Chapter 18: Song Qiao Starts to Doubt Chen Yang!

After listening to what Song Qiao said, Chen Yang’s expression clearly stiffened for a moment. His Adam’s apple bobbed violently, and his gaze became somewhat evasive.

Song Qiao noticed this expression and realized that he was definitely hiding something. She looked at Chen Yang again and asked in a low voice, “Chen Yang, what exactly happened between us before my accident? If it really was just as you said, why would I go to a bar to drink away my sorrow in the middle of the night?”

Chen Yang’s mind was racing. After a few seconds of silence, he softly explained, “Song Qiao, the argument between us happened because my mom refused to give the betrothal gift. You were angry and brought up breaking up with me. Afterward, you went alone to the bar to drink, how could I possibly lie to you?”

Song Qiao’s family was not excessively rich, but they were certainly wealthier than an average family. As the only child, she had been spoiled and never worried about money. How could she possibly break up with him over something as trivial as a betrothal gift, let alone go to a bar to drink?

Her expression darkened more and more. “Chen Yang, can I still trust you?”

Chen Yang froze for a brief moment, then forced a smile, though it was unnatural. “Qiao Qiao, of course, you can trust me. We promised to be together forever. I will always be worthy of your trust.”

Song Qiao had been in a relationship with Chen Yang for six years, so she knew him well enough. Even though he was trying to hide it, she could tell he was lying.

She suddenly had a strong sense of foreboding. Something must have happened between them before the accident, but she couldn’t remember it now. Could it be that the accident caused her to suffer temporary amnesia? Thinking about this, she found herself drifting into deep thought.

Chen Yang noticed her silence and nervously stared at her. He softened his voice and said, “Qiao Qiao, don’t you believe me? After all these years, you should know what I’ve been like to you. How could I lie to you when I love you so much? Please believe me.”

Song Qiao noticed his eyes blinking rapidly, and her heart sank. Whenever Chen Yang lied, he always looked like this—panicked.

Suppressing her emotions, she responded perfunctorily, “Mm, I believe you.”

Chen Yang sighed in relief and moved closer, holding Song Qiao’s hand. With deep affection, he said, “Qiao Qiao, let’s not argue about my mom anymore, okay? And don’t say hurtful things like breaking up again. I really love you. Once we’re married, she’ll go back to her hometown, and we can live our own little life together. Trust me, I will always treat you well.”

At the same time, Xie Yanli arrived, carrying a thermos. As his hand reached for the door handle, he caught sight of the intimate scene inside the room through the slightly open door.

His fingers unconsciously tightened around the thermos, and his gaze darkened.

In a daze, he turned around and was about to throw the thermos into the trash, but then he thought of Song Qiao’s pale and exhausted face, and his heart softened.

The thermos contained food prepared by the chef from the Xie family, along with a special soup designed to replenish energy and nourish the blood, which would be the best for her recovery.

After a moment’s thought, he decided to deliver the thermos to the nurse’s station and asked them to take it into her.

In the hospital room, after hearing Chen Yang’s words, Song Qiao’s eyes flickered. At that moment, she felt a sense of wavering in her heart.

She had once been extremely firm in thinking that she would marry Chen Yang, which was why she didn’t let Xu Qinyi break them up back then.

But now, she was having doubts. Was it because Chen Yang had hidden something from her? Or because of his inaction toward his mother’s behavior? Or was it something else? She herself couldn’t pinpoint the reason.

She didn’t want to deceive Chen Yang, nor did she want to deceive herself. She stayed silent, falling into deep thought.

After a long hesitation, she moved her lips, just as Chen Yang spoke first.

“Qiao Qiao, you’re still sick. We can talk about this once you’re better. I know my mom has caused you a lot of trouble, and even if we’re getting married, I want you to see the changes she makes for you before you marry me.”

Song Qiao looked deeply at him. They had been in a relationship for six years, and they were at the stage of discussing marriage. To just end things now, she felt a little reluctant.

