Ye Jingqiu took a cup of coffee from the vending machine and handed it to Shen Keqin. Shen Keqin immediately refused, "No... no need to say more..."
Ye Jingqiu sighed, "You rejected my confession, but we are still friends, aren't we? Don't be so defensive towards me, and don't feel awkward when you see me, otherwise, I'll regret confessing to you."
Before confessing, Ye Jingqiu feared this the most: fearing he would end up like the others who confessed to Shen Keqin, failing and losing even their friendship.
Hearing Ye Jingqiu's words, Shen Keqin realized her reaction had been too extreme. She smiled and reached for the coffee in Ye Jingqiu's hand. Ye Jingqiu opened the can and then handed it to her.
After clinking the cans, Ye Jingqiu leaned against the wall and drank. Shen Keqin also took a sip.
Ye Jingqiu looked at the youthful and radiant girl and asked with a smile, "I haven't seen you at the hospital for a few days. Are you doing okay?"
Shen Keqin nodded and smiled, "I'm fine. By the way, how is Jian Mubai's condition? Is his wound recovering well?"
Ye Jingqiu replied, "His constitution is good, and his wound is healing very well. He'll be able to be discharged in another week."
Shen Keqin's eyes lit up, "Really? That's quite fast. Jingqiu, thank you..."
Ye Jingqiu chuckled, "What are you thanking me for? This is my duty as a doctor."
Shen Keqin also smiled, "Even so, I still want to thank you."
They chatted for quite a while, and Shen Keqin was in a good mood. She had grown up now. There were many kinds of relationships in this society. Rejected suitors didn't necessarily have to become strangers.
Moreover, Ye Jingqiu was a man who knew how to advance and retreat, making him very comfortable to be around.
Ye Jingqiu was very busy, so Shen Keqin didn't waste any more of his time. She returned to Jian Mubai's ward with the unfinished coffee.
Jian Mubai stood by the window, looking out, lost in thought.
Shen Keqin, remembering his complaint about his wound hurting last night, immediately walked over, "Your wound isn't healed yet, and you're getting out of bed. Why aren't you resting properly?"
Jian Mubai slowly turned his head and saw Shen Keqin frowning, holding a cup of coffee.
"Did Ye Jingqiu buy it?"
This sudden question caught Shen Keqin off guard, "What?"
Jian Mubai didn't answer her. Instead, he suddenly pulled her into his arms.
Shen Keqin's heart almost stopped. In the blankness of her mind, she didn't even realize when the coffee in her hand had fallen to the floor.
Many of the ambiguous moments between her and Jian Mubai happened when she was drunk, or he was on medication, or by accident.
This was the first time they had embraced while both were sober and without any accidental circumstances.
"Thump, thump..."
Shen Keqin heard her heart pounding, unsure if it was hers or Jian Mubai's.
"Can you not be with Ye Jingqiu?"
Jian Mubai's deep voice echoed in her ears. Shen Keqin took a while to compose herself before instinctively asking, "Why?"
"I don't want to."
Shen Keqin asked again, "Don't want what?"
"Don't want to see you two together."
"Ah? Why?"
Jian Mubai held the girl tightly, then gently pushed her away. His dark eyes stared deeply into hers, "Because I like you."
Their eyes met. Shen Keqin met Jian Mubai's deep black eyes and seemed to instantly understand what Han Yunuo had said.
Soon, she regained her senses and, blushing, shoved Jian Mubai away, "You... what nonsense are you talking about? Don't you like... like... that person?"
"Who?"
Seeing Jian Mubai feign ignorance, Shen Keqin's anger flared, "Who else? Your childhood sweetheart Lin Zhuyin!"
Jian Mubai grabbed Shen Keqin's shoulders, his expression extremely serious, "Zhuyin and I grew up together. I only have brotherly affection for her, not romantic love."
Jian Mubai seemed confused as to why Shen Keqin thought he liked Lin Zhuyin.
"Don't try to trick me again!"
Shen Keqin shoved Jian Mubai away fiercely. Her heart was now more tangled than a ball of yarn.
Back then, she had also thought Jian Mubai would never betray her, but in the end, he had hurt her so badly.
Once bitten, twice shy.
Yet, subconsciously, she was excited by Jian Mubai's confession. These two conflicting emotions intertwined. Never having experienced love, she didn't know what to do.
Shen Keqin turned to run, but Jian Mubai, in a moment of desperation, hugged her from behind, "I'm sorry... I was wrong about what happened before. You can hit me or punish me however you want, but please don't doubt my love for you."
"Let me go first!"
Shen Keqin's voice suddenly calmed down. Jian Mubai was reluctant to let go, but he had to. The next second, Shen Keqin, like a little rabbit escaping a tiger's jaws, fled the ward at full speed without a word.
Jian Mubai: "..."
She ran all the way downstairs, her heart still pounding wildly. After a moment of calm, finding she couldn't calm down, she immediately sent a WeChat message to the group chat for "Miao Zi Ai and Song Qinian."
"Sisters, Xiao Ai, something big has happened. I really need you. I'm waiting for you at Blue Shore Coffee."
Song Qinian was painting at home, nearing her deadline. Her workload was heavy. Upon seeing such a message, and with Shen Keqin not answering her call, she rushed over without a second thought.
It happened to be the weekend, so Miao Zi Ai was also at home. She hurried to Blue Shore Coffee.
They arrived at the coffee shop almost at the same time. Upon entering, they saw Shen Keqin sitting in a booth, lost in thought. Ten cups of coffee were ordered on the table, and not a single one had been drunk.
They sat down on either side of her, "What's wrong?"
Shen Keqin looked at them and burst into tears, "Wah!"
Song Qinian and Miao Zi Ai exchanged glances.
Song Qinian patted her back to comfort her, "What's wrong? Who bullied you?"
Shen Keqin sobbed, "Jian Mubai, that scoundrel confessed to me! He said he likes me!"
When they heard it was about this, they breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was some earth-shattering, soul-stirring crisis.
Jian Mubai liked Miao Zi Ai, so his confession was inevitable, wasn't it?
Miao Zi Ai patted her back while smiling, "Confession is a good thing, isn't it? Why are you crying?"
Shen Keqin was heartbroken, "What good thing? It's clearly terrible! I ordered ten cups of coffee, and they all told me Jian Mubai doesn't like me! He lied to me again! Woo woo..."
Song Qinian and Miao Zi Ai listened, utterly confused.
Song Qinian softly asked, "They... how did they tell you Jian Mubai doesn't like you?"
"I'll show you!"