Chapter 456: Look Forward to the Next Encounter
Fu Qingye caught on to what Fu Qingxuan was about to say. Without a second thought, Fu Qingye tugged at him below in secret to watch his words.
Fu Qingxuan was no dummy. Realizing he let slip a little too much, Fu Qingxuan switched up the topic. “I broke the plate by accident.”
How could he be so stupid? How could he bring Lil’ Xi up when Mom only started to show improvement in her recovery?
The trivial matter did not faze Mama Fu as her youngest son tended to make a huge deal out of things. She softly uttered, “Be more careful next time.”
Fu Qingxuan nodded and hummed in acknowledgment.
It was a blessing in disguise for Fu Qingye. Following the morning fight, he was not bold enough to show his black-and-blue face in front of Mom. The allergic reaction, however, gave him a solid reason to make an appearance.
The face full of rashes provided great coverage over the bruises from the fight.
“Where’s your big brother?” Mama Fu had not seen her eldest son the whole day. Finding it odd, she asked them.
Fu Qingxuan was afraid to blab.
In contrast, Fu Qingye remained composed. “Video conference.”
“You must be hungry. Let’s get on to dinner then.” Mama Fu looked back towards the courtyard. The young man’s slender and aloof figure was nowhere to be found at the streetlight-lit pavement.
Fu Qingye followed her gaze and sighed to himself. Things would not have developed to the way it was now had Qingli not pushed her off the edge.
…
The next morning.
Shen Xi arrived on time.
Mama Fu had been casually keeping an eye on Shen Xi’s hand while the latter was handling the acupuncture needles. The needle p.r.i.c.k may be tiny, but it was visible enough for Mama Fu to see. The scab might be mistaken for a freckle from a distance.
Shen Xi did not mind the attention at all as it did not feel burdensome when Mama Fu gazed at her with warm and loving eyes throughout the acupuncture session. In fact, it made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Half an hour later.
Shen Xi pulled the needles out.
Fixating on Shen Xi, Mama Fu let out a tender smile. “Dr. Jiu Zhou, I’ll be doing the cooking tonight so please stay for dinner!”
The invitation was extended every single day, but of course, Mama Fu was always met with a firm and distant refusal.
“No need, thank you.” After putting away the needles, Shen Xi was about to leave when she placed an exquisite-looking jade bottle by the bedside table. She glanced at the scar on Mama Fu’s forehead before saying briefly, “Ointment for the scar.”
With that, she got up to leave.
It took a while for Mama Fu to snap out of her thoughts. With her eyes staring towards the spot Shen Xi was last seen, her face beamed. She held the little jade bottle, feeling the warmth from the bottle seeping and filling her heart.
The child was merely unkeen to talk but took in everything he saw.
A week went by in a flash.
On the last night, Shen Xi was led into Fu Qingli’s study upon her arrival.
Fu Qingli apathetically, though courteously, handed her a blank cheque. “Dr. Jiu Zhou, thank you for your hard work for the past few days.”
Shen Xi was not going to hold back for what she deserved. Nevertheless, she was tempted to tear apart Fu Qingli’s façade of knowing what was up yet played dumb anyway. In the end, she curbed her impulse and wrote a number on the cheque – 500,000.
This payment was excluding the treatment fee. It only took the estimate of the roundtrip on Li Yuan’s private charter into account.
Without even looking at the number written, Fu Qingli took the cheque and sealed it with his signature and stamp.
Shen Xi had a good mind to fill in fifty billion. This wealthy man offered her a blank cheque after all. Accepting the signed cheque, Shen Xi unconcernedly packed it in her bag without another glance and walked off.
With her fast approaching the door, Fu Qingli spoke up and solemnly uttered, “Thank you.”
He rarely said these words and only less than a handful deserved his earnest tone.
For once, he acknowledged her capabilities.
Shen Xi did not bother to look back. “You’re welcome.”
Since he was pretending not to know her, she was going to do the same.
Still, she had to say that Fu Qingli’s approach this time made her see him in a new light. There was no bickering, coercion, and intimidation involved.
As a matter of fact, he did not appear tyrannical or unreasonable. At least, she was pleased with him this time.
The last session of acupuncture therapy proceeded as usual, yet there was something different about it.
Shen Xi no longer interrupted Mama Fu when she was talking. Truth be told, she enjoyed listening to Mama Fu. Like magic, Mama Fu’s gentle voice seemed to soothe her soul. Hence, Shen Xi secretly hoped she would talk more.
Mama Fu understood the doctor may appear uncaring, but he was actually a good listener, hanging onto her every word.
The doctor would never respond, but she was happy to do the talking as long as the other party would lend an ear.
With the therapy session coming to an end, Mama Fu routinely and expectantly invited Shen Xi to dinner. It was another rejection.
This evening, following Mama Fu’s lead, the entire Fu family – including Fu Qingli – walked Shen Xi to the door.
Shen Xi turned to Mama Fu. “This is my stop.”
Mama Fu longingly gazed at the doctor with a gentle grin. “You have to stay for dinner the next time you’re here.”
Shen Xi solemnly replied, “I’m a doctor. It’s best that I don’t have to come back.”
It was not a good thing for a doctor to return. The presence of a doctor meant someone was sick. If possible, Shen Xi hoped she never had to come back.
A gentle, kind, and adorable person like Mama Fu deserved the best of everything in the world. Shen Xi wished nothing but good health and joy in Mama Fu’s life.
Fu Junqiu and the Fu brothers bade their farewells and watched her take off in the car before heading back to their home.
Walking at the back of the pack, Fu Qingye observed the empty doorway before s.h.i.+fting his eyes to Fu Qingli. His eyes reflected his conflicted state of mind. If it was not for Qingli, Shen Xi would not come here in disguise.
Fu Qingye was aware that Shen Xi was fond of Mom.
The only person she rejected and hated was Qingli!
Because of Qingli, Shen Xi avoided any contact with them as best as she could. She shrunk back into her sh.e.l.l, afraid to take even a peek.
Mama Fu only wanted to have a meal with Shen Xi, but the wish was never realized up to the day she left. With regret, Mom could only look forward to their next encounter.
Fu Qingxuan only wanted to have a medical discussion with Shen Xi but was met with countless rejections. He made up his mind to travel to China, pester and wear her out at all costs until she said yes to an exchange.
It was not long before Shen Xi was gone when Fu Qingye went back to his room to pack his bags. Also packing her bags was Fu Junqiu.
Fu Junqiu packed her suitcase and dragged it out.
Exiting the study by chance, Fu Qingli asked, “Where are you going, Aunt?”
Fu Junqiu pointed at Fu Qingye’s room. “I’m with Ye.”
With a frown, Fu Qingli pushed open the doors to Fu Qingye’s room. “Where are you going?”
Fu Qingye zipped the last of his luggage without sparing another look before crudely blurting, “China!”