Beijing-Hong Kong Rosemary

Chapter 144 If you don't buy it for me, I'll sleep with my aunt tonight.
During this period, Qu Yanci practically moved all his work to the hospital ward.

A private hospital, with individual suites, over 100 square meters, fully furnished; if it weren't for the smell of disinfectant and medicine, it would look more like a hotel.

Since Shen Guining couldn't get out of bed, Qu Yanci had to carry her everywhere. Her range of movement was limited, so she could only watch TV, flip through books, and scroll through her phone to pass the time.

She was scheduled to perform at the end of January, but had to miss it due to a foot injury.

Not only this time, but she won't be able to perform on stage for the next year.

Sad?
Of course she was sad, but she didn't show her negative emotions because she didn't want Qu Yanci to worry about her.

The accident has already happened; she can only accept it.

After a three-week stay in the hospital, Shen Guining was finally discharged, and Qu Yanci took her back to China on a private plane.

As soon as she got home, Ruby was so excited to see her that she wanted to jump on her, "Aww..."

Qu Yanci sternly stopped him, "Don't you dare pounce on me."

Ruby didn't dare to act rashly, and let out two pitiful cries, "Aww..."

Shen Guining knew why it was unhappy, so she quickly coaxed it, "Ruby, I hurt my foot, I didn't mean to be away for so long."

It understood, rubbed against Shen Guining, and stuck out its tongue to lick her trouser leg, "Aww..."

Shen Guining rubbed its head. "I'm fine, it doesn't hurt anymore."

Qu Yan left the kitchen to heat up a cup of milk, and returned to the living room a few minutes later, saying, "I have to go to the company this afternoon."

Shen Guining nodded, "Go ahead, I can manage on my own."

"Auntie will be home. If you need to go to the toilet, ask her to help you. Don't go by yourself." After giving these instructions, Qu Yanci remembered, "Xia Xi said she wants to come see you. If you want to see her, I'll let her come."

"Didn't she go to England for a winter camp? Has she returned home?"

"Ah."

"Then let her come. I haven't seen her in ages."

"If you think she's too noisy, just tell me and I'll make her go back."

This is something a maternal uncle would say.

Shen Guining smiled, "No, that won't happen."

Qu Yanci went to the company after having lunch at home.

Around 2 p.m., the doorbell rang, and the aunt went to open the door.

Before she even appeared, her voice rang out: "Sister Ning! I'm here!"

Shen Guining sat on the sofa and turned to look at the entrance. "Xixi, come in quickly."

Xia Xi came running in, carrying a bag in her hand. "My uncle said you hurt your foot. Are you alright?"

"Much better." Shen Guining smiled and asked, "Would you like something to drink? We have milk and juice."

"I'll have juice." Xia Xi shared the contents of the bag with her. "I brought a few fun Switches, all of which are my treasured possessions. You can use them to pass the time when you're bored."

"Okay, thank you." Shen Guining looked her over. It had been more than two years since they last met, and her features had matured a lot. She had thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a small, upturned nose—a classic beauty. "You've grown so tall, and you're even more beautiful now."

Xia Xi was embarrassed by the compliment, but secretly delighted. "You're just average-looking, not quite as pretty as you."

Shen Guining smiled gently.

Girls of all ages love to be praised.

The aunt brought a glass of apple juice from the kitchen and handed it to Xia Xi.

She accepted the gift, thanked him, and sat down next to Shen Guining, asking, "Where's my uncle? Isn't he home?"

"I went to the company."

Xia Xi rolled her eyes. "Sister Ning, can I gossip a little?"

Shen Guining had already guessed what she wanted to gossip about. "Go ahead and ask."

Xia Xi leaned closer to her arm and asked curiously, "When did you and my uncle get together?"

Shen Guining replied tactfully, "It might be a little earlier than you think."

Xia Xi was surprised, "It can't be from when we first met, can it?"

Shen Guining chuckled, "It's not that early."

"You two managed to keep it a secret so well right under my nose," Xia Xi couldn't help but exclaim.

Shen Guining explained, "I didn't mean to, I just didn't know how to bring it up with you."

After all, his situation was a bit awkward at the time, and after the breakup, it was even more impossible for him to tell her.

“What’s so hard about it? You’re both adults, it’s perfectly normal for you to date.” Xia Xi said frankly, “I was actually hoping you two would date, I never thought my wish would come true.”

Shen Guining asked in confusion, "Why?"

Xia Xi blinked. "Because I really like Ruby. I was thinking that if you were with my uncle, Ruby would be part of my family too."

Shen Guining felt it necessary to tell her the truth, "Actually, Ruby was originally a dog that your uncle gave to me."

"What?" Xia Xi's eyes widened in surprise. "My uncle gave you a dog?"

"Great, he's such a hypocrite! I wanted to get a pet before, but he wouldn't budge no matter what I said. He even said that if I dared to bring a pet home, I'd have to sleep outside!"

"How come he doesn't have mysophobia when he's with you?"

She puffed out her cheeks in anger.

Shen Guining weakly spoke up for Qu Yanci, "I do have a cleanliness obsession. I generally don't let Ruby into the room, nor do I allow it on the sofa."

"Fine, since you're his girlfriend, it's normal for you to have double standards."

After saying that, Xia Xi started ranting and raving again.

“You have no idea how outrageous my uncle is. It must have been when you first went on tour abroad that he worked himself to the bone and almost ruined his health.”

“At the time, I thought that his family was about to go bankrupt, so I studied hard during that period. I never got up at seven o'clock to memorize words, and I did exercises until eight o'clock at night. I thought I had to study hard, otherwise how would I be able to support him in the future.”

"He just watched me study from dawn till dusk without telling me that our family hadn't gone bankrupt at all!"

