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Chapter 31 – “Mom, I’ve started dating someone…”
Li Huan‑huan’s face was bloodless.
In the plot she once ‘read’, her mother Su Mei wouldn’t collapse and be rushed to hospital for another two years. Not long ago she’d even taken her mom for a full physical: the results said everything was fine.
Why?
Why has the timeline suddenly jumped forward?
Was it my fluttering NPC‑butterfly wings that changed the script?
If Mum’s in danger because of me…
Her hands were shaking.
“Li Huan‑huan!”
Qin Shi gripped her shoulders.
“Listen—slow, deep breaths. Tell me which hospital; I’ll drive.”
“Municipal General.”
“Wait by the kerb.”
A few minutes later a silver sedan stopped in front of her. During the ride she stared ahead, silent, arms folded tight. To keep her mind working, Qin Shi kept asking small, practical questions—how Su Mei felt, who brought her in—until Huan‑huan’s trembling eased.
“Good people have good luck,” he murmured, squeezing her hand at a red light. “Aunt Su is kind; she’ll be fine.”
For once she didn’t pull away.
Su Mei was out of danger by the time they arrived—just a transient arrhythmia. She was moved to a ward for observation.
“It’s like I took a quick tour of Yama’s gate and came back,” Su Mei joked, already spirited.
Only then did Huan‑huan learn the “kind aunt” who had driven her mother to hospital was—of all people—Qin Shi’s own mother.
After settling bedding and toiletries, Huan‑huan walked Qin Shi down to the car‑park.
“Thank you… for everything.”
“Still being polite?” he sighed. “Get in—I’ll run you home for the luggage.”
When she returned with the overnight bag she paused outside the half‑open ward door and heard her step‑father comforting Su Mei.
“Doctors said relax, don’t over‑worry.”
“I am happy,” Su Mei said. “But I can’t rest easy when our Huan‑huan’s still single. If I die tomorrow who’ll look after her?”
Outside the door Huan‑huan felt a stab of guilt. She had always known the endless blind‑dates came from love—but only now realised it had become her mother’s heart‑condition.
That night, after Liu Shu had gone to fetch hot water, she made up her mind.
“Mom…”
“Hm?”
“I’ve… recently started seeing someone.”
Silence—then Su Mei shot upright. “Seeing who? When? You’re not tricking me?”
“Someone from an earlier blind‑date,” Huan‑huan improvised, cheeks burning. “At first we didn’t click, but we kept talking… and… well.”
Su Mei narrowed her eyes, thinking, and suddenly clapped her hands.
“It’s that neighbour boy—little Shi, isn’t it? He moved opposite us, drove me to hospital, and you two were together when Liu Shu called—of course!”
“Ah—?” Huan‑huan was dumbfounded. She’d never said the name, but her mother had already built the entire romance—involving Qin Shi.
And Su Mei believed it completely.
Huan‑huan had wanted only to ease her mother’s worry with a harmless white lie.
Now it had accidentally branded Qin Shi as her official boyfriend…