Zhao Wenchun was stunned by Zhou Qishen's gaze. His raised hand trembled slightly, lowered further and lower, and then fell to his side. "I, I really, really have a grandson?"
Zhou Qishen nodded. "It's true."
Zhao Wenchun clutched his heart, trying to catch his breath. "Grandson, I... I haven't heard Xiao west mention it."
Zhou Qi felt a pang of sadness. "She wouldn't even tell me, her own father, so why would she tell you?"
"I see..." Zhao Wenchun nodded repeatedly, it seemed to make sense.
"Wait, that's not right." After nodding halfway, Teacher Zhao seized on the loophole and looked at Zhou Qishen with great seriousness. "Don't you have kidney problems? Xiao Xi said you urinate frequently, going to the bathroom three times in five minutes. You shouldn't be able to have children, right?"
Zhou Qishen: "..."
Zhao Wenchun glanced at his watch and said with concern, "I've been here for about ten minutes. Do you need to go to the restroom? Don't be shy, Uncle Zhao can help you."
Zhou Qishen: "…………"
Chapter 54 Enjoying the Remaining Pleasures (5)
This is exactly what it means to be so angry you're practically fuming.
Zhou Qishen realized what was going on and cursed the little girl for holding a grudge and making up all sorts of nonsense. He wondered if he offended her a few more times, and she'd tell Zhao Wenchun about him watching porn!
Teacher Zhao is a model teacher, erudite and deeply traditional and righteous. His military service was a major plus when he first met Zhou Qishen's parents. Zhou Qishen wanted to explain, but these kinds of things are always ambiguous no matter how you explain them.
Zhao Wenchun was troubled, feeling sorry for her daughter's marriage and also unable to accept her grandson named Vivi. After some mental reflection, Teacher Zhao looked sad and suddenly sighed, "If she had wanted to get married back then, I would have objected."
Zhou Qishen's hair stood on end.
Zhao Wenchun said quietly, "What's so good about girls getting married too early? Everything goes wrong. I know Xiaoxi's personality too well. She seems calm and collected these past few years, but she's just putting on a brave face."
Her gaze shifted to Zhou Qishen, a look of loss on her face. "Qishen, perhaps you two are destined for each other, but your connection isn't deep enough. After all these experiences, I feel my daughter has suffered a great loss."
Zhou Qishen did not refute, but looked at the old man sincerely and frankly. He stretched out his hand, brought it close to his face, and said without any ambiguity, "Hit me here, hit me hard. I owe Xiaoxi, and I can never pay her back."
Zhao Wenchun raised his hand to slap him, the momentum was strong, but the force was reduced when he slapped him down, and he scraped his face with his palm. "Uncle Zhao knows your situation. You have been a poor child since you were a child."
Zhou Qishen smiled gently, his eyes bright, revealing a rare youthful spirit. He said, "A man has to shoulder great responsibilities. That little bit of hardship is nothing."
Zhao Wenchun saw through it, but didn't say anything.
This person is quite similar to Zhao Xiyin; they are both prone to putting on a brave face at times.
"Well, that's about it. I have to go back. I'm afraid Xiao Xi will worry." Zhao Wenchun stood up, supporting himself on his knees. He stood straight, but time waits for no one; his back was hunched and his shoulders were bony.
Zhou Qishen quickly said, "I'll drive you there."
"My God, take a break!" Zhao Wenchun kept waving his hands. "Even in this condition, if you dare to drive, I dare not sit in it."
"Okay, I won't drive. I'll have a driver come and pick you up."
Zhao Wenchun had already reached the door. "Enough with the fuss. I'm quite comfortable taking the bus."
Zhou Qishen didn't insist any further. Zhao Wenchun turned around with his hands behind his back, pointed to the bowls and chopsticks on the table, and said, "Wash them clean and bring them to your room yourself next time, remember?"
Teacher Zhao was kind-hearted and showed kindness, but actually wanted to create opportunities for him.
Zhou Qishen lay on the hospital bed, feeling more at ease than ever before. He glanced at his phone several more times, wondering what was wrong with Zhao Xiyin. She wasn't answering his calls or replying to his messages, acting distant and aloof—something he always fell for.
Later, Zhou Qishen took a nap. When he woke up, the nurse happened to come in to take his temperature. Before he could even put the thermometer down, Zhao Xiyin called back. Zhou Qishen answered quickly, "Was your phone on silent? I've been waiting for you all night..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Zhao Xiyin interrupted her impatiently, "Where's my dad? Is he still with you?"
Zhou Qishen glanced at the digital clock subconsciously; it was eleven o'clock. He frowned. "Uncle Zhao left before eight o'clock. Isn't he home?"
Zhao Xiyin was panting. "He hasn't come back. I've searched the whole neighborhood, but there's no sign of him. He left his phone at home and didn't take it with him."
"Don't worry, he probably went to see an old friend." To be honest, Zhou Qishen was fairly confident that nothing bad would happen.
But Zhao Xiyin was in a particularly bad mood at this moment, and she exploded after a few words, her voice breaking with tears as she lost control, "Zhou Qishen, how could you do this?! You just can't let anyone have peace of mind. You're always getting hurt here or there, are you doing this on purpose? You might as well stay in the hospital and don't come back!"
These words were sharp, ruthless, and decisive. If anyone else dared to be so arrogant, Zhou Qishen would have twisted their head off. Moreover, to be fair, this was an unfounded accusation, a label that was inexplicably attached.
After a few seconds of silence, Zhou Qishen's lips were almost touching the phone as he said in a deep voice, "Xiao west, don't cry."
Zhao Xiyin hung up the phone; without a doubt, she was crying even harder. Zhou Qishen didn't delay and started taking off his hospital gown. A nurse hurriedly said, "Hey, hey, Mr. Zhou, what are you doing?"
He had barely finished speaking when his phone rang again.
This time it was Zhao Wenchun, her tone filled with remorse, "I'm so sorry, Qishen, I... I got home late, and Xi'er was scared. I just got here, it's alright... I just got on the wrong bus, it was so late at night I couldn't see clearly, and I only realized it when I got to the last stop. Sigh! I'm getting old, I'm no longer useful."
With his worries finally put to rest, Zhou Qishen secretly breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Uncle Zhao, is Xiaoxi still crying?"
Zhao Wenchun said sadly and awkwardly, "She's crying so hard, she can't stop. I'll go apologize to her."
After hanging up the phone, Teacher Zhao frantically fussed over her daughter, Zhao Xiyin, who lay on the bed, her face buried in the pillow, sobbing uncontrollably. Zhao Wenchun stood helplessly at the bedroom door, sometimes feeling it was her fault, sometimes thinking Zhao Xiyin was upset about something else.
——
Zhou Qishen had been hospitalized for three days, but he didn't dare to delay and went back to the company the next day.
He's not made of iron; everyone feels pain, but the company is busy, with several projects pending approval. Without his involvement, the company simply can't function. Secretary Xu, understanding his boss's situation, said his schedule had been significantly reduced.
How much less?
Daily working hours have been reduced from ten hours to nine and a half hours.
Zhou Qishen was signing off on documents and reports when he said unhurriedly, "Xu Jin, you definitely won't be getting the Group's Outstanding Employee Award this year."