“You said our family is so rich, he can’t possibly spend it all by himself, so I’ll have to help him out in the future.”

What did she do wrong?
As Shen Guining listened to her rambling, his thoughts were already frozen.

Right after the breakup, he worked like crazy...

Xia Xi didn't notice her strangeness. "Sister Ning, you can also share the burden with my uncle from now on!"

Shen Guining snapped back to reality, "To share the pressure of not being able to spend all the money?"

Xia Xi nodded matter-of-factly, "That's right! The most painful thing in a person's life is dying before they've spent all their money, so we're helping my uncle!"

Shen Guining seemed unable to refute. Xia Xi added, "Actually, I've known for a long time that you and my uncle dated, and you two even broke up."

Shen Guining was taken aback. "How...how did you know?"

Xia Xi lowered her voice and whispered to her, "One night, my uncle came home drunk and I saw him looking at your photos. That's when I guessed it."
-
At six o'clock in the evening, Qu Yanci returned from the company and heard Xia Xi's noisy voice as soon as he entered the door.

"Aaaaaah! I'm almost out of blood!"

"I got a kill! I'm so lucky! I'm back to full health!"

"Don't be afraid, Sister Ning, I'm here to save you!"

Qu Yanci felt a slight vibration in his eardrums and his brows furrowed.

He walked into the living room and casually draped his coat, which he had tucked into his arms, over the sofa.

Xia Xi glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Uncle, you're back."

Qu Yanci walked straight to Shen Guining and sat down next to her, asking as if no one else was around, "Don't you find her noisy?"

The game had just ended, and Xia Xi angrily threw down the controller. "Uncle! What did you say?"

Ruby let out two "howls".

Qu Yanci raised an eyebrow. "Even a dog would find you too noisy."

"..."

Xia Xi was so angry that she couldn't speak.

Shen Guining quickly reassured him, "No, don't listen to your uncle."

Xia Xi snorted.

The aunt came out of the kitchen and called them to eat, "Sir, Madam, dinner is ready."

"Mmm." Qu Yanci picked up Shen Guining and carried her to the restaurant. He put her on a chair, then took a low stool for her to rest her legs on, adjusting her position to make her comfortable.

Xia Xi had never seen her uncle take such good care of anyone before, and she found it quite remarkable.

The aunt brought all the dishes to the table.

The meal consisted of four dishes and a soup, all lightly seasoned and prepared according to Shen Guining's nutritional recipes.

The aunt went home as soon as she finished her work, so as not to disturb their meal.

Xia Xi wanted to sit next to Shen Guining, but Qu Yanci glanced at her and said, "Sit across from me."

"Oh!" She had no choice but to reluctantly move.

Shen Guining said, "Xixi, eat more vegetables."

Xia Xi nodded, "Mhm."

Qu Yanci then spoke, "After you finish eating, I'll have the driver take you home."

Xia Xi was unhappy. "I'm not going back. I haven't had enough fun yet."

Qu Yanci said calmly, "Do you still want your allowance next month?"

"You're threatening me again!" Xia Xi paused for a moment, then turned to Shen Guining for help, "Auntie! Look at my uncle!"

The sudden address startled Shen Guining, and she nearly choked on the soup she had just drunk. "Cough cough..."

Qu Yanci put down his chopsticks and patted her back, then used his other hand to pull out a tissue to wipe her mouth.

Shen Guining paused for a moment, "Xi Xi, don't call me that."

She wasn't used to suddenly becoming "aunt" instead of "older sister".

"Why?" Xia Xi asked, puzzled. "Aren't you my uncle's girlfriend?"

"Yes, but..."

"Will you two get married in the future?"

Shen Guining hadn't thought that far ahead about this issue. "I..."

She had barely uttered a word when the man beside her interrupted her, "Of course we're married."

"Then aren't you my aunt?" Xia Xi asked seriously. "If I keep calling you 'sister,' then you two will be from different generations, right? Am I right?"

Shen Guining: "..."

That makes sense, but something still feels off.

Qu Yanci reminded them, "Let's eat first, the food will get cold."

Shen Guining then stopped worrying about the form of address.

After the meal, Qu Yanci went into the kitchen to wash the fruit.

Xia Xi quietly crept up to him and whispered, "Uncle, do you not want me to be a third wheel here?"

Qu Yanci gave him a succinct look—

You know you're the third wheel.

Xia Xi seized the opportunity to make a request, "Then buy me a camera, and I can leave right away."

Actually, she had one before, but she accidentally lost it.

Fearing that Qu Yanci would disagree, she added, "If you don't buy it for me, I'll sleep with my aunt tonight."

"..."

A few minutes later, Xia Xi returned to the living room with a fruit platter, greeted Shen Guining, and said, "Auntie, I have to go back to do my homework. I'll come to play with you again in a few days."

"Are we leaving now?" Shen Guining didn't know why she suddenly changed her mind.

Xia Xi nodded, "Yeah, I suddenly remembered I still have homework to finish."

Qu Yanci had just finished making the call when he said, "The driver is waiting for you downstairs. Let me know when you get home."

"Okay." Xia Xi waved with a grin, "Bye-bye, Auntie!"

Shen Guining gradually accepted the address, "Bye-bye."

Xia Xi left happily.

Shen Guining suddenly remembered, "Isn't it winter break? Why does she still have homework?"

Qu Yanci sat down and fed her a cherry, saying, "It's probably homework assigned by the winter camp."

Shen Guining took a bite; the fruit was sweet and juicy, filling her mouth. "So sweet."

A little brownish-red juice remained at the corner of his mouth.

Qu Yanci pinched her chin, lowered his head to kiss it away, and then took the opportunity to kiss her red lips.