was her special intuition.

She stood in the shadows, listening for a while, unable to bear it any longer, yet unwilling to confront these newly acquainted classmates. She recalled Qin Qianrou’s words: Instead of painstakingly explaining yourself to every person who misunderstands you, it’s better to put all your effort into finding the truth.

Let the facts speak for themselves, instead of asking others to blindly trust you.

On the surface, her classmates treated her normally. They greeted her and joked with her in class, so friendly and approachable that she almost thought she had imagined the conversation she overheard.

However, Shen Yiqiu hadn’t made any real friends. Having heard what they said behind her back, she couldn’t bring herself to be truly open with them.

Sitting in the library, looking through some materials, Shen Yiqiu couldn’t help but doodle on a blank sheet of paper with the pen Qin Qianrou had given her.

Focus on the present.

She repeatedly wrote these words, as if reminding herself not to be disturbed by the surrounding noise. University life was precious, but she couldn’t forget that two enemies were still watching her, waiting for an opportunity.

After the semester started, Shao Qidong seemed to have completely disappeared from her life, but Shen Yiqiu hadn’t forgotten that he was the culprit behind her parents’ accident. Jiang Yuan, on the other hand, had called her a few times, her attitude much softer than before, at least she wasn’t pressuring her anymore.

That day, just as she left the classroom after class, she received another call from Jiang Yuan.

“Xiao Qiu, are you at school?”

“Yes, I just finished class.”

“Are you free now? I’m in Meng City for a conference and wanted to have dinner with you.”

Shen Yiqiu wanted to refuse but felt that constantly doing so would arouse Jiang Yuan’s suspicion. She relented and agreed.

**

After her vacation ended, Qin Qianrou quickly returned to her usual work rhythm, becoming even busier than before. Even Li Wan couldn’t help but remark that Qin Qianrou should change her name to “Iron Man Qin.”

“Qianrou, it’s already 9:30 pm. Aren’t you planning on leaving?”

Looking up, Qin Qianrou saw Li Wan, looking tired, standing at the office doorway. The team had received several new assignments recently, and Li Wan, as the managing editor, was exhausted.

“I still have some materials to go through. I’ll leave later.”

Li Wan sighed, walked in, and pulled her up. “You’ll never finish going through all those materials. You couldn’t finish even if you worked day and night without sleep. Leave with me now, or you’ll collapse!”

“You were at the meeting this morning too. I have to make the most of every minute.”

“Qianrou, the Dongsheng Group issue isn’t something that just cropped up. The station has been suppressing it until now, which means the obstacle isn’t you. Why are you pushing yourself so hard?”

Li Wan also wanted to start investigating Dongsheng Group as soon as possible, but she knew it wasn’t that simple. Especially recently, the station directors had been holding frequent meetings and had even specifically excluded their team leader.

Qin Qianrou had been under a lot of pressure lately. Unable to respond to Li Wan’s words, she changed the subject.

“How is the investigation into the chain car accident going?”

Li Wan had been the one to report the issue, so naturally, updates were given to her. Qian Zhifei had called Qin Qianrou twice, mentioning the case in passing, but due to his position, he couldn’t divulge details.

“There’s been good progress, but it seems to have hit a snag.”

“What kind of snag?”

“We can basically confirm that those numbers belong to the same person or organization, and we can also determine that the truck driver and the minibus driver did have indirect contact through these numbers before the accident.” Li Wan frowned. “But there are no further leads to trace the people behind these numbers.”

Qin Qianrou knew that investigations often stalled at this point unless new evidence emerged.

Moreover, last week, the minibus driver had also succumbed to his injuries and passed away. With all eyewitnesses gone and physical evidence severely lacking, reaching this stage of the investigation was already remarkable.

Unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere, Li Wan asked, “How is Shen Yiqiu doing lately? Have you been in contact with her?”

“I’ve messaged her a few times. She’s doing well.”

“That’s it?”

Qin Qianrou looked at her exasperatedly, “What do you want to ask?”

“Qianrou, do you really not care about her future at all?”

“I told her to call me anytime if she needs anything.”

Li Wan sighed heavily, unsure whether to call Qin Qianrou careless or Shen Yiqiu stubborn.

“You’re so busy with work, that child wouldn’t want to bother you even if she had problems.”

“What do you mean?”

“Rong Fei called me yesterday. She said she was in Meng City University giving a lecture and offered free psychological counseling to students afterward. She heard that Shen Yiqiu is still quite famous at the school.”

Hearing this, Qin Qianrou sensed that this “fame” wasn’t a positive thing.

“There are still quite a few people discussing her situation privately. Rong Fei said this kind of public opinion isn’t good.”

Qin Qianrou recalled the messages Shen Yiqiu had sent her recently; she hadn’t mentioned any of this.

“Rong Fei asked her about it, and the child simply said she didn’t want to bother you with everything. But I think we still need to find a way to resolve this issue for her. Otherwise, staying there for four years, she’ll either go crazy or have her heart broken.”

Qin Qianrou considered it and agreed, “Alright, I’ll talk to her in a couple of days.”

If the environment couldn’t be changed, then the only option was to escape from it temporarily.

And so, Shen Yiqiu moved out of the student dormitory with her simple luggage. Qin Qianrou’s car was parked outside the school gate, and Shen Yiqiu spotted it immediately.

Seeing her emerge, Qin Qianrou opened the car door and got out. The trunk was already open, waiting for Shen Yiqiu to put her suitcase in.

“Is this really okay?” Shen Yiqiu placed the suitcase by her feet, unable to hide the joy in her eyes.

Qin Qianrou pretended not to notice, simply helping her put the suitcase in the trunk and saying casually, “Since you’re so unhappy living there, a temporary change of environment isn’t a bad thing.”

Shen Yiqiu was a bit puzzled. They had only had a simple meal together last time, how did Qin Qianrou know she wasn’t doing well? She thought she had hidden it well, so how was she so easily seen through?

In front of Jiang Yuan, Shen Yiqiu could maintain a calm facade, concealing the hatred in her eyes. However, she couldn’t do that in front of Qin Qianrou. This person had rescued her from a desperate situation and was now improving her living conditions.

How can I repay you, so my gratitude doesn’t overflow?

Shen Yiqiu stared blankly as Qin Qianrou closed the trunk, feeling a little nervous.

“You can stay at my place for a while, until you find a more suitable place.”

Qin Qianrou had applied to the university for Shen Yiqiu to move out. She wasn’t a relative, but she was a well-known figure in Meng City, so her character wouldn’t be questioned. However, since she had made the request, the university naturally required her to clarify Shen Yiqiu’s whereabouts. Otherwise, if something happened, the university couldn’t bear the responsibility.

As Professor Shen’s daughter, she deserved extra care. If anything untoward happened again, the university would feel responsible, both publicly and privately.

“Can you accept staying at my place?” Qin Qianrou confirmed again before starting the car.

Shen Yiqiu snapped back to reality, feeling a little shy, but still nodded quickly.

That was where she had celebrated her eighteenth birthday. How could she not accept? She even liked it there.

But the thought of living with Qin Qianrou filled her with both anticipation and nervousness. For some reason, Shen Yiqiu recalled the scene of Qin Qianrou hitting her cousin. It was really…

**

With the chain car accident case reopened and its nature reclassified, many of the Shen family’s assets were temporarily frozen for the investigation. This was exactly what Shen Yiqiu wanted.

He Chao, however, was like an ant on a hot pan, pacing restlessly in his study whenever he was home.

Jiang Yuan brought him food, entering a room filled with smoke. She couldn’t help but frown. “Lao He, how old are you? At your age, still pulling this ‘too upset to eat’ act?”

“How can I have the appetite to eat? The deadline is approaching, and we’ll have nothing to give them when the time comes.”

Jiang Yuan’s mood was also heavy. It was indeed a difficult situation.

“Now that the police are involved, and Xiao Qiu is refusing to cooperate, we can’t access Lao Shen’s things at all. If nothing else works, we’ll have to try to delay things.”

“If delaying was an option, would I be this anxious?” He Chao was so agitated he almost put his cigarette butt in his mouth without realizing it.

**

Living in Qin Qianrou’s home was a bit different from what Shen Yiqiu had imagined. Although they lived under the same roof, their interactions hadn’t changed much.

Qin Qianrou still left early and returned late, rarely eating at home. Shen Yiqiu went to school, and when she returned, she would either try to cook or bring takeout. Her communication with Qin Qianrou was still mainly through phone calls.

She had been keeping tabs on the situation in Hai City. She knew exactly what He Chao and Jiang Yuan wanted, and for now, they couldn’t get it. But this wasn’t Shen Yiqiu’s ultimate goal. How could she allow such wicked people to live so comfortably, wearing masks of hypocrisy and enjoying respect and admiration?

You’re next.

Shen Yiqiu happily stuffed a mouthful of omurice into her mouth. Sweet and sour, delicious.

The door suddenly opened. Qin Qianrou, who usually didn’t return home until after 10 pm, unexpectedly appeared at 6:30 pm, her hair and clothes drenched.

Shen Yiqiu then remembered it had rained earlier.

Chapter 26

Li Wan, after about three days, managed to obtain detailed information on those virtual numbers, though from whom remained a mystery. After discussing it with Qin Qianrou, they decided to hand it over to Qian Zhifei, letting him take charge of the reinvestigation.

Li Wan left the Economic Investigation Brigade after handing over the materials. Qin Qianrou had been waiting for her in the car. They had agreed to go for afternoon tea after finishing their business.

However, Qin Qianrou didn’t drive to their usual spot.

Li Wan carefully examined their surroundings from the car, confirming she hadn’t misidentified the location.

“Qianrou, you’re not planning on having milk tea at the entrance of Meng City University, are you?”

The busiest small shops near universities were always the clustered chain milk tea shops, each with their signature products and a loyal following. However, it was still some time before the official start of the semester, so not many shops were open.

“It’s on the way, and it’s still tea.” Qin Qianrou didn’t deny Li Wan’s guess.

Li Wan’s delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly as she muttered, “But milk tea is fattening. At our age, we need to focus on healthy living.”

Qin Qianrou heard her but ignored her, walking straight ahead.

Li Wan quickly followed and saw Qin Qianrou actually buying milk tea.

“Don’t tell me you came here specifically to scout the location?” After receiving her iced, sugar-free milk tea, Li Wan didn’t hesitate, immediately inserting the straw and taking a sip.

Diet? We’ll talk about that after I finish this.

“I said, it’s on the way.”

Li Wan leaned against the counter, looking at the entrance of Meng City University across the street. Students were already starting to return to campus. In a few days, there would be many more.

“Will Shen Yiqiu live on campus after the semester starts?”

Qin Qianrou shook her head, then nodded. “She didn’t say. But I think she probably will.”

Perhaps communal living was more suitable for Shen Yiqiu now. Qin Qianrou was also considering where Shen Yiqiu would go after being discharged.

Li Wan looked at her teasingly, “You’re not a very responsible ‘Aunt Qin,’ are you? She’s a new university student, and you’re not even concerned.”

Qin Qianrou gave her a look, and Li Wan felt a chill.

But she wasn’t afraid of Qin Qianrou and continued, “I think she relies on you quite a bit. Last time, when we celebrated her birthday, she looked so pitiful, it was truly heartbreaking.”

Qin Qianrou thought to herself, Pitiful? Why do I mostly remember Shen Yiqiu being happy?

“Initially, I wasn’t in favor of you taking on this responsibility, but after interacting with her, I really sympathize with the child.”

Qin Qianrou glanced at her again. This time, there was no chill, but it inexplicably made Li Wan uncomfortable.

She straightened up, her tone returning to normal, “If the car accident wasn’t an accident, then this child’s current situation is actually quite dangerous. Are we really going to completely abandon her after she turns eighteen?”

