The TV was playing a ghost movie, and Nan Qiao had already burrowed into Li Yehan’s embrace, too scared to come out.
The milk tea was tossed aside; she didn’t even want to drink it anymore.
Li Yehan turned off the TV and asked in confusion, "Qiaoqiao, are you afraid of ghost movies?"
Li Yehan hadn’t expected that fearless Nan Qiao would be too scared to watch a ghost movie.
Nan Qiao, hearing no sound from the TV, emerged from Li Yehan’s embrace and angrily smacked him twice. "Li Yehan, are you crazy? How could you play a ghost movie? Are you trying to scare me to death?"
"Qiaoqiao, I swear I didn’t do it on purpose. I really had no idea you were afraid of ghost movies."
"And why wouldn’t I be afraid of ghost movies? Is it because I’m tough? Or because I’m strong?"
Nan Qiao glared furiously at Li Yehan, who grabbed her hand and begged for forgiveness: "Qiaoqiao, it’s my fault. How about you punish me? Don’t stay mad, okay?"
Nan Qiao sat on the sofa while Li Yehan knelt on one knee, too ashamed to sit on equal footing with her.
Nan Qiao said, "Alright, since you want me to punish you. Here, kneel on the remote control and use your knee to switch channels as I please. Or maybe you should kneel on a durian instead? Nah, the spikes are too hard, not appropriate."
Li Yehan smiled. "Qiaoqiao, I knew you couldn’t bear to hurt me."
But then Nan Qiao said, "Kneel on instant noodles—it’s forbidden to crush the noodles."
"Qiaoqiao..." Li Yehan held onto Nan Qiao’s hand.
Seeing his helpless face, Nan Qiao couldn’t help herself and burst out laughing.
Li Yehan heard her laughter and felt a slight weight lifted off his heart.
"Qiaoqiao, don’t be mad anymore. I really didn’t do it on purpose."
"Just don’t play ghost movies again; they’re too scary. Even if I seem like a tough girl in your eyes, I still don’t want to see ghosts."
Li Yehan held her hand and sat next to her. "Qiaoqiao, how could you ever be a tough girl to me? You’re my queen."
Nan Qiao: "Li Yehan, just go kneel on instant noodles, okay? Incidentally, I bought a few packs of dry noodles today."
"Qiaoqiao, don’t be mad—it’s all my fault."
Thinking about today’s date, Nan Qiao ultimately decided to forgive Li Yehan.
Still, Nan Qiao couldn’t help but suspect Li Yehan had ulterior motives and showed her the ghost movie on purpose.
Li Yehan handed the remote control to Nan Qiao. "Qiaoqiao, you pick. Whatever you want to watch, you choose."
Nan Qiao: "I’ll pick, but stay far away from me—you can’t come near me tonight."
In order to please Nan Qiao, Li Yehan nodded earnestly. "Okay, Qiaoqiao, sure—just don’t be angry."
Nan Qiao curved her lips into a faint smile, picked up the remote, and found a CEO-centric drama—one filled with lots of kissing scenes.
Li Yehan was dumbfounded.
Nan Qiao kept her distance from him, holding the remote and watching intently. Then she turned to Li Yehan and chirped, "Li Yehan, why aren’t you watching? Watch properly! Don’t forget what I told you—focus on the TV."
Watching the steamy scenes on TV, Li Yehan could only feel exasperated.
"Qiaoqiao..." Li Yehan looked at her.
"Watch the TV properly—remember your promise to me."
Li Yehan got up, grabbed a bottle of ice water for himself, and sat back down on the sofa.
Unable to avoid watching, as the heated scenes unfolded on the screen, Li Yehan felt like Nan Qiao was deliberately driving him insane.
Li Xia returned to the hospital.
Li Xia, looking pitiful, explained, "Brother Shaolin, I really didn’t send anyone to harm Huo Siyu. I didn’t even know your phone went missing—I truly didn’t know about this."
