Chapter 53
Shen Yiqiu had rarely seen Qin Qianrou like this, not even during their initial acquaintance. Reporter Qin could be cold, aloof, or calmly articulate sharp opinions, indifferent and unconcerned with matters unrelated to her.
But Sister Qin was also warm and gentle, thoughtful and considerate. She had secretly celebrated her birthday, given her thoughtful gifts, meticulously planned her trip, and subtly protected her in front of others.
Shen Yiqiu was captivated by every facet of her personality. However, now, the Qin Qianrou standing before her radiated anger, and it was clearly directed at her.
So, she froze, then felt a sense of helplessness.
Shen Yiqiu’s silence, to Qin Qianrou, was an evasion.
Her anger, instead of subsiding, intensified, and she repeated, uncharacteristically forceful, “Why didn’t you answer your phone after school today?”
Shen Yiqiu looked up at her nervously and mumbled, “My phone died. I had lectures all afternoon, and there weren’t enough charging ports, I couldn’t get one.”
She was telling the truth, but not the entire truth. A chill entered Qin Qianrou’s eyes; she wasn’t satisfied with this explanation.
“And then? Where did you go after school?”
Shen Yiqiu bit her lip, conflicted. She had been dreading this question, it put her in a difficult position.
Should she tell her? Although her cousin had asked her to keep it a secret, he was visiting her frequently, and Jiejie would eventually find out. Now that Jiejie had asked directly, if she didn’t tell her, how would she explain it later?
This hesitation, however, was interpreted as a deliberate concealment.
Qin Qianrou wasn’t just angry now, she felt a pang of disappointment.
Since leaving Meng Da, she had been analyzing all the possibilities, trying to control her emotions. She had thought she could remain rational, but seeing Shen Yiqiu, her anger erupted.
It had been a long time since she had lost her temper like this, and Qin Qianrou was taken aback by her own reaction. But she was older and more experienced, she wouldn’t back down now, she simply subtly reined in her anger.
Although her anger subsided, the frustration and unease remained, even intensifying. But Qin Qianrou still held onto a sliver of hope; this gentle, seemingly innocent and kind child wouldn’t deceive her.
It was normal for young people to be curious about many things, to be influenced by their surroundings and yearn for romance, and it was even more normal for adults to have relationships. Shen Yiqiu’s problem was simply that her choice of partner was inappropriate, their interactions exceeding acceptable boundaries. These were things that could be addressed and corrected.
Although worried, Qin Qianrou didn’t think it was hopeless.
But Shen Yiqiu hiding things from her, deceiving her, that was a different matter.
“Why aren’t you speaking? Where did you go? Were you with someone?” Qin Qianrou took a deep breath, forcing her voice back to its usual calm tone.
However, the chill in her words lingered in the warm apartment.
Qin Qianrou’s questioning made Shen Yiqiu tremble, like a child caught red-handed, the feeling unbearable.
If only a simple apology would suffice, but she couldn’t, she was still struggling with whether to tell the truth.
“I went out with someone, he needed my help with something.”
Qin Qianrou’s voice dropped even lower. “With whom?”
Shen Yiqiu’s expression was complex, her eyes clearly showing evasion and resistance.
She doesn’t want to tell me, this was Qin Qianrou’s conclusion.
She forced herself to calm down, drawing on the energy she usually reserved for handling difficult tasks, to control her emotions.
She took a step back, not pursuing the person’s identity, shifting her focus to Shen Yiqiu instead.
“You disappearing without a word worries people.”
Shen Yiqiu quickly responded, “I know, that’s why I immediately charged my phone as soon as I got home.” She bit her lip, annoyed. “I didn’t realize it was dead.”
After saying this, she realized, Jiejie called me?
“Jiejie, was it something urgent?”
Qin Qianrou paused, suddenly not wanting to tell her that she had waited for her outside the university, and she certainly didn’t want her to know she had waited for her at the entrance of the complex after her phone was off.
This wasn’t like her; she couldn’t explain it herself.
“I was planning to pick you up after my appointment at the Economic Investigation Brigade, but I couldn’t reach you.” Qin Qianrou looked away, avoiding Shen Yiqiu’s gaze.
Shen Yiqiu’s expression showed regret; she wouldn’t have agreed to go with her cousin if she had known.
