Jun Li’s intense gaze lingered on Qin Shu. “Yes. I saw you leaving the hospital.”
Qin Shu didn’t know what to say. Jun Li had actually seen her at the hospital.
No wonder he was so insistent that she needed to rest. He even brought her a tonic soup to drink.
“Thank you.” She accepted the soup with quivering hands, ladling the warm broth into her mouth.
Sneaking a glance at Jun Li, he looked like he had lost some weight. It was a worrying sight.
“Is he hurting you?”Jun Li asked softly. His voice was light and airy.
“Pardon?” Qin Shu tilted her head in confusion.
Jun Li repeated himself, his words assuming a placid lilt. “He isn’t hurting you, is he?”
Only then did Qin Shu understand what Jun Li was asking. “Why do you think so? He treats me very well.”
Jun Li’s expression turned cold. “If he treats you so well, why would he make you abort the child?”
Although his tone remained light, it carried an edge of barely concealed anger. Anyone who heard him speak would feel their hearts tremble with unease.
Listening to Jun Li, Qin Shu knew that it was all one big misunderstanding. His reaction was curious, however. Why was he so angry?
Hurriedly, Qin Shu explained, “It’s not what you think. It was my own choice. The long and short of it is that the child had to be aborted for medical reasons.”
Qin Shu’s explanation left Jun Li stunned. It took him a few seconds to collect himself. “Does he know?”
Qin Shu shook her head. “I didn’t tell him.”
Hearing her admission, Jun Li blinked in confusion. “Why didn’t you tell him? Has he been forcing himself on you?”
Qin Shu sat where she was, dazed. Jun Li was not acting like himself. He was usually so serene. Unflappable. This angry visage of his was completely alien to her.
His current countenance was a juxtaposition. Angry but gentle. Serene but furious.
After a long while, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry, I just…” Jun Li realized that he had allowed his emotions to get the better of him. “I just… want you to be happy…”
Before he could finish his sentence, the kettle emitted a high pitched whistle.
“I-I’ll get the kettle.”
Jun Li scurried to the counter and poured the hot water into several thermos bottles.
Qin Shu watched Jun Li store the hot water in thermos bottles, unsure of what to think. Jun Li was behaving abnormally.
Once he had completed his self-appointed task, Jun Li returned to his seat on the sofa.
The commotion woke President Ba who had been sleeping on the balcony. Sniffing the air tentatively, he discovered the familiar scent of his mistress. “Meow! Meow!”
Just as President Ba was about to leap onto Qin Shu’s lap, Jun Li stopped him with a scoop of his arms. “Behave yourself.”
President Ba shrunk in on himself like a child whose parent had issued him a stern warning. Looking properly chastised, Jun Li released President Ba and washed his hands in the sink.
All of this happened in a split second.
President Ba sat obediently on the sofa. His dark green eyes peering pitifully at Qin Shu. He did not dare to utter a sound – not with Jun Li still closeby.
By the time he rejoined her on the sofa, Qin Shu had already finished her soup. Retrieving the empty bowl, he asked, “Would you like some more?”
Qin Shu shook her head. “No.” She eyed the soup thoughtfully. “This soup…”
“I brought it from home. There’s still some soup left. You can heat it up again later when you’re hungry.” Bending down, he cleaned the used bowl.
Studying Jun Li intently, Qin Shu could not help but find his actions baffling. Why was he taking such great care cleaning her used utensils?
Jun Li cleared the empty bowls and used chopsticks. Something in him had changed. It seemed like a veil of tranquillity had shrouded him. “You should rest. I’ll head back now.”
Bidding his goodbyes, Jun Li saw himself out the door.
Qin Shu stared numbly as Jun Li left. It took her a while to break free from the image of his departing figure.
“Beep!” A notification signalling that she had received a new message sounded.
Picking up her phone, she noticed it was a message from Jun Li.
Jun Li: I just don’t want you to suffer.
Qin Shu gripped her phone tightly, moved by his message.
Jun Li had always been good to her, waving it off as a result of her looking like his sister. She was sceptical, however. Not even her own brother treated her as well as he did…
Outside the apartment…
Jun Li put away his phone, basking in the sun’s warmth. He felt like he was on cloud nine.
For the next two days, Qin Shu stayed in her apartment and did not venture out. Gu Yan’s words echoed in her mind like a mantra; repeating the importance of keeping up her health.
In these two days, Jun Li delivered her three meals.
It was the same that day.
