Shen Qingqing nodded and looked at the院长, "Director, thank you for today."
Yuan Fang looked at her with pity, "Good child, everything I've done is what I should do, and it's all insignificant compared to what your mother did for the orphanage. It's really nothing."
Shen Qingqing took a deep breath and stood up, "It's getting late, I need to go back. Director, you should go back and rest early too."
Yuan Fang subconsciously glanced at Yuan Zichen, only to see her usually gentle and polite son staring intently at Shen Qingqing, his reluctance evident and uncontainable.
Or perhaps, he wasn't trying to hide it.
"Zichen, you escort Qingqing out."
Yuan Zichen obediently nodded.
Shen Qingqing was very perceptive and naturally noticed that the Director seemed to have a hidden agenda. She silently walked out the door and said to Yuan Zichen, "Just here is fine. You should go back and take care of the Director."
"But..."
"Really, it's not necessary. A man and a woman alone, if seen, people might misunderstand." Shen Qingqing tactfully refused.
Yuan Zichen looked a little disappointed, "I didn't mean anything else, I just..."
Shen Qingqing didn't give him a chance to finish, "I know, thank you. I'll be going now."
Since there was no possibility, she wouldn't give any chance.
She turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
Little did she know, Yuan Zichen watched her retreating back for a very, very long time.
Shen Qingqing returned to her room, feeling exhausted. The physical fatigue was manageable, but the mental exhaustion was overwhelming. All she wanted was to find a soft bed and rest.
She saw Fu Jingshu sitting on the sofa. Too tired to speak, she kept quiet.
However, as she reached the bedroom door, Fu Jingshu spoke, his voice carrying a hint of coolness, "It seems I underestimated you."
"What?"
Shen Qingqing looked utterly bewildered.
Fu Jingshu's deep gaze swept over her face, from her eyes to her nose, and then to her red lips, as if examining her thoroughly. "Miss Shen truly has boundless charm."
"What do you mean by that?"
Shen Qingqing was tired and annoyed, so her tone naturally wasn't pleasant.
Fu Jingshu's expression grew colder, "You know exactly what I mean."
With that, he stood up and walked towards her. His tall stature exuded an oppressive aura, and Shen Qingqing couldn't help but take a step back, her back hitting the wall. "What exactly do you want?"
However, he only paused in front of her for a moment before walking directly into the bedroom and closing the door.
Only his voice echoed out before the door was completely shut.
"You'll sleep in the living room tonight."
Shen Qingqing stared at the closed door, grinding her teeth inwardly. This dog man was so unpredictable; he had clearly tacitly agreed to let her sleep in the bedroom earlier.
And then he changed his mind so quickly!
After a bout of anger, she calmed down, letting herself collapse onto the soft sofa. Her mind, however, was replaying Yuan Fang's words.
Unconsciously, she fell asleep.
In the early morning, Shen Qingqing woke up and instinctively glanced at the bedroom door. It was still shut. He was likely still asleep. Good, she could use this opportunity to go somewhere.
Just as she finished getting ready and was about to leave, the bedroom door suddenly opened.
Fu Jingshu, dressed in a suit, strode towards her with his long legs, his gaze fixed on her, "Where are you going?"
"Out for a walk."
"Let's go."
He said and was the first to walk towards the door, which made Shen Qingqing freeze for a moment. She quickly caught up, her brow furrowed. "Master Fu is going too?"
Fu Jingshu looked straight ahead, his tone nonchalant, "Is that not allowed?"
This was not a question, and he had no intention of seeking Shen Qingqing's consent. He walked out on his own, and a slight smile played on his lips as he caught sight of Shen Qingqing reluctantly following him.
Shen Qingqing didn't want to go with him, but she couldn't get rid of him, so she had to brace herself and say, "Actually, I was planning to go to the orphanage."
Fu Jingshu gave a low hum, "Together."
Shen Qingqing was speechless. Fine, if he wanted to go, so be it.
The two of them got into the car and headed straight for an orphanage in the west of the city. Orphanages in this world were all similar. Even before entering, the sound of children's laughter could be heard from the courtyard.
Perhaps it was because she was a mother, but Shen Qingqing couldn't help but smile every time she heard it.
Fu Jingshu glanced at her, subtly falling half a step behind.
Suddenly, a few children in a corner caught Shen Qingqing's attention. A girl was huddled in the corner, wearing a clean but worn-out white dress. She looked to be around five or six years old.
Several children were gathered around her, and despite their young age, they were speaking cruelly.
"Why are you still at the orphanage? No one wants to adopt you. You're an ugly monster nobody wants!"
"Exactly, exactly! You're also disabled!"
"Hurry up and get out, otherwise Mom Director will always favor you!"
"What are you doing?" Shen Qingqing walked over, her expressionless gaze fixed on the children. "You live together, you're all family, how can you bully someone?"
The young boys could be arrogant towards children their own age, but they became timid in front of adults. They shrank their necks, held hands, and quickly scampered away.
Shen Qingqing didn't chase after them. She looked at the little girl.
The girl hugged her knees, her small face buried in them, motionless, as if she hadn't heard their taunts.
Shen Qingqing reached out and gently touched the girl's hair. She felt the child flinch slightly. She sighed, "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Her voice was as soft as a gentle breeze, and the tenderness in her eyes made it impossible to look away.
Fu Jingshu was no exception. He stood beside them, like a solid wall, his gaze subtly fixed on the woman patiently coaxing the child on the ground.
The little girl's head moved slightly. She smelled a very pleasant, fresh scent. Slowly, she lifted her head.
Shen Qingqing was surprised by her beauty. Although she was thin, her features were vaguely discernible as beautiful. If she grew up, she would undoubtedly be a beautiful young woman, but...
She raised her hand and waved it in front of the little girl.
The little girl's eyes were vacant; she was blind.
"Sister, you smell like flowers."
The little girl's voice was weak and trembling, indicating she had mustered all her courage to speak.
Shen Qingqing rubbed her head. The hair beneath her fingers felt dry and soft. "You can smell it?"
The little girl nodded.
Shen Qingqing was thoughtful.
She hadn't used any perfume today. Only when she arrived had she brushed against some flowers by the roadside, but the scent would dissipate with the wind. Yet, this child could still smell it...
She tentatively took the little girl's hand and slowly, but firmly, helped her stand up. "Don't be afraid, Auntie will take you to sit on a chair for a while, okay?"
The little girl seemed to trust her implicitly. Though she didn't speak, she obediently followed her.
Shen Qingqing picked several different flowers from the roadside and let the little girl smell them, telling her the name of each. Then, she let the girl smell them again.
The girl could accurately name each flower.
This confirmed Shen Qingqing's suspicion: the child had a keen sense of smell.
At this moment, the little girl suddenly said, "Sister, your scent is very similar to Auntie Xiao's."