Chapter Eighteen: Offering Compensation

"I really wish I had some porridge."

Only after Zhang Tao said this did he realize Qin Yunzheng was not joking. Seeing him nod earnestly, Zhang Tao had no choice but to call the housekeeper.

"Tell the housekeeper what kind of porridge you want; she’ll have it ready in a little while."

Watching the housekeeper’s flustered expression, Qin Yunzheng fell silent. "Forget it."

Seeing his hesitation, Zhang Tao was about to make a snide comment, but a sudden thought stopped him. He sighed and sat down beside him. "Su Mian was always the one taking care of you before. The housekeeper’s cooking probably won’t be to your taste. Should I contact Su Mian?"

He asked, probing with his eyes. The moment the words left his lips, he was met with a sharp rejection from Qin Yunzheng.

"No. You are not allowed to contact Su Mian."

Even though he was pale with pain, the mere mention of Su Mian’s name made him visibly agitated. Zhang Tao sighed helplessly. "You really are as stubborn as a mule."

Although their circle of friends was close, they all disapproved of the current state of affairs between him and Su Mian. Yet, some things were beyond their judgment.

"Fine. Just pour me a glass of warm water. I want to recover a bit before I go home."

Zhang Tao poured the water, and after Qin Yunzheng finished it and freshened up, he returned home.

Upon entering his villa, he saw a figure busy organizing clothes. Though the silhouette was different, it left him feeling momentarily dazed. In the past, whenever he returned from outside, someone would be sitting there, organizing his shirts and trousers, sorting them by color. She had been incredibly meticulous, and she would always turn around to greet him warmly the moment she saw him.

The person sitting on the bed now, as if on cue, rose and came toward him upon hearing his arrival.

"You’re back? Why didn’t you come home at all last night?" Lin Qingqing reached out to take his arm with enthusiasm, but the gesture made Qin Yunzheng feel deeply uncomfortable.

"What are you doing?" he asked, looking at the clothes on the bed, knowing the answer perfectly well.

Lin Qingqing seemed oblivious to the doubt in his eyes, feigning a virtuous air. "I’m helping you organize your clothes. They’ve been washed for so long; they really needed to be put away and sorted."

"Don’t worry, I’ve placed them in obvious spots so you can easily find them next time. If you really can’t find something, you can just call me."

Watching Lin Qingqing do the things Su Mian used to do made Qin Yunzheng feel a knot in his stomach. After holding it in for a long time, he finally muttered bitterly, "You don't need to do these things. The housekeeper comes over to handle the cleaning."

Lin Qingqing, however, was unfazed. She clung to his arm, her eyes bright. "That won't do. I can’t just eat and live here for free. I should do what I can—organizing, cleaning, I can do all of that. And my cooking—"

Before she could finish, Qin Yunzheng interrupted her. "You’re right. It’s not very convenient for you to live here."

His words made Lin Qingqing pause. "What do you mean?"

Seeing the hurt in her eyes, Qin Yunzheng’s tone softened slightly. "I mean I’m not used to living with others. You being here disrupts my lifestyle. I have an apartment; you should move there first."

As he spoke, he went to the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water. Noticing Lin Qingqing still standing there, stunned, he added, "Don’t worry, I’m not renting that place to you. I’ll find an opportunity to transfer the title to you later."

Lin Qingqing understood perfectly now. Qin Yunzheng was doing this to compensate her for what happened, and even more so, to draw a clear line between them.

"You don't have to do that. I’m not that picky; as long as I have a place to stay, it’s fine." Lin Qingqing forced a smile.

"I care. You should be free this afternoon, right? Let's go handle the transfer."

Lin Qingqing did not know why he was in such a hurry, as if he wanted to sever all ties with her. She sighed and finally nodded.

"I’ll take you to see the apartment." Seeing her sorrowful expression, he didn’t say anything more heartless.

He drove her to the apartment. While waiting at a red light, he received a call from Yingtai Marketing.

"Mr. Qin, our President Lin has agreed to the investment. Please send over the relevant paperwork as soon as possible."

Qin Yunzheng was puzzled but didn't dare to hesitate. "Understood. Please wait a moment, I will have my company send it over right away."

"Very well, please be quick."

After hanging up, Qin Yunzheng recalled that the last time he visited Yingtai, he had been unceremoniously shown the door. How had they agreed so quickly?

"Zhongzheng, actually, I went to talk to Su Mian. I just thought I’d let her try. I didn't expect that President Lin would actually listen to her. I begged her for a long time before she finally agreed to help." Lin Qingqing said, intentionally wearing a sorrowful expression.

Qin Yunzheng was surprised. "Why did you have to beg Su Mian? If this investment didn't work out, we could have just found another way."

Compared to the coldness Su Mian had shown him, he couldn't deny that he was touched by what Lin Qingqing had done, especially since he desperately needed the funds. Still, hearing Su Mian’s name made him feel a flicker of irritation.

"I know you don't want to lower yourself to beg her, but this investment is crucial for the company. I’ll do the things you aren't willing to do."

The car reached its destination. Qin Yunzheng parked and pulled Lin Qingqing into an embrace. "Thank you." The gratitude was sincere.

Lin Qingqing reached out and gently patted his back. "I’m willing to do anything that concerns you."

Qin Yunzheng was deeply moved, but the memory of Su Mian’s expression when he left crossed his mind, causing him to tighten his grip on Lin Qingqing unconsciously.

"Sss—" Lin Qingqing let out a soft gasp.

Only then did Qin Yunzheng notice; he quickly released her and apologized.

"It's okay."

The two walked to the apartment together, hand in hand.

Meanwhile, after Su Mian finished the handover of the investment matters that day, she received a call from Lin Xiu, saying she could be discharged from the hospital. Yet, in the vast Huo household, no one had come to pick her up.

"I see. I’ll come get you after work."

After finishing her final tasks, Su Mian stretched and headed to the hospital.

"Are you feeling alright?" Looking at her mother's condition, Su Mian was still worried, even though the doctor said she could go home to recuperate. If Lin Xiu were a quiet person, it would be fine, but she wasn't.

"I’m fine. Staying in this hospital gives me a headache."

"When you get back, just focus on resting. Don't always think about competing with others; it’s meaningless and only makes the Huo family look down on you." Su Mian couldn't help but lecture her on the way.

Facing the sermon, Lin Xiu not only ignored it but countered, "How dare you lecture your mother? Who do you think I’m doing this for? It’s all for you and your brother."

Listening to the same old rhetoric, Su Mian felt speechless.

The car arrived at the Huo mansion. Su Mian carried the bags inside and handed them to the housekeeper. She then turned back to help Lin Xiu inside, only to find herself face-to-face with the gaze of Elder Huo the moment she entered.