Qin Shu sat on a chair wearing her home clothes. She waited for Jun Li to set the table. When he was done, they sat opposite of each other and partook in their meal.
They ate in companionable silence. Midway through their meal, Qin Shu asked, “Are you nice to me because your sister and I look alike?”
Jun Li’s grip on his chopsticks tightened. Meeting her hesitant gaze, he smiled. “You can try it if you’d like.”
Qin Shu chewed on her food, trying to puzzle out the meaning hidden in his words.
Seeing her pensive expression, Jun Li prompted her with a hint, “Have you ever wanted a brother who would spoil you senseless?”
“Of course I have. I think it’s a wonderful thing to have a brother who spoils you.”
Jun Li nabbed a rib off his plate and placed it into her bowl. “Then don’t think too much. Eat more. You’re so thin. You really need to take better care of your body.”
“Okay.” Qin Shu clenched her chopsticks and chomped on her food, putting her thoughts aside for the moment.
Smiling happily, Jun Li delighted in the gusto with which she devoured her food.
Jun Li accompanied Qin Shu on the balcony after lunch. There they basked under the sun for a time, content in each other’s company.
Having enjoyed some sunshine, Qin Shu’s cheeks were rosy and a thin coating of perspiration gleamed on her skin and hair. Jun Li brushed his hand against her seaweed-like hair, playing with the strands that hung lazily on both sides of her cheeks and down her shoulders. It was silky and smooth to the touch.
Qin Shu froze.
Was Jun Li caressing her hair?
Jun Li chuckled and said with a dotingly, “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”
“Hmm?” Qin Shu raised her head and looked at Jun Li questioningly.
Jun Li regarded her with an expression of tenderness. “I used to love rubbing her hair like this. Her hair was soft like silk and fluttered in the wind much like yours.”
Qin Shu knew who he was talking about. He was referring to his sister – his sister he hadn’t seen in seven years.
Retracting his hand, he whispered, “Rest well.”
Then, he turned around and left.
Qin Shu saw him out, standing vigil at the door till she could not see Jun Li’s anymore. When he was no longer in sight, she closed the door wistfully.
Ye Luo called in the afternoon.
“Young Madam, Qin Hai has been sent to the mental hospital.”
Jun Li’s intense gaze lingered on Qin Shu. “Yes. I saw you leaving the hospital.”
Qin Shu didn’t know what to say. Jun Li had actually seen her at the hospital.
No wonder he was so insistent that she needed to rest. He even brought her a tonic soup to drink.
“Thank you.” She accepted the soup with quivering hands, ladling the warm broth into her mouth.
Sneaking a glance at Jun Li, he looked like he had lost some weight. It was a worrying sight.
“Is he hurting you?”Jun Li asked softly. His voice was light and airy.
“Pardon?” Qin Shu tilted her head in confusion.
Jun Li repeated himself, his words assuming a placid lilt. “He isn’t hurting you, is he?”
Only then did Qin Shu understand what Jun Li was asking. “Why do you think so? He treats me very well.”
Jun Li’s expression turned cold. “If he treats you so well, why would he make you abort the child?”
Although his tone remained light, it carried an edge of barely concealed anger. Anyone who heard him speak would feel their hearts tremble with unease.
Listening to Jun Li, Qin Shu knew that it was all one big misunderstanding. His reaction was curious, however. Why was he so angry?
Hurriedly, Qin Shu explained, “It’s not what you think. It was my own choice. The long and short of it is that the child had to be aborted for medical reasons.”
Qin Shu’s explanation left Jun Li stunned. It took him a few seconds to collect himself. “Does he know?”
Qin Shu shook her head. “I didn’t tell him.”
Hearing her admission, Jun Li blinked in confusion. “Why didn’t you tell him? Has he been forcing himself on you?”
Qin Shu sat where she was, dazed. Jun Li was not acting like himself. He was usually so serene. Unflappable. This angry visage of his was completely alien to her.
His current countenance was a juxtaposition. Angry but gentle. Serene but furious.
After a long while, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry, I just…” Jun Li realized that he had allowed his emotions to get the better of him. “I just… want you to be happy…”
Before he could finish his sentence, the kettle emitted a high pitched whistle.
“I-I’ll get the kettle.”
Jun Li scurried to the counter and poured the hot water into several thermos bottles.
Qin Shu watched Jun Li store the hot water in thermos bottles, unsure of what to think. Jun Li was behaving abnormally.
