Yes, she was terrified. Love was far more complicated and exhausting than work, and she simply didn't have the energy or courage to face it. Once the project matured, she and Yan Xunan would inevitably be locked in a head-to-head competition. What would she do then? What about the vows she made? What about her promises to her father? Could she really bring herself to be cruel to Yan Xunan?
Bill strongly suggested that she go to the Bamboo Garden. Song Qing was initially reluctant, but then she thought that since she didn't care about Yi Zhengwei, why should she avoid Shen Xing?
Upon hearing the voice, Shen Yang knew it was Bill. Wearing an apron, he dashed out like a whirlwind, clinging to Bill's tall frame like a koala, cheerfully barking in welcome. Song Qing wondered, when did they become so familiar? Could Bill's new friend be Shen Yang? What a complicated relationship.
Bill hurriedly pushed Shen Yang away, looked at Song Qingshi, his handsome face flushed, and said helplessly, "Lianxin, I...she...is not what you see."
Song Qing calmly smiled as she watched them push and shove each other, desperately trying to get closer. But suddenly, she thought to herself, if she treated Yi Zhengwei like that... Sigh, what was she thinking?
“Hello, Shen Yang, thank you for taking care of Bill all this time.” She extended her hand in a friendly manner.
Shen Yang had known Song Qing was nearby, so she deliberately ignored Song Qing and acted warmly towards Bill. She merely shook Song Qing's hand in a casual gesture of friendship before pulling Bill upstairs. Song Qing followed behind, observing the layout of the bamboo garden. She felt it had changed a lot; perhaps it was because Shen Yang had taken over, but she could no longer find the old feeling, or perhaps it was because that person was no longer by her side? She shook her head with amusement. What was wrong with her today?
After the three of them sat down, Song Qing asked them with a smile how they met. Bill hurriedly took out the porcelain doll as if it were a treasure and said happily, "Lianxin, it's all because of this. I found out that she had your things on her and insisted on getting them back. As a result, we became friends after a fight."
Song Qing took the doll in surprise, then looked at Shen Yang, and chuckled, "Is this what they call fate? It's truly amazing. Bill, when I sculpted this doll, I made it according to the image of the girl you should be looking for, and I never expected that you would actually find her!"
Shen Yang was secretly delighted and couldn't help but raise his head, looking at Bill provocatively, as if to say, "See? She said so, so just admit it."
Bill snatched the doll away, protesting, "No! I just think she's fun!"
"Bill, do you want a beating?!"
"Try laying a hand on me again, and you'll be nothing like a Chinese lady!"
Their playful antics reminded Song Qing of that night when she and Bill were next door, listening to Yi Zhengwei and Shen Xing celebrating their birthdays in this room. Back then, Bill and she were just like them now, playfully bickering in the side room. Now, the scene had reversed, and people had changed, leaving her feeling empty and filled with a bitter taste.
Yi Zhengwei and Shen Xing had such a wonderful past; the bamboo grove seemed to be filled with their shadows, making her feel suffocated. She stood up to look at the bamboo forest outside the window. Looking at it at noon was far less pleasant than looking at it at night; it was too clear, and one could always find imperfections.
Bill rolled up his sleeves and said he was going to the kitchen to cook Song Qing an authentic Western meal, leaving her and Shen Yang sitting opposite each other.
"Chairman Song, what are your plans for the future with Yi Zhengwei? Now that the crisis at Fuhua is over and you have achieved your goal, why not spare my sister's life? She is madly in love with Yi Zhengwei and cannot live without him."
"Yeah?"
Shen Yang nodded vigorously, his eyes reddening. He wiped them away and said, "Don't let her gentle nature and inability to let go fool you. Do you know that she actually had the courage to decide to have a child? She must have planned to raise it alone in the future. She never told Yi Zhengwei, and she didn't even tell me."
Song Qing lowered her eyes, her hands clenched tightly under the table, her nails unconsciously digging deep into her palms.
"How is the child?" She managed to remain calm, but her head felt incredibly heavy.
Shen Yang shook her head listlessly, tears streaming down her face. She choked out, "It's all gone, all gone. That night she wanted to see Yi Zhengwei so much, but she couldn't get through on the phone. I was wrong too; I lost my temper with her. I was really worried for her. I never expected that she would act impulsively and go back to Cambridge that very night. She got into a car accident that night, and the baby was gone."
