Chapter 14: A Close Call
Qin Qianrou didn’t answer immediately, but Shen Yiqiu’s sudden change in demeanor and tone reminded her of the elevator incident. She had cautiously chosen the stairs and had casually asked the nurse before leaving this morning, learning that there hadn’t been any elevator malfunctions last night.
Nothing had happened, so why had Shen Yiqiu been so insistent that she not take the elevator?
Qin Qianrou should have asked, but time was limited, and there were too many matters requiring her attention; this seemingly insignificant matter wasn’t a priority. But now, Shen Yiqiu had made a similar remark, even more outlandish than the last.
Being close to her, Qin Qianrou observed Shen Yiqiu as she pondered. Shen Yiqiu didn’t avoid her gaze, her eyes holding the same expression as last night; besides the initial hesitation, there was only firmness and urgency.
This was a strange combination of emotions. If she were playing a prank, she should be more nervous and evasive, right? If she wasn’t joking but was hinting at something, revealing a secret, she should act nonchalant and feign ignorance.
Why were you so urgent and… afraid?
Qin Qianrou thought she had misread her. Shen Yiqiu was indeed afraid, but not because of Qin Qianrou, but because of herself?
“You…”
Seeing Qin Qianrou’s hesitation, Shen Yiqiu disregarded her earlier resolve and tightened her grip on Qin Qianrou’s clothes, then reached up and grabbed her hand.
Her fingertips were cool, her palm soft, but Shen Yiqiu didn’t have the leisure to appreciate it.
“Please don’t drive, okay? Okay?!” Towards the end, her voice was almost frantic.
This low cry startled everyone, even Rong Fei, who had been watching the scene unfold with amusement.
Rong Fei was a psychology PhD with her own counseling practice. Around thirty years old, she was a senior to both Qin Qianrou and Li Wan. They had become acquainted through their work, their mutual recognition of each other’s professional abilities and attitudes leading to a friendship based on mutual respect.
This afternoon, Qin Qianrou had personally asked her to care for Shen Yiqiu, hoping she could help minimize the girl’s trauma and assess the impact of her parents’ sudden death.
The effects of trauma could often be hidden, buried deep, becoming a ticking time bomb that might only surface years later, with devastating consequences.
Rong Fei also knew about the highway pile-up, but she hadn’t expected Qin Qianrou to seek her help. They had no direct connection, yet the incredibly busy Reporter Qin had taken the initiative to reach out. Whether out of curiosity, professional habit, or simple human compassion, Rong Fei had readily canceled her gym plans for the evening.
“Little friend, why don’t you want Qianrou to drive?” Rong Fei walked over, glanced at their clasped hands, and asked with a smile.
Shen Yiqiu was at a loss for words, “I… um, because…”
She stammered but couldn’t explain.
She knew Qin Qianrou and Rong Fei were both looking at her, but she didn’t know what to say. The scene that had flashed in her mind just now was more terrifying than anything she had seen before, a complete disaster!
“Don’t be nervous. Say what you want to say; it’s okay.” Rong Fei’s tone was calm and reassuring, making Shen Yiqiu feel comfortable despite their recent acquaintance.
Qin Qianrou quickly exchanged glances with Rong Fei; she knew Rong Fei was employing her professional skills to guide Shen Yiqiu.
Shen Yiqiu wasn’t aware of this; all she could think about was preventing Qin Qianrou from getting into that car, let alone driving it.
She was so anxious she wanted to jump up and pace, but in the end, she could only blurt out something that made people laugh and cry, “Because I can’t lose you!”
Only after saying it did Shen Yiqiu understand why she had been so frantic.
She had been afraid, afraid that something would happen to Qin Qianrou, afraid of losing the person who gave her a sense of security.
At this moment, Qin Qianrou had become her anchor.
Rong Fei hadn’t expected Shen Yiqiu to say this. After a moment of stunned silence, she gave Qin Qianrou a meaningful look, her gaze lingering briefly on their clasped hands.
Qin Qianrou was still focused on Shen Yiqiu’s words. Not naturally attuned to emotions, she was only slightly surprised initially and didn’t find anything particularly inappropriate about the statement.
What she cared about was why Shen Yiqiu was so insistent, did she know something?
“Please? Just promise me. The bus, the subway, or even a shared bike is fine! Just not a car, okay?” Shen Yiqiu was adamant. She didn’t have a better way to convince her.
Unable to fabricate a lie, she could only resort to this persistent pleading. She knew Reporter Qin was a woman of her word; she would keep her promises.
Rong Fei, suppressing a smile, explained, “Don’t worry, she didn’t drive here today.”
Huh? She didn’t drive?
Shen Yiqiu was dumbfounded, blurting out, “Didn’t drive? What about the blue BMW?”
Rong Fei was startled and answered truthfully, “That’s my car. Qianrou came in my car today.”
The look in Qin Qianrou’s eyes deepened. Shen Yiqiu had been staying in the hospital and hadn’t left, a fact she had confirmed with the nurse earlier. And she had never met Rong Fei before, so how did she know she drove a blue BMW?
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Shen Yiqiu decided to be upfront.