Once he had completed his self-appointed task, Jun Li returned to his seat on the sofa.
The commotion woke President Ba who had been sleeping on the balcony. Sniffing the air tentatively, he discovered the familiar scent of his mistress. “Meow! Meow!”
Just as President Ba was about to leap onto Qin Shu’s lap, Jun Li stopped him with a scoop of his arms. “Behave yourself.”
President Ba shrunk in on himself like a child whose parent had issued him a stern warning. Looking properly chastised, Jun Li released President Ba and washed his hands in the sink.
All of this happened in a split second.
President Ba sat obediently on the sofa. His dark green eyes peering pitifully at Qin Shu. He did not dare to utter a sound – not with Jun Li still closeby.
By the time he rejoined her on the sofa, Qin Shu had already finished her soup. Retrieving the empty bowl, he asked, “Would you like some more?”
Qin Shu shook her head. “No.” She eyed the soup thoughtfully. “This soup…”
“I brought it from home. There’s still some soup left. You can heat it up again later when you’re hungry.” Bending down, he cleaned the used bowl.
Studying Jun Li intently, Qin Shu could not help but find his actions baffling. Why was he taking such great care cleaning her used utensils?
Jun Li cleared the empty bowls and used chopsticks. Something in him had changed. It seemed like a veil of tranquillity had shrouded him. “You should rest. I’ll head back now.”
Bidding his goodbyes, Jun Li saw himself out the door.
Qin Shu stared numbly as Jun Li left. It took her a while to break free from the image of his departing figure.
“Beep!” A notification signalling that she had received a new message sounded.
Picking up her phone, she noticed it was a message from Jun Li.
Jun Li: I just don’t want you to suffer.
Qin Shu gripped her phone tightly, moved by his message.
Jun Li had always been good to her, waving it off as a result of her looking like his sister. She was sceptical, however. Not even her own brother treated her as well as he did…
Outside the apartment…
Jun Li put away his phone, basking in the sun’s warmth. He felt like he was on cloud nine.
For the next two days, Qin Shu stayed in her apartment and did not venture out. Gu Yan’s words echoed in her mind like a mantra; repeating the importance of keeping up her health.
In these two days, Jun Li delivered her three meals.
It was the same that day.
Qin Shu sat on a chair wearing her home clothes. She waited for Jun Li to set the table. When he was done, they sat opposite of each other and partook in their meal.
They ate in companionable silence. Midway through their meal, Qin Shu asked, “Are you nice to me because your sister and I look alike?”
Jun Li’s grip on his chopsticks tightened. Meeting her hesitant gaze, he smiled. “You can try it if you’d like.”
Qin Shu chewed on her food, trying to puzzle out the meaning hidden in his words.
Seeing her pensive expression, Jun Li prompted her with a hint, “Have you ever wanted a brother who would spoil you senseless?”
“Of course I have. I think it’s a wonderful thing to have a brother who spoils you.”
Jun Li nabbed a rib off his plate and placed it into her bowl. “Then don’t think too much. Eat more. You’re so thin. You really need to take better care of your body.”
“Okay.” Qin Shu clenched her chopsticks and chomped on her food, putting her thoughts aside for the moment.
Smiling happily, Jun Li delighted in the gusto with which she devoured her food.
Jun Li accompanied Qin Shu on the balcony after lunch. There they basked under the sun for a time, content in each other’s company.
Having enjoyed some sunshine, Qin Shu’s cheeks were rosy and a thin coating of perspiration gleamed on her skin and hair. Jun Li brushed his hand against her seaweed-like hair, playing with the strands that hung lazily on both sides of her cheeks and down her shoulders. It was silky and smooth to the touch.
Qin Shu froze.
Was Jun Li caressing her hair?
Jun Li chuckled and said with a dotingly, “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”
“Hmm?” Qin Shu raised her head and looked at Jun Li questioningly.
Jun Li regarded her with an expression of tenderness. “I used to love rubbing her hair like this. Her hair was soft like silk and fluttered in the wind much like yours.”
Qin Shu knew who he was talking about. He was referring to his sister – his sister he hadn’t seen in seven years.
Retracting his hand, he whispered, “Rest well.”
Then, he turned around and left.
Qin Shu saw him out, standing vigil at the door till she could not see Jun Li’s anymore. When he was no longer in sight, she closed the door wistfully.
Ye Luo called in the afternoon.
“Young Madam, Qin Hai has been sent to the mental hospital.”
