Chapter 225 - 225: A Life In Exchange For A Promise
The Substitute Bride: Indulged by the Obsessive CEO
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The doctor came over and examined Ruan Qi. He confirmed that she was fine and needed to rest for two days.
Tang Beibei came by again but did not see Song Zhou. She walked to Ruan Qiâs bedside and saw that her eyes were red. She had been crying.
âQiqi, whatâs wrong? Why are you crying?â
âJust a little upset but Iâm much better now. Beibei, your face, does it hurt?â
Tang Beibei nodded. âBut itâs much better now after applying medicine. The wound on your forehead must be very painful too, right?â
Ruan Qi touched her forehead and sighed. âWeâre really trouble sisters, arenât we? We even got injured together.â
âIâm so sorry, Qiqi, Iâm the one who dragged you in.â
Ruan Qi poked at Tang Beibeiâs head as she said, âWhat are you thinking?
Youâre a victim too. Iâm lucky. Iâm fine now.â
Tang Beibei smiled when she saw Ruan Qiâs calm expression and her usual vigor.
âQiqi, youâre a good person. Youâll definitely find someone who dotes on you!â
Ruan Qi was stunned. She fluttered her eyelashes to hide the disappointment in her eyes.
âWhen two people get together, itâs not because they dote on each other. Itâs because they feel happy together. Not every man is as considerate and responsible as your husband, who will protect you at all costs.â
âDonât be disheartened. You will find someone.â
Ruan Qi was doubtful. Would she really?
Even if she did, would she be worthy of him?
Sigh, perhaps she wasnât worthy. Otherwise, why would Song Zhou reject her despite her fondness for him?
The thought of Song Zhou made her heart feel like it was being squeezed; she couldnât breathe well.
It felt terrible to be rejected.
Because of her injuries, Jiang Jingchen asked Tang Beibei to take a leave of absence and recuperate at home for two days.
Tang Beibei was worried that Ruan Qi would be bored in the hospital, so she went to the hospital to keep her company. When she was outside Ruan Qiâs ward, she saw Song Zhou standing there in a daze.
She walked over and was about to call him when Song Zhou shushed her.
âWhatâs wrong?â she asked softly.
âRuan Qi has a visitor inside and they are talking.â
âWho is it?â
âA man.â
Tang Beibei peeked inside. Ruan Qiâs visitor was Zhu Fan. She looked at Song Zhou strangely. âArenât you going in?â âWhy should I go in? Itâs not nice to disturb them, right?â
Although he said that it wasnât nice, his eyes were still drawn to them. It was obvious that he cared.
This man was as stubborn as a mule.
Tang Beibei felt a little helpless. She knocked twice and pushed the door open.
âHi Senior Zhu Fan. What are you guys talking about?â
Zhu Fan was a little shy in front of outsiders. He cleared his throat and said, âNothing much. I was just worried that Ruan Qi would be bored, so we are just chit chatting.â
âOh. Ruan Qi, I brought you some desserts. Here, try some!â Tang Beibei walked to the head of the bed and saw a bouquet of flowers on the bedside table. She gave Ruan Qi a meaningful look.
But Ruan Qi was very calm and even smiled at her.
Tang Beibei put down the desserts and sat down beside Zhu Fan who was saying, âIâll be doing my internship at a hospital soon. Iâll be busier then. Ruan Qi, 1 want to rent a place closer to yours so that I can see you occasionally.â
His attitude was obvious. He wanted to develop the relationship further with her.
Ruan Qi looked at him, feeling a little helpless at his sudden offer.
âDonât do that. Youâll be very tired during your internship. You should find a place near the hospital. I live quite far away. It would be too tiring for you to run back and forth. 1 can always meet you near the hospital.â
Zhu Fan pushed his glasses up his nose and said, âThat works too. How many days did the doctor say they will keep you here?â
âTwo days. I canât rest for too long. I still have to dance.â
âI see.â
The two of them were silent.
Zhu Fan wasnât the type of guy who would take the initiative. He tried to find conversation topics with the girl he was interested in, but it seemed like they were miles apart professionally. He felt a little awkward.
Tang Beibei talked to Ruan Qi about dancing. They could watch more videos during their recuperation and perhaps make their choreography more interesting.
Zhu Fan watched them watch the videos. He was quite bored so he stood up and said goodbye.
After he left, Ruan Qiâs shoulders slumped. She held her face with her hands and sighed.