Qin Qianrou looked down at the milk tea in her hand. She had been pondering Li Wan’s question for days. She hadn’t expected such a complicated situation. If the car accident was indeed deliberate, then someone still wanted Shen Yiqiu dead.

“Of course we can’t completely abandon her, but we’re still outsiders. How much can we really do?”

Li Wan became anxious, “But she…”

Qin Qianrou sighed softly, “That’s why we need to help her uncover the truth as quickly as possible.”

That was the only way to truly provide reassurance and allow Shen Yiqiu to live a normal life.

“It’s not that easy. When I went to the Economic Investigation Brigade today, Qian Zhifei’s brows were practically knotted together.”

Qin Qianrou had expected as much, but she didn’t plan to get involved directly.

“If you stepped in, I think Captain Qian would definitely work twice as hard.” Li Wan had noticed Qian Zhifei’s interest; she could tell from how he had repeatedly asked about Qin Qianrou today.

Qin Qianrou wasn’t interested in this topic and said seriously, “There are suspicious points in the case, so it should be reinvestigated. Whether it’s you or me who reports the issue, the result will be the same.”

Li Wan chuckled, biting on her straw. Could she not see that Qin Qianrou was deliberately avoiding contact with Qian Zhifei? If even she could sense it, how could Qin Qianrou, the person involved, not know?

Just keep pretending. When you finally meet someone you like, let’s see if you can still be so serious and aloof.

Li Wan naturally wouldn’t dare to voice these thoughts to Qin Qianrou, but she was indeed curious and expectant.

Through tracing the numbers, Qian Zhifei did indeed discover anomalies. The information was simultaneously passed on to the traffic police and criminal police. Shen Yiqiu, as a family member, formally requested a reinvestigation of the car accident, which was perfectly legitimate.

Chen Kang went to the hospital again before Shen Yiqiu’s discharge, but he hesitated at the doorway for a while before going in.

Shen Yiqiu was packing her belongings. Unknowingly, she had stayed in the hospital for over a month, accumulating quite a few things.

“Why are you just standing there? Why not go in?” The nurse saw Chen Kang hesitating at the door and found it strange.

“I was just thinking about something. I’ll go in now.”

Chen Kang steeled himself and pushed the door open, immediately meeting Shen Yiqiu’s eyes. He instinctively looked away, then felt it was inappropriate and awkwardly looked back.

“What brings you here?” Shen Yiqiu’s tone was as usual.

Chen Kang, however, felt uncomfortable. He scratched his neck a few times, his gaze involuntarily fixed on the floor.

“I heard you were being discharged, so I came by to see if you needed any help.”

“Oh? I’m almost done packing. Thank you for your concern.”

Chen Kang mumbled in agreement, still scratching his neck. Shen Yiqiu could tell he had more to say.

After a moment of hesitation, Chen Kang said, “Actually, I came here today mainly to apologize to you.”

Hmm? Apologize?

Shen Yiqiu paused her packing, confused by Chen Kang’s intention.

“Before, you insisted on reinvestigating the car accident, and I kept advising you to accept reality. But the truth is, I almost allowed the truth to be buried. It was a dereliction of duty.”

For someone relatively new to the job, these feelings were complex. This chain car accident was the biggest case he had handled so far, so he had been particularly invested. Yet, despite his attention and effort, he had still made a misjudgment, which left him feeling annoyed, guilty, and frustrated

“Don’t blame yourself. You were advising me based on the available evidence at the time, and you didn’t force me to accept the outcome.” Shen Yiqiu paused, then continued in a slightly more intimate tone, “And you also agreed to give me more time, which led to this turning point. So you also helped me a lot, I should be thanking you.”

Chen Kang quickly waved his hands, “As long as you don’t blame me, there’s no need for thanks.”

He truly didn’t deserve any thanks now.

“Then I won’t thank you, and you don’t have to apologize anymore. We’re even.”

Chen Kang thought for a moment, then stiffly nodded, his expression finally relaxing.

**

Shen Yiqiu was discharged without any further issues. Shao Qidong hadn’t interfered again, and even Jiang Yuan had only called once, making a brief inquiry before leaving her alone.

It seemed that all the troublesome factors had disappeared, yet neither Shen Yiqiu nor Qin Qianrou felt at ease.

Qin Qianrou thought Shen Yiqiu would go directly to the dormitory, but she decided to return home first.

“Could you come up with me?” Shen Yiqiu made a small request before getting out of the car.

“Of course.”

This was the faculty housing area of Meng City University. Shen Zhifeng, as a distinguished professor, had been provided with housing benefits; this was the apartment the university had arranged for him.

“If you don’t want to live here, you can go to the dormitory today.” Qin Qianrou had spoken to the university, and they understood Shen Yiqiu’s situation and had made special arrangements.

“I want to take some things with me.”

Shen Yiqiu left her bag in the living room. The once familiar place now felt difficult to stay in for long. Without Qin Qianrou’s company, she was afraid she would start crying as soon as she entered.

“Do you need any help?”

Shen Yiqiu thought for a moment and shook her head, “Could you wait for me here?”

She wanted to find something her father had left behind, something Jiang Yuan was also likely looking for. Shen Yiqiu wasn’t sure if there was anything here in the Meng City apartment, apart from what was in the Hai City home.

Sounds came from the room, but after a long while, Shen Yiqiu came out empty-handed.

“Didn’t find it.” Openly admitting her failure, Shen Yiqiu’s disappointment was evident.

Qin Qianrou wanted to offer some comfort but felt it wasn’t a big deal to not find something. However, seeing Shen Yiqiu’s furrowed brows and thoughtful expression, it was likely she was looking for something important.

“Do you want to try sensing it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Try touching other things, see if you get any clues?”

Shen Yiqiu realized she was referring to her sixth sense and honestly replied, “I don’t think it will work. My heart isn’t giving me any signals, and it seems like I can only sense things from living beings.”

Qin Qianrou was no longer surprised by Shen Yiqiu’s unusual explanations; such supernatural phenomena were inherently inexplicable.

“So what are you planning to do next…?”

Shen Yiqiu looked around the apartment wistfully, then picked up her bag. “Let’s go. I don’t think I want to sleep here alone.”

She was the only one in the dormitory at the moment; her other roommates would arrive in a few days. Qin Qianrou helped her unpack and couldn’t help but remind her before leaving, “No matter where you live, be careful.”

She didn’t know if Shen Yiqiu was aware of her precarious situation, but Shen Yiqiu hadn’t asked for a place to stay, and Qin Qianrou couldn’t offer. Besides, Shen Yiqiu was now an adult. Subconsciously, Qin Qianrou didn’t want to get too close to her. After all, she had never been this close to someone she had only recently met, especially an adult.

**

Perhaps having gotten wind of something, Shao Qidong ceased all his petty actions against Shen Yiqiu. His last contact with Jiang Yuan had resulted in a preliminary cooperative agreement, which naturally involved exchanging information.

“I heard the car accident case is being reinvestigated?”

Receiving Jiang Yuan’s call, Shao Qidong rubbed his temples in frustration. “News travels that fast to Hai City?”

“It hasn’t officially spread, but regarding Lao Shen’s matters, we have our own channels.”

Shao Qidong didn’t have the energy to guess what Jiang Yuan’s channels were. He was currently troubled by how his seemingly flawless plan had developed a leak and been discovered. If the car accident continued to be investigated, would it eventually lead back to him?

Dongsheng Group being targeted was already troublesome enough, and now this issue had surfaced before the previous one had been completely suppressed. He wouldn’t be able to distance himself completely, and Qin Qianrou would definitely latch onto him and not let go.

The thought of Qin Qianrou made Shao Qidong even more irritated. She had managed to stir up this mess while on vacation. Now that she was back at work, things would be even more difficult.

However, getting rid of Qin Qianrou was no simple task. There were many people at the television station, both openly and covertly, protecting her. Moreover, she had a close friend who was the daughter of the deputy mayor.

“Didn’t you guarantee you could handle everything in Meng City? It’s just this small matter, and you’re already failing.”

Jiang Yuan’s taunt made Shao Qidong want to hang up immediately!

Chapter 25

Shen Yiqiu knew Qin Qianrou was capable and well-connected, but when she followed her into District Two Hospital, she still couldn’t help but marvel: This person is unbelievably amazing!

There was good news and bad news. The good news was that she could finally see the person she had been wanting to see. The bad news was that there was only one of the two drivers left.

On the way to District Two Hospital, Qin Qianrou had briefly explained the situation, “A while ago, their conditions suddenly worsened. The truck driver passed away the day before yesterday.”

Shen Yiqiu’s heart sank. This was not a good omen. Chen Kang had clearly stated before that they had both regained consciousness.

“The other driver is stable, but he’s not lucid and can’t provide any useful information.”

Seeing Shen Yiqiu’s silence, Qin Qianrou glanced at her.

“What’s wrong?”

Shen Yiqiu felt something was amiss, but the jumbled thoughts in her mind were difficult to articulate.

“I just think it’s too much of a coincidence, don’t you think?”

Since her eighteenth birthday, Shen Yiqiu had noticed a subtle shift in Qin Qianrou’s attitude towards her. They seemed closer, yet also more distant.

Perhaps Qin Qianrou felt less burdened now, at least she was dealing with an adult.

“We’ll find out when we get to the hospital. But we can’t stay too long.”

Qin Qianrou had pulled some strings to get this visitation opportunity, but given the special circumstances surrounding the driver, he couldn’t receive frequent visits like ordinary patients.

Arriving at the hospital, Shen Yiqiu realized that her own ward environment had truly been very good, at least not like this.

“We only have ten minutes.”

Shen Yiqiu knew these ten minutes were precious. She nodded and followed.

Just as Qin Qianrou had said, the minibus driver was in a coma. The beeping of the machines beside his bed was the only sound in the ward.

“What do you want to know?”

Shen Yiqiu stood by the bed, Qin Qianrou standing behind her. Both of them looked at the unconscious man, a sense of helplessness washing over them.

“His current condition seems even worse than right after the accident.”

Qin Qianrou looked at the patient and said, “They said there was intracranial bleeding. He briefly regained consciousness, then rapidly deteriorated.”

Shen Yiqiu stared at the man. When the accident happened, she hadn’t been able to clearly see anyone. Now, she was truly seeing, for the first time, the face of the person who had almost crashed into her at full speed.

“Do you believe his condition suddenly worsened?” Shen Yiqiu suddenly spoke, her gaze still fixed on the patient.

Qin Qianrou’s expression turned serious. She thought for a moment and said, “We can’t be certain yet, but it’s a possibility.”

While Shen Yiqiu was led by her emotions, Qin Qianrou focused more on evidence and facts.

However, she also understood that Shen Yiqiu’s feelings towards this man were definitely different from her own.

They stood in silence for a while. Qin Qianrou glanced at the time; five minutes remained.

“Let’s go.”

The patient was unconscious, unable to speak or answer any questions. Having seen him fulfilled Shen Yiqiu’s wish. Staying for another five minutes wouldn’t change anything.

“Wait.”

Qin Qianrou saw Shen Yiqiu slowly reaching out, as if to touch the man lying in bed. Startled, she took two steps forward and placed a hand on Shen Yiqiu’s shoulder, stopping her.

“What are you doing?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t be impulsive.”

Shen Yiqiu looked back at her with a smile – reassurance, explanation, and a promise.

“Then what are you planning to do to him?” Qin Qianrou didn’t release her grip, asking uncertainly.

“I don’t know, but my heart is urging me to do this.”

This sounded absurd. If it were anyone else, Qin Qianrou would have immediately dragged them away.

But coming from Shen Yiqiu, Qin Qianrou was inclined to believe her.

“Your sixth sense?”

Shen Yiqiu nodded, her gaze returning to the man in the bed.

Qin Qianrou’s eyes moved back and forth between the patient and Shen Yiqiu. After a moment, she silently released her hand, but didn’t move away.

