The room was shrouded in silence, so long that Shen Qi didn’t hear a word from Han Qing again.
“Mr. Han?”
Wasn’t he going to ask her a question? In fact, Shen Qi had long figured him out. Ever since the last time they met at the restaurant nearby the hospital, the repeated hesitant look on Han Qing’s face gave him away that he indeed had questions to ask Shen Qi.
However, he didn’t bring up his question at that time, yet this time… he was still hesitant. What was it that was holding him back from saying it out loud?
“You can’t seem to speak your mind. Is it because this question is… sensitive?”
Han Qing nodded with an affirmative hum.
Shen Qi was surprised, believing that the question must have been really sensitive to be brought up. She even wondered if it had anything to do with her body…
At the thought of that, Shen Qi’s face turned red, feeling a little embarrassed about it.
“Actually, I’m sure that you’re my sister even without having to ask you this question, but if you’re worried…” Seeing her blushed face, Han Qing suddenly found joy in pulling Shen Qi’s leg. As a smile formed at the corner of his mouth, he gently teased her. “If you really want to know, I could tell you more about it to satiate your curiosity. But… are you sure you want to know?”
Shen Qi remained quiet.
“Alright, I’ll tell you now.”
“Wait a minute!” Shen Qi suddenly interrupted his words and awkwardly pursed her lips. “As long as you’re sure, I… I don’t want to know.”
With Han Qing still holding back his words for what seemed like forever, Shen Qi reckoned he wouldn’t have told her anyway even if she had insisted on hearing him out. Furthermore, she was afraid that they would find themselves in an awkward situation if the question was indeed a sensitive one.
Fine.
It was the established Han Family in North City after all. What was there to lose having a prestigious family like that to have her back? Moreover, she bore a striking resemblance to the woman in the photograph. Therefore, she was convinced that it couldn’t be wrong.
“So, Mr. Han… when do you plan to talk to Xueyou about this?”
Upon hearing about Han Xueyou, Han Qing’s eyes turned cold. “I’ll settle the score with her once she is out of the hospital. You…”
An evil thought suddenly crossed Shen Qi’s mind.
Han Xueyou took Ye Moxuan away from her, but it wouldn’t be long before she lost her noble status. A few days ago, she even taunted Shen Qi for her low status and her unborn illegitimate child, while claiming herself to be the one sharing the same world with Ye Moxuan. Ironically, she was about to find herself detached from that world. Could this be… instant karma?
However, Shen Qi had now hardened her heart where she took absolutely no pity on Xueyou for her evildoing.
Their friendship in the past had been shattered to pieces overnight.
“Alright, I get you. I’ll leave it to you to deal with her then.”
“Would you like to see her?” Han Qing had apparently heard about the rumors of their dispute. Although he didn’t know the cause behind this broken friendship, he reckoned it was no small matter.
“No.” Shen Qi immediately refused. “We have absolutely nothing to say to each other.”
Her words were followed by an ensuing silence. However, as Shen Qi suddenly thought of something, she looked at Han Qing who was sitting opposite her and said, “Mr. Han, do you think that… I’ve gotten above myself now that I’ve gone from zero to hero?”
Han Qing said, “Silly girl.”
Shen Qi paused upon hearing that.
What did he just call her?
“She has been lying to you all these years, so I’m not surprised that you don’t want to see her anymore. Furthermore, you will soon be the young miss of the Han Family. For that, even if you were to get above yourself, you would have what it takes to do that. So, just go ahead and do anything you want. From now on, I will…”
He paused, before slowly assuring. “From now on, the Han Family will have your back.”
Han Qing’s assuring words sounded so genuinely sincere that they touched Shen Qi to the bottom of her heart. As she felt a lump in her throat, the doorbell rang—Yan was back.
Afraid that she would be seen in such a state, Shen Qi immediately rose from her seat. “Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom.”
Soon after, she quickly made for the bathroom just as Yan entered. With a smile, Yan placed the sandwich and coffee before Han Qing while saying, “Mr. Han, I’ve bought you a sandwich and some coffee. Please accept them.”
Han Qing then reached out for his wallet. “How much are they?”
“It’s my treat! They’re not really expensive anyway!” Yan was shocked, and she quickly shied away from Han Qing.
Although Han Qing calmly insisted on paying her back, Yan insistently refused.
“It was me who ate your share of the breakfast, Mr. Han. So, the sandwich and coffee are for me to make it up to you. I’ll feel awkward if you insist on paying me back. In that case, I guess I’d never come and join Qi for a meal again.”
Upon hearing Yan’s last few words, Han Qing finally gave up the idea of paying her back.
Han Qing had always lived by a principle that he would owe no favor to anyone else, and neither would he allow anyone to owe him any favor. For that, he wanted to pay Yan back.
“Alright. In that case, I’ll count on you to keep Shen Qi company from now on.”
“No worries. It’s no big deal.”
When Han Qing had finished eating his sandwich in a leisurely manner, Shen Qi was still in the washroom. With a wipe of his mouth, he said, “I have a meeting later, so please tell her that I’ll make a move first.”
“Sure thing!”
Yan saw him off at the door, and only closed the door after making sure that he had left.
Then, she returned to the room and searched for Shen Qi. “Qi, where are you? Han Qing is gone. You can show yourself now.”
As the bathroom door was slowly cracked open, Shen Qi stepped right through it and exited the bathroom.
“Wow, so you were really hiding in there. What’s wrong with you? Mr. Han was taking his time with his sandwich but you were hiding in the bathroom all this while?”
“It has just been a few minutes. What’s the matter with me using the bathroom anyway?” Although Shen Qi had already washed off the tears from her face, her red eyes still gave her away.
Yan licked her lips.“Are you still a little sad?”
“No.” Shen Qi turned around and walked directly into the bedroom. Upon seeing that, Yan caught up with her pace. “I want to tell you something. Han Qing looked so handsome even when he was eating. Noblemen are simply born noble, unlike us commoners. Anyway, it seems to me that the both of you look quite alike in terms of your characteristics, especially when the two of you are calm…”
Upon hearing that, Shen Qi stopped and turned around. “Do we really look alike?”
Yan nodded. “I didn’t really mean it when I said that just now, but now that I take a closer look, it seems the both of you are really like two peas in a pod, especially your eyes and lips… and your expressions.”
Shen Qi impatiently said, “That’s enough. You’re getting carried away, aren’t you?”
With a smile, Yan approached her and tugged her arm before giving it a shake. “I meant what I said.”
“Alright that’s enough. Just let go of me. I need to get changed.”
Yan let go of her as told. “Do you plan to settle down in the hotel for long? Why don’t you move to my place?”
“No, I like it quiet and peaceful here. Plus, it’s been paid for.”
“Did Han Qing pay for it?”
Shen Qi paused.
“And everything else in this room, including the breakfast and the maid? Are they all hired by Han Qing?”
Shen Qi turned away and gazed at Yan’s face.
“Are you having another misunderstanding?”
