"I, I didn't..."
Her rebuttal lacked conviction, as her gaze flickered towards Fu Jing Shu, seeking a reaction from the man. Would he show any tenderness towards a woman who admired him?
Fu Jing Shu cast a cold glance at her before turning to Xi Xi. "Don't be so rude. Who told you to say such things?"
Xi Xi was taken aback.
Xi Xi, however, was overjoyed. She never expected Fu Jing Shu to reprimand a child for her sake!
A look of anger crossed Xi Xi's small face. "Daddy, are you falling for her?! Otherwise, why would you scold me for her?"
Fu Jing Shu frowned. "When did I fall for her? Don't talk nonsense. What if your Mommy hears you?"
"You dare do it but don't dare admit it!"
Xi Xi roared.
Xi Xi feigned persuasion. "Little friend, don't be angry. Your Daddy didn't mean to shout at you."
"Shut up."
Both Xi Xi and Fu Jing Shu turned their heads simultaneously. One voice was chillingly devoid of emotion, the other, though childish, was filled with hostility.
Xi Xi was momentarily stunned.
Fu Jing Shu turned to Xi Xi. "Don't speak recklessly. You're still young, do you even know what 'liking' means?"
Xi Xi stated righteously, "Of course I do!"
Fu Jing Shu paused, placing his hand on his head and lowering his voice. "Don't talk nonsense. If your Mommy hears, she won't be happy. She never lets you learn these messy things, remember?"
Xi Xi immediately lowered his head, feeling guilty.
Fu Jing Shu patted his head. "You're not allowed to say such things again."
Xi Xi pouted but didn't argue.
Xi Xi's role grew increasingly pale. Only then did she realize his previous words were not for her but to educate the child.
Xi Xi looked up and saw her looking lost and casting him an aggrieved look as if he were a heartless man.
He immediately became unhappy. Thinking of his mother still inside and not yet out, he became irate and spoke without restraint.
"Auntie, I hope you'll conduct yourself with dignity. You should know that third parties never have a good ending. Any girl with self-respect wouldn't act like this!"
Xi Xi's face turned a mottled green and white.
Being reprimanded by such a child in front of so many people, she lost face and could no longer stay. She turned and left.
But as she reached the end of the corridor, she couldn't help but look back.
Fu Jing Shu was looking down and talking to Xi Xi.
He hadn't even spared her a glance.
Xi Xi's heart sank, finally realizing that he had no place for her in his heart, not even a sliver.
She turned and left, dejected.
Shen Qing Qing's examination and bandaging were finished. The doctor helped her to her room, and the two children immediately followed her in.
Fu Jing Shu was stopped at the doorway by Madam Fu.
"Grandma?"
Madam Fu said sternly, "Jing Shu, I don't know what your relationship is with that girl, but I warn you, don't give my future granddaughter-in-law any trouble!"
Fu Jing Shu sighed slightly. "Grandma, what do you take me for?"
Did he fall for every woman who came his way? Was he a beast?
Madam Fu snorted. "I don't care whether you do or not. You have too many undesirable women around you. Remember this, no more flirting around. You must protect your wife properly!"
Fu Jing Shu pursed his lips. "I understand."
Madam Fu then released him and turned to enter the room, eager to see her granddaughter-in-law.
Chen Chen and Xi Xi had already entered and were leaning by the bedside, looking at the IV drip. Xi Xi carefully held Shen Qing Qing's hand. "Mommy, does it still hurt?"
Shen Qing Qing looked at him and shook her head. "It doesn't hurt."
Xi Xi looked at her left arm, afraid to touch it. "It's all my fault. I should have stayed with Mommy, then you wouldn't have been hurt."
Shen Qing Qing smiled. "Mommy's injury isn't your fault, why are you blaming yourself?"
Xi Xi lowered his head, still feeling very sad.
Shen Qing Qing wanted to comfort him, but she was utterly exhausted and had no strength left. After a few words, she felt drowsy.
She thought it might be related to the blow she took to the head.
Chen Chen saw she was tired and pulled Xi Xi aside. "Mommy, you rest well. My brother and I will go buy you something to eat with Grandma and be back soon."
Before Madam Fu could speak, she was intercepted by the two little ones. She glanced again at Fu Jing Shu, who stood by the bedside without saying a word, clearly not intending to leave.
Understanding, she led the two children out.
Only Fu Jing Shu and Shen Qing Qing remained in the room. Fu Jing Shu walked to the bedside, sat on the chair beside it, and gazed at her.
Shen Qing Qing blinked. "You must have been worried."
Fu Jing Shu took her raised right hand and gently patted the back of it. "Are you still angry with me?"
Shen Qing Qing shook her head. "No."
"Then why did you go to the construction site to handle things without telling me?"
Fu Jing Shu thought of his wife facing danger alone without his knowledge, and even getting injured, while he remained oblivious.
His heart was filled with anxiety and regret.
Shen Qing Qing explained, "It's not that I didn't want to tell you, but I saw how tired you were and thought you needed to rest."
Fu Jing Shu immediately said, "But you know that in my heart, your safety is far more important than my own!"
Shen Qing Qing smiled sweetly. "I know, I know everything."
"And you still did it?" Fu Jing Shu frowned tightly. "Do you know how worried I was?"
Shen Qing Qing forced herself to stay alert and said, "I promise I won't do it again."
"There's a next time?"
Fu Jing Shu glared at her.
Shen Qing Qing immediately said, "No, there won't be. There will never be a next time."
Seeing her compliant attitude, Fu Jing Shu couldn't continue to be harsh, especially seeing her pale face and haggard expression. Fu Jing Shu felt pity for her. "It's my fault this time too. I will be with you from now on."
Shen Qing Qing understood that this 'being with' was not just a literal companionship, but a hands-on presence, and she might not even have her freedom in the end.
But she didn't feel too upset by this, and even felt a sense of sweetness.
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
Fu Jing Shu was finally satisfied. Seeing the tired look on Shen Qing Qing's face, he said gently, "You should rest now."
Shen Qing Qing was indeed tired and did not refuse. "Then stay with me. Don't leave."
It was rare for his wife to be so clingy, and Fu Jing Shu's heart melted. He readily agreed. "Okay, I'll stay right here with you and won't leave."
Shen Qing Qing then smiled and slowly closed her eyes.
In the evening, Shen Qing Qing slowly woke up and saw Fu Jing Shu talking on the phone by the window. His voice was very low.
As soon as she woke up, he turned to look at her as if he had eyes in the back of his head. He said into the phone, "I have something to attend to, I'll hang up for now. We'll talk tomorrow."
After hanging up, he strode to the bedside, looking at his wife on the bed with eager eyes.
"How do you feel?"
Shen Qing Qing blinked. "Much better."
She looked around, not seeing Madam Fu or the two children.
Before she could ask, Fu Jing Shu said, "They brought food. Seeing you were still asleep, I let them go back to rest."
Shen Qing Qing nodded, looking at his slightly haggard face. "Have you eaten?"
Fu Jing Shu shook his head.
Shen Qing Qing turned to look at the food on the table. "Why haven't you eaten?"