Meng Zhihan paused.
Was she angry?
Why didn't she vent her temper at the Shen family?
When had Meng Zhihan ever suffered such an injustice?
He sneered and turned to leave!
The slightly cool evening breeze helped Meng Zhihan calm down.
He pinched the bridge of his nose with a hint of helplessness. Why was he arguing with a little girl?
With that thought.
He turned and walked back.
Before he got close, he heard a low sob.
She was crying?
The sound inexplicably reminded Meng Zhihan of her soft whimpers that night. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her beautiful eyes hazy with tears...
Meng Zhihan pushed the image out of his mind, ignored the faint stirrings in his heart, and walked over.
Shen Qiu sat by the flower bed, hugging her knees, her head buried in them.
Shen Qiu wasn't unaware of what Meng Zhihan had just said. It was precisely because he had hit the nail on the head with the truth that she became ashamed and angry.
She had grown up in an orphanage, desperately craving a warm family and the love of her parents.
She had retreated again and again, always yielding.
But it seemed to be of no use.
Suddenly.
She felt a warmth on her shoulder.
Meng Zhihan's unique minty scent filled her nostrils.
She heard Meng Zhihan's voice, gentler than ever, "Is it worth crying for them?"
"Your tears are so precious."
Precious?
This was the first time Shen Qiu had heard this word used to describe her.
She looked up in a daze. Meng Zhihan's long, well-defined fingers held a tissue.
At this moment.
Meng Zhihan seemed to be glowing.
Seeing her unmoving, Meng Zhihan reached out to wipe her tears.
Shen Qiu finally reacted quickly, snatching the tissue.
Just as she was about to wipe her tears, her wrist was grabbed. Meng Zhihan frowned, "What happened to your hand?"
The tissue was stained with a trace of blood.
"I..."
Meng Zhihan didn't say another word. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the house, adding, "At this hour, there's no one else at home."
The servants had all retired to their rooms.
Shen Qiu was led by Meng Zhihan and seated on the sofa in the living room. She watched him find the first-aid kit, frown, and meticulously and gently disinfect and apply medicine to her wound.
"Hiss..."
The disinfectant stung the wound, and Shen Qiu gasped.
It hurt.
Her eyes turned red, and a mist veiled them. Her hand instinctively tried to retract.
Meng Zhihan gripped tighter, then looked up at her.
Seeing Shen Qiu's state, a dark emotion flickered in his eyes, and he inexplicably felt his throat tighten.
He raised his hand, loosened his tie, and then continued to treat Shen Qiu's wound.
"I'll be gentle."
Shen Qiu's gaze involuntarily fell on the man.
He lowered his eyes, his movements careful and gentle. The lamplight fell on his face, as if casting a soft glow on him.
For a moment...
Shen Qiu's heartbeat skipped a beat.
He was so gentle.
"All done."
Meng Zhihan's voice rang out.
Shen Qiu suddenly came back to her senses, her ears turning red. She averted her gaze guiltily, "Th-thank you..."
Meng Zhihan's expression was serious, "No matter who it is for, hurting yourself is a foolish act."
Shen Qiu was taken aback. She wanted to explain that it wasn't intentional.
Meng Zhihan spoke again, "The Shen family isn't worth it."
Mentioning the Shen family.
The unpleasant memories from before flooded back.
Shen Qiu's eyes dimmed, tears welling up again, her nose stinging.
Meng Zhihan sat beside her, gently patted her shoulder, and his deep voice reached her ears, filled with tenderness, "Cry if you want to cry."
"You can use my shoulder."
The pent-up grievances of Shen Qiu seemed to have found an outlet all at once.
She buried her head and leaned onto Meng Zhihan's shoulder, crying softly.
Meng Zhihan paused, then gently patted her back.
Though his movements were clumsy, they were filled with sincerity.
Perhaps because she had a shoulder to lean on, Shen Qiu's tears flowed as if they were free. As she cried, Meng Zhihan felt her sobs gradually subside.
He let out a sigh of relief.
He felt more exhausted than closing a multi-billion dollar deal.
But strangely, he didn't resent it.
"Shen Qiu?"
He called out, but the person leaning on his shoulder didn't respond.
Meng Zhihan frowned and looked down.
As he lowered his head, his thin lips brushed across Shen Qiu's fair and rounded forehead.
He froze.
The first thought that flashed through his mind was: Her lips weren't as soft as hers.
Meng Zhihan listlessly pinched the bridge of his nose.
He was not a man of strong desires, and he had remained chaste for years, but what was happening to him now?
He calmed his restless emotions and saw that Shen Qiu's eyes were tightly closed; she had fallen asleep.
He gently scooped Shen Qiu into his arms and walked towards her room.
Her body was soft, her waist slender. Even through her dress, he seemed to be able to feel the soft, delicate touch of her skin.
Meng Zhihan quickened his pace, placed Shen Qiu on the bed, covered her with a blanket, and then stepped back.
Ding dong.
Was that a message on her phone?
Meng Zhihan instinctively glanced at it and immediately frowned.
"Shen Qiu, you ungrateful bitch! You really think you're a phoenix, don't you? You're throwing away kindness for no reason! I warn you, Young Master Han will be mine sooner or later! I am Mrs. Meng, you are just a substitute!"
Sender: Shen Xia.
"Heh."
Meng Zhihan sneered, his eyes turning cold.
He only knew that the Shen family treated Shen Qiu poorly, but he hadn't known Shen Xia was so arrogant.
He deleted the message without hesitation and blocked Shen Xia's number.
He then silenced the phone, placed it on the bedside table, and looked at Shen Qiu, who was sleeping soundly.
He raised his eyebrows slightly and whispered, "Shen Qiu, goodnight."
—
Hospital.
After Shen Xia sent her parents off, she was extremely annoyed thinking that Young Master Han wouldn't pick her up from the hospital tomorrow.
It was all Shen Qiu's fault!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She sent Shen Qiu a furious text message filled with abuse.
After waiting for a long time, Shen Qiu didn't reply.
Enraged, she called her directly.
But a cold electronic female voice came from the phone: "Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently in use..."
She had been blocked by Shen Qiu?!
How dare that little slut block her?
Bang!
In her fury, she threw her phone, smashing everything she could in the hospital room!
Bitch!
Just you wait.