Chapter 38
Half of Qin Qianrou’s face was hidden in the shadows of the evening, occasionally illuminated by the headlights of passing cars. Shen Yiqiu instinctively took two steps back, giving them space to catch up.
“You didn’t call me because you were afraid your family would find out you were back in Hai City?” The man guessed, seeing Qin Qianrou’s silence.
Although it was a guess, the confidence and tenderness on his face showed he knew Qin Qianrou quite well.
Qin Qianrou frowned slightly, as if displeased. “You already guessed it, why ask?”
Shen Yiqiu had been standing beside Qin Qianrou, and even though she had tried to step back, she hadn’t gone far, so she overheard their entire conversation.
Strangely, Qin Qianrou didn’t seem to have any intention of introducing them, as if wanting to end the conversation quickly.
“How long are you planning to stay in Hai City this time?” The man seemed accustomed to Qin Qianrou’s coldness, showing no sign of awkwardness or feeling slighted.
“I’m not sure yet.” Qin Qianrou’s gaze was mostly fixed on a nearby fire hydrant, avoiding his eyes.
“I see, then how about…”
Qin Qianrou seemed to know what he was about to say and interrupted him before he could finish. “I’ll be very busy, I don’t have time.”
The man chuckled, a knowing look on his face.
Qin Qianrou was still the same as always, hadn’t changed at all.
Then, Qin Qianrou’s uncle spoke, “Shao Ze, don’t push Qianrou, she doesn’t seem to be in a good mood tonight.”
The younger man, Shao Ze, suppressed a smile and nodded in agreement. “Yes, I can see that.”
Qin Qianrou’s expression tightened; she was clearly displeased. The two men, seeing this, didn’t push further.
“Just focus on your work. If you need any help, call me or Shao Ze, no need to be polite between family.”
Before leaving, both the uncle and Shao Ze glanced at Shen Yiqiu, but they tactfully didn’t ask any questions, simply nodding at her.
After they left, Shen Yiqiu cautiously observed Qin Qianrou. Seeing her still frowning, it seemed she wasn’t planning to offer any explanations.
“Let’s go back to the hotel.”
Shen Yiqiu silently followed Qin Qianrou, this time deliberately staying half a step behind, slightly offset from her.
Perhaps she wanted to give Qin Qianrou some space, or perhaps she needed to process things herself.
**
Back at the hotel, Qin Qianrou’s mood remained subdued. After a few perfunctory remarks, Shen Yiqiu also fell silent.
Only after Qin Qianrou went into the bathroom did Shen Yiqiu’s expression crumble.
Ever since they left the restaurant, she had been feeling a persistent discomfort in her chest. She hadn’t paid much attention to it at the time, but back at the hotel, she realized something was wrong.
Shen Yiqiu clutched her chest, puzzled. “What’s going on? Is something about to happen?”
But this pain felt different from before, and she wasn’t sure if it was a premonition or actual pain.
As she pondered this, her thoughts drifted to Qin Qianrou’s behavior today, from buying shoes and clothes, to saying they were friends, to subtly taking care of her at dinner, and then her uncle and that man named Shao Ze.
Unlike their encounter with Wen Yirong, Qin Qianrou hadn’t been very warm towards her uncle and had been even more impatient with Shao Ze. Shen Yiqiu could clearly sense this, but she couldn’t help but be curious, wanting to know more.
Just then, the bathroom door opened, and Qin Qianrou emerged in the pajamas her mother had sent. Unlike last night, when she had been wearing the hotel bathrobe, Qin Qianrou looked stunning in the silk pajamas.
She was drying her hair and, upon emerging, saw Shen Yiqiu sitting in a daze. Although she couldn’t see her expression clearly from the side, her stiff posture and stillness clearly indicated she was lost in thought.
“Go take a shower, we need to rest early tonight.”
Qin Qianrou rarely urged Shen Yiqiu like this at home; they usually kept to themselves. They would be reviewing the evidence Gu Chao and the others had compiled tomorrow, which would be another tiring and mentally exhausting day.
Shen Yiqiu mechanically gathered her clothes and went to the bathroom. Qin Qianrou frowned slightly, watching her retreating figure, unable to guess what she was thinking.
After showering, Shen Yiqiu saw her blurry reflection in the steamy bathroom mirror, her mood unchanged.
Her thoughts were still jumbled, the discomfort in her chest coming and going, but thankfully, it wasn’t painful enough to disrupt her daily life.
She felt uneasy, even restless. This feeling intensified, and Shen Yiqiu had to calm herself down and analyze what was wrong.
Was it because she had witnessed He Chao’s hypocrisy firsthand through Gu Chao? Was it because she had to constantly mask her true feelings while interacting with Jiang Yuan and He Chao tonight? Or was it the repeated encounters with people Qin Qianrou knew that made her uncomfortable?
Her thoughts paused here. Shen Yiqiu closed her eyes, reminding herself that her plan was progressing surprisingly smoothly, and the day of reckoning with her enemies was drawing near. This was the outcome she desired.