“I know you want to know why, but I can’t explain. Just trust me this once, okay? Just this once. I’ll listen to you three times in exchange, okay?”
Oh? It sounded like a good deal.
Qin Qianrou didn’t care about the details right now; she couldn’t bear to see this girl with her messy hair rambling on her hospital bed, practically begging on her knees.
“Okay, we won’t drive tonight.”
As if possessed, Qin Qianrou agreed, then withdrew her hand and gently stroked Shen Yiqiu’s messy hair.
She casually tucked the hair behind Shen Yiqiu’s ear, unable to bear her panicked state.
**
Leaving the hospital, Rong Fei walked beside Qin Qianrou, clearly surprised by what had just happened in the ward.
“Qianrou, are we really taking the subway tonight?”
Qin Qianrou was still wearing her neatly buttoned suit jacket. Fortunately, there was a slight breeze on this summer night, but it still didn’t make walking to the subway station any more pleasant when they had a car available.
“Although I can’t explain why Shen Yiqiu made that request, I know she wasn’t joking.” Qin Qianrou’s gaze was deep; there were too many mysteries she needed to unravel.
“But that child’s request is too strange. I’ve never seen a patient like this before.” Rong Fei recalled Shen Yiqiu’s behavior; her professional habit had her observing from the moment she entered the ward.
“That’s why I asked you, a busy person, for this favor. An ordinary patient wouldn’t require your expertise.”
Qin Qianrou never offered empty flattery; to be trusted by her like this, Rong Fei must be exceptionally skilled.
Rong Fei had already taken off her casual jacket. Wearing a short-sleeved athletic T-shirt, she took out a tissue from her bag as they walked. She handed one to Qin Qianrou and asked, puzzled, “Aren’t you hot? I haven’t seen you take off your jacket the whole time. If it weren’t for your shirt being visible, I would have thought you weren’t wearing anything underneath.”
Rong Fei’s joke didn’t amuse Qin Qianrou; it reminded her of the incident with her shirt earlier.
She subconsciously flexed her fingers, the warmth from Shen Yiqiu’s touch seemingly lingering.
“I feel like her reactions aren’t quite like someone who has experienced such a major trauma, but I can’t pinpoint what’s off.”
Rong Fei thought for a moment and asked, “Are you suspicious of her?”
Qin Qianrou shook her head, her gaze fixed ahead as she walked at a steady pace, “I wouldn’t say suspicious, I just want to be absolutely certain.”
Although Qin Qianrou was primarily driven by logic, her few encounters with Shen Yiqiu had allowed her to sense the girl’s innate innocence. However, it seemed Shen Yiqiu was hiding quite a few secrets.
Qin Qianrou had no intention of unearthing all of someone else’s secrets, but since they were now connected by the Dongsheng Group matter, she at least needed to determine whether the person by her side was a friend or foe.
Rong Fei took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from her brow, “Don’t worry, I’ll visit the hospital often during this time. That child has such delicate features. It’s fortunate she wasn’t disfigured in the accident. I certainly hope she’ll be alright.”
Physically, mentally, completely unscathed.
**
They walked a little further in the summer breeze when Rong Fei’s phone suddenly rang.
She answered, then stopped after a few seconds, her voice sharper than usual, even she couldn’t control it, “What did you say? A car accident?”
Qin Qianrou stopped and turned around to see an expression of disbelief and shock on Rong Fei’s usually calm face.
After hanging up, Rong Fei stood frozen, her hand stiffly holding the phone.
Qin Qianrou knew something must have happened and asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”
Rong Fei took a while to compose herself and lower her hand.
She carefully chose her words, looking at Qin Qianrou with a complex expression.
Her demeanor made Qin Qianrou’s heart skip a beat; she pursed her lips.
“The traffic police called. They said my car, the one parked at the hospital, was stolen and then involved in an accident not far from the hospital.”
Qin Qianrou was startled and asked, “Did it hit someone?”
Rong Fei shook her head, still shaken, “No, my car was hit. They said it was a direct side impact, at full speed. The traffic officer just told me the car is most likely totaled and told me to be prepared.”
Qin Qianrou’s face darkened. Was this a coincidence?
Rong Fei tugged on her sleeve, put her phone back in her bag, and turned back towards the hospital.
“Qianrou, we have to go back now! That child definitely knows something! This isn’t a simple accident!”
Qin Qianrou followed. She also wanted to ask Shen Yiqiu if she had known about the accident beforehand. Or was she somehow involved?
Her thoughts became increasingly chaotic. Although they hadn’t been gone long, it felt like a lifetime to Qin Qianrou.
Just as they reached the hospital entrance, ambulances drove past, temporarily blocking their way.
Amidst the commotion, Qin Qianrou saw a familiar figure. Shen Yiqiu, wearing her hospital gown, had run out and was looking towards the ambulances.
She tried to get closer several times but was blocked by nurses. The scene was chaotic, and although Shen Yiqiu didn’t dare to get too close, she refused to give up.
Qin Qianrou strode towards her. Amidst the noise, her clear, cold voice was like a lightning bolt, piercing through Shen Yiqiu’s confused thoughts.
“Shen Yiqiu, who are you looking for?”
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