In the hospital room, Qiao Chuchu noticed Lin Shen's troubled expression and quickly tried to reassure him: "But aside from me, everyone in my family loves grapes. Don’t worry, they won’t go to waste, especially my second brother—he’s particularly fond of sweet fruits."
Lin Shen wasn’t comforted: "It’s not about whether they’ll be wasted or not."
His long, curled lashes drooped listlessly as he forced a bitter smile: "Three years ago, I was the person who knew you best in the world. But now, I don’t even know what your favorite food is."
Chuchu was momentarily stunned, then hurriedly replied, "That’s not your fault, senior—"
"It is my fault," Lin Shen interrupted, raising his head. His beautiful eyes were bloodshot, filled with regret: "I had a chance to win you over. If I had just taken one more step, we might have been together!"
Qiao Chuchu had liked him once!
They had secretly harbored feelings for each other!
Lin Shen’s voice was thick with frustration: "If I had just held on a little longer, just a little—I—"
He suddenly stopped speaking.
Because Qiao Chuchu was holding the box of green grapes, looking at him with surprise.
Her gaze was filled with shock and unfamiliarity, as if she was staring at someone she couldn’t understand.
Lin Shen met her eyes and felt as though he’d been doused with cold water, instantly calming down.
He swallowed his resentment: "I’m sorry."
He turned his head away, choking back tears: "I’m really sorry."
Sorry for making her sad.
Sorry for making her endure a year of hardship before she could move on.
Sorry for not giving her a chance to explain.
He knew how lonely Qiao Chuchu had been, how her friends had disliked and avoided her, how she had no one to confide in, yet he had still chosen to leave without a word.
Overwhelming guilt consumed Lin Shen.
Trembling, he reached out and grasped Qiao Chuchu’s wrist, his tone both pleading and humble: "I’ll buy you better gifts."
He hung his head low, trying to suppress his sobs: "Please don’t reject me."
Qiao Chuchu frowned, her heart aching as she placed her hand over his: "I’m sorry, Lin Shen, but I can’t return your feelings. I really don’t like you that way."
Lin Shen wasn’t surprised. He kept his head down, silently shedding tears.
Qiao Chuchu smiled softly, tentatively suggesting: "But since we’re friends now, friends should share their preferences, right? I don’t like green grapes anymore; I prefer strawberries. What about you?"
Lin Shen was taken aback, lifting his gaze to meet hers.
His handsome face bore the traces of recent tears, a large droplet slipping from his eye and dampening his perfectly pressed suit collar.
His slightly swollen lips parted gently: "I… like cherries."
Qiao Chuchu’s eyes lit up: "You’re still the same as you were three years ago!"
Lin Shen nodded earnestly: "Yeah, I’m a bit of a creature of habit. When I like something, I tend to stick with it. It’s hard for me to change."
She chuckled: "Actually, you don’t need to buy me anything. Your paintings are worth a fortune! How about you paint me something instead?~"
Lin Shen blinked: "Paint?"
Qiao Chuchu nodded eagerly: "How about a painting of me holding a tablet? In oil! I’ll treasure it forever!"
Lin Shen was momentarily stunned, then replied without thinking: "I’ve already painted you many times…"
He had been painting her for the past three years.
But he had never thought to give her any of the pieces.
Qiao Chuchu was overjoyed, playfully hitting his shoulder: "Why didn’t you show them to me, you big artist? Your paintings are worth millions!~ Once I’m out of the hospital, I’m coming to your studio to pick one. I’ll take whichever one I like best, okay?~"
The sadness in Lin Shen’s puppy-like eyes was instantly replaced by sparkles: "Sure!"
He couldn’t help but smile: "As long as you don’t mind!"
Qiao Chuchu was thrilled: "Why would I mind?~ I’ve always admired your work. I’ve been to so many of your exhibitions over the years!"
[Though I always went secretly. Even if our relationship wasn’t great, art is innocent, and I’ll always admire Lin Shen’s talent and skill!]
Lin Shen blushed, lowering his head in embarrassment, his mood already shifting from gloom to sunshine.