They were standing extremely close.

So close that without turning around, with just a slight backward lean, Shen Yiqiu would be completely within Qin Qianrou’s embrace. That’s why she could so clearly feel the warmth emanating from behind her, suddenly feeling a little hot…

A slight prickling pain in her chest jolted Shen Yiqiu back to the present.

Her hand touched the patient’s face. She hesitated initially, resistant to such contact, given her lack of positive feelings towards this person.

But her heart compelled her to do it.

She forced herself to make contact, and the stinging sensation in her chest intensified.

Although Qin Qianrou was behind her, wearing high heels made her slightly taller than Shen Yiqiu. She had been silently observing Shen Yiqiu until she noticed the change in her expression…

She placed both hands back on Shen Yiqiu’s shoulders, this time with a firm grip, offering strong support.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Shen Yiqiu recovered, staring blankly at the patient for a moment before withdrawing her hand.

“I think I know something now.”

Qin Qianrou glanced at the time. Their ten minutes were almost up, so she pulled Shen Yiqiu away.

“Let’s leave first, we can’t be seen.”

Shen Yiqiu had wanted to ask earlier why there wasn’t any proper security in such a ward. Now she understood that Qin Qianrou must have arranged for them to be elsewhere.

Outside District Two Hospital, the August heat in Meng City had subsided somewhat. The night air carried a hint of coolness, much more comfortable than last month.

Qin Qianrou took two cups of oden from a convenience store and found a scenic bench by the roadside to sit with Shen Yiqiu.

“Tell me about what happened today.” Qin Qianrou handed Shen Yiqiu a cup of oden, a hint of anticipation in her voice.

Shen Yiqiu took out a skewer of fish tofu and took a bite. Not bad.

“I saw the scene before the accident.” Shen Yiqiu swallowed the fish tofu, replenished her energy, and began to speak.

The scene? Qin Qianrou’s initial confusion quickly dissipated as she realized Shen Yiqiu was referring to the car accident.

Shen Yiqiu had experienced it firsthand and lost her parents in the accident. Compared to others, she couldn’t simply refer to the car accident as a casual topic.

“I saw him make a phone call right before reaching the section where the accident happened.”

Making a phone call while driving? This was a violation in itself, but many drivers on the highway did it. Qin Qianrou already suspected the minibus driver wasn’t entirely innocent.

“After hanging up, he started counting down the seconds. I think he was waiting for something.”

Shen Yiqiu recalled the images she had sensed in the ward. After she finished speaking, she realized the implications.

“You’re saying…?” Qin Qianrou had clearly also picked up on the clue.

“I can’t be completely certain, but if possible, it would be best to retrieve his call logs.”

Qin Qianrou recalled the information the traffic police had provided. These questions should have already been investigated.

“If there was a problem, they would have discovered it already.”

Shen Yiqiu poked a fish ball fiercely but didn’t immediately eat it.

“They should also check the truck driver’s call logs. They might find a lead.”

Qin Qianrou looked at her in surprise, “Could it be you also saw…?”

Although Shen Yiqiu desperately wanted to get to the bottom of the whole incident, she didn’t want to mislead Qin Qianrou.

She truthfully described the images she had sensed: “I mostly saw the minibus driver, but there was a fleeting image of another person also holding a phone. I’m not sure about his appearance, but he was sitting very high up, so it must have been the truck driver.”

“Alright, I’ll have someone check the call logs again.”

Shen Yiqiu finally lowered her head and started eating the fish balls, then heard Qin Qianrou ask, “So you can sense past events now?”

Previously, her sixth sense was about foreseeing impending danger. If Shen Yiqiu wasn’t lying, then her ability had become stronger.

Shen Yiqiu hadn’t realized it herself. She thought for a moment and said, “Never before, tonight was the first time. But it seems like I need to make physical contact to sense past events.”

Qin Qianrou had witnessed everything that happened in the ward. Apart from the unverifiable images described, everything else Shen Yiqiu said seemed genuine.

So, just by touching someone, she could sense their past?

If so, what would Shen Yiqiu do in the future?

As a reporter, she was dedicated to uncovering the truth, but she also understood the importance of privacy. If Shen Yiqiu truly possessed such an ability, once she returned to society, would it be a blessing or a curse?

As if sensing Qin Qianrou’s thoughts, Shen Yiqiu chuckled softly, “I’m not so powerful that I can know someone’s past just by casually touching them.”

Qin Qianrou looked at her, following the sound of her laughter.

Then, Shen Yiqiu pointed to her chest and said, “I have to listen to it. I can only act when it tells me to.”

Qin Qianrou recalled Shen Yiqiu mentioning the chest pains and the change in her expression earlier, and couldn’t help but imagine what she had felt.

“Does it hurt every time you sense something? Won’t that affect your health?”

“It was very painful at first, quite uncomfortable. But it’s become less intense, and the pain is very brief, like a signal. It passes quickly.”

“Can you control it?”

Shen Yiqiu sighed helplessly. She truly couldn’t control it. “No, it’s my heart that decides, not me.”

**

Shen Yiqiu could only confide in Qin Qianrou about her ability. Probably only the experienced Reporter Qin would listen to such an unbelievable story and actually follow up by investigating the call logs.

But this was a private investigation. The television station couldn’t be involved, and even Chen Kang had to be kept in the dark.

Chen Kang visited Shen Yiqiu twice more and was relieved to see her recovering well. However, as long as Shen Yiqiu didn’t mention the accident, Chen Kang wouldn’t bring it up.

Qin Qianrou’s strength lay in her tenacity. She wouldn’t let go of any lead, and once she decided to investigate, she would see it through to the end. After repeatedly studying the information, she finally discovered the problem.

“The truck driver and the minibus driver made calls to several similar numbers within fifteen minutes of each other, and the calls were all very short.”

Qin Qianrou circled the numbers, and Li Wan and Shen Yiqiu leaned in to look.

“These numbers seem to be from the same area code, but they’re not identical.” Li Wan hesitated. This was just based on their experience and couldn’t be used as evidence.

“These are overseas virtual numbers. Remember the overseas fraud case we investigated the year before last?”

Li Wan’s eyes lit up, “Yes, yes! So, to investigate these numbers, we need to contact a certain someone.”

Before Qin Qianrou could say anything, Li Wan quickly copied the numbers onto a sticky note and left to get to work.

Chapter 24

Li Wan and Rong Fei brought the dishes to the table one after another, finally allowing savory aromas to overtake the intoxicating scent of Li Wan’s perfume. In comparison, Shen Yiqiu much preferred the crisp, cool fragrance of Qin Qianrou.

Li Wan bustled about, not only keeping an eye on the simmering soup in the clay pot, but also checking if Rong Fei had set the table properly. From time to time, she would poke her head out of the kitchen to direct Qin Qianrou to lend a hand.

Qin Qianrou didn’t seem bothered that Li Wan was more familiar with her own home than she was. After showing Shen Yiqiu to the living room, she took off her jacket, rolled up her shirt sleeves, and went to help Li Wan.

Shen Yiqiu sat on the sofa, her gaze following Qin Qianrou. Seeing the three beautiful women busy preparing for her birthday, she was momentarily transported back to a time when her parents were still alive, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.

Li Wan took the opportunity to glance at Shen Yiqiu, who was sitting sideways and constantly looking around. Returning to the kitchen, she said to the other two with a smile, “We need to hurry up, the birthday girl is getting impatient.”

Rong Fei was arranging a platter. Although the meal was ordered from a restaurant, the presentation was still impeccable.

“She must be hungry. Hospital food gets bland after a while, she probably caught a whiff of the aroma.”

Li Wan shook her head and lifted the lid of the clay pot. “And you call yourself a psychology expert. It’s clearly the warm atmosphere we’ve created that’s moved her.”

Rong Fei played along, nodding. “Yes, yes, Editor Li is right. When it comes to sentimentality, who can compare to you?”

“Qianrou, why aren’t you saying anything?” Li Wan leaned closer and saw that Qin Qianrou was carefully pulling at a ribbon.

Qin Qianrou was undoing the ribbon on the cake box. When she chose the cake, she had thought it looked exquisite, but she hadn’t expected the packaging to be so elaborate.

“No need to take the cake out so early. We’re having it last anyway.” Li Wan urged Qin Qianrou to come out and eat first.

“I’ll be quick.” Qin Qianrou suddenly wanted to see the cake she had chosen, to make sure that what she had said to Shen Yiqiu earlier wasn’t just empty comfort.

She wanted to confirm once more that this pale pink cake was indeed something to be delighted about.

Shen Yiqiu didn’t have to wait long for her birthday feast to begin. The people celebrating with her were those she had only recently met, and before this, they had never crossed paths. Witnessing her eighteenth birthday, her coming-of-age, were the lifelines she had desperately grasped onto after her rebirth.

She had initially thought that her relationship with Qin Qianrou was just a mutually beneficial transaction. She hadn’t expected to have the opportunity to celebrate such a meaningful birthday.

Li Wan let down her tied-up hair and walked over to Shen Yiqiu, gently guiding her towards the dining table.

“Why are you spacing out? You’re the star tonight. You can’t keep looking so detached.”

Shen Yiqiu obediently allowed herself to be led, her movements still slightly sluggish, yet surprisingly docile. She followed Li Wan’s instructions, sitting where she was told, and using the bowl she was given.

Qin Qianrou, however, frowned slightly and glanced at Rong Fei.

Rong Fei had also been observing Shen Yiqiu. Unlike the others, she tended to view Shen Yiqiu as a potential case study.

Qin Qianrou sat beside Shen Yiqiu and, seeing her holding her bowl in silence, leaned closer.

“What’s wrong?”

“I suddenly feel like crying.”

Qin Qianrou was taken aback. Li Wan quickly intervened, “Don’t cry yet. We haven’t even touched all this delicious food. Eat your fill first, so you’ll have the energy to cry later when you’re moved.”

Li Wan’s distinctly child-coaxing tone made the others laugh, and even Shen Yiqiu could only pout, her heart swelling with emotion.

It was truly delicious. It felt like ages since she had eaten such a good meal. Visually appealing, fragrant, and flavorful, it combined the refined skills of a restaurant chef with the unique warmth and casualness of a home-cooked meal. The familiar comfort made her eat non-stop, mouthful after mouthful.

“Eat slowly.” Qin Qianrou reminded her softly, worried she might choke.

Shen Yiqiu’s mouth was full, and she couldn’t speak, so she just nodded with her bright, dark eyes.

Li Wan and Rong Fei sat opposite them. Seeing Shen Yiqiu like this, they found her adorable and couldn’t resist the urge to pinch her puffed-out cheeks.

Although she was now an adult, alcohol was strictly forbidden. So, after finishing two glasses of freshly squeezed juice, Shen Yiqiu finally saw the cake she had been looking forward to.

When Qin Qianrou came out carrying the cake, Shen Yiqiu’s eyes lit up, and her gaze never left it.

Seeing her eager expression, Li Wan couldn’t help but tease, “A whole table of dishes couldn’t fill you up, and now you’re practically drooling over the cake.”

Shen Yiqiu waited until Qin Qianrou placed the cake on the table in front of her before speaking, “It’s so beautiful, I almost don’t want to eat it.”

The neglected Li Wan was momentarily stunned, but not offended. The birthday girl was the most important person tonight, and Shen Yiqiu’s reaction had already far exceeded their expectations.

She didn’t burst into tears from being overwhelmed by emotion, nor did she force a smile or pretend to cooperate. Shen Yiqiu accepted their kindness in the most natural way. The occasional flicker of sadness was merely a touch of remembrance, and the rest was pure joy and contentment.

This gave Li Wan a great sense of accomplishment, and she felt that her initial suggestion had been spot on.

“Can we just use one candle?”

