Shen Qingqing had long anticipated this, and without intending to listen to his insincere afterthoughts, she looked up at Lu Junze. "Let's go."
Lu Junze naturally followed her lead, taking Shen Jinxi to his feet. The little one was very cooperative, extending his other hand to hold Shen Qingqing’s.
Watching their retreating backs, Fu Jingshu's expression was extremely grim.
They looked like a family of three.
He had intended to chase after them, but then he suddenly saw the lunchbox in his hand. Someone was waiting at the hospital, and a wave of anxiety suddenly surged within him.
He stood for a long time, his face ashen as he walked out of the restaurant.
Back at the hospital, Lu Wanxiang had been waiting for a long time. She instinctively pouted, "Jingshu, why are you only back now?"
Fu Jingshu placed the lunchboxes on the table and opened them one by one. His mind was filled with the image of the three of them leaving together, a cloud of gloom settling in his heart.
"Something came up."
These two cold words nearly froze Lu Wanxiang. She asked cautiously, "Jingshu, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, let's eat."
Despite his words, the impatience in his brows and his icy tone sent waves of hurt through Lu Wanxiang's heart.
He had been gone for so long, and she hadn't said anything. Yet he was acting unhappy.
Who was he putting on this act for?
She didn't pick up her chopsticks, lowering her head in silence.
Fu Jingshu frowned. "Eat."
Lu Wanxiang grew sadder. She looked up, tears welling in her eyes. "You never spoke to me like this before, Jingshu. You've changed."
Fu Jingshu took a deep breath. "No one stays the same forever."
His words carried an implication, and Lu Wanxiang's eyes widened slightly. Then, she pretended not to understand. "But you promised me you would never change."
Fu Jingshu narrowed his eyes slightly.
Did he?
He was only now realizing that his memories of Lu Wanxiang seemed less vivid. But it hadn't been like this before.
It all seemed to have started with Shen Qingqing's appearance.
Lu Wanxiang watched him drift away, biting her lip. "Who are you thinking about?"
Fu Jingshu remained silent.
Lu Wanxiang became even more certain of her suspicions. Her hands clenched the quilt, and tears finally began to fall from her eyes.
"How could you treat me like this..."
Fu Jingshu started, looking at her crying her heart out, but he felt no urge to comfort her.
Lu Wanxiang sobbed, "I don't ask you to remember your life debt, but at least you can't forget. Is it fair to me, to everything I've sacrificed for you, to treat me this way?"
Fu Jingshu's expression suddenly changed.
Lu Wanxiang, who had been observing him from the corner of her eye, knew she had succeeded. She cried even more tragically and pitifully. "If you don't like me, then I'll leave."
She lifted the covers, about to get out of bed. Her shoulder was grasped by a large hand, radiating a familiar warmth.
She paused slightly, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes.
She had calculated her angle; it was the most beautiful, most pathetic, and most pitiable. Indeed, Fu Jingshu looked at her with complicated emotions, but his attitude had softened.
"I apologize. My attitude was poor."
For him to say that was already rare, and she was content. She didn't make a fuss anymore, acting very obediently. "As long as you don't hate me, Jingshu, I'll do anything."
Her gaze was filled with deep affection and tenderness, entwining him like wisps of gentle emotion.
Fu Jingshu, however, averted his eyes and said softly, "Let's eat first."
Although he hadn't responded, which disappointed Lu Wanxiang, since he had conceded, she wouldn't push further.
"Okay."
Afterward, she ate very obediently and quietly, occasionally glancing at Fu Jingshu, who seemed lost in thought.
After the meal, Fu Jingshu cleared the dishes, while she sat on the hospital bed, looking up at him. "Jingshu, I want to be discharged."
Fu Jingshu glanced at her bandaged right wrist. "The doctor hasn't said you can be discharged."
She quickly said, "I'm really fine now. I won't do anything foolish again. Jingshu, I want, I want to move into your house."
Fu Jingshu didn't respond, only throwing the leftovers into the trash can and lowering the small table.
"Jingshu, I'm serious!" Lu Wanxiang said urgently. "I haven't been back in a long time. I want to spend time with Uncle and Aunt. You know, they've always liked me."
Fu Jingshu remained silent.
Lu Wanxiang grew anxious, her voice tinged with a sob. "Why won't you agree? Do you hate me?"
Fu Jingshu froze, raising his hand to rub his temples. He said, with a hint of fatigue, "I need to discuss it with Qingqing. If she agrees, you can move in."
"Why does she need to agree? You don't live together, do you?"
Fu Jingshu slowly turned around and said in a low voice, "We live together. We have two children."
Lu Wanxiang immediately fell silent.
She appeared demure and well-behaved, but the jealousy within her had transformed into a deep sea, threatening to drown her. Yet her voice sounded gentle and melodious.
"Okay, then I'll wait for your news."
Fu Jingshu was somewhat surprised that she had agreed. The hardness in his face softened slightly. "I'll handle the discharge for you."
"Okay."
She appeared very well-behaved, completely devoid of the madness she had displayed during her suicide attempt.
However, after Fu Jingshu completed the discharge procedures and they left the hospital, she suddenly said, "Jingshu, can you take me to see Miss Shen with you?"
Recalling their previous conflict, Fu Jingshu shook his head. "This matter..."
Before he could finish, Lu Wanxiang immediately said, "Don't worry. If you let me see her, I promise I won't do anything foolish again. I'll get along with her and won't make things difficult for you."
"You don't understand her personality," Fu Jingshu said, not believing she wanted to be good friends with Lu Wanxiang. "Just don't provoke her."
As he spoke, there was a hint of helplessness on his face, as if he were completely unable to do anything about that person.
Lu Wanxiang gritted her teeth, her fingers crinkling the skirt by her side. "Okay, I'll listen to you. I just want to explain things properly to Miss Shen, so she doesn't misunderstand you."
Fu Jingshu helped her into the car and sat in the driver's seat. "I'll handle the explanation myself."
He was worried that the more Lu Wanxiang said, the angrier Shen Qingqing would become.
Speaking of which, he couldn't help but recall the scene in the restaurant. Now that he had calmed down, he wasn't as angry as he had been.
If the two of them had any relationship, it would have developed long ago. Their leaving together was purely because she was trying to make him angry.
Thinking of this, the tension in his lips slowly eased.
When they arrived at the door of the house, he had intended to take Lu Wanxiang home first, and then pick up Shen Qingqing. After all, she and the two children should live with him.
But to his surprise, as soon as he opened the door, he saw Shen Qingqing sitting on the sofa in the living room, with the two children playing with building blocks on the coffee table.
Laughter and joy filled the air, as happy as could be.
Just then, Lu Wanxiang, who was behind him, took a step forward. Her gentle voice rang out, "Miss Shen, we're back."