As for everything else, since she couldn’t figure it out, she might as well stop thinking about it.
This was a rare opportunity. Whether or not they could bring down He Chao depended on this.
Shen Yiqiu stayed in the bathroom for an unusually long time. Qin Qianrou, having dried her hair, checked the time several times, wondering if she should knock on the door and ask if she was alright.
Shen Yiqiu finally emerged, looking a little tired. Qin Qianrou looked at her, and Shen Yiqiu gave her a faint smile, then walked straight to her bed.
Qin Qianrou had wanted to discuss He Chao’s matter with her, but it was getting late, and seeing the exhaustion in Shen Yiqiu’s expression, she urged her to rest.
“Mm, I’ll go to bed then, you should rest early too.” Shen Yiqiu pulled back the covers and lay down.
Before Qin Qianrou could respond, her phone rang. She quickly glanced at the screen, frowned, but answered without hesitation.
Shen Yiqiu pulled the covers higher, observing Qin Qianrou’s expression as she answered the call. Then, she watched as Qin Qianrou walked towards the bathroom, hearing her say before closing the door, “Shao Ze, what is it?”
Shao Ze again. That man seemed very interested in Qin Qianrou. Not only had he questioned her earlier, but he was also calling her so late at night.
Shen Yiqiu was even more tired now. She turned over, her back facing Qin Qianrou’s bed, and curled up under the covers, only her hair visible. The main light had been turned off at some point, leaving only the bedside lamp on Qin Qianrou’s side. As she drifted off, Shen Yiqiu started dreaming.
She dreamt of her past life, of the happy times she had spent with her parents in Hai City. She remembered how they would always go out for dinner and shopping after every major exam. They went to ordinary places, but in her dream, every scene was filled with anxiety.
The images were fragmented and disjointed, suddenly flashing to the car accident, terrifying and horrific. But strangely, Shen Yiqiu’s memories of this scene were the most blurry. Because at the moment of impact, her mother had shielded her, protecting her from witnessing the gruesome details.
However, the car accident was also the most painful memory, because it had taken everything from her. She didn’t want to dwell on it, afraid of being overwhelmed by emotions.
She didn’t intentionally try to forget, but she was afraid to remember.
Then, Qin Qianrou’s figure appeared in her dream, but it was always a blurry image. Shen Yiqiu could tell it was Qin Qianrou from her clothes and her demeanor, but she couldn’t see her face clearly.
Shen Yiqiu’s sleep was restless, the scenes in her dream constantly shifting, and the uneasiness in her heart intensified.
Qin Qianrou stayed in the bathroom for a while after ending the call. When she came out, she saw Shen Yiqiu tossing and turning in bed.
She quietly walked over to Shen Yiqiu’s bed and saw her frowning, her sleep troubled.
Qin Qianrou’s heart sank, thinking that returning to Hai City had indeed affected her. Shen Yiqiu had seemed fine all day, but in her dreams, her suppressed emotions were breaking free.
Rong Fei had said that healing from psychological trauma was a long process and couldn’t be rushed or forced. However, this trip to Hai City had been so sudden, there hadn’t been any time for Qin Qianrou to prepare.
Looking at Shen Yiqiu’s distressed and restless face, Qin Qianrou sat down beside her bed, watching her quietly, hesitant to wake her.
She was clearly having a bad dream. Would it be better to let her continue, or to wake her up?
Shen Yiqiu, already feeling uneasy, sensed someone nearby in her half-asleep state. She opened her eyes slightly, and the face that had been blurry in her dream was now right in front of her. Shen Yiqiu stared at Qin Qianrou, lost in thought.
Qin Qianrou waited for a moment, but Shen Yiqiu didn’t speak, guessing she hadn’t fully woken up yet.
“Bad dream?”
Shen Yiqiu recalled the fragmented images in her dream and the lingering heartache, feeling even more drained.
“Don’t think too much, just go back to sleep.” Qin Qianrou didn’t want to disturb her further. She adjusted her blanket, stood up, and returned to her own bed.
Shen Yiqiu’s gaze followed her, her thoughts still jumbled, her body heavy with exhaustion. She pulled the covers over her head and closed her eyes. In her dream, she had felt abandoned again, left alone to fight her battles.
She had no family, no friends, no one to trust or rely on. She was just like in her past life, manipulated and deceived by He Chao and Jiang Yuan. Then, living in fear under Shao Qidong’s threats, making no progress, eventually breaking down.
Shen Yiqiu felt that if Qin Qianrou abandoned her, she would be alone again.
**
Fortunately, she woke up briefly in the middle of the night, and the dream didn’t continue. When Shen Yiqiu finally woke up, she couldn’t quite remember the details of her dream, only the lingering feeling of unease.
Qin Qianrou, who had gone to bed later but woken up earlier, surprisingly showed concern.
“How are you feeling today?”
Shen Yiqiu looked at her blankly, unsure why she was asking, and answered truthfully, “Okay.”