Qin Qianrou glanced at the number of candles in her hand and silently pulled one out.

“It’s your birthday, you can do whatever you want.”

Shen Yiqiu placed the candle on the edge of the cake, rather than in the center. She looked at it and softly said, “From now on, I have to walk my life’s path alone.”

Shen Yiqiu wanted to remember this day, her eighteenth birthday, spent at Qin Qianrou’s home.

“We can use just one candle, but we can’t skip the birthday song.” Li Wan started singing, and the birthday song, alternating between Chinese and English, sounded like a melody from heaven coming from the beautiful woman’s lips.

Even the usually reserved Qin Qianrou softly clapped along. Because she was closest to Shen Yiqiu, her well wishes were the clearest, and this finally broke Shen Yiqiu’s composure, causing her to shed tears.

“Oh dear, why are you crying?”

Li Wan was about to hand her a tissue when Rong Fei stopped her and shook her head.

Qin Qianrou guessed Rong Fei’s intention and remained silent, allowing Shen Yiqiu to fully release her emotions.

Tears of happiness are easier to control than tears of sadness. Shen Yiqiu quickly stopped sobbing, wiped her eyes, and regained her previous smile. This time, the tension she had been carrying within her was gone. Looking at the beautiful cake in front of her, she felt nothing but joy.

“Make a wish.”

Shen Yiqiu turned to Qin Qianrou and asked, “Can I be greedy and make three wishes?”

“Of course.”

Shen Yiqiu clasped her hands together and made her wishes devoutly.

No one could guess her wishes; only she knew them.

First wish: To successfully complete her plan after becoming an adult.

Second wish: For the three beautiful women celebrating her birthday to have everything go smoothly and live happy lives.

When it came to the third wish, Shen Yiqiu suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Qin Qianrou.

She slowly said, “Can you help me fulfill my last wish?”

“What is it?”

“I want to see the driver who caused the chain car accident.”

It was less a wish and more a request made under the guise of a wish. No one expected Shen Yiqiu to bring this up at such a time.

Qin Qianrou considered it for a moment. “Are you sure you don’t want to waste this wish on something else?”

“I want to make a practical wish, so it can be fulfilled quickly.”

“Alright, I can help you with that.”

**

Jiang Yuan flew in from Hai City specifically for this occasion, bringing a gift. Upon arriving at the hospital, she was informed that Shen Yiqiu wasn’t there.

She still had the gift in her bag, heavy in her hand, but there was no joy on her face.

“She’s still a patient. How could she not be in her ward?”

The young nurse seemed unconcerned but couldn’t ignore her completely.

“She’s already in the process of being discharged, and her physical condition is perfectly fine. Besides, it wasn’t a stranger who took her out. We can’t just keep her here against her will.”

Jiang Yuan’s temples throbbed. Traveling between two cities in the summer heat was exhausting.

“Do you know who took her out?”

“Reporter Qin.”

Qin Qianrou again. Hearing the expected answer, Jiang Yuan still felt a pang of discomfort.

Shao Qidong had approached her that day and said a lot, but ultimately, she hadn’t given in.

However, Shen Yiqiu hadn’t contacted her again. After returning, Jiang Yuan discussed it with He Chao and they decided to take a step back, to avoid pressuring her too much, and to wait until the child’s emotions had stabilized before proceeding slowly.

Who knew that this one step back would put her even further away from Shen Yiqiu, so far that “Aunt Jiang” couldn’t even deliver her eighteenth birthday wishes. This made Jiang Yuan acutely aware that her position was precarious and had perhaps already been replaced by Qin Qianrou.

She lingered at the hospital for half an hour but still didn’t see Shen Yiqiu return. After some thought, she dialed Shao Qidong’s number.

Soon, a car sent by Shao Qidong picked Jiang Yuan up. Before leaving, she gave the beautifully wrapped birthday gift to the nurse to pass on. She thought about leaving a message but decided against it.

Leaving Qin Qianrou’s home, Shen Yiqiu could still taste the sweetness of the cake, reluctant to let it go. What surprised her most was that these three beautiful women not only celebrated her birthday but also gave her gifts.

Li Wan gifted her an iPad, saying it would be useful for university; Rong Fei gave her a prepaid card for online courses, usable for most mainstream platforms and valid for a long time.

Qin Qianrou’s gift was the smallest, but Shen Yiqiu cherished it the most.

An exquisite pen engraved with the character “Qiu (秋-autumn)”. It was so beautiful that Shen Yiqiu was reluctant to write with it, yet wanted to put it in her pocket immediately to carry with her at all times.

Now, there were only the two of them in the car. The faint smile on Shen Yiqiu’s lips reassured Qin Qianrou. Although Li Wan and Rong Fei had both said they should celebrate Shen Yiqiu’s birthday, she had been hesitant, worried that Shen Yiqiu might not be able to handle the emotional impact.

Fortunately, tonight, Shen Yiqiu seemed very happy and appreciative.

“Give me a couple of days. I need to make some arrangements.”

Shen Yiqiu turned to look at her, unsure what arrangements she was referring to, assuming it was about her discharge.

“Your birthday wish.”

She had wanted to go to District Two Hospital for a long time, but Chen Kang hadn’t told her the details. With Qin Qianrou’s help, things would definitely be much easier.

The smile on Shen Yiqiu’s lips widened. Qin Qianrou thought for a moment and added, “I can help you with the discharge procedures tomorrow. Have you thought about where you want to go?”

Shen Yiqiu then remembered that, at eighteen, she could live independently and no longer needed to stay in the hospital to avoid anyone. However, she didn’t want to return to the home in Hai City. Could she still go back to the one in Meng City?

“Can I… stay in the hospital for a few more days?”

No one likes staying in the hospital longer than necessary, yet Shen Yiqiu made the request. Qin Qianrou quickly understood the reason.

“Alright. Tell me when you’re ready to be discharged.”

Chapter 23

Qin Qianrou quickly gathered her things. Shen Yiqiu licked her lips, wanting to say she’d go with her, but feeling it wasn’t appropriate.

Seeing her hesitate several times, Qin Qianrou guessed her thoughts. This matter truly wasn’t suitable for Shen Yiqiu to be involved in.

“It’s about the sulfuric acid incident.”

“Oh, I understand. Be careful.”

After Qin Qianrou left, Shen Yiqiu quickly turned and walked to the window, pulling the curtains closed. Peeking through a gap in the drapes, she tried to see who was picking Qin Qianrou up.

Unfortunately, her ward faced the back courtyard, so she couldn’t see what she wanted.

**

Qin Qianrou got into Qian Zhifei’s car, exchanged a brief greeting, and immediately got down to business.

“My buddy is on the criminal police team. He informed me as soon as there was news. That woman was specifically targeting you for revenge, and the car accident the night before was also orchestrated by her.”

Qin Qianrou had heard on the phone that there had been a major breakthrough in the case, but she hadn’t expected it to be resolved so quickly.

“Why would she target me?” Qin Qianrou didn’t know the woman and couldn’t understand why she had incurred such deep resentment.

Qian Zhifei started the car and drove towards the police station.

“Tuohai Technology.”

Qin Qianrou frowned. As expected, there was a connection.

“After an all-night interrogation, the woman’s psychological defenses crumbled. She didn’t hold out for long before confessing everything.”

Qin Qianrou listened intently. When Qian Zhifei paused, she couldn’t help but glance at him, causing his heart to skip a beat.

“Ahem, she was the mistress of Tuohai Technology’s CEO. She had been with him for many years and had just given birth to his son. She thought she could finally secure her position, but then Tuohai Technology went under, its assets were seized, and the CEO was sentenced. In the end, she was left with nothing.”

Qin Qianrou knew about this incident, but she hadn’t expected the mistress to be so vicious.

“The initial investigation into Tuohai Technology only reached the CFO level, and someone even came forward to take all the blame. It was your persistent questioning over three consecutive programs that shifted everyone’s attention back to Tuohai Technology, which ultimately led to the CEO being investigated.”

Initially, Tuohai Technology was exposed for misappropriation of public funds, but as the investigation deepened, more alarming facts surfaced. This company, whose main business was biopharmaceuticals, had been selling a large amount of undisclosed clinical trial data.

It was said that the CFO had taken all the blame at the time. Just as things were calming down, Qin Qianrou relentlessly pursued the matter, finding flaws in the vast amount of data and tearing apart Tuohai Technology’s facade.

The CEO of Tuohai Technology, who was about to flee the country, was apprehended and completely lost his freedom, paying the price for his wrongdoings. However, his mistress, whom he had arranged to go abroad, suddenly returned and acted with such ferocity, seemingly driven by the final verdict.

“She first hired someone to cause a car accident. After that failed, she devised a new plan overnight and decided to do it herself.” Recalling the scene from that day, Qian Zhifei still felt a lingering fear.

He took the opportunity to steal a glance at Qin Qianrou and saw that her expression was serious but not panicked. He, a grown man, still felt apprehensive about that scene, yet Qin Qianrou remained so composed, earning his admiration.

“I suspect she was prepared to die with you that day.”

“Thank you for saving me that day.”

Qin Qianrou recalled many things about Tuohai Technology, the details of the investigation, and the obstacles and difficulties she encountered.

“Are you scared?” Qian Zhifei asked, curious despite her calm demeanor.

Qin Qianrou pondered for a moment, then firmly shook her head.

“I was a little scared afterward. But being a reporter, there’s always danger.”

**

Although the case wasn’t difficult to investigate, its quick resolution undoubtedly involved pressure from relevant authorities. Qin Qianrou didn’t know if her mother had exerted influence from afar, but she knew that the end of her vacation was near.

Li Wan was choosing a birthday cake design when she heard the news and was delighted.

“Finally, it’s been cleared up. Now the station director has no reason to keep you away from work.”

“I called him today. From his tone, it seems he doesn’t want me back at work yet.”

“Why is that?” Li Wan couldn’t help but look up from the display case, puzzled.

“I guess he doesn’t want me involved in the Dongsheng matter.”

“That makes sense. Just one Tuohai Technology caused such a big aftermath. If you really went after Dongsheng, who knows if the station director could handle the pressure.”

Li Wan chuckled at her own words and then casually pointed to a cake in the display case.

A pale pink base, not too much cream. It looked gentle and refreshing.

“This one looks good, quite fitting for Shen Yiqiu’s style. What do you think?”

Qin Qianrou’s mind was focused on the Tuohai and Dongsheng matters, so she just glanced at the cake when Li Wan mentioned it.

At first glance, the light pink cake did look soft. It looked fluffy but not greasy, making one want to take a bite.

Indeed, it was a bit like Shen Yiqiu.

“Hurry up and give me your opinion. I’ve been choosing for ages, and this is the only one that seems suitable.” Li Wan nudged her, urging her to hurry up.

“Okay, this one’s good.”

With Qin Qianrou’s approval, there was no need for further selection. Li Wan thought to herself that, among them, Qianrou knew Shen Yiqiu best. She and Rong Fei were just doing the grunt work.

With the cake chosen, Rong Fei called to say she had also finalized the restaurant reservation. Next, they discussed whether to decorate the hospital ward.

“Qianrou, do you think it would be better to take Shen Yiqiu out to celebrate?”

“Why?”

“She’s been cooped up in the hospital ward all day. It would be too much trouble to get her out and then decorate. Also, celebrating a birthday in the hospital will definitely attract attention. If someone posts it online, it’ll cause more trouble.”

“Alright, let’s do it outside then.”

Li Wan was best at this sort of thing, and Qin Qianrou respected her opinion.

“But where would be best? Reserve a private room at a restaurant? Go to karaoke? Or go to Haidilao?” Li Wan shook her head as she spoke. Thinking of celebrating a birthday at Haidilao, the scene wouldn’t be much better than staying in the hospital ward.