The atmosphere remained tense. The temperature in the apartment, warm and inviting, seemed normal, but Shen Yiqiu, cautiously observing Qin Qianrou, saw her still frowning, clearly still displeased.
“Jiejie, I’ll keep an eye on my battery level from now on, I won’t let you lose contact with me again.” Shen Yiqiu took a step forward, her voice soft and apologetic.
Qin Qianrou’s heart softened, and she felt a pang of guilt for her earlier outburst.
She cleared her throat, composed herself, and led Shen Yiqiu to the sofa.
After a moment of consideration, she decided to use this opportunity to have a talk with Shen Yiqiu. Although she wasn’t her legal guardian, she had brought Shen Yiqiu home from the hospital, and if anything happened, she would be responsible.
“Jiejie, do you have something to tell me?” It was rare to see Qin Qianrou looking so hesitant, as if about to discuss something important.
Shen Yiqiu also became nervous, sitting upright, her hands clasped on her lap, ready to be lectured.
Qin Qianrou chuckled at her serious demeanor, her anger forgotten. She wasn’t usually expressive, but the slight smile in her eyes was enough to make Shen Yiqiu’s heart flutter.
Jiejie is so beautiful, even when she’s angry, and even more beautiful after she’s calmed down.
“Shen Yiqiu, are you busy with your studies lately?”
Qin Qianrou’s sudden change of topic puzzled Shen Yiqiu, but she still answered honestly.
“Not too busy, but I want to improve my GPA, so I’m spending more time studying than other students.”
Qin Qianrou was pleased with her proactive attitude, knowing that caring about her GPA meant she was thinking about her future. This was good, reassuring.
She tapped her slender fingers on her leg, then asked, “Have you met anyone you’re interested in at school?”
The question wasn’t exactly subtle; the word “interested” clearly implied it wasn’t just a casual acquaintance, but it was still a normal question.
Shen Yiqiu froze for a moment, then blushed deeply, the redness spreading to her ears.
She looked at Qin Qianrou nervously, unsure why she would suddenly ask this. The only person she was “interested” in was Qin Qianrou, but she couldn’t say that.
She looked at her, her hands unconsciously clenching into fists.
“No, I haven’t met anyone special at school. I don’t… have any special feelings for my classmates.” Trying to maintain her composure, Shen Yiqiu quickly dismissed the possibility of any romantic involvement with her classmates.
Qin Qianrou wasn’t surprised, but her heart sank further. From Shen Yiqiu’s tone, it was clear she wasn’t interested in people her own age. The image of that man in the motorcycle jacket, tall and with a mustache, flashed through her mind again.
“Then is there a type you prefer? Or what kind of person do you think would be suitable for a relationship?” Qin Qianrou felt she must be possessed today; these were the kinds of questions Li Wan usually asked, why was she being so gossipy?
But she quickly convinced herself that she wasn’t being nosy with everyone, she was just concerned about Shen Yiqiu and wanted to understand the situation better, she was responsible for her.
Qin Qianrou’s series of questions made Shen Yiqiu blush even deeper, her composure crumbling, her heart racing.
Did Jiejie notice something? Is she testing me? Or did she misunderstand something?
Shen Yiqiu repeatedly questioned herself, but she couldn’t find the answers.
Qin Qianrou had completely regained her composure, her eyes calmly waiting for Shen Yiqiu’s response.
Shen Yiqiu only dared to glance at her briefly, afraid of blurting out her true feelings if she looked at her for too long.
She had someone she liked, she liked Jiejie, every moment spent with Jiejie was filled with warmth and happiness. She was becoming increasingly possessive, unwilling to share Jiejie with others, unwilling to let others date her; this was something Wen Shao Ze had inadvertently made her realize.
She even secretly yearned to be closer to Jiejie, to always be by her side.
Shen Yiqiu only knew this feeling of possessiveness was intensifying, but she didn’t know how to describe it, until Qin Qianrou’s words just now had given her a sudden clarity.
The kind of person she wanted to be in a relationship with, yes, the answer was still her.
Shen Yiqiu had finally untangled her feelings. She liked Jiejie, she was no longer satisfied with a silent, unrequited love, she wanted to truly love her.
Qin Qianrou had observed Shen Yiqiu’s struggle and her every reaction, watching her frown, her conflicted expression, then the sudden relaxation, as if she had finally figured something out.
