Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Without any interference from outsiders, Shen Qingyue lifted her leg and headed upstairs. She asked the butler, âMy room has been unoccupied since Grandfather was hospitalized. How did it suddenly start leaking?â
âMiss Qingxue sneaked into your room this afternoon when we werenât paying attention, and we donât know exactly what she did. By the time we discovered it, the water had already leaked outsideâ¦â the butler replied, clearly troubled. Without the Old Masterâs intervention, there was little he could say to Shen
Qingxueâs family. After all, the Old Master placed great importance on family. Miss Qingyue had always followed Qin Zhen wholeheartedly, and the house had been quiet and empty. Regardless of what Shen Qingxueâs family had in mind, the Old Master was surrounded by these peopleâ¦
Shen Qingyue nodded and walked to the door of her room, pushing it open. She saw that the accumulated water on the wooden floor had already been cleaned up, leaving dark stains behind. She walked to the side of the bed, bent down, and took out a small box from underneath. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
The box was quite old, showing signs of cracks and had absorbed some water. She opened it and found that the stuffed teddy bear inside was soaked. She wrung out the water from the bear and left it to dry on the balcony. She remained silent for a while.
Shen Qingyue spent the night at the old house and woke up the next morning to find the teddy bear had dried. However, the teddy bear had been around for too long, and this soaking had taken its toll. The fabric couldnât withstand it, and there were signs of detachment at the connection between the bearâs head and body.
Shen Qingyue found some thread and sewed it back together.
In the morning, Xu Fengzhi came with some people to cause trouble again but was once again stopped outside. There was no reasoning with such people, and
Shen Qingyue did not bother to engage. Since it was the weekend, and Shen Qingyue rarely took a break, she did not go to the office in the morning and went directly to the apartment.
Seeing her holding the teddy bear, Chen Ying asked, âYou went back to the Old Residence just to get this thing?â
Shen Qingyue closed the door and replied, âYes.â
Chen Ying was puzzled, âDoes this thing hold any special meaning for you? Itâs in such bad shape, why are you keeping it?â
Shen Qingyue froze. Any special meaning? There used to be. During the days when she had a one-sided love for Qin Zhen, this teddy bear was her spiritual solace. Every time she saw this teddy bear, it would remind her of the boy who had held her in his arms ten years ago on a gloomy rainy day. As she reminisced, her affection for Qin Zhen would slowly grow, becoming harder to contain and let go of.
Once again, Shen Qingyue suddenly realized that she didnât love the Qin Zhen who treated her coldly every day, but rather the young man who had accompanied her through the lows of life. Or perhaps, she was pursuing that warmth from the past, a ray of light she had idealized.
However, despite chasing for so many years, she had never been able to recapture that feeling. And in the previous life, she had paid a price for it.
She pinched the round ears of the teddy bear and muttered to herself, âIt used to be there, but now itâs gone.â
Chen Ying could not understand what she meant, but seeing Shen Qingyueâs expression, she did not inquire further. âIâm going downstairs to buy breakfast. What would you like to eat?â
âIâm not hungry⦠I have to go out soon.â Shen Qingyue thought for a moment and decided not to delay any longer.
Chen Ying was puzzled. âWhere are you going? You just got back.â
Shen Qingyueâs voice was calm and steady. âTo the hospital.â She wanted to return this teddy bear to Qin Zhen. He had once said that this teddy bear would stand in for him in protecting her. However, he had become the person who hurt her the most. Now that she had let go, it was time to say a final goodbye. There was no need to keep this thing anymore.
When Shen Qingyue arrived at the hospital, Wei Jiuâer and Qin Zhen were having breakfast. She had encountered Wei Jiuâer both times she came, probably because she was there to care for him at the bedside all day.
Wei Jiuâer was wary when she saw Shen Qingyue again, but with Qin Zhen present, she did not show it. She put on her usual fake smile. âAre you here to see Zhen?â
Shen Qingyue had never liked to play along with her insincerity. âYes. I have something to discuss with him. Could you step out for a moment?â Wei Jiuâerâs smile stiffened for a moment as she glanced at Qin Zhen.
Qin Zhen also said, âYou can go.â
Wei Jiuâer gritted her teeth, didnât say anything, and obediently left.
As the door to the ward closed, Qin Zhen looked at Shen Qingyue with a pale face, devoid of any hint of a smile. âWhat are you here for today? I remember someone boasting about not coming to see meâ¦â
âI came today for something else, otherwise, I really wouldnât have come to see you.â Shen Qingyue said, taking a small teddy bear out of her bag. âI thought about it, and I feel like I should return this to you. Whether you throw it away or do whatever you want with it, itâs up to you.â
Qin Zhen furrowed his brow slightly. âWhat is this?â
Shen Qingyue was taken aback. âYou⦠donât remember?â
Qin Zhen was clueless.. âRemember what?â