“Given her situation, it’s best to avoid overly lively environments. I’m afraid it might trigger her emotions.”

Li Wan had just thought of this point as she spoke, but Qin Qianrou brought it up first. Shen Yiqiu’s eighteenth birthday should indeed be celebrated, but it was important to avoid anything similar to previous celebrations.

After all, this year, she had no family by her side.

In the end, they decided to celebrate at Qin Qianrou’s home. This surprised Rong Fei a bit, as Qin Qianrou was never one for hosting or entertaining.

When Qin Qianrou picked Shen Yiqiu up, the latter felt conflicted.

“Are you in a bad mood?” Shen Yiqiu was unusually quiet after getting in the car, resting her chin on her hand and staring out the window in a daze.

Qin Qianrou wasn’t very talkative either, but with neither of them speaking, it felt too stuffy.

“Not bad, just nothing to be particularly happy about.” Shen Yiqiu’s tone was calm, but it didn’t hide her slight disappointment.

She hadn’t expected Qin Qianrou to suddenly take her out today. She had wanted to ask if they could reschedule, but then she thought that whether or not she celebrated her birthday alone didn’t really matter.

If Qin Qianrou had sought her out, there must be something important, and she shouldn’t let her own small matters interfere with bigger things.

Li Wan had repeatedly emphasized the need to surprise Shen Yiqiu, so Qin Qianrou couldn’t give anything away. Qin Qianrou wasn’t one for exaggerated expressions or gestures anyway, so with her usual calm demeanor, the surprise was naturally well-concealed.

However, seeing Shen Yiqiu’s slightly dejected appearance, Qin Qianrou couldn’t help but want to say a few more words.

“Did you have your own plans today, and didn’t want to come out?” Qin Qianrou suddenly wondered if their well-intentioned gesture had disrupted Shen Yiqiu’s plans.

Shen Yiqiu was startled, glancing at her with surprise before looking away again, feigning composure.

“What plans could I have? Same as always.”

A few days ago, the college entrance exam scores had been released. Shen Yiqiu learned from her homeroom teacher that she would soon receive an acceptance letter from Meng City University. Everyone was happy for her, but she was the only one thinking that, this time, she could finally properly experience university life.

Her eighteenth birthday in her past life was filled with fear and deception. She had counted the days in fear and anxiety. University life was something she hadn’t had the chance to properly experience and enjoy. She wasn’t even very familiar with her roommates.

In the end, her tormented life ended before her university graduation.

This time, she wanted to be a proper university student. She knew her parents would also want to see her in her graduation gown.

Seeing that Shen Yiqiu had no intention of continuing the conversation, Qin Qianrou felt a bit disappointed and focused on driving.

When the car reached her building, Shen Yiqiu was visibly taken aback.

“I’m inviting you to my home. I didn’t inform you in advance, I hope you don’t mind.” Qin Qianrou unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door, her light tone dissipating the previous awkward atmosphere.

Before Shen Yiqiu could figure out Qin Qianrou’s intentions, she was led into the apartment in a daze.

Li Wan and Rong Fei were ready and waiting for the evening’s guest of honor.

To avoid overwhelming Shen Yiqiu, they had agreed not to startle her at the door.

However, this didn’t prevent the strong, vibrant scent of Li Wan’s perfume, carefully chosen for the occasion, from prompting Shen Yiqiu to sneeze three times in a row.

“You child, I put in so much effort and thought, and this is how you repay me?” Li Wan playfully glared at Shen Yiqiu.

Having had limited interaction with Li Wan, and finding this fiery beauty a bit intimidating when she was being fierce, Shen Yiqiu rubbed her nose and kept quiet.

Rong Fei smiled and pulled her over. “Look at you, you scared the little one.”

Shen Yiqiu quickly looked up, softly emphasizing, “I’m not a little one.”

The other three couldn’t help but laugh at her serious expression.

Shen Yiqiu glanced at them and softly added, “After today, I’ll be an adult.”

Today was her different eighteenth birthday.

Li Wan was nearly moved to tears by her words. Rong Fei pushed her towards the kitchen to bring out the dishes, leaving Qin Qianrou and Shen Yiqiu alone in the living room.

“I didn’t tell you about tonight’s arrangements beforehand. I hope you don’t mind.”

Seeing the setup, Shen Yiqiu quickly guessed why Qin Qianrou had brought her here.

She had to admit, her current feelings were a mix of joy and bittersweetness.

Seeing Shen Yiqiu’s silence, Qin Qianrou was unsure of her thoughts. Just as she was hesitating about what to say next, Shen Yiqiu suddenly looked up at her, her eyes slightly reddened.

“I even asked the nurse to buy me a small cake. I would have brought it along if I had known.”

After a moment of surprise, Qin Qianrou smiled and said, “It’s alright. There’s a big cake tonight. You’ll like it.”

Even though she hadn’t seen the cake yet, Shen Yiqiu somehow sensed something wonderful in Qin Qianrou’s words. A sense of anticipation blossomed in her heart, and she looked forward to the evening even more.

Chapter 22

“He’s in District Two Hospital. Woke up a few days before you, injuries were quite serious, still hospitalized.” They weren’t kept in the same hospital, probably to prevent Shen Yiqiu from seeking them out privately, considering the immense animosity involved.

Chen Kang stared at Shen Yiqiu for a while, seeing only a slight nod and no other reaction, and only then did he relax a bit.

“You’ve seen the photos and the report. So, regarding your opinion on this case…”

“Could you give me a little more time, please?”

Chen Kang was troubled and a little irritated. He sympathized with Shen Yiqiu’s plight, so he tried his best to understand and accommodate her perspective. However, a family member’s stubborn emotions couldn’t interfere with his work. Delaying the case would hold up a series of subsequent procedures. Moreover, this accident had caused quite a stir in Meng City, and his superiors were constantly pressing for a quick resolution.

“This case is basically closed. You called and insisted on further investigation, and you refused the insurance settlement, so I made a special trip to explain in person.” Chen Kang, being relatively new to the job, couldn’t maintain the impassive expression and emotional detachment of his senior colleagues, but he couldn’t completely side with Shen Yiqiu either.

“I understand, so I just need a little time, just a little more time. Please don’t let me have regrets for the rest of my life, okay?”

Chen Kang was in a difficult position, while Shen Yiqiu stubbornly waited for his answer.

“Alright, we definitely need a result by next month at the latest.” Chen Kang, within the limits of his authority, gave Shen Yiqiu the longest extension possible.

“Thank you!” Shen Yiqiu sniffled, but the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.

Chen Kang collected the documents, shaking his head. “There’s no dealing with you, child. You’re cute, and well-behaved, it’s hard not to want to help you.”

Shen Yiqiu didn’t take the opportunity to act cute or play dumb, but rather thanked him sincerely once more. “Thank you for saving me back then.” She vaguely remembered that it was Chen Kang who carried her out of the almost mangled car.

“It’s my job, no need to thank me. You living well in the future is the greatest reward for me.”

Chen Kang had just left the hospital when he received a call. Before he could wipe the sweat from his brow, he became anxious.

“There’s something like that? I’ll be right there!”

**

Jiang Yuan returned to the hotel feeling displeased and immediately called He Chao.

“Lao He, my trip to the hospital today wasn’t very smooth. Xiao Qiu still refuses to return to Hai City.”

He Chao was also a little surprised, but remained relatively calm. “What? You still couldn’t persuade her?”

“That Qin Qianrou was there today.”

“That female reporter? What was she doing there?” He Chao had heard that Reporter Qin was a super busy person, an “Iron Woman” who often worked overtime until 9 pm.

Her presence in Shen Yiqiu’s ward during a weekday could hardly be attributed to leisure.

“She said she’s on vacation, so she went to accompany Xiao Qiu. But I always felt it wasn’t that simple. Xiao Qiu seems to rely on her a lot, and she also cares a lot about her.”

Jiang Yuan recalled what she had observed at the hospital today. She had a vague sense of an intangible connection between Shen Yiqiu and Qin Qianrou, but couldn’t quite grasp it.

“If she insists on not letting Xiao Qiu return to Hai City, it will indeed be difficult. Now that her parents are gone, she might not listen to us.”

Jiang Yuan couldn’t help but remind him, “Lao He, it’s Xiao Qiu herself who doesn’t want to go back. And haven’t you noticed, her attitude is very firm, as if she deliberately wants to oppose us.”

“How could this be? Didn’t you always say Xiao Qiu is very obedient?”

He Chao mainly interacted with Shen Zhifeng, and when the two families were together, it was Jiang Yuan who spent more time with Shen Yiqiu and her mother. Regarding Shen Yiqiu’s attitude, he was indeed not as familiar with it as Jiang Yuan.

“Our previous plan might need some adjustments. I’m afraid we won’t be able to manage it this summer vacation.” Jiang Yuan sighed helplessly, recalling Shen Yiqiu’s resolute tone in the hospital ward.

“That won’t do! I’ve already promised the other party. How can I deliver now?”

“Don’t get agitated yet. Adjustments don’t mean it’s over. I’ll think of other ways.”

The He Chao couple had a clear division of labor. Matters related to Shen Yiqiu were primarily handled by Jiang Yuan. If there were interpersonal or procedural matters to deal with, he would take over.

Jiang Yuan hung up the phone, and before she could even take a sip of water, there was a knock at the door.

She opened it to see Shao Qidong standing there, smiling sinisterly.

“Why are you here?”

“I’ve been looking for a chance to have a good talk with you, and I finally have the time today.”

“There’s nothing for us to talk about.”

Compared to that day at the hospital, Shao Qidong’s temper had subsided considerably. He wasn’t annoyed by Jiang Yuan’s rejection.

“I heard you hit a snag at the hospital, so I came to offer my condolences.”

“You!” Before Jiang Yuan could get angry, she was surprised by how quickly Shao Qidong had received the news.

How long had it been since she left the hospital? This person had already received the news and rushed straight to the hotel.

“If you’re here to talk to me about Xiao Qiu, then there’s really nothing for us to discuss.”

“Don’t be so hasty. Although we both have our sights set on Shen Yiqiu, from a different perspective, we can also transform from enemies into allies.”

Seeing Jiang Yuan waver slightly, Shao Qidong raised the corners of his mouth smugly.

“It won’t take up too much of your time. Let me in so we can talk.”

After a moment’s consideration, Jiang Yuan stepped aside to let him in.

**

After returning home from the hospital, Qin Qianrou took a shower and leaned back on the sofa, pondering Jiang Yuan’s matter. Shen Yiqiu’s attitude had become increasingly clear; her feelings towards this “Aunt Jiang” had undergone a fundamental shift.

Shen Yiqiu’s words clearly implied other information, but what was Jiang Yuan’s insistence on taking her back to Hai City all about? If it wasn’t about taking care of her, then what was she hoping to gain from Shen Yiqiu?

Once her reporter’s instincts kicked in, Qin Qianrou couldn’t stop thinking. She desperately wanted to unravel the reasons behind it all. However, she was reluctant to press Shen Yiqiu; she had a feeling that one day, Shen Yiqiu would tell her everything voluntarily.

A call from Li Wan interrupted her thoughts. As soon as she answered, she heard her friend’s concerned greeting. “Qianrou, how’s your vacation going? Getting used to it?”

“Not bad, just got home.”

“You’re home? Didn’t you say you’d stay at the hospital for the day?”

“Shen Yiqiu was too busy, with constant visitors. It wasn’t convenient for me to be there.”

Li Wan paused, half-jokingly saying, “She’s a patient, and yet she’s busier than you, a reporter.”

Qin Qianrou corrected her, “A reporter on vacation.”

Li Wan didn’t quibble over her words. She knew that Qin Qianrou was definitely not happy about this vacation in her heart.

“Alright, let’s go out for dinner tonight, to make your vacation life more fulfilling and a little more real.”

