Chapter 70: Chapter 70 - 70 Gifts

Shen Qingtang lowered her gaze, the cherry in her hand now somewhat deformed by her grip, and her complexion growing increasingly grim.

It was because she resembled Wen Li that Ji Zeqiu had chosen her as a substitute.

The care and concern Ji Zeqiu had shown her these past few days had made her accidentally forget about this matter.

The person Ji Zeqiu liked was Wen Li, not her.

“I remember now, also that last time in the hotel, it was Miss Shen who helped me buy daily necessities. Do you still recall?” Wen Li reminisced about the past.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Shen Qingtang bit her lower lip lightly.

Of course, she remembered.

Buying daily necessities and clothes for another woman on behalf of the man she liked, the sourness in her heart from that day still lingered.

The words Wen Li spoke to her seemed to be a reminder once again.

The kindness Ji Zeqiu showed her was merely because of Wen Li.

“Thinking about it that way, Miss Shen has helped me out a lot, hasn’t she? When I get discharged, may I treat you to a meal?” Wen Li said with a smile.

“No, no need… I have some things to do, I should get going.” The smile on Shen Qingtang’s face was forced, no longer in the mood to stay, she found an excuse and turned to leave.

After Shen Qingtang left, only Wen Li and Lin Xu remained in the ward.

Wen Li remembered her hostility towards herself and clutched at the blanket on her body nervously.

She was somewhat afraid of being alone with Lin Xu.

Fortunately, Ji Zeqiu returned soon, giving all the fruits from the fruit basket to Wen Li.

Because Wen Li did not have a good relationship with her family, she rarely went home to stay and even during vacations she applied to stay on campus.

But Ji Zeqiu was worried about her being alone on campus during the winter break, so he still took her back to the apartment after her discharge, and even the meals prepared by the housekeeper were prioritized for Wen Li.

Every day after finishing his engagements, no matter how late, Ji Zeqiu would rush back to the apartment to check on Wen Li.

Seeing that she was okay, he would finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“Wen Li, this is goji berry and red date soup I made for you, drink it up, and nourish your body.” Late at night, Ji Zeqiu brought a bowl of chicken soup to Wen Li’s bedroom.

Wen Li had had far too much nourishment these past few days; just the sight of the soup made her feel queasy, her stomach bloated uncomfortably.

She wanted to refuse, but seeing his expectant, caring eyes, she managed to say “thank you,” took the soup, and closed the bedroom door behind her.

Less than two minutes later, Ji Zeqiu came running with fruit, asking if she wanted some.

The expression on Wen Li’s face was a bit stiff as she took the fruit back to her room with reluctance.

After a while, Lin Xu saw Ji Zeqiu heading toward Wen Li’s bedroom again.

“You’ve almost paid a third visit this evening; if she wants anything, she’ll say so herself. You don’t need to keep asking. Aren’t you tired? I’m getting tired just watching you, come sit down and take a break.” Lin Xu pulled him back and pressed him down onto the sofa.

“I… I’m just worried about her.” Ji Zeqiu looked towards Wen Li’s bedroom door, his eyes hiding a trace of anxiety and unease, his heart unable to calm down.

“She’s fine now, quit worrying for nothing.”

Ji Zeqiu pressed his lips together, remaining silent.

“There you go.” Lin Xu rubbed his head, her voice very gentle, “Not every car accident is so terrible.”

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Ji Zeqiu’s face, as if someone had discovered a secret in his heart, he murmured quietly, “How did you know…”

His worries about Wen Li were mostly because of the car accident.

Just seeing her safe and sound would ease his inner restlessness somewhat, as if through her, he could offer some solace regarding his parents’ past incident.

Lin Xu simply smiled faintly, offering no explanation, her hands tousling his hair even more.

“I’m not Ji Tingyang, that guy. Stop ruffling my hair all the time,” Ji Zeqiu muttered.

But he didn’t push her hand away; her touch was so gentle that it made one unconsciously feel intimacy and harmony.

The irritation in his heart gradually faded.

Seeing his mood had calmed down, Lin Xu promptly urged him to go back to his room to rest, “Look how tired you’ve been these past few days, you’ve even got dark circles under your eyes. Go rest, or the fans are going to be heartbroken.”

Perhaps because of the car accident, Ji Zeqiu’s mental state had been off for the past few days, occasionally having nightmares, always rushing back to the apartment late, looking somewhat haggard.

The fans were all calling out in concern, urging the company not to overwork Ji Zeqiu and to give him more time to rest.

The fan groups were also in an uproar.

Thinking of the nightmares, Ji Zeqiu reluctantly went back to his room.

“If you can’t sleep, do you want me to tell you a bedtime story?” Lin Xu suggested.

Ji Zeqiu’s ears instantly turned red, and a flicker of embarrassment crossed his face as he loudly declared, “I don’t need it,” and slammed the door shut.

Half a month had passed since the winter break.

Xiao Yu sent messages to Wen Li every day, telling her about his daily activities.

Wen Li, because she was jealous of Xiao Yu and Ji Yuqiao being together, had not responded to his messages until now.

But so much time had passed that Wen Li had long since let it go.

Thinking that today was Xiao Yu’s birthday, she had prepared a gift a few days earlier, planning to give it to him today, and then to apologize and make amends.

Xiao Yu had set up a studio with his seniors in the suburbs, and Wen Li took a taxi there, touching the gift box in her pocket and smiling sweetly.

She imagined the surprise he would show upon receiving the gift.

However, Wen Li had never anticipated seeing Ji Yuqiao at the studio, and she froze in place as she walked in.

“Xiao Yu, this is my gift to you, happy birthday!” Ji Yuqiao said with a radiant smile, handing him the gift in her hands.

Xiao Yu’s brow furrowed slightly, “Thank you, but I don’t need the gift.”

He didn’t want to get too entangled with Ji Yuqiao.

“How can you not accept a birthday gift? Just take it,” Ji Yuqiao insisted, thrusting the box into his hands and not allowing him to refuse, “Think of it as a thank you for helping me with my studies in the library. Open it and see!”

Xiao Yu could only thank her again and opened the gift.

Inside the palm-sized box lay an exquisitely crafted mechanical watch, with a unique design that clearly indicated it was expensive.

“This… is too expensive,” Xiao Yu said with a furrowed brow, trying to return the watch to her.

“This watch can’t be returned. If you don’t want it, just throw it away,” Ji Yuqiao said, unwilling to take it back.

“I…” Xiao Yu started to say something, but suddenly heard a noise at the door.

He turned his head and his face brightened upon seeing Wen Li, hurrying forward: “Wen Li, where have you been lately? You’re not answering calls or replying to messages, I was worried something had happened to you.”

“I’m fine…” Wen Li forced a smile.

…

Back at the apartment, Wen Li took out the ungifted present, feeling a twinge of bitterness in her heart.

“Wen Li, you’re back?” Ji Zeqiu heard movement at the entrance and came to see, indeed finding her there.

“Is this gift… for me?” he asked hesitantly.

Wen Li paused for a moment, “Yes.”

Excitement gleamed in Ji Zeqiu’s eyes as he happily took the gift box.

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