That very night, the night she and Yi Zhengwei were trying to conceive their next generation, the phone rang for a long time.
What should she say? She didn't know. A sudden sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen, and she used the table for support as she stood up. "Excuse me, could you tell Bill I have to go now?"
Shen Yang grabbed her arm and pleaded, "You'll be alright. You're so beautiful and capable; you'll definitely find someone better. They're truly in love. You don't know their past, but even if you did, you'd be moved..."
"Let go!" Song Qing gritted his teeth, forcefully shook her off, and hurried downstairs.
Bill, wearing an apron, waved and followed, "Lianxin, are you done? Where are you going?!"
Song Qingli ignored Bill and drove off, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Bill slapped his thigh, "Be careful! Are you out of your mind?" He was afraid she would abuse herself again. Last time, for Yan Xunan, she had recklessly drowned herself and almost died. Sometimes she was just that frightening and unreliable.
"What did you say to her?!" He dragged Shen Yang downstairs and roared.
Shen Yang also cried and retorted, "I can say whatever I want, it's none of your business. Why don't you consider my sister? She's the most pitiful one! You can disregard other people's lives for your own benefit, what right do you have to yell at me?"
Bill, using his clever mind, figured out what had happened. He was both angry and annoyed, saying, "That's Yi Zhengwei's problem! What did Lianxin do wrong?! Besides, it's none of your business, an outsider, to interfere. Shen Yang, if anything happens to Lianxin today, you're no longer my friend!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Yang punched and kicked Bill, crying as she said, "You're all worthless! What's so great about her? Is she worth all this? She should have everything she wants, do whatever she wants, and have whomever she wants! She doesn't want you anymore, and you're still yelling at me for her sake. She's the most selfish person! I'm going to say it, I'm going to say it! Her existence has indeed ruined my sister and brother-in-law's relationship!"
"Are you ever going to stop? You're the truly selfish one! All you think about is yourself, you don't care about anyone else! What Lianxin does is her decision, you have no right to judge! Since you're my friend, you can't say a single word against the people I approve of, the people I like, especially Lianxin!" Bill didn't argue with Shen Yang much today. He pushed her away and anxiously drove off after her.
Don't do anything foolish, don't get angry, don't be so hard on yourself, Lianxin. Bill thought to himself as he drove.
"Sister, I won't lose to her, I won't!" Shen Yang cried as she got up, stubbornly watching Bill's departing figure. After a long while, she finally buried her face in the table and burst into tears.
When Song Qing drove to the First Hospital, he had calmed down, but he couldn't hide his ugly expression, which naturally couldn't be hidden from Yi Mantian either.
After the two finished discussing business, Yi Mantian stopped her, "Is it because you can't handle things at the company?"
Song Qing shook her head. "Zhengwei will be back tomorrow."
"Tell me if you have any grievances. If it's Zhengwei's fault, I'll definitely give him a good scolding for you!"
Song Qing smiled slightly and reassured him, "We don't have time to have disagreements, Dad. I'm fine, I'll be going now."
As soon as she left, Yi Mantian sighed deeply and said to Aunt Zhou, "Why do I have a bad feeling? Was it really a mistake of me to strongly push them together?"
Aunt Zhou thought to herself that even if he knew it was wrong, he would still do it. Chen Zinan's matter back then was a great regret in Yi Mantian's heart. This stubborn old man thought that his son could make up for the knot in his heart that had been there all his life.
"I believe in Song Qing, and I hope Zhengwei can move her heart."
Aunt Zhou said, "Don't worry, if something happens, they will deal with it. I'm just afraid that if they don't care about each other, they will drift further and further apart."
"I hope so."
*
In the afternoon, Song Qing talked to Liao Fan to learn about the cooperation project, and then went to Kailu. The restocking work went very smoothly.
He Min smiled and said, "Don't worry, everything will be fine with me."
Song Qing sincerely thanked her, and the two chatted for a while, which made her feel much better.
Spring has arrived, but it's still a bit chilly. Despite being exhausted, the cold wind actually made her feel more awake. She drove around alone, weaving through the bustling streets during rush hour. Later, she simply got out and walked. As usual, she bought a cup of bubble tea and asked the counter to put extra tapioca pearls on it. She loved the soft texture of the pearls between her teeth and was even reluctant to open and chew them.