All signs pointed towards Shen Yiqiu having someone in her heart.
This conclusion, instead of making Qin Qianrou happy, filled her with worry. Love at eighteen was intense, and dangerous. If not handled properly, it could leave lasting scars.
As Qin Qianrou’s thoughts wandered, Shen Yiqiu softly called out to her.
“Jiejie, I do have someone I like, someone very special to me.”
Her voice was still soft and sweet, with a hint of childishness due to her shyness and caution.
“Oh? You’ve secretly found someone you like?” Qin Qianrou feigned a casual tone, trying to appear nonchalant, wanting to share this little secret with Shen Yiqiu. “What kind of person managed to capture your attention?”
Shen Yiqiu gathered her courage and took another small step forward in her heart. “She’s a little older than me, but she’s a good person, she’s very good to me, and she’s exceptionally outstanding. I’m very happy when I’m with her.”
When you like someone, it’s impossible to hide it completely. The tenderness and affection in your voice when you talk about them are impossible to conceal.
Qin Qianrou sighed helplessly, it seemed this child had truly fallen.
“Then, does she feel the same way about you?”
Shen Yiqiu suddenly snapped back to reality and frantically shook her head, denying it. “No, she doesn’t know anything!”
After saying this, she carefully observed Qin Qianrou, relieved to see her expression unchanged.
But she also felt a pang of disappointment, it seemed Jiejie really didn’t know anything, how could she make her understand her feelings?
It was a worrying thought, her love hadn’t even started, and she couldn’t even find the right direction.
Qin Qianrou suddenly reached out and covered Shen Yiqiu’s clenched fists, her gentle touch making Shen Yiqiu tremble.
“You’re still a student, it’s normal to be curious about and admire older people, because you’ve mostly interacted with people your own age. After you graduate and enter society, you’ll meet all kinds of people. Then you’ll realize that the person you consider special now is actually just an ordinary person in society.”
Shen Yiqiu stared at her blankly. She wanted to tell Qin Qianrou, No, no matter who I meet in the future, Jiejie will always be special in my heart.
She would never forget the moment Jiejie appeared in the hospital ward, she would never forget the moment Jiejie celebrated her eighteenth birthday with her, and she would never forget this moment, etched in her heart.
Qin Qianrou knew such persuasion wouldn’t be very effective, but at least it served as a reminder. It seemed she couldn’t just focus on work, she also had to pay more attention to this child.
“I’m not stopping you from making friends, regardless of their age or whether they’re from the university or not, making more friends isn’t a bad thing. But you’re a girl, you’re still young, so you have to know how to protect yourself, understand?”
Shen Yiqiu nodded; she would listen to anything Jiejie told her, her voice was so soothing.
Qin Qianrou looked at her, now resembling a little hamster, and gently tapped her nose. “Are you even listening to me?”
“Of course I am, Jiejie said I have to protect myself.”
Then, she seemed to realize something and asked, puzzled, “But I haven’t encountered any danger lately.”
On the contrary, she felt her life was improving day by day, even her long-lost cousin had appeared.
Qin Qianrou sighed helplessly, not knowing what to say, so she offered a subtle yet direct reminder, “You should prioritize your studies at this stage, relationships… should wait.”
Relationships should wait… does Jiejie want me to give up?
Shen Yiqiu’s heart ached again, this time with a sense of grievance.
She had finally mustered the courage to take a step forward, but she had been pushed back by Jiejie.
A young person’s blood always ran hot, and overwhelmed by emotions, Shen Yiqiu impulsively reached out and embraced Qin Qianrou.
Her embrace wasn’t tight, but since they were sitting close together on the sofa, she easily wrapped her arms around Qin Qianrou.
“Jiejie, I really like her. I also want to wait, but I can’t control my feelings.”
I love her more and more every day, my love for her grows stronger with each passing day.
Shen Yiqiu wanted to say it, but she couldn’t.
Her erratic breaths brushed against Qin Qianrou’s cheek and ear, making her feel flustered as well.
Being suddenly embraced, Qin Qianrou realized the child was trembling slightly. Were her feelings really this intense, this inseparable? She recalled the scene at the university gate, Shen Yiqiu being led away by that man, and she felt a surge of annoyance.
Shen Yiqiu didn’t let go, and she didn’t speak, just quietly holding her.
