Chapter 033 – Do You Want to Marry Me?

The next day, Shen Guiqi went to the Jiang family’s old mansion and submitted his resignation to the head butler.

The butler was visibly shocked. “Driver Shen, why are you resigning? Weren’t you doing just fine here?”

Shen Guiqi had originally joined the Jiang household as a driver through a family connection and was interviewed by this very butler.

It was also this butler who had ultimately decided to hire him.

Shen Guiqi had worked for the Jiang family for five years. He didn’t smoke, drink, or gamble. He lived an upright life, was neat and clean, diligent in his work, never caused trouble, and always spoke in a polite and refined manner. He was an outstanding employee.

The butler had hired many drivers before, but few had Shen Guiqi’s character. Because of that, when Shen Guiqi had requested for his daughter to live with him in the staff quarters, the butler had immediately agreed.

So now, hearing of his resignation was the last thing he expected.

The old butler tried to persuade him earnestly, “Driver Shen, won’t you reconsider? Our wages and benefits are among the best in all of Haicheng. If you go to work elsewhere, you won’t find a salary this high.”

Shen Guiqi smiled and shook his head. “Thank you for all your care over the years. But I’ve already made up my mind—I won’t be changing it.”

He had given up his teaching job years ago to take care of his young daughter. Now that she had grown up, resigning meant he could finally do something for himself.

…

That morning, as Shen Qingli stepped out of the villa with her shoulder bag, she saw Jiang Junwen parked at the roadside in a blue sports car. He was wearing sunglasses and said coolly as she walked out:

“Shen Qingli, get in.”

Shen Qingli: “…”

Holding a carton of milk in her hand, she calmly walked past him. “No, thanks, Young Master Jiang. I’ll just take the bus.”

Jiang Junwen frowned and started slowly driving alongside her, clearly annoyed. “Didn’t you say last night that you’d let me pursue you?”

Shen Qingli furrowed her brow. She had never said that. In fact, when he said he wanted to pursue her, she had clearly rejected him.

But obviously, Jiang Junwen hadn’t heard a word she said.

She walked to his car window. Thinking she was about to get in, Jiang Junwen’s face lit up with a smile. “I knew you’d get in.”

But Shen Qingli had no intention of accepting his pursuit.

She stood in front of him and said seriously, “Young Master Jiang, I never said anything like that.”

Jiang Junwen: “…”

She continued, “Also, I don’t want to take your car to school. Your car and your presence attract too much attention—I don’t want to be on the news again.”

With that, she turned and walked off down a side road, heading to catch the bus.

Jiang Junwen’s face darkened. Frustrated, he smacked the steering wheel. “Damn it, why is she acting like this?”

Just then, his phone rang. It was Luo Shuyao.

He took a deep breath and answered, “Hello, Shuyao?”

On the other end, Luo Shuyao’s weak voice came through:
“Ah Wen, can you come to the hospital and keep me company?”

When Jiang Junwen arrived at the hospital, he found Luo Shuyao’s condition had worsened.

She was experiencing unexplained bleeding—possibly related to the contraceptives she had taken earlier.

Seeing her like this only deepened his resentment toward Gao Xuanzhen.

He couldn’t understand why she was so ruthless—why she’d do this to Luo Shuyao.

After all, it was because of him that Luo Shuyao had been drugged and ended up hospitalized.

If her condition could be treated, that would be one thing. But what if it couldn’t?

Wouldn’t he be forced to stay with her forever out of guilt?

That’s the cruelty of the human heart—when someone becomes a burden, love disappears.

Luo Shuyao was getting an IV. Her complexion was pale and sickly. When she saw Jiang Junwen enter the room, her face darkened even more.

She stared at him and asked,
“Ah Wen, why did you leave so suddenly yesterday? Was it because my mom asked us to get married and you didn’t want to?”

Jiang Junwen sat by her bed, gently stroked her head, and said softly,
“I had something to do yesterday. It wasn’t because of that. Don’t overthink.”

Luo Shuyao gave a cold laugh.
“Jiang Junwen, how long are you planning to keep lying to me?”

Her face twisted in frustration. She looked at him with hatred in her eyes.
“After I ate that bird’s nest porridge at your house, I suddenly had stomach pains and ended up in the hospital. My condition hasn’t improved at all. Do you know what the doctor said?”

Jiang Junwen had already told the doctor to keep the truth hidden—after all, it was a private hospital owned by the Jiang family. The doctors wouldn’t dare reveal anything without permission.

He looked at her with a complicated expression.
“What did the doctor say?”

At the same time, he was wondering which doctor had broken protocol.

Luo Shuyao looked at him, disappointed. She had thought their childhood bond and his long-standing affection would mean something. But now?

With teary eyes, she said,
“I knew your doctors wouldn’t tell me the truth. So my mom took me to a public hospital. They said it was due to an overdose of contraceptives…”

At this point, she broke down in tears, her voice hoarse.
“That medicine already has serious side effects. I’m especially sensitive to it. Even a normal dose could affect me—but the doctor said I took way more than the recommended amount! Jiang Junwen! Your mother is a murderer! And you—you’re her accomplice!”

Jiang Junwen’s expression showed initial panic, but he quickly composed himself.

Though he had a bad relationship with Gao Xuanzhen, he understood that they were still tied by blood.

If she were labeled a murderer, what would that make him, her son? His reputation would be destroyed.

And Gao Xuanzhen was the wife of the Jiang family’s patriarch. If this news got out, the Jiang family’s stock might plummet.

Realizing this, he looked at the devastated Luo Shuyao and quickly stood up to embrace her.

As he gently stroked her hair, he whispered,
“Alright, alright, you’re sick now. Don’t get too emotional. If you hurt your health, I’ll really feel terrible.”

Luo Shuyao sobbed against his chest.
“What am I going to do in the future? I’ve never even had a boyfriend—and now my body is ruined. What will happen to me?”

“Don’t say that. It’s going to be okay,” Jiang Junwen reassured her.
“The doctors said it’s treatable. Don’t scare yourself.”

Then, he leaned closer, his gaze full of tenderness as he looked into her eyes and said softly:
“No matter what, I won’t abandon you. If you’re still worried, we’ll get engaged this month. How about that?”

Luo Shuyao stared at him, stunned, her eyes lighting up with joy.
“Really? Ah Wen, you want to marry me?”