Pei Buxian: "…"
Pei Che: "…"
Pei Yuan: "…"
Pei Mu: "…"
Pei Ci: "…"
Pei Fengnong: "…"
Lou Tingsi: "? Did Qiao Chuchu just cheer Lin Shen up?"
Lou Yuejue nodded: "He’s so happy his smile’s reaching his ears. He’s not crying anymore."
Pei Buxian hissed impatiently: "Pei Youchuan, what are you waiting for? Take off your shoes and unleash the toxic gas already!"
Pei Youchuan snapped: "I told you I’m wearing odorless socks! How long are you going to keep this joke going?!"
Pei Yuan’s expression darkened as he pushed his brothers aside: "Enough wasting time!"
He pushed the door open and strode in!
Pei Buxian slipped and fell with a thud: "Ouch!"
Lou Yuejue lost his balance and tumbled onto Pei Buxian: "Ah!"
Lou Tingsi tried to grab his son but ended up being dragged down too!
The others fell like dominoes, piling up at the entrance like a human pyramid.
Only Pei Yuan and Pei Che remained standing.
The group awkwardly turned their gaze toward Qiao Chuchu.
Lin Shen: "?"
Qiao Chuchu: "? What are you all doing?"
Pei Buxian smirked, propping his chin up as he lay on the floor: "It’s too hot. We’re cooling off on the ground."
The others nodded solemnly.
Qiao Chuchu was silent.
She glanced out the window at the heavy snowfall.
"You call this hot?"
Just as the awkwardness reached its peak, Weisheng Yucan made her entrance, dressed in a cheongsam: "Well, well, what’s going on here?"
She wore a luxurious fur shawl, her curly hair cascading lazily over her shoulders. She looked at the men on the floor with a teasing smile: "A bunch of handsome men lying around, waiting for Qiao Chuchu to pick one?"
The men scrambled to their feet.
Qiao Chuchu beamed: "Yucan? What brings you here?!"
Weisheng Yucan smiled at her: "Good morning, Qiao Chuchu. I heard you’d been kidnapped, so I came to check on you. I thought I’d bring some tonics to help you recover, but it seems I needn’t have bothered."
She glanced around the crowded room with amusement: "With so many handsome men around, who needs bird’s nest? Just a taste of them would do wonders for your skin."
Qiao Chuchu: "?"
[I think she’s making a dirty joke, but I can’t prove it.]
Weisheng Yucan chuckled, striding over to Qiao Chuchu’s bedside in her ten-centimeter heels and handing her an invitation: "It’s my fourth brother’s birthday the day after tomorrow. I’m here to personally invite you to be a guest of honor at the Wei Sheng Clan’s celebration. No need to bring a gift—just come as you are."
She then casually scanned the room: "Bring all these handsome men along too. They can serve you tea and water, give my shallow friends something to gawk at."
Qiao Chuchu awkwardly smiled, accepting the invitation with both hands. She looked at the photo of the man on the card.
He looked almost identical to Weisheng Yucan, but colder, sharper.
Dressed in a black Tang suit with knotted buttons, he held a string of Buddhist prayer beads, his icy eyes exuding a murderous aura that clashed with the serenity of the beads.
Qiao Chuchu: "…"
[Just when I think I can catch a break, new characters and events always pop up.]
Weisheng Biehe stood silently at the door, arms crossed, eyeing Qiao Chuchu.
The photo had been carefully chosen.
He wanted to make a strong first impression!
Weisheng Yucan glanced at her brother and asked with a smile: "So, what do you think? My fourth brother’s quite handsome, isn’t he? Does he meet your standards?"
Weisheng Biehe lifted his chin, confidently awaiting praise.
Qiao Chuchu nodded sincerely: "Of course he’s handsome! He’s your brother, after all. His features are so similar to yours!"
[He’s just a bit of an idiot—the only one in the Wei Sheng Family without a brain. A hopeless romantic who didn’t inherit any of Yucan’s smarts. A total fool.]
Weisheng Biehe: "?"