Qin Qianrou slowly raised her hand and gently stroked Shen Yiqiu’s soft hair.
“If it’s truly that difficult, you can take it slowly.” Slowly distance yourself, minimize the pain and heartbreak.
Shen Yiqiu, however, shook her head, refusing to let go.
“Jiejie, I can’t bear it, I don’t want to.”
This was the stubbornness Qin Qianrou knew, a part of Shen Yiqiu’s gentle nature.
A gentle soul, yet always with her own firm convictions.
Qin Qianrou sighed helplessly and relented. “Then, when you go out with someone else, remember to tell me. And you can’t come home too late, and you definitely can’t not come home.”
Shen Yiqiu quickly nodded; Jiejie was finally taking charge, how wonderful.
She thought that once her cousin settled down, he wouldn’t need her help anymore, and then she could focus on cultivating her relationship with Jiejie.
Shen Yiqiu, feeling the soft and warm body in her embrace, couldn’t bear to let go completely. This was different from her earlier desperation at the hospital, clinging to Qin Qianrou like a lifeline. Now, she was filled with love, carefully cherishing and nurturing her feelings, step by step.
Only now did Shen Yiqiu realize that no one could take such a wonderful Jiejie away from her.
Qin Qianrou, seeing her obediently agree to her requests, was relieved. Being held like this for so long made her feel a little uncomfortable, and she gently patted Shen Yiqiu’s arm, signaling for her to let go.
“Alright, we should start preparing dinner.”
Shen Yiqiu reluctantly released her hold, and as she looked up, their cheeks brushed against each other, and they both froze.
Then, Shen Yiqiu’s cheeks flushed again, and she quickly looked down, afraid of revealing her feelings.
Qin Qianrou quickly stood up, unconsciously smoothing her hair, and walked towards the kitchen with her back to Shen Yiqiu, her pace quick, as if truly hungry.
However, Shen Yiqiu couldn’t see the slight redness of Qin Qianrou’s ears.
**
After dinner, Qin Qianrou emerged from the bathroom and sat at her desk, replaying their earlier conversation in the living room.
She repeatedly regretted her behavior today. As someone nearing thirty, she had clearly lost control of her emotions. She shouldn’t have lost her temper with Shen Yiqiu, she shouldn’t have questioned her, and she certainly shouldn’t have interfered so forcefully in her relationships.
Yet, she had done all those things.
Besides the outburst, which she regretted, the rest seemed… justified. After all, that man didn’t seem like a good person. Even if he was a good person, he definitely wasn’t suitable for Shen Yiqiu.
She was still so young, how could she be involved with someone like that? Qin Qianrou felt she hadn’t done anything wrong, but recalling Shen Yiqiu’s insistence, she felt a headache coming on.
After some thought, she messaged Rong Fei, suggesting they meet to discuss how to handle this situation. Rong Fei was an expert in this area, she would definitely have better solutions.
Shen Yiqiu, after cleaning up the kitchen, returned to her room, the smile still lingering on her face. It had been a while since she had dinner with Jiejie, and although it hadn’t been an elaborate meal, she had been truly happy, so happy she could have eaten the plate as well.
She couldn’t help but replay Jiejie’s reactions today, realizing that Qin Qianrou’s anger had stemmed from her not answering the phone. Could she allow herself a sliver of hope, that Jiejie actually cared about her?
Sigh, Qin Qianrou had always cared about her, it was just more apparent today.
Shen Yiqiu rested her chin on her hands, thinking, If only Jiejie’s concern was of a different kind.
She wanted Jiejie to be just as possessive and protective as she was, to feel that pang of jealousy seeing her with someone else.
But Jiejie didn’t seem to approve of her liking someone older, so did that mean she also disliked those younger than her? Shen Yiqiu frowned, her age was something she couldn’t change, she would never be able to bridge that ten-year gap between her and Qin Qianrou.
But her feelings for Jiejie were already undeniable. Ten years, she was just a little late, they had a lifetime ahead of them, she could do better, make Jiejie forget about those ten years.
Shen Yiqiu thought about it, then sent a message to Rong Fei. Although Rong Fei didn’t visit as often as Li Wan, her professionalism and approachable nature were something Shen Yiqiu appreciated and relied on.
She wanted to pursue Jiejie, who was ten years older than her, and blindly stumbling around on her own would likely backfire.
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