Volume One, Chapter Eight: The Couples' Ward

She and Jiang Chen had no internal conflicts, nor was there any third-party interference. If anything, Jiang Chen might have been the one who invested more emotionally.

Jiang Chen always cared deeply about her—about her feelings, her preferences—and he wouldn’t allow anyone to bully her.

Even now, looking back, Wen Li found it hard to forget.

She was simply unworthy.

“And besides…” Wen Li lowered her head, her eyes flickering as the image of Zhou Hua Qing appeared before her.

Suddenly, clarity dawned.

She boldly suggested, “Maybe you could try approaching from within the Shen family.”

“Be more specific.”

Ling Dan wasn’t very sharp and missed the subtext.

Wen Li replied earnestly with a name: “Shen Yu Zhi.”

How had she not thought of it sooner? The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Jiang Chen and Shen Yu Zhi were best friends. She had often heard Jiang Chen mention that the two brothers had long been estranged—not just ordinary estrangement, but a bitter enmity, a life-or-death rivalry.

Wen Yang had also warned her that the Shen family was rife with power struggles and advised her to stay out of it.

All of this was meant to keep her away from Ling Dan, lest others mistake her for taking sides.

Ling Dan waved her hand, feeling uneasy. “Him? Better not. I’m afraid he’d kill me to make a point.”

After all, she had seriously offended Shen Yu Zhi by being with Shen Ning Yuan, that scoundrel. He probably had her on a blacklist for assassination by now.

Speaking of which, it was Shen Yu Zhi who deliberately revealed the affair between Ling Yuan and Shen Ning Yuan just to spite her.

He even used that as leverage afterward, asking her to help Jiang Chen pass a message to Wen Li about the car accident.

But Wen Li said, “How do you know he won’t help you unless you try? Besides, do you have a better option?”

This was what one might call seizing the opportunity to switch allegiance.

Wen Li intended to say more when her phone screen lit up inconveniently. She picked it up, puzzled by two messages.

“Still not done talking? Planning to chat until tomorrow morning?”

“Want me to call your family for a driver to pick you up?”

The sender’s avatar was unknown, with the nickname “Sun.”

Wen Li didn’t recognize it immediately but clicked in and saw the only transaction record was from Zhou Hua Qing.

Persistent as a shadow, afraid she might slip away mid-conversation to find trouble for his innocent and kind cousin.

Wait—could it be that he liked her brother?

The thought sent chills down Wen Li’s spine. She stopped before her curiosity became impolite.

…

Wen Li glanced at Ling Dan, who was still deep in thought beside her, realizing today’s discussion wouldn’t yield any sustainable results. Continuing would only waste time and energy.

She stood and said to Ling Dan, “I’ll go ahead.” She patted her shoulder, signaling her to think carefully.

If one wanted to stand against the Shen family, Shen Yu Zhi was the only candidate.

Upon leaving Diezhuang, Wen Li noticed a familiar black Bentley parked at the entrance.

The car was empty.

As Wen Li’s gaze searched around, Zhou Hua Qing suddenly appeared from behind and tapped her shoulder, startling her.

Luckily, she wasn’t pregnant—otherwise, that tap might have somehow delivered the baby right then and there.

His technique rivaled that of a maternity nurse.

He emerged from the convenience store next door carrying two tubs of oden. “If you get hungry, just get out and buy something.”

He looked like one of those top ten exemplary boyfriends who report their plans to their girlfriends.

Wen Li made it clear she didn’t care.

Perhaps sensing her indifferent look, Zhou Hua Qing assumed a haughty attitude. “Remember to reimburse me,” he said, then ordered Wen Li to open the car door for him.

Sitting inside the car, Wen Li watched Zhou Hua Qing enjoy his food with relish, showing no intention of sharing.

A sudden pang gripped her stomach.

At first, Wen Li thought it was hunger—she had skipped both lunch and dinner—but the blood flow beneath her made her uneasy.

She glanced at Zhou Hua Qing several times, hesitant, trying to awaken the faint conscience beneath his wicked exterior.

He ignored her completely.

Without further hesitation, Wen Li decided to get out and handle it. “I want to use the restroom, is that okay?”

Asking permission beforehand was a habit she developed over years in the Wen family.

Zhou Hua Qing looked puzzled. “Do you want me to accompany you?”

As she stepped out, she heard him muttering complaints under his breath. “So many demands.”

Once again inside Diezhuang, Wen Li used the restroom. Passing by the bar, she glanced over but saw no sign of Ling Dan—she must have left.

Sure enough, her period had arrived on schedule.

She had even had a drink earlier; now the pain was intense. Her face was pale, sweating, and her whole body weak.

When she finally stood up, a dizzy spell overtook her. Lacking strength, she clung to the partition between the restroom doors and slid down, collapsing onto the floor.

She lost consciousness.

…

When she awoke, she was lying in a hospital bed.

Zhou Hua Qing stood by the window, speaking on the phone. He turned to Wen Li and said softly, “I have to hang up now.”

His tone was gentle.

But when he addressed her, he used their familiar formula and spoke sharply, “Finally, you’re willing to wake up.”

Wen Li asked, “Did you bring me to the hospital?”

Obviously, it was a rhetorical question.

“Otherwise?”

Zhou Hua Qing said, “You fainted in someone else’s restroom. I thought you’d been drugged. I was afraid your family would find out and sue them into bankruptcy, so I risked my life to save you.”

Wen Li whispered weakly, “I’m not that important.”

Her lips were pale and fragile.

What she didn’t know was that Zhou Hua Qing had waited in the car for a long time. When she didn’t return and didn’t respond to his messages, he searched restroom after restroom, nearly being mistaken for a pervert.

Everyone at Diezhuang that night probably knew by now that the second Miss Wen had fainted.

Zhou Hua Qing got up, poured a cup of hot water, and handed it to Wen Li. “I specially arranged a couple’s ward for you. Jiang Chen is in the next room. Aren’t you secretly happy?”

Seeing her collapse in the restroom yesterday had genuinely scared him. Only after bringing her to the hospital did he learn it was just her period—nothing serious.

To be so delicate that even a period could make her faint—truly the reincarnation of Lin Daiyu, the noble daughter.

Wen Li said, “You really are annoying.”

Zhou Hua Qing replied, “You just like this type, don’t you? Slim arms, slim legs, and a sharp tongue.”

He was referring to Jiang Chen.

Wen Li caught the underlying meaning and tightened her grip around the cup. “...I don’t like that anymore.”

The rising steam blurred her eyes as she dared not reveal too much emotion.

“Oh?” Zhou Hua Qing raised an eyebrow. “Then tell me, what type do you like now?”

“Muscular men.”

Zhou Hua Qing sat down on the sofa, crossing his legs. “If you like me, just say so. It’s not shameful—why hide it?”

Wen Li nearly blurted out, “Are you crazy?” almost splashing the scalding water on him.