Qin Qianrou studied her for a moment. Apart from the lingering tiredness, her complexion seemed fine.
“Gu Chao just messaged me, saying they’ve almost finished organizing everything and asked us to go over before noon.”
They could have gone over this morning, but Gu Chao, afraid of arousing He Chao’s suspicion, had decided to follow his usual routine, going to the lab first, then returning to the dorm. This seemed safer.
With a few hours until noon, Shen Yiqiu knew Qin Qianrou wouldn’t waste time resting at the hotel.
“What are we doing now then?”
“How much do you know about He Chao?”
“Hmm? What aspect are you referring to?”
Qin Qianrou pursed her lips and asked directly, “Everything about him.”
Previously, their discussions about He Chao had only revolved around his attitude and treatment of his students, or the general operations of his lab. Qin Qianrou had never been this direct, wanting to know everything.
Shen Yiqiu frowned, not answering immediately.
“If it’s difficult, you can…” Qin Qianrou wondered if her request was too much.
Shen Yiqiu shook her head and explained, “It’s not difficult, it’s just that I know quite a bit, so I need to think about where to start.”
Qin Qianrou patiently waited for Shen Yiqiu to finish freshening up, and they had breakfast together. Then, returning to their room, they opened the laptop and started organizing all the information they had on He Chao and Jiang Yuan.
Looking at the increasingly complex web of connections on the screen, Qin Qianrou’s expression turned serious.
“Is it a bit more than you imagined?” Shen Yiqiu’s reaction, however, was calm. She pointed at the intricate network of relationships on the screen.
“If our speculations are true, this is truly appalling.”
Qin Qianrou had dealt with many major news stories, but even she found He Chao and Jiang Yuan’s situation disturbing.
“Unfortunately, most of it is true.”
Qin Qianrou turned to look at Shen Yiqiu, seeing her absolute certainty, her lack of surprise.
So calm, as if she had known all along.
“Shen Yiqiu, how long have you known about this?”
“I didn’t know before, I only became suspicious after my parents’ accident.”
Shen Yiqiu didn’t make excuses or try to hide anything. She and Qin Qianrou were on the same side now.
“You became suspicious, so you investigated on your own?”
Shen Yiqiu’s attention shifted from the screen, meeting Qin Qianrou’s probing gaze. She knew Qin Qianrou was suspicious.
“I wouldn’t say I was secretly investigating. While I was in the hospital, Jiang Yuan kept trying to pry information from me, mainly about my father’s research projects and lab reports. I didn’t know anything about those, but she wouldn’t give up, probing every chance she got. Naturally, I wanted to know why she was so interested.”
Qin Qianrou had a general understanding of Shen Zhifeng’s relationship with He Chao and knew they must have collaborated closely in their research. So, what Shen Yiqiu knew now was likely from the materials Shen Zhifeng had left behind.
“So, all those things, are they in your possession now?”
“Not entirely.” Shen Yiqiu frowned, but her tone was firm. “But they absolutely cannot fall into He Chao’s hands.”
Qin Qianrou looked at the complex web of relationships on the screen and sighed. Indeed, they couldn’t fall into He Chao’s hands.
**
That morning, Qin Qianrou made and received several phone calls, mostly work-related. Shen Yiqiu continued scrutinizing the relationship chart, checking for any omissions. Drawing on her experiences living with He Chao in her past life, she had contributed all the information she could remember.
She knew Qin Qianrou genuinely wanted to uncover the truth, not just to appease the students or to intimidate He Chao. Qin Qianrou didn’t want to simply mediate; she wanted to get to the bottom of everything.
All Shen Yiqiu could do, besides revealing everything she knew, was to protect her.
For some reason, after seeing He Chao last night, Shen Yiqiu had felt a lingering sense of unease. Although Qin Qianrou had reassured her, she still wasn’t completely at ease. She was on high alert, determined to protect Qin Qianrou.
**
They arranged to meet Gu Chao and the others at a guesthouse near the Hai City University dormitory area. This place was originally intended for visiting parents, but most of the guests were student couples.
They had discussed it yesterday. Since Zhang Meng was here, meeting at a guesthouse seemed perfectly legitimate. Jiang Yuan already knew they had met with Gu Chao, so they might as well go with the flow and pretend they were there to offer relationship advice.
When the door opened, everyone was there. Zhang Meng, who opened the door, smiled immediately upon seeing Qin Qianrou and Shen Yiqiu.
Although her eyes were bloodshot, a clear sign of a sleepless night, her overall demeanor was much better than before.
“Reporter Qin, Shen Yiqiu, come in!”
Zhang Meng’s joy was evident, and the others in the room shared her sentiment.
A laptop, notebooks, even some crumpled pieces of paper were scattered on the bed and desk.
Gu Chao and the others were still sorting and categorizing the materials, discussing as they worked.
As they approached, Gu Chao stood up and presented the fruits of their labor last night. “This is basically all the evidence we have.”
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