Qin Qianrou actually didn’t like going out. She could run around for work, but during her off-hours, she preferred staying home.

“No refusing. Rong Fei is coming tonight too. It’s been a while since the three of us had a proper meal together.”

Eating hot pot in the scorching summer was one of Li Wan’s greatest pleasures. She claimed it was spicy and stimulating, and sweating profusely was effective skincare. Tonight, Qin Qianrou was assigned to the clear broth base and everything she dipped had to be inspected by Li Wan first.

“Xiao Wan, your level of strictness is almost catching up to a nurse.” Rong Fei couldn’t help but tease, but she joined in supervising Qin Qianrou.

“You think I want to do this? It’s all for her!”

Qin Qianrou, for once, didn’t retort, accepting all this concern.

After listening to Qin Qianrou’s account of what happened at the hospital, Li Wan and Rong Fei each had their own focus.

Li Wan thought for a moment and seriously asked, “Qianrou, Shen Yiqiu will be turning eighteen next month. What are your plans?”

Qin Qianrou looked at her with surprise. “Why would I need to plan her birthday?”

“It’s clear that she’s relying on you now. Regardless of the agreement between you two, in the eyes of others, you are the person she depends on. Since she refuses to go back to Hai City with Jiang Yuan, you can’t let her be all alone and pitiful in Meng City.”

Rong Fei chimed in, “An eighteenth birthday is indeed a special occasion that requires a certain sense of ceremony. Especially for a child who’s experienced what Shen Yiqiu has, it’s even more important. Given the circumstances, I think we need to pay special attention to her.”

Qin Qianrou considered it and agreed with their suggestion.

Knowing that Qin Qianrou wasn’t good at organizing such things, Li Wan volunteered to take charge.

“However, I’m not very familiar with her. You still need to act as a liaison and take care of things.”

Qin Qianrou wanted to say, I’m not very familiar with her either. But on second thought, she was indeed a little more familiar with Shen Yiqiu than Li Wan, so she didn’t argue.

Shen Yiqiu was completely unaware that three beautiful women were secretly preparing for her eighteenth birthday. Lately, Qin Qianrou kept asking her strange questions, seemingly out of the blue.

For instance, she’d chat about food, favorite colors, favorite books, or any wishes she might have. Was she collecting data and analyzing her? Speaking of which, her new caregiver, “Aunt Rong,” came much less frequently than “Aunt Qin.” Shen Yiqiu really wondered who the real new caregiver was.

That day, Qin Qianrou was reviewing documents in the ward when Shen Yiqiu suddenly spoke up.

“Why haven’t you asked me about Dongsheng Group these past few days?”

“You’ll tell me when you’re ready.”

“Aren’t you anxious?”

Shen Yiqiu had never met a reporter so indifferent to news material, as if the Dongsheng Group matter was optional.

“There are too many things to deal with right now. Focusing all attention on Dongsheng Group might not be a good thing.”

Too many things? Shen Yiqiu knew she had a major issue on her mind: the driver who caused the accident. Then what was Qin Qianrou preoccupied with?

“Such as?”

Qin Qianrou turned her laptop so Shen Yiqiu could see the screen. It displayed a news report. Shen Yiqiu moved closer and saw the date: last year. The headline mentioned Tuohai Technology.

That company had been quite famous once; she had heard her father mention it. When the case was concluded last year, many people discussed it heatedly online.

“Last year’s news, and there’s new gossip this year?”

Qin Qianrou corrected her. “There are new leads. This isn’t entertainment news, it’s not gossip.”

“But shouldn’t these things be investigated by professionals? Why is a reporter involved in solving cases?” Before meeting Qin Qianrou, Shen Yiqiu’s impression of reporters was limited to news reports, writing articles, stakeouts, and taking photos.

“Reporters need to uncover the truth and report the facts. If we find suspicious points, we should follow up.”

Shen Yiqiu nodded, seemingly understanding, but thinking to herself, So this old Tuohai Technology case is more appealing than Dongsheng Group?

But there wasn’t much to compare. Judging from the verdict, what Tuohai Technology did wasn’t much better. Dongsheng Group was probably just an upgraded, more malicious version.

Qin Qianrou’s phone rang. Shen Yiqiu recognized it as her work phone and tactfully stepped back.

The person on the other end spoke briefly, and Qin Qianrou quickly closed her laptop and stood up anxiously.

Shen Yiqiu rushed forward to catch the almost-dropped laptop and helped Qin Qianrou pack it into her bag.

“Captain Qian, I’ll be right there.”

Shen Yiqiu straightened up and clearly heard the male voice from the receiver: “I’m at the hospital entrance, waiting for you.”

Chapter 21: A Glimmer of Hope

Jiang Yuan’s face held more confusion than shock. She had been talking to Shen Yiqiu when the girl’s expression suddenly changed, and she rushed out without a word, leaving Jiang Yuan no time to react, only able to stare after her in bewilderment.

“Xiao Qiu, did you call Reporter Qin in for…?” Even the experienced Director Jiang couldn’t understand Shen Yiqiu’s actions.

She had thought Shen Yiqiu had gone to find Qin Qianrou for help, but after practically dragging the “reinforcement” in, she had run off again.

Now, the three people in the ward wore different expressions, a scene in itself.

“Oh, I suddenly remembered something important I needed to discuss with Qin Auntie,” Shen Yiqiu feigned scratching her head, stealing a glance at Qin Qianrou, relieved she hadn’t been exposed.

“I see. Then you two talk. Don’t rush to make a decision about today’s matter. I’ll be staying in Meng City for a few more days. Call me anytime if you change your mind.” Jiang Yuan prepared to leave, then asked, “You still remember my number, right?”

Shen Yiqiu, already impatient, remembered that Qin Qianrou had saved it for her and simply nodded.

Reassured, Jiang Yuan left, giving Qin Qianrou a meaningful look before closing the door.

Qin Qianrou sat back in her previous spot, the chair against the wall. She had noticed Jiang Yuan had been sitting in a different chair earlier.

“Now can you tell me what you just sensed?”

Shen Yiqiu’s mood improved; being in the same room with Qin Qianrou gave her a sense of security, “Actually, you weren’t the main target. I was afraid you would be caught in the crossfire.”

“Oh?”

Shen Yiqiu walked over, moved the chair Jiang Yuan had been sitting on further away with a slight look of disgust, and sat on the edge of the bed. “I just sensed that a patient’s family member would rush into the corridor and attack a nurse, seemingly because of something related to giving the patient an injection.”

Qin Qianrou pursed her lips, indicating she wanted to hear more.

“I didn’t see the details, I just saw that when the family member rushed over, they would bump into you, who would be sitting in the corridor, and also hit your hand.”

As Shen Yiqiu spoke, her gaze fell on Qin Qianrou’s left hand.

Although Qin Qianrou didn’t want to be treated as a fragile object needing constant protection, she also didn’t want to be injured again for no reason.

“How could you suddenly sense something about a patient’s family member?”

Shen Yiqiu thought carefully and said, “I think the person I sensed was actually the nurse, not the family member.”

Qin Qianrou thought about it and understood; since Shen Yiqiu’s admission, it had been the nurses caring for her, so they naturally became people she cared about.

She seemed to have thought of something else, “Then your heart…”

Shen Yiqiu patted her chest lightly, “It didn’t hurt much, just a slight twinge.”

Jiang Yuan’s arrival had disrupted their earlier conversation. Qin Qianrou wasn’t in the mood to continue working, and Shen Yiqiu was also troubled by the matters in Hai City.

“You don’t seem to like Director Jiang visiting you.”

Shen Yiqiu sat cross-legged on the bed, her chin resting on her hand, pondering whether she should answer Qin Qianrou’s question honestly.

“I do feel a little resistant to her.”

Qin Qianrou confirmed her earlier guess; Jiang Yuan was definitely a factor in Shen Yiqiu’s refusal to return to Hai City.

“Didn’t you say she had a very good relationship with your mother?”

Qin Qianrou didn’t intend to pry, but if Shen Yiqiu wanted to stay in Meng City, she had to give Jiang Yuan a clear answer. However, recalling Jiang Yuan’s expression earlier, she clearly intended to visit again.

“If I said that after experiencing certain things, I’ve grown up and seen through some of those superficial relationships, would you believe me?”

Shen Yiqiu’s feigned seriousness and unexpectedly mature words almost made Qin Qianrou laugh.

Shen Yiqiu looked at her helplessly, “Don’t laugh, I’m serious. I used to think that as long as people kept in close contact, expressed concern for each other, and shared their lives, it meant they had a good relationship.”

Qin Qianrou could hear the underlying meaning in her words, clearly directed at Jiang Yuan.

Relationships between adults were relatively complex and difficult to maintain pure intentions. Even if they had known each other since their youth, there was no guarantee they would retain their initial sincerity after being tempered by society.

“You think she’s changed, that she’s no longer the Auntie Jiang you remember?”

Shen Yiqiu narrowed her eyes slightly, looking out the window at the blazing sun that couldn’t warm her cold heart.

“She mentioned Hai City just now, wanting me to go back with her during the summer break, saying she could help me handle everything there.”

That seemed a little too eager.

Qin Qianrou’s professional instincts kicked in; she also sensed something was off about Jiang Yuan.

“I told her I didn’t want to go back to Hai City, and she assumed I no longer wanted that home. So she wanted me to deal with it quickly, so I would have no more ties to Hai City.”

Even after being reborn, Hai City was still a special place for Shen Yiqiu, filled with memories.

“If there’s nothing urgent that needs to be handled in Hai City, you can ignore it for now. As for your home, I can arrange for someone to maintain it regularly.”

“No need!”

Shen Yiqiu’s sudden outburst startled Qin Qianrou.

Shen Yiqiu also felt a little awkward, forcing a smile as she explained, “I’ll go back myself later. No one’s living there; it doesn’t matter if it’s maintained or not.”

“Okay.”

Qin Qianrou’s straightforwardness was a stark contrast to Jiang Yuan’s persistence. Clearly, people with different motives had different approaches.

The nurse, after successfully calming down the patient’s family member, entered the ward with a lunchbox, smiling, saying it was a personal thank you to Shen Yiqiu.

“Luckily, Xiao Qiu was there today, otherwise, if things had escalated, I would have definitely been reprimanded.”

It was just past lunchtime, and both of them were hungry. The food in the lunchbox looked delicious and was a generous portion; it was clear the nurse’s gratitude was sincere.

Shen Yiqiu took a bite of a small rib and said through a mouthful of food, “So, even though you were the one who was harassed, you would still be the one getting reprimanded?”

The nurse sighed, wanting to explain, but after a moment of contemplation, she could only sigh again.

“Well, that’s how it is now; we can’t explain why. So the best outcome is for nothing to happen, for everything to be peaceful.”

Seeing them enjoying the food, the nurse smiled brightly, her eyes crinkling.

After she left, Shen Yiqiu looked at Qin Qianrou and said with a sigh, “Such a work environment is so demoralizing.”

“You have quite a strong sense of justice.”

“Of course.”

Shen Yiqiu puffed out her chest proudly and continued eating with gusto.

When Chen Kang arrived at the ward, the aroma of food still lingered. Shen Yiqiu was about to rest, and Qin Qianrou was also about to leave.

“Oh, Reporter Qin is here too!” Chen Kang paused, surprised. Qin Qianrou’s aura wasn’t as strong today.

“Hello.”

Shen Yiqiu hadn’t expected Chen Kang to come today, but she quickly understood his purpose. However, with Qin Qianrou still present, she didn’t want her to know the details.

“Are you here to see Shen Yiqiu?” Qin Qianrou remembered Chen Kang visiting on the day they first met.

“Well, it’s mainly official business. We don’t have much free time.”

Official business? Qin Qianrou initially thought he was looking for her.

But recalling Chen Kang’s surprised expression earlier, she realized it must be about Shen Yiqiu’s parents.