âYou are not happy?â
âYes, I feel guilty.â
âOh, why?â
Ruan Qi said, âWhen 1 said that I was looking for a boyfriend, 1 was doing it out of spite. Now that Iâve caught Senior Zhu Fanâs interest, Iâm thinking about how to be honest with him and tell him that I may not become his girlfriend.â
âWhen I see him now, 1 canât help but compare him to Song Zhou. 1 hate myself for doing that.â
âSong Zhou doesnât even like me. So what if Zhu Fan is better than him?â
Tang Beibei knew that Song Zhou was outside. She glanced at the door and asked, âDo you think Senior Zhu Fan is better than Song Zhou?â
Song Zhou, who was outside the door, could indeed hear their conversation.
Ruan Qi would compare him to Zhu Fan. Did she think that Zhu Fan was better?
Song Zhou felt nervous at the thought of this.
Ruan Qi thought for a bit and replied, âNot really. Although Song Zhou is just a butler, heâs very capable. His gentlemanly manners are very special. No one can compare to him.â
Ruan Qi covered her face as she spoke, feeling a little frustrated.
âNo, no, that bastard Song Zhou doesnât even like me. The more highly I think of him, the harder it is for me to let him go. I canât do this. Itâs better to be practical.â
âQiqi, didnât you say that the best way to get over a past relationship is to start a new one? You can try things out with Senior Zhu Fan. You can tell him when things donât work out.â
Ruan Qi waved her hand. âNo, no, Iâd better tell Senior Zhu Fan now. It will be immoral of me if 1 continue to lead him on when Iâm not interested.â
âAlright. But a certain immoral man really deserves to be whacked. What a bastard!â Tang Beibei said while looking at the door.
âDonât scold him. He didnât do anything wrong. He treats me as a friend, but I want to sleep with him. Tsk, letâs not talk about it. The more 1 talk about it, the more my head hurts.â
âTake a nap if you head hurts.â
Tang Beibei helped Ruan Qi lie down and waited for her to fall asleep before she left.
When she walked out, she didnât see Song Zhou. She looked around in confusion and saw him in the smoking area.
He flicked the cigarette he was holding and stared at his phone with a frown.
This was the first time Tang Beibei saw Song Zhou smoke.
âSong Zhou?â
Song Zhou snapped out of his daze, put out his cigarette and kept his phone.
âYoung Madam, what can I do for you?â
âSong Zhou, you should have heard what Qiqi said. Whereâs your head at?â
Song Zhou lowered his head in silence. âI donât know either.â
âWhen it comes to love, you either like someone or you donât. Does your âI donât knowâ mean that you donât like Ruan Qi?â
âNo, itâs just thatâ¦â
There were some things he didnât know how to explain.
Tang Beibei interrupted him, âYou just donât know who you like more, right? I heard from my husband that you had a fiancee and youâve been waiting for her, but she hasnât given you an answer.â
âSong Zhou, I donât care what feelings you have.â
âBut youâre thinking about your fiancee while getting involved with my best friend. If you hurt Ruan Qi, I wonât let you off.â
âAs a man, you donât even have the courage to face your own feelings. Youâre not as brave as Qiqi. To be honest, youâre not worthy of her!â
Song Zhou chuckled. âYes, Miss Ruan is very good. Iâm not worthy of her.â
âYouâ¦â Tang Beibei took a deep breath. She was furious.
âSince youâre so determined not to be with Ruan Qi, donât show up in the future and stir up her feelings!â
Song Zhou closed his eyes and was quiet for a few seconds. âOkay, Iâm sorry.â
He then turned and left.
Tang Beibei was so angry that her lungs hurt, and she felt sorry for Ruan Qi.
Tang Beibei spent the night at the hospital with Ruan Qi. Jiang Jingchen, who felt left out when he returned to the villa, looked at Song Zhou coldly.
Song Zhou explained helplessly, âYoung Madam warned me not to go near her friend. 1 canât take care of her.â
âOh, so this is my wifeâs fault?â
âNo, itâs my fault.â
Jiang Jingchen sneered. âWhatâs the point of waiting for a woman who made you wait like that?â
âShe saved my life back then and 1 promised her.â
âRight.â
Jiang Jingchen was very disdainful of Song Zhouâs promise.
A life in exchange for a promise, but this promise put Song Zhou in a difficult position. His fianceeâs refusal to let him go wasnât a promise of marriage but blackmail..