Chapter 8: Standing Tall, Unafraid of Shadows

After completing the discharge procedures, Xiao Xu returned to the hospital room, followed by a tall man.

He resembled Xiao Qingru somewhat, with sharply defined features and an aura of righteousness she was Xiao Huaishu.

Tired from his travels, he bore a weary look, indicating he had just returned from a mission.

He scrutinized Xiao Qingru from head to toe and asked with concern, “Little sister, are you okay? Does your wound hurt?”

Xiao Qingru blinked, “It doesn’t hurt anymore I can eat and sleep just fine.”

It was impossible for a surgery not to hurt.

His younger sister had always been delicate, and this was probably the worst suffering she had ever endured.

He gently patted Xiao Qingru’s head, “When you can eat normally again, I’ll bring you a fish to help you recover.”

“It’s a promise, but you better not lie.”

Xiao Huaishu chuckled, “I wouldn’t lie to anyone but you you’re my dear sister.”

“Alright, alright, stop the banter. You carry the things, and I’ll help Qingru walk.”

“How about I carry her? It’s quite a distance from here to the hospital entrance walking would be exhausting.”

Xiao Xu frowned, “No, if you’re clumsy and bump her wound, it won’t be good.”

“Brother, my legs aren’t hurt I can walk by myself.”

He gave her a thumbs up, “Good, you didn’t cry this time and are so strong. You really are my sister, Xiao Huaishu.”

Xiao Qingru: “…”

The way he said it made it seem like she was a fragile flower.

“Let’s go home.”

Xiao Huaishu held the luggage in one hand and joked, “Did you bring your entire house with you?”

“If I could, I would really move our home here. You haven’t stayed in a hospital you don’t know how inconvenient it is.”

“Should I find an opportunity to experience it too?”

“You brat, why do you have such a jinxed mouth?”

“What jinxed mouth? We need to be scientific about this.”

“Shut up.”

Xiao Qingru smiled, and the gloom brought by Jiang Chuan and Du Wanqiu disappeared.

Even though she no longer had the childhood companion by her side, she still had her loving family.

One must learn to be content!

Seeing her smile, Xiao Huaishu and their mother exchanged glances and sighed in relief.

The family chatted as they left the hospital room.

At the hospital entrance, they saw Jiang Chuan and Du Wanqiu, and Xiao Huaishu clenched his jaw, cursing under his breath.

Why was his hand suddenly itching?

As he placed the luggage in the trunk, his gaze on Jiang Chuan was filled with hostility.

Fighting could lead to penalties Xiao Qingru knew her brother was fiercely protective, so she quickly tugged at his arm, “Brother, let’s go home. Don’t make mistakes for someone unworthy.”

The words “unworthy” struck Jiang Chuan’s heart like a dagger.

His arm that held the child stiffened momentarily, possibly sensing the discomfort the child began to cry loudly.

“Wah wah wah”

The crying startled Jiang Chuan he could only try to soothe the child, “Did I hurt you?”

“Wah wah wah”

The louder the child cried, the more anxious Jiang Chuan became.

Du Wanqiu, standing beside him, guided him to adjust his hold and rock his arm until he slowly calmed the child.

Xiao Huaishu felt furious if it weren’t for his sister stopping him, he would have already punched Jiang Chuan.

Annoyed, he said, “Anyone would think he’s the child’s father.”

“It has nothing to do with us. Don’t get upset that would only harm your health.”

“You and him…”

Xiao Qingru didn’t even glance at Jiang Chuan and said lightly, “We’ve reached an agreement we are no longer engaged. Brother, you don’t need to worry about outsiders.”

That was truly good news!

Xiao Huaishu couldn’t help but laugh, “Alright, alright, I won’t say anything. Let’s leave the rats to the cats.”

Although the hospital was not far from home, Xiao Huaishu drove their father’s car to make it easier for his sister.

He opened the car door, “Get in.”

“Okay.”

Xiao Qingru lowered her head as she got in, followed closely by their mother neither of them looked at Jiang Chuan once.

This was the first time Xiao Qingru had openly expressed her dissatisfaction, making Jiang Chuan feel uneasy as if things were not meant to develop this way.

Watching the car gradually leave, Du Wanqiu’s jealousy almost overflowed.

Why did Xiao Qingru have such good fortune good family background, loving family, respectable job…?

She had so much, but how could losing one thing matter?

Jiang Chuan continued to watch the car disappear in the distance when suddenly his sleeve was tugged. “Jiang Comrade, let’s head back too.”

Her soft, fragile voice pulled Jiang Chuan back to reality, and he quickly asked, “Can you walk? Should I ride my bike home and pick you up?”

“I can walk,” Du Wanqiu said with a bitter smile, “but I’ll need your help.”

Jiang Chuan understood and offered his arm for her to hold.

“Jiang Comrade, won’t this affect your future?”

“Why do you say that?”

“Today, Xiao Comrade mentioned some issues of conduct, and I’m a bit worried. If this makes things inconvenient for you, then you shouldn’t concern yourself with us anymore.”

Jiang Chuan thought, Qingru still cares about him.

Her conflict with Du Wanqiu was not purely blind jealousy.

With that thought, his mood lightened this was the Qingru he knew.

Clearing his throat, he said, “Special circumstances require special handling. You’ve just given birth and are weak it’s only natural for me to lend a hand. We need to be reasonable now we can’t take rumors seriously.”

“If a few idle comments can determine someone’s future, then everyone might as well stop working and just argue all day.”

Jiang Chuan reflected that every time he interacted with Du Wanqiu, it was in public, and even when delivering items to her home, he always stood at the door never crossing any boundaries, always under public scrutiny.

If someone wanted to use this to attack him, they were mistaken.

“No matter what others say, as long as we are upright and fair, there’s nothing to fear.”

Du Wanqiu smiled faintly, “Jiang Comrade, you really have a broad mind I’ll strive to be more like you.”

“You girls are so attentive to detail that’s why you care more about what others think, just like Qingru…”

He hesitated over her name, which he had said countless times, now feeling awkward.

Jiang Chuan decided to keep silent.

He couldn’t help but think about her earlier words and her indifferent attitude when she said them.

Was she really angry?

He only wanted to separate temporarily to give her time to calm down he never intended to truly break off the engagement.

Frowning in annoyance, how did Qingru bring up the topic of breaking the engagement?

Now it would be much harder to remedy the situation later.

Du Wanqiu held onto Jiang Chuan’s arm, walking slowly toward home, her eyes clouded with uncertainty.

She didn’t want to return to the country side who else could help her besides Jiang Chuan?

No one.

The only person she could rely on was him.

For her sake and her child’s, she had to stay here.

As her uncertainty faded, Du Wanqiu knew what she needed to do.