“Then I won’t disturb you. I’ll be going.”

After Qin Qianrou left, Chen Kang formally addressed Shen Yiqiu. He had been concerned about this girl since the day of the accident. Although she wasn’t much younger than him, her experience was truly heartbreaking.

“You insist the car accident wasn’t an accident and request a reinvestigation?”

Shen Yiqiu sat up straight and nodded seriously in confirmation.

“Yes, I believe the car accident wasn’t simply an accident.”

Chen Kang took out a file and slowly opened it.

He looked down and sighed before taking out the contents and handing them to Shen Yiqiu.

“These are some photos from the accident scene. We were afraid of upsetting you, so we didn’t show them to you before. Since you insist it wasn’t an accident, you should take a look at these first.”

Besides the horrific photos of the scene, there were also some investigation reports. Shen Yiqiu had seen these in her past life, but back then, she had been overwhelmed by Shao Qidong’s massive debt contract, and Jiang Yuan’s seemingly comforting words had further confused her, so she had only focused on the gruesome images.

But now she was certain that Shao Qidong was behind this pile-up. Since it wasn’t an accident, there must be clues.

Shen Yiqiu mustered her courage, suppressed her emotions, and looked at the documents rationally.

Chen Kang, who had been looking down, had thought she would burst into tears upon seeing these. However, Shen Yiqiu remained silent. Looking up, he saw her intently studying the reports.

Compared to the gruesome photos, the reports were indeed more likely to contain clues. Out of compassion, Chen Kang had only brought photos of the completely mangled Mercedes-Benz, showing traces of blood, but no photos of the victims.

He was afraid Shen Yiqiu wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Since she had been unconscious before arriving at the hospital, the last time she saw her parents must have been when they were still alive.

The reports stated that there hadn’t been any mechanical failures with the Mercedes-Benz driven by Shen’s father, and the braking system hadn’t been tampered with. Based on the on-site investigation, his actions after the initial impact were also reasonable.

So… it really had been a traffic accident.

“My father’s car was normal, then what about the other vehicles? Were they all normal too?”

Chen Kang paused, then recalled, “They were mostly normal. The weather was good that day, the road conditions were fine, and there weren’t any unusual circumstances before the accident.”

“Then whose actions caused the initial incident?”

“It was a large truck that rear-ended another vehicle. The row of cars in between didn’t stand a chance.”

Shen Yiqiu recalled the scene that day. The journey had been uneventful until her father glanced at the rearview mirror and suddenly said, “That truck behind us keeps accelerating.”

Then, the violent collision occurred.

But she also remembered a vehicle from the opposite lane crashing into them.

Chen Kang, guessing her question, explained, “The vehicle in the opposite lane was a small minibus. The driver was startled and lost control of the steering wheel, veering across.”

So it was just… bad luck?

Shen Yiqiu pursed her lips, remaining silent, but her grip on the report tightened.

Chen Kang sighed softly. Although he disliked accident scenes, facing the victims’ families was even more difficult.

“I find that truck and the minibus suspicious. Can you investigate them further?”

Shen Yiqiu’s request put Chen Kang in a difficult position. They had already completed the investigation; there hadn’t been anything unusual.

“I understand how you feel. Every accident has a party at fault. The drivers are already under investigation and will be punished accordingly. But regarding the nature of the accident, we hope you can understand our conclusion.”

Shen Yiqiu knew she wouldn’t get any more information from Chen Kang. But the truck driver and the minibus driver were still alive; perhaps they knew something.

“Can I ask where the truck driver and the minibus driver are now?”

Chapter 20: A Sense of Security

Shen Yiqiu’s smile froze on her face. It was too difficult to feign respect for someone so deceitful and insidious.

Qin Qianrou glanced at both of their faces, not reacting much, simply closing her laptop and standing up.

Only then did Jiang Yuan notice someone sitting at the foot of the bed.

Looking closely, she saw it was Qin Qianrou.

She paused briefly, then quickly recovered, acting even more solicitous than usual.

“Reporter Qin is here too. Hello.”

Qin Qianrou nodded in response, “Director Jiang, hello.” Jiang Yuan was older than her; she still observed basic courtesies.

Qin Qianrou had seen Jiang Yuan’s business card; she was the Director of the Finance Department at a prestigious university in Hai City. Reaching that position at her age required considerable skill. However, Shen Yiqiu’s parents hadn’t been in that field; it seemed someone had changed direction after graduating.

“I didn’t expect to see you working here.” Jiang Yuan had deliberately chosen a weekday for her visit, not expecting to run into Qin Qianrou again.

She and He Chao had specifically inquired about this reporter; she was someone not to be trifled with in Meng City. No matter how influential a person or company was, once targeted by her, they were in for trouble.

Reporter Qin was far more difficult to deal with than some government officials, a sentiment widely shared in Meng City, although its origin was unknown.

“I’m currently on leave, so I came to visit the hospital.”

On leave… It didn’t sound like a short break of just a few days. Jiang Yuan’s expression darkened as she silently contemplated something.

Shen Yiqiu observed them discreetly. Qin Qianrou’s reaction was normal, but Jiang Yuan’s sudden visit definitely had an ulterior motive. Having failed to bring her back to Hai City last time, she wouldn’t give up easily.

Shen Yiqiu sighed. Why have I become so sought after? Everyone keeps circling back to me.

Uncomfortable as it was, this was her territory; she had to endure and deal with it.

“Auntie… Jiang, is there something you need?” Even after mentally preparing herself, addressing Jiang Yuan as “Auntie” still felt repulsive to Shen Yiqiu.

Jiang Yuan sensed Shen Yiqiu’s aloofness, but it was much better than last time; at least she had addressed her.

Putting on her usual gentle and caring expression, she took a few steps closer and reached out to touch Shen Yiqiu’s head, as she had done in previous meetings.

Shen Yiqiu instinctively leaned back, avoiding her touch.

Jiang Yuan froze, slightly embarrassed, but Shen Yiqiu didn’t bother to explain.

“Well, you said last time that you didn’t want to live in Hai City. He Chao and I discussed it and decided to respect your decision.”

Shen Yiqiu looked up. Was Jiang Yuan giving up?

However, in the next second, she continued, “But Hai City is still your home. If you don’t plan to go back, you should take care of some matters during the summer break, so you don’t have to travel back and forth later.”

Her home, take care of matters…

Shen Yiqiu’s gloomy expression made Qin Qianrou, who had been silently observing, look away. She didn’t want to interrupt their conversation; after all, Jiang Yuan was a close friend of Shen’s mother and had more right to handle the Shen family’s affairs than she did.

“I’ll go ask the nurse something outside; you two take your time.” Qin Qianrou picked up her laptop and left the ward.

Shen Yiqiu’s gaze followed her until the door closed, then she looked back at Jiang Yuan.

Although surprised by Shen Yiqiu’s action, Jiang Yuan was more composed than before.

“I didn’t expect you to be so attached to her already.”

Shen Yiqiu paused, then smiled faintly, “Of course, she’s my Qin Auntie.”

Although both were addressed as “Auntie,” the way she said “Qin Auntie” was far more affectionate and intimate than “Auntie Jiang,” conjuring up an image of Shen Yiqiu clinging to Qin Qianrou’s arm, obediently leaning against her, enjoying her touch.

Jiang Yuan and He Chao had discussed and analyzed the situation for a long time that day, but still couldn’t figure out the reason for Shen Yiqiu’s sudden change. The car accident was definitely a trigger, but there must be something deeper, which made them uneasy.

“By the way, the college entrance exam results are out. Have you checked your score?” Jiang Yuan changed the subject, bringing up university again.

“Not yet.”

Shen Yiqiu hadn’t had time to think about this after waking up; she knew she would be accepted anyway.

“You, this child, not worried about your future at all.”

Shen Yiqiu forced a smile and said nonchalantly, “There’s nothing to worry about. I know the material; I shouldn’t have done too badly.”

If it weren’t for the accident, Shen Yiqiu would indeed have been an outstanding student, her excellent grades never a cause for parental concern. The Shen parents had never worried about her college entrance exam, which was why they had planned the trip before the results were released.

Jiang Yuan knew that Shen Yiqiu was determined to attend university in Meng City; she couldn’t force her to leave. But there was still time before the start of the semester; there was still room to maneuver.

“Since you’re not worried about your score, then let’s hurry back to Hai City. I asked the doctor, and there’s no problem with you being discharged. He Chao went back yesterday to prepare.”

“I don’t want to go back yet.”

Shen Yiqiu’s direct refusal puzzled Jiang Yuan. What was wrong with this child?

“But Hai City…” Jiang Yuan paused, then rephrased, “If you really don’t want to go back, then He Chao and I can help you take care of those troublesome matters, okay?”

Shen Yiqiu slowly raised her lowered gaze.

Jiang Yuan continued, “But it would be easier if you signed a power of attorney, authorizing us to handle things on your behalf.”

A power of attorney? Yes, that was how they had tricked her in her past life.

They had stolen her father’s research without any obstruction, and she had even thanked them for saving her so much trouble.

Shen Yiqiu’s eyes darkened. Seeing her reaction, the smile on Jiang Yuan’s lips gradually faded.

“Auntie Jiang, I’ll go back and handle the matters at home personally later, but I don’t want to go back now.”

“If you don’t go back now during summer break, you’ll have even less time and energy when school starts. Besides, He Chao and I are both free now. Once the semester starts, we’ll be busy with teaching and our students. Who will help you then?”

Jiang Yuan’s voice was laced with anxiety, her words seemingly filled with concern for Shen Yiqiu, but ultimately self-serving.

Shen Yiqiu sneered inwardly. Seeing their hypocritical performance after knowing their true motives, they truly were clowns.

“I’ll discuss this with Qin Auntie and decide later. Anyway, those matters in Hai City aren’t urgent.”

Indeed, they weren’t urgent. Since Shao Qidong hadn’t succeeded in tricking her into signing the debt contract, she wasn’t in a hurry to sell the house and repay the debt. Now, she had the confidence to deal with Jiang Yuan and wouldn’t give them any opportunities to take advantage of her.

Jiang Yuan was speechless. Since Shen Yiqiu said it wasn’t urgent, she, as an outsider, couldn’t be more anxious than the person herself. She just hadn’t expected to be rejected by Shen Yiqiu again.

The results of her discussion with He Chao resurfaced; Shen Yiqiu’s sudden change was likely related to Qin Qianrou. This reporter was notoriously difficult to deal with, maintaining a distance from everyone, and now Shen Yiqiu was acting more and more like her.

**

Qin Qianrou hadn’t gone far with her laptop but sat on a chair outside the ward, continuing to work as before.

However, the change in environment, with people coming and going, made it difficult for her to concentrate. She had conducted interviews in far more chaotic and noisy environments before, but this current restlessness was unusual.

A young nurse, carrying a tray, walked over from the other end of the corridor and was surprised to see Qin Qianrou sitting there.

“Reporter Qin, why are you sitting here? Did Xiao Qiu throw another tantrum?”

It was no secret among the nurses that Shen Yiqiu had been moody and prone to outbursts since waking up. However, she had been much better since Qin Qianrou appeared. Had she relapsed today?

Qin Qianrou simply closed her laptop; she couldn’t concentrate anyway.

“She has a visitor.”

“Oh.” The nurse nodded, then subconsciously sighed, “Xiao Qiu is so likable. People always ask about her, wanting to visit her, but it’s a pity… sigh!”

Qin Qianrou caught the key information, “People always ask about her?”

The nurse, having already classified Qin Qianrou as someone close to Shen Yiqiu, didn’t hide anything.

“Yes, ever since Auntie Liu left, people have been coming to inquire about Shen Yiqiu’s situation.” The corners of the nurse’s mouth curled up slightly under her mask, a hint of pride in her voice, “But we didn’t answer their questions seriously; we just brushed them off.”