Mo Shaolin said, "My phone was lost, and someone used it to message Huo Siyu, claiming I wanted to meet her. She went to the bar to find me and almost got into trouble."
"Brother Shaolin, just because your phone went missing, you can’t automatically assume I did it. Nan Qiao and Huo Siyu are pinning everything on me—I’m stuck in a wheelchair, unable to care for myself. I’m a victim too."
Lowering his head in thought, Mo Shaolin eventually said, "When Huo Siyu lost her memory, she was with me. I can’t think of who would want to harm her."
Li Xia defended herself: "But that doesn’t necessarily make me the person who wanted to harm Huo Siyu. I bear no grudge against her—why would I want to hurt her?"
Saying this, tears began streaming down Li Xia’s face.
Mo Shaolin comforted her warmly: "Xiaxia, I know you’ve been wronged. I’ll ask Nan Qiao again. If it turns out that Nan Qiao was behind this, I’ll make sure justice is done for you."
"Brother Shaolin, forget it. As long as my legs can heal, I don’t need justice for this. Brother Shaolin, I don’t want to ruin your relationship with Brother Ye Han over my issues. As long as I can stand and live like a normal person again, I’m willing to let go of everything else."
Suddenly, Li Xia grabbed Mo Shaolin’s hand, her teary eyes looking earnestly at him.
"Brother Shaolin, I beg you, help me."
Mo Shaolin nodded. "Xiaxia, don’t worry—I’ll help you for sure."
With Mo Shaolin’s promise, Li Xia felt noticeably happier.
As long as she played her cards right, Mo Shaolin would be completely under her control.
"Brother Shaolin, thank you for bringing me to the hospital. It’s so late—go back and get some rest."
"Xiaxia, I’ll stay here to take care of you."
"No need. I have a caretaker here. You won’t sleep well here. I don’t want my issues to disturb your rest."
Li Xia’s considerate words deeply moved Mo Shaolin.
"Xiaxia, then I’ll come see you again tomorrow."
"Alright, Brother Shaolin. Take it slow on the way back and be safe."
Mo Shaolin smiled and nodded before leaving the hospital.
After finishing the drama, Li Yehan turned his gaze toward Nan Qiao.
Nan Qiao stood up with a smile. "It’s so late—I’m tired, I’m going to sleep. Li Yehan, where am I sleeping?"
"In my room," Li Yehan replied.
"I’m not sleeping in your room. I’ll sleep in the room next to yours instead."
Nan Qiao headed upstairs, opened the door to the adjacent room, and immediately locked it.
By the time Li Yehan followed her upstairs, Nan Qiao had already locked the door.
Li Yehan knocked on the door. "Qiaoqiao, why did you lock the door? Qiaoqiao, open the door first."
"Li Yehan, what do you want to say?" Nan Qiao asked, leaning against the door.
"I’m here to give you sleepwear."
Nan Qiao suddenly realized she hadn’t brought any clothes.
Leaning against the door, Nan Qiao said to Li Yehan outside, "Alright then. Leave the sleepwear at the door—I’ll grab it later."
"Qiaoqiao, why are you so guarded against me? I’m not going to eat you. Qiaoqiao, open the door—I just want to sit inside for a little while since I can’t sleep. Is that okay?"
"No," Nan Qiao refused bluntly.
"Alright, I’ll leave the sleepwear by the door. Grab it when you’re ready."
Nan Qiao listened closely for Li Yehan’s footsteps to confirm he’d left.
After waiting a while longer and making sure Li Yehan was gone, Nan Qiao unlocked the door.
The clothes hung neatly on the door handle, and Nan Qiao reached out to take them.
Just as Nan Qiao was about to turn back, Li Yehan’s hand suddenly appeared out of nowhere, grasping hers.
"Qiaoqiao." Li Yehan’s magnetic voice was especially seductive in the night.
"Li Yehan, where did you come from?"
Li Yehan held onto her hand and pulled her into his embrace, refusing to let her go.
"Qiaoqiao, let’s sleep together tonight, okay?"