The moonlight was cool, and by the river, a man and a woman embraced tenderly. The woman was enjoying the man's broad embrace when, in the next second, she was pushed away mercilessly.
She stumbled, almost losing her balance.
"Jingshu?"
Fu Jingshu said coldly, "Where is she?"
Not only was he unmoved by Lin Minglan's affection, but his brow also showed a hint of impatience.
Lin Minglan felt a pang of sadness. "Is this woman the only one in your heart?"
Fu Jingshu remained silent.
"Then what about Shen Qingqing?" she suddenly asked. Seeing his face suddenly tighten, she felt a sense of vengeful satisfaction. "You're asking me about another woman now. Have you considered what Shen Qingqing would think if she knew?"
Fu Jingshu's expression grew colder. "Will you tell me or not?"
He looked as if he would leave if she didn't.
Lin Minglan gnashed her teeth unwillingly, but finally spoke, "She is being treated in the largest psychiatric hospital in Country H."
"How did she end up there?"
Fu Jingshu knew that psychiatric hospital. It was well-known throughout Country H, but precisely because it was so vast, it housed countless patients.
Furthermore, it was expensive. Those sent there were generally from wealthy or influential families.
The most important thing was that the confidentiality there was excellent.
"How do you know?"
Lin Minglan avoided his gaze, her eyes falling on the water beside them. "I just know. I've told you her whereabouts, so you..."
She paused, looking back at him, her voice trailing off.
The man was gone.
Lin Minglan stomped her feet in anger. "Such an unromantic man!"
The next morning, Shen Qingqing woke up still a bit groggy. A small head nuzzled close to her. It was Shen Jinxi, who had woken up early and dressed himself.
"Mommy, you're sleeping in."
Shen Qingqing ruffled his hair. "Yes, Mommy was too tired yesterday."
"No," Shen Jinxi said mysteriously, glancing around. He leaned closer to her and whispered, "Mommy, you only fell asleep after you went out, and then you couldn't sleep. I saw it all."
"...What did you see?" This little imp!
"I saw Mommy tossing and turning, unable to sleep," Shen Jinxi said, shaking his head and spouting two idioms. "Why is that? Is it because of Daddy?"
Shen Qingqing paused slightly and smiled. "That's not true, don't guess."
But who was Shen Jinxi? He was her son. He understood his mother's subtle facial expressions very well. He could tell at a glance that Mommy was lying!
It seemed Mommy still had feelings for her cheap daddy!
This wouldn't do. They couldn't let the two continue their cold war. He pondered it repeatedly and soon had an idea.
He trotted to the table and took a book from his backpack.
"Mommy, after breakfast, can you read to us?"
Shen Qingqing squinted lazily. "Don't you dislike me reading to you? Did you forget what you said?"
This little fellow often said he was a big boy now and didn't need Mommy to accompany him with his studies.
Why was he changing his tune now?
"It's not me, it's us," Shen Jinxi emphasized. "The children here all love to read. Isn't it perfect for Daddy and Mommy to teach them?"
Although the school was temporarily closed, the children's studies couldn't be neglected.
Shen Qingqing and the others couldn't help with rebuilding the school, but they could do something within their power for the children. "Then Mommy will listen to you."
When it came to the children, she was willing to humble herself and stop arguing with Fu Jingshu. However, she didn't see him at breakfast.
She assumed he had gone out on business and didn't ask further.
But after breakfast, she still didn't see him. She asked the village chief, "Did you see Fu Jingshu today?"
The village chief shook his head, looking equally puzzled. "I haven't seen him. He usually wakes up quite early. Why isn't he out yet today?"
Looking at the quiet door, Shen Qingqing suddenly had a bad premonition.
She walked towards the room but was stopped by Lin Minglan midway. Lin Minglan said rather sarcastically, "You're so clingy. You can't be away from him for a day."
"Get out of the way."
She didn't want to waste words with this woman.
Lin Minglan was annoyed and sneered, "Have you never considered that you might annoy him by acting this way?"
Shen Qingqing narrowed her eyes slightly and retorted, "What does that have to do with you? Whether he's annoyed or not, he should be the one to say it."
"He doesn't want to hurt you, that's why he doesn't say it," Lin Minglan said pityingly. "If I were you, I'd have some self-awareness and stop getting close to him, because he really dislikes clingy women."
"You're talking about yourself, aren't you?"
Shen Qingqing didn't want to argue with her, but seeing her so arrogant, she naturally wasn't afraid and retorted directly.
Lin Minglan took a deep breath, feeling a bit indignant. "You won't believe it until you see it. Do I need to spell out the situation between you two these past couple of days?"
This statement struck a chord in Shen Qingqing's heart.
They had been having a disagreement, or rather, it was one-sided. He hadn't come to coax her, nor had he come to explain.
Her heart grew heavier, and her patience ran out. She pushed Lin Minglan aside. "I need to find him. Move."
Lin Minglan was no match for her strength, and being slender, she was pushed aside without suspense. She steadied herself and yelled furiously, "Shen Qingqing, open that door, and don't regret it."
Shen Qingqing stopped and tilted her head slightly, her gaze falling calmly on Lin Minglan. "What do you mean?"
Lin Minglan, however, wasn't in a hurry anymore. She tugged at her slightly wrinkled clothes elegantly. "If you don't believe me, just open the door and see."
Without a word, Shen Qingqing turned and pushed the door open.
The room was neat with a folded quilt. The toiletries, however, were all gone. A faint cold fragrance lingered in the air, indicating his presence.
"Where is he?"
Shen Qingqing turned and looked coldly at the woman outside the door, who had a gloating expression.
Lin Minglan feigned ignorance. "How would I know? Didn't you say he's yours? Don't you even know he's already left?"
From the moment Lin Minglan had stopped her, Shen Qingqing had felt something was wrong. Now she was certain that Lin Minglan must know that Fu Jingshu had left, and perhaps even why he had left without a word.
"Are you going to tell me or not?"
Lin Minglan, however, was not afraid. "No one knows where he went or why he left except me. If you threaten me like this, then I won't tell you."
Shen Qingqing turned and left without another word.
Lin Minglan hadn't expected her to leave so decisively and quickly said, "Don't you want to know where he went?"
"No."
That woman!
Lin Minglan gritted her teeth in anger, but thinking of Shen Qingqing's reaction after hearing the news, she still spoke up. "He can't stay here and suffer with you to build a persona. He comes from a prominent family, accustomed to a life of luxury since childhood, so naturally, he can't endure the hardships here."