Adored by Him: My Blissful Days as the Girl Next Door-Chapter 403 - 402: Special Treatment in Special Times

The sound of water from the bathroom soon stopped. After Shi Yang finished his shower, he didn’t return to the bedroom but turned towards the kitchen. He heated up the braised beef with potatoes and poured it over the rice, then carried it back to the room to sit cross-legged on the bed, face to face with Zhao Meimei, chatting while eating.

Shi Yang pushed the beef over to Zhao Meimei’s side: "The soup is all gone, it’s definitely not as good as when it was freshly cooked."

"It’s quite tasty." Zhao Meimei chewed the beef and remarked, "Sister Rui is really pitiful. She’s divorced and still pregnant. How will she manage in the future?" Then she asked, "Hey, Brother, are you quite annoyed with her?"

Shi Yang looked up: "It’s okay."

Zhao Meimei: "Actually, I don’t really like her either. If it weren’t for Peng Hui, I wouldn’t want to deal with her at all."

Shi Yang: "Didn’t you say she was pitiful?"

Zhao Meimei shrugged: "That’s a different matter. She’s pretty miserable now, but she brought this on herself when she abandoned my Brother Chao for wealth. It’s her own doing. They say every pitiful person has a detestable side. I feel sorry for her, but I don’t sympathize with her."

Shi Yang laughed: "You’ve got it straight."

Zhao Meimei said meaningfully, "Exactly. If Sister Rui hadn’t left my Brother Chao back then, who knows how happy they’d be now? She gave up that relationship and that happiness herself. If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t do that. I love you, and besides my aunt and uncle, no one loves you more than I do. If you ever break up with me, you’d be giving up the happiness in your life."

Shi Yang stuffed a piece of beef into Zhao Meimei’s mouth: "Why does that sound like a vendor praising their own wares?"

Zhao Meimei, with beef in her mouth, mumbled: "How is it like that! Brother, tell me, who else in this world would love you as wholeheartedly as I do? Just take Mr. Zhang from our school, for instance. When you guys were together, but then you got hospitalized from a fight and didn’t go to school, you broke up. Later, did she fight to get the relationship back? In my view, she gave up on your relationship. Now she wants to rekindle it? Why didn’t she think of that earlier? Brother, if you agree, then you’re being foolish!"

Shi Yang glanced at her: "What relationship between her and me? Apart from you, I’ve never had feelings for anyone."

Zhao Meimei’s expression disappeared, she squinted and asked: "No feelings, but you dated and she claims you were her first love! How is that ’no feelings’?"

Shi Yang became serious and responded: "That’s not true! How could you believe such gossip? I’ve only ever liked you in all these years, and I’ve never dated anyone else."

Shi Yang maintained a serious face, but cold sweat trickled down his back, being interrogated about his romantic past by his wife. Any sensible person would deny it; there’s absolutely no need to offer evidence for future scrutiny, and it would just hurt the relationship unnecessarily.

Zhao Meimei observed Shi Yang’s expression carefully, somewhat incredulous: "Really?"

Shi Yang: "Of course it’s true. Apart from you, I’ve never truly liked anyone else." That statement was completely sincere.

Zhao Meimei was satisfied, her eyes smiling: "That’s more like it."

In front of Peng Rui, Shi Yang remained resolute, but the next day, he took some time to meet Qu Chaozong. The two went to a barbecue place, eating while talking.

Shi Yang told Qu Chaozong about Peng Rui’s situation.

Qu Chaozong’s expression briefly turned complex: "Is it serious?"

Shi Yang took a sip of beer: "Threatened miscarriage, probably due to recent stress. The doctor said she needs to be hospitalized for care, nothing major."

Qu Chaozong’s face relaxed: "That’s good then."

Shi Yang gauged Qu Chaozong’s expression and asked with concern: "Chaozi, you’re not confused, are you?"

Qu Chaozong paused, then laughed: "What are you thinking? There will never be anything between Peng Rui and me. Though there’s no affection, I still hope she will be well."

Shi Yang patted Qu Chaozong’s shoulder: "That’s good. I just worried you might have a moment of weakness. Peng Rui is quite alone and helpless now. If your sympathy runs wild, you might get tangled up. It’s not a big deal, but with Zhang Xin’s temper, she won’t go easy on you."

Qu Chaozong chuckled: "What are you talking about! I have Zhang Xin now. Why would I help Peng Rui anyway? Since she’s alright, I’m relieved, and won’t interfere any further."

Shi Yang poured a drink, clinking glasses with Qu Chaozong: "That’s good. I told you about this just in case you run into her in the hospital, to avoid being caught off guard."

Qu Chaozong downed his drink: "I understand."

Shi Yang also drank his beer and asked: "How’s everything going with you and Zhang Xin?"

Qu Chaozong drank, his eyes and cheeks reddened, with a hint of uncontainable sadness in his eyes: "The old man’s test results came out, and the situation isn’t optimistic. Even with the best imported medicine, there’s probably only one or two years left. His lung damage is too severe, and eventually, even with a ventilator, he won’t be able to breathe..."

"Although we’ve been keeping it from the old man, I think he knows a little. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be urging me and Zhang Xin to hurry and get things done."

"But with the old man’s health like this, where’s the mood for it? Plus, the new house I bought won’t be available until spring next year, and it will take until the end of next year to move in after renovations."

Shi Yang couldn’t help but suggest: "You’re being too stubborn. Since the house isn’t ready, rent a hotel and hold the ceremony there, borrow the old man’s house for the matrimonial home. It’s empty anyway, and special times call for special measures."

Qu Chaozong gave a bitter smile: "I’ve considered that, but that’s not the issue right now."

Shi Yang frowned: "Zhang Xin’s dad hasn’t agreed yet?"

Qu Chaozong said: "The business side is busy right now. Her dad’s visited once, and he’s not as indifferent to me as before, but he hasn’t relented. I can see he’s still quite dissatisfied with me. He’s just tolerating it due to the old man’s poor health."

Shi Yang felt unfairly for him: "Zhang Xin’s dad is being unreasonable. While he thinks it’s for Zhang Xin’s good, he’s tackling issues too one-sidedly. Judging others by oneself is usually good, but he’s overdoing it; it’s totally unnecessary. He behaves like he’s got tunnel vision, always fearing shadows."

Qu Chaozong bit into a skewer: "Alright, let’s not talk about these annoying matters. Let’s drink, tonight I’m just going to enjoy myself."

Shi Yang advised: "Don’t get too drunk, you still have to return to the hospital later."

Qu Chaozong held his glass: "Don’t worry, I know my limits."