Zhao Xiyin smiled.
"Oh, you're finally smiling." Cen Yue breathed a sigh of relief. "You've been looking really unwell these past few days, and I haven't dared to ask."
Zhao Xiyin touched her cheek, lowered her head, and remained silent.
Cen Yue asked, "Do you want to go eat hot pot?"
Zhao Xiyin shook her head. "Next time. I can't leave today. My aunt is coming to Beijing tomorrow, and I'm going with my dad to buy some things."
Just then, a familiar voice came from the front, "Xiao west, over here."
Gu Heping's car was parked on the side of the road. He got out of the car and jogged along, wearing a black overcoat. His legs were as straight and well-proportioned as a model's. Gu Heping looked like a model young man. His family was involved in politics, and children from such families naturally had a strong sense of righteousness and integrity. He had thick eyebrows and a broad forehead, and was particularly upright and dignified.
Cen Yue exclaimed, "It's beautiful!"
Gu Heping heard this and smiled broadly, his eyes sparkling. "Where are you from, little sister? You're so good with words."
Zhao Xiyin knew him very well, and subconsciously stepped in front of Cen Yue, greeting him listlessly, "Brother Heping."
Gu Heping suppressed his smile, pursed his lips, and said with a serious expression, "I just came from the hospital."
Zhao Xiyin didn't react; her fingers were intertwined, and her nails were slowly digging into her skin.
"Zhou Ge'er was seriously injured last time, with a fractured bone and a mild concussion. He's been hospitalized for the past few days. This morning, he had a follow-up X-ray, and the doctor said there was a risk of brain hemorrhage. He knows the severity of the injury and hasn't dared to leave the hospital. But he's in a bad mood, often staring out the window in a daze. He looks pretty useless."
Gu Heping said, "There's a lot going on at the company, and Secretary Xu is constantly going to the hospital. That money-grubber, even with a brain hemorrhage, is still thinking about making money. Sigh, I'm not saying this to pity him. Xiao Xi, your brother Heping won't tolerate him. Right and wrong, it's all Zhou's fault. Don't worry, I've scolded him, and he's regretted it. You know, Zhou is very proud and has a domineering air about him. But just because he doesn't say something doesn't mean he doesn't know he's wrong."
Gu Heping spoke eloquently and clearly, demonstrating that he was a wise man.
Zhao Xiyin remained quiet, her head bowed. Looking down, one could only see half of the girl's beautiful face. A gust of autumn wind blew, and stray hairs near her ears obscured her eyes, creating a disheveled yet captivating beauty. For some reason, Gu Heping thought of a phrase—"a gentle and graceful demeanor, utterly charming."
The atmosphere was actually quite oppressive. How can I describe it?
Hopeless, yes, utterly hopeless.
Just as Gu Heping was about to give up, Cen Yue suddenly broke the silence and asked a rather obscure question, "Your name is Peace Dove? Is it because you often stand people up?"
Gu Heping was stunned for three seconds. "Hey? Where did this girl come from?"
Cen Yue looked young, a pretty and clean-looking girl. She wasn't intimidated by him at all, blinked and said seriously, "You were just calling me 'little sister,' but now you're calling me 'little girl'? If I'm a little girl, then what about you, my brother... a servant? A lackey? A servant?"
If someone else said these things, it would seem like they were deliberately trying to get attention. But Cen Yue wouldn't. This girl's eyes were bright and clear, as if to say, "Whether you have good or bad intentions, they're all in those eyes. I'm not kidding you."
Gu Heping laughed, a dashing laugh, and asked her, "What's your name?"
"Cen Yue." Cen Yue smiled, her eyes crinkling, "The 'Yue' in 'moon'." Then, mimicking his Beijing accent with its slurred "er," she asked, "So, what's your name?"
Gu Heping said with a smile, "Ask your sister Xiaoxi."
Zhao Xiyin, who had been sullen, became unhappy upon hearing this, saying, "What sister? I'm only a year older than her."
Gu Heping waved his hand, "I have other things to do, I'm leaving."
Cen Yue grinned and waved her paws like a lucky cat, "The peace dove has flown away."
Oh my, Gu Heping was so happy, sitting in the BMW SUV with a big smile on his face.
After everyone left, Zhao Xiyin and Cen Yue continued towards the subway station, but she walked slower and slower until Cen Yue couldn't help but say, "I'm practically a snail."
Zhao Xiyin took a deep breath and stopped walking. "I can't stay with you any longer. I have something to do."
——
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Gu Heping posted a picture of himself at the hospital on his WeChat Moments a couple of days ago, along with his location. Zhao Xiyin glanced at it and remembered it; this private hospital was well-known and not far from here.
When Zhao Xiyin was sitting in the taxi, she had already convinced herself most of the way.
What are you trying to convince?
As you unravel the mystery, you can't quite put your finger on it; all you know is to follow your instincts.
Zhao Xiyin is a very straightforward person. She loves what she loves and hates what she hates. Most of the time, she is someone who is willing to make peace with genuine feelings.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the ward was the quietest one in the corridor.
The door was open, and Zhao Xiyin could hear Zhou Qishen's voice even before she got close.
He was on the phone, discussing business.
Strangely enough, upon hearing his slightly hoarse voice, a part of Zhao Xiyin's tense nerves quietly relaxed. Then, she saw Zhou Qishen standing by the window, holding his phone to his ear with one hand, and raising the other. A girl stood behind him, holding his coat and carefully putting it on his hand.
First his left hand, then his right, and after dressing neatly, Zhou Qishen turned around and faced the door.
Zhao Xiyin's cold, icy eyes fell into his line of sight without warning.
Zhou Qishen was stunned.
The Lolita-style sweet caregiver had a delicate, sweet voice. "What would you like to eat for lunch? How about braised shrimp with less spice? Don't drink water after 8 pm, you'll have blood tests for liver function and urine/feces tomorrow morning."
Zhou Qishen just wanted this woman to shut up, shut up, shut up!
He took a step forward, his entire body radiating tension from head to toe: "You, how did you get here?"
Zhao Xiyin smiled, her beauty beyond compare, and replied frankly, "I came to see if you were dead."
"Xiao Xi, Xiao west!" Zhou Qishen limped after her, grabbing her arm. "Let me explain. That woman is a hospital caregiver. I've been busy with my checkups these past few days, so I need someone to help me. Besides, I didn't call her; it was Gu..."
Zhao Xiyin forcefully shook off his hand, then turned around with a face full of resentment, "A caregiver? A caregiver to help you get dressed? Anyone who didn't know better would think you were paralyzed and mentally challenged, unable to even dress yourself. Zhou Qishen, you're a liar! You damn liar, if I ever believed you again, I, I, I..."