But marriage was a lifetime commitment, and she decided that this matter required careful consideration.

She had intended to have a serious conversation with Chen Yang, but before she could say anything, his phone rang.

Chen Yang glanced at the screen and said awkwardly, “Qiao Qiao, it’s a message from my mom. She says she’s not feeling well and wants me to hurry back…”

Song Qiao’s lips slightly drooped. She seemed to have grown accustomed to Chen Yang unconditionally choosing Xu Qinyi over her. She was tired of hearing his apologies and seeing his apologetic eyes.

With a calm expression, she looked at him and said faintly, “I’m tired, I want to sleep for a while. Shen Yao will come over later. You can go now.”

Chen Yang furrowed his brows, looking at Song Qiao. He said, “Qiao Qiao, I’m sorry. My mom is unreasonable. If I don’t go back, she…”

“Chen Yang, that’s exactly why I want you to go back!” Song Qiao cut him off, her frustration showing in her voice.

Perhaps due to Song Qiao’s impatience, Chen Yang stared at her for a long time. He could clearly feel that, at some point, the relationship between them had suddenly become unfamiliar.

This change in Song Qiao made him feel uncomfortable. He looked at her and, in a timid voice, asked, “Qiao Qiao, are you angry with me?”

Song Qiao quickly replied, “It’s nothing, I’m just tired and want to sleep.”

A fleeting sadness flashed in Chen Yang’s eyes, but it quickly disappeared. He forced a smile at her. “Alright, you rest well. Call me if you need anything. I’ll always be here.”

He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, then slowly stood up and added, “Qiao Qiao, I’m leaving.”

Song Qiao didn’t look at him and turned her gaze elsewhere.

After Chen Yang left the room, he happened to meet the nurse coming to deliver the thermos.

The nurse, seeing him, waved the thermos at him. “You must be Song Qiao’s family, right? Could you please help take this thermos to her?”

Chen Yang looked at the thermos in confusion and asked, “Who sent this?”

“It was sent by Xie Yanli. By the way, he was the one who brought Song Qiao here earlier.”

The nurse placed the thermos in Chen Yang’s hand. She didn’t know the relationship between Chen Yang and Song Qiao, so she began gossiping excitedly.

“Do you know what kind of relationship Song Qiao and Xie Yanli have? I saw in the news that he’s usually very aloof and doesn’t get close to women, but just now, I saw him carrying Song Qiao in his arms. He was so warm and manly, he’s so handsome! No wonder all the girls in the city admire him.”

A cold glint flashed in Chen Yang’s eyes. Ignoring her chatter, he took the thermos from her. “Thanks for bringing it over.”

He turned and walked back, and as he reached the door of Song Qiao’s room, he saw the nurse disappear around the corner. With a cold expression, he threw the thermos into the trash and quickly left.

Returning to Xu Qinyi’s room, he found her alone.

As soon as Xu Qinyi saw him, she immediately said, “Shiyu went out to buy me some food. I fainted earlier and had to be rushed to the ER. Your fiancée, that rich young lady, didn’t even stay to take care of me. Honestly, she can’t compare to Shiyu when it comes to being thoughtful and considerate.”

Chen Yang’s eyes darkened. He closed the door, sat next to Xu Qinyi, and said discontentedly, “Mom, Song Qiao has acute gastroenteritis and is in the hospital. How can she take care of you when she’s sick?”

Xu Qinyi sneered and said, “She’s sick too? How convenient. She was fine at noon, how did she get sick all of a sudden? I think she’s just pretending…”

Chen Yang was already troubled by Song Qiao’s change toward him, and now Xu Qinyi’s incessant nagging was making things worse.

He stared at Xu Qinyi and asked, “Mom, I know you hate the Song family because of what happened in the past, and by extension, you hate Song Qiao. But do you know that if you keep acting like this, Song Qiao might not marry me? Do you still want me to take revenge on the Song family or not?”