Qin Qianrou’s expression softened, infected by the nurse’s slight smugness. She continued listening, “Who knows if they would turn around and post the information online? Some people these days just spout nonsense without considering the consequences.”

Qin Qianrou had arranged for Shen Yiqiu to remain hospitalized and had also dismissed Auntie Liu, but she couldn’t completely shield Shen Yiqiu from public scrutiny.

Before Qin Qianrou could finish pondering the unchecked growth of social media, Shen Yiqiu rushed out of the ward. Before Qin Qianrou could speak, she was pulled closer.

Shen Yiqiu’s urgency was less frantic than before, but it was clear that something bad was about to happen. Qin Qianrou no longer doubted the premonitions; she just wondered, was she about to face another disaster?

Shen Yiqiu pulled her back into the ward, then ran to the nurses’ station and spoke to them. Qin Qianrou saw several nurses spring into action, making calls and hurrying towards the ward area.

Shen Yiqiu returned, closed the door, and seeing Qin Qianrou standing there with her arms crossed, waiting for her, finally smiled, “See, now I know how to take precautions.”

Chapter 19: A Tactical Retreat

After the meeting, the leaders filed out. Lin Shuangzhi walked over to Qin Qianrou, who was still sitting motionless. Wanting to offer some comfort, but knowing it was futile, she simply patted Qin Qianrou’s shoulder twice after a few seconds of silent contemplation.

Li Wan rushed over as soon as she heard the meeting was adjourned. Qin Qianrou had already composed herself and, picking up her notebook, was about to leave when she was met with the scent of Li Wan’s perfume.

“Qianrou, are… are you okay?” She was definitely not okay; otherwise, why would Qianrou only be leaving now?

Qin Qianrou’s expression was almost the same as usual, only her aura was slightly weaker.

“I’m fine; it was no different from any other meeting.” She clutched her notebook tighter and looked at Li Wan with a faint smile, “You’ve been to these disciplinary meetings before, haven’t you? Why are you asking me?”

Seeing that her emotions were stable, Li Wan sighed and didn’t ask any further questions. She had run into the team leader on her way here, and Lin Shuangzhi’s expression had truly lived up to her name – frosty.

The team leader usually supported Qin Qianrou in such meetings. Her grim expression probably didn’t bode well. Li Wan had been burning with anxiety but was blocked from entering the meeting room. Everyone at the station knew that she unconditionally supported Qin Qianrou, no wonder they hadn’t let her in.

“It’s almost time to get off work. Let me drive you home. You’ve been tired these past few days; take a break from work.”

Li Wan kept glancing at Qin Qianrou’s injured hand. She had already asked Qian Zhifei about what happened over the phone. Considering how dangerous the situation had been, the few burns on Qin Qianrou’s hand were indeed fortunate.

However, Li Wan still felt distressed.

What deep-seated hatred could drive someone to throw acid, and so brazenly, at the Economic Investigation Brigade building? This was blatant disregard for the law, a challenge to society!

Surprisingly, Qin Qianrou didn’t refuse, even cooperating readily.

“Wait for me to organize things in my office; it won’t take long.”

Qin Qianrou’s ready agreement to leave work surprised Li Wan, rendering her prepared words of persuasion useless.

As promised, Qin Qianrou quickly left the office and went to the parking lot with Li Wan. They encountered many colleagues along the way, almost all of whom gave her concerned and inquisitive looks, some even staring at her left hand.

Qin Qianrou didn’t slow down, nodding in acknowledgment of their concern. The coldness in her expression softened slightly, but it wasn’t particularly warm, just like her usual demeanor.

“There are always so many nosy people these days,” Li Wan remarked sarcastically, recalling the scene earlier.

As Qin Qianrou fastened her seatbelt, she accidentally bumped her left hand and let out a soft cry, startling Li Wan.

“What’s wrong? Let me see, is the wound worse?”

Qin Qianrou pushed her friend back into her seat and said with a smile, “I’m not that fragile. It hurts a little, but I can bear it. Focus on driving.”

Shortly after arriving at Qin Qianrou’s apartment, Rong Fei arrived as well. Her BMW was practically unusable, and although Qin Qianrou offered to buy her a new one, she vehemently refused.

“Getting a car during rush hour is a nightmare. As soon as I opened the app, all the prices were inflated; it’s infuriating!”

Rong Fei complained as soon as she sat down. This hot weather was truly a prime opportunity for price gouging.

Li Wan poured her a glass of water, smiling as she watched Rong Fei wipe her sweat and drink.

“You usually drive yourself, and now you’re complaining after just one taxi ride? Now you know why we receive so many complaints; they’re not without reason.”

“Your program handles these matters?” Rong Fei finished half the glass of water in one gulp, finally feeling better.

“Normally, we don’t. This falls under the purview of the lifestyle channel. But if the price surge isn’t due to market forces but because of corporate manipulation or large capital deliberately inflating prices, then it might become our program’s topic.”

Hearing this, Rong Fei understood.

She glanced at Qin Qianrou’s left hand resting on her lap, her eyes filled with concern.

“You’re doing a good deed by exposing these problems, but you can’t disregard your own safety. Thinking back, those recent incidents are quite terrifying.”

Li Wan also sighed. For the first time, the three women together were unusually silent and somber.

After a while, Rong Fei spoke again, but this time with more caution, “Qianrou, shouldn’t you take a break? These recent incidents were clearly targeted at you, and it doesn’t seem like they’re just trying to scare you.”

Li Wan added, “Scare her? They were trying to kill her!”

Reporters did face many difficulties and dangers, and receiving threats was common, but such a direct and brutal attack was rare.

After saying this, they both looked at the silent Qin Qianrou. Although being forced on leave by the station director was infuriating, as her friends, they also felt it was a form of protection.

“I know you’re worried. I’ll be extra careful.”

It was rare for Qin Qianrou to offer such reassurance. Li Wan and Rong Fei, seeing this, decided not to push the issue further. Li Wan ordered takeout; since Qin Qianrou wasn’t comfortable staying at her place, she would come over to take care of her instead.

“Qianrou, have you made any plans for your leave?”

Li Wan ordered braised pig’s trotters and, after removing the bones, placed the meat in a bowl in front of Qin Qianrou.

“Nothing special. I’ll read, rest, or maybe go out.”

Go out?

Seeing the worried expressions of Li Wan and Rong Fei, Qin Qianrou explained, “I won’t go anywhere I shouldn’t. I’ll just visit the hospital, okay?”

Li Wan gnawed on a pig’s trotter happily, “You should visit the hospital frequently for your hand, to see how to minimize the scarring. By the way, you visited Shen Yiqiu today. How is she?”

“She’s fine, much better than when I first met her.”

Rong Fei thought for a moment and suggested, “Qianrou, I think you should spend as much time as possible with Shen Yiqiu during your leave.”

“Why?”

“Since she has a sixth sense, she can at least ensure your safety. And a hospital is a relatively safe environment.”

Li Wan agreed, “Anyway, you definitely won’t be able to stay idle at home. Instead of running around, it’s better to stay at the hospital.”

Qin Qianrou was usually difficult to persuade, but this time, she readily agreed.

She did want to visit Shen Yiqiu at the hospital for a chat, so this was a good opportunity.

Li Wan wanted to stay with Qin Qianrou but was mercilessly sent home. Rong Fei, smiling, dragged the reluctant Li Wan downstairs.

As soon as she returned, her phone rang. Qin Qianrou frowned as she answered.

“Mom.”

A dignified yet gentle female voice came through, calm but with a hint of concern, “Xiao Rou, what happened today?”

Qin Qianrou knew that this matter would eventually reach her family, but she hadn’t expected it to be so soon. After all, Meng City was thousands of miles away from home.

“I’m fine, I just suffered some minor burns on my hand. I just need some time to recover.”

“Sulfuric acid, and you say you’re fine?”

“Mom, this incident…”

“Don’t tell me it was just an accident.”

Qin Qianrou’s words were cut short; she could only remain silent.

A mother knows her daughter best; how could Wen Yirong not understand her daughter’s thoughts?

“Xiao Rou, we support your dedication to your work and your commitment to doing your best. But you can’t disregard your own safety. This was what you promised us.”

Qin Qianrou knew this was the condition for her parents’ agreement to let her work in Meng City.

“Mom, I know you’re worried, so I’ll listen this time. I’m starting my leave tomorrow.”

This surprised Wen Yirong, but she was also pleased.

Changing the subject, she asked, “And the car accident last night, has it been investigated?”

Qin Qianrou pressed her hand against her temple helplessly and sighed softly, “You even know about this?”

“This kind of thing needs to be thoroughly investigated; we can’t just dismiss it as an ordinary accident.” Wen Yirong paused, softened her tone, and asked tentatively, “Xiao Rou, if you can’t find anyone to help you in Meng City, I’ll have your father…”

Qin Qianrou immediately interrupted, “Mom, we agreed; no family involvement in my work.”

Wen Yirong had anticipated her daughter’s reaction. She had only asked tentatively, and it turned out as she expected.

However, Qin Qianrou didn’t simply refuse as she had in the past, but offered a rare explanation, “I think this is just the beginning; there might be many secrets we don’t know yet. Involving higher authorities now might not be wise.”

“Since you have your own plans, I won’t force you. But no matter what, you must protect yourself. Otherwise, your father and I will definitely bring you back.”

“I know.”

After ending the call with her concerned mother, Qin Qianrou finally had time for a relaxing hot bath. She had carefully protected her injured hand, resulting in a slightly awkward posture, but the atmosphere in the bathroom was pleasant.

With her tense nerves soothed, the armor Qin Qianrou had worn all day finally came down. Feeling the dull ache in her left hand and the almost invisible scar on her right ankle, her eyes stung.

Facing the unspoken pressure from her superiors and colleagues, taking on the unexpected burden of Shen Yiqiu, and enduring these repeated, life-threatening attacks, even the strong Qin Qianrou needed a moment to release her emotions.

So she allowed herself a brief cry in the shower. Emerging from the bathroom, she was composed again, as if nothing had happened.

**

Two days later, Qin Qianrou actually brought her laptop to the hospital. Shen Yiqiu knew she was coming and greeted her with a wide smile.

“You’re here early.” Shen Yiqiu had just finished breakfast.

“I didn’t interrupt your breakfast, perfect timing.” Qin Qianrou put down her bag and sat in her usual spot.

Shen Yiqiu craned her neck, trying to see Qin Qianrou’s hand, but it was strategically hidden.

“I just sat down, and that restless posture of yours doesn’t seem very welcoming.”

Shen Yiqiu sat up straight and, after a moment, explained softly, “I just wanted to see your hand.”

Qin Qianrou sighed; everyone was so concerned about her hand that she couldn’t help but feel a little anxious herself.

“It’s nothing serious. I just had the nurse check it.”

Shen Yiqiu smiled again, relieved and happy.

Qin Qianrou didn’t seem to want to ask about the sixth sense. After chatting with Shen Yiqiu for a while, she opened her laptop, seemingly ready to work.

Shen Yiqiu didn’t want to disturb her and quietly looked at her phone.

Qin Qianrou didn’t look up, seemingly aware of what she was doing, “What are you looking at?”

Shen Yiqiu paused, guessing she was asking about the content on her phone.

“I’m reading an ebook.”

“Reading an online novel?”

Shen Yiqiu smiled wryly and shook her head. She had enjoyed reading them before, but she probably wouldn’t have the opportunity now.

“I’m reading some legal articles.”

Qin Qianrou nodded and didn’t ask further. They both returned to their respective activities, the atmosphere harmonious.

After some time, the ward door opened. Shen Yiqiu thought it was the nurse and was about to greet her with a smile when she saw Jiang Yuan.

“Xiao Qiu, it’s been a few days. You look much better.”