Chapter 718: Chapter 718: 718: Zhou Qingyue's Embarrassment

Chen Shiyen left the ward.

He stood at the end of the corridor and suddenly smiled. But this smile seemed a bit bitter.

He pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and sat down at the top of the stairs, engulfed in billows of smoke.

After finishing the cigarette, Chen Shiyen felt his mood had improved somewhat.

He muttered to himself, “I’ve already given you so much, why do you still not have any feelings for me?

Is it really, as you say, that career takes priority, or is it that you still have Jiang Xu in your heart?”

Chen Shiyen had naturally investigated the grievances between Zhou Qingyue and Jiang Xu a long time ago.

But at the time, he thought it didn’t matter. Everyone has a past, everyone has exes.

As long as he truly gave his all in pursuit, he was certain he could make Zhou Qingyue fall for him.

But now he couldn’t help but have some doubts, feeling uncertain.

Does Zhou Qingyue really have no feelings for Jiang Xu at all?

If Zhou Qingyue still has lingering feelings for Jiang Xu,

then his dream of winning her love would surely be fraught with difficulties.

A moment of wavering flashed through Chen Shiyen’s heart, but he quickly steeled his resolve again.

He silently cheered himself on: “I still have a chance. As the saying goes, ‘good things come to those who wait,’ I’m sure I’ll succeed!”

——————

“These steamed buns are well-made, and the youtiao and soy milk are delicious too. Your bootlicker is really something.”

In the ward, Jiang Xiaoyan was eating breakfast enthusiastically, without a hint of ladylike demeanor.

Zhou Qingyue’s face darkened, “Jiang Xiaoyan, you’re eating the breakfast he sent and you’re calling him a bootlicker. Is that appropriate?”

Jiang Xiaoyan: “Oh, standing up for him already?”

Zhou Qingyue was so frustrated that she didn’t want to talk anymore.

She just concentrated on eating.

The doctor came for a ward round, examined Zhou Qingyue, and changed her dressings.

“Hmm, you’re recovering better than most. Take care to avoid spicy and stimulating food; it will help with the healing process.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

Jiang Xiaoyan swallowed the last bite of her steamed bun.

She stood up and said to Zhou Qingyue, “I’m going out for a bit. I need to investigate this incident myself. I won’t be at ease until I’m sure there’s no problem.”

Over in Bear Country, Jiang Xiaoyan now wielded considerable influence and had substantial resources at her disposal.

Zhou Qingyue was somewhat moved.

Despite her rough exterior on most days, with her penchant for swearing and bullying Zhou Qingyue,

she really didn’t hesitate to step in when something happened.

Zhou Qingyue sincerely said, “Thank you, Xiao Yan.”

“What are we, strangers? What’s there to thank me for?” Jiang Xiaoyan waved her hand and said,

“If you really want to thank me, just call me ‘Dad’ from now on.”

Zhou Qingyue took back her thanks.

“Go away, as far as you can.”

Now only the two of them were left in the room.

That made Zhou Qingyue feel a bit awkward again.

Fortunately, her phone rang at that moment.

She hurriedly answered.

But upon seeing the caller ID, the smile on Zhou Qingyue’s face disappeared.

It was a call from her mother.

After hesitating for a moment, she still chose to answer.

“Daughter, happy new year.”

“Hmm, happy new year.”

“Have you forgotten something?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s the new year now. Don’t you need to prepare red envelopes for me, your dad, and your brother?”

Zhou Qingyue laughed, “Do you know where I am now? What I’m doing?”

“Aren’t you in Bear Country filming? You got a minor injury but it’s nothing serious, right?”

Zhou Qingyue laughed.

But it was a cold smile.

So they knew everything, but they just didn’t care.

How much money had she sent back home throughout the year?

Yet, none of them truly cared about her.

In their hearts, only money was ever of importance.

Having broken both legs was nothing but a ‘minor injury’ in that woman’s eyes.

Zhou Qingyue didn’t want to argue with her, speaking indifferently, “I understand, I’ll send it to you in a moment.”

She didn’t want to let such a trivial matter spoil her mood and affect her recovery.

She transferred ten thousand yuan as a New Year’s red packet to each of them.

All three transfers were accepted within a second.

Then her phone rang again.

Zhou Qingyue, feeling somewhat irritated, pressed the answer button.

Before Zhou Qingyue could speak, the voice of her mother, sounding rather irate, came through.

“Zhou Qingyue, what do you mean by this? Sending so little money, are you treating us like beggars?!”

Ten thousand yuan, in their eyes, was apparently nothing but alms for beggars.

All these years, her birth family had sucked who knew how much blood from her— it hadn’t reached a billion, but it was tens of millions.

And now they didn’t even consider ten thousand yuan worth mentioning.

Zhou Qingyue was provoked into laughter, “Have the guts to say that again?”

Even though there were no harsh words, this light sentence immediately made the person on the other end of the line lose their nerve.

But soon enough, they became aggressive again, “Your brother is about to go to university soon, then he’ll get married and have children; all that needs money.

As his sister, with a successful career, it’s only natural that you should support him.

You don’t need to give too much, just transfer another hundred million yuan home.

I’m telling you this not as a request, but as an order.

If you don’t agree, I’ll expose you to the media, claiming that you ignore family ties and fail to support your parents.

Then you’ll be utterly discredited and won’t be able to earn money ever again.”

“Hehe, thank you,” Zhou Qingyue suddenly laughed.

Her laughter was as refreshing as a spring breeze.

“What are you laughing at?” Zhou Qingyue’s mother was puzzled.

Zhou Qingyue said leisurely, “I thank you for giving me the opportunity to be rid of future troubles.

Don’t you know there’s a feature on mobile phones called call recording?

Our entire conversation just now has been recorded by me.

From now on, I won’t be sending you another penny.”

Zhou Qingyue had waited too long for this opportunity.

She had long since not wanted to send another penny back home.

But she had no choice, not giving would result in an even greater loss.

Now, it was all settled for good, and she wouldn’t be bled dry by her birth family anymore.

Without caring about the mood of the person on the other side of the line, she bluntly hung up.

Then she blocked and deleted all contacts of these three leeches from her family.

After a series of actions, Zhou Qingyue felt as if a weight had been lifted from her chest, and her spirits brightened.

She looked up at Jiang Xu, “Sorry for making you witness that debacle.”

Jiang Xu shook his head.

Her experience was actually very similar to Chu Youwei’s; both had unreliable parents who incessantly drained them.

In the entertainment industry, this was quite common.

If not handled well, it could potentially wreck one’s career and ruin one’s life.

Zhou Qingyue considered herself lucky.

Suddenly, Zhou Qingyue’s cheeks reddened.

She looked at Jiang Xu hesitantly, “Um… could you do me a small favor…”