Spoiled Sparrow

The following afternoon.

The gentle sunlight shines on the sea, making it look like a sparkling diamond sea from afar.

Ruan Qing leaned back on the yellow beach chair, feeling lazy from the sun. She yawned several times, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She raised both hands and quickly patted her cheeks twice to wake herself up.

I picked up the phone that was resting on my stomach and swiped the screen with my fingertips.

Honey, everything's fine here, don't worry.

After sending the message, she took a selfie and sent it, then casually placed her phone on the table beside her.

The sun was so comforting, and since she hadn't fully adjusted to the time difference, she didn't wait for Yun En's reply. Instead, she tilted her head and drifted off to sleep.

As the sun set, a slight chill crept up on us.

She frowned slightly, faintly hearing a sound.

"Miss?"

Ruan Qing groggily opened her eyes, her unfocused gaze slowly meeting the source of the sound.

"Uncle Zhang, what are you doing here?"

Ruan Qing shook her head and subconsciously reached for her phone, but found nothing.

"Hmm?" She stood up and looked around but couldn't find it.

His groggy head immediately cleared: "Uncle Zhang, have you seen my phone? I remember leaving it on the tea table."

Uncle Zhang shook his head: "No, I just arrived too. You're already awake, Miss."

"How could that be? It was clearly placed there."

I just got the new number set up two days ago, and it was so difficult to log back into my original WeChat account. It feels like the sky has fallen.

Uncle Zhang looked around and squatted down to search in the sand.

"Miss, things are different here than back home. It's best to keep your valuables with you at all times. Thieves are everywhere here."

The environment in China is just too safe. When I went to the restroom in the library, my computer and phone were right there on the desk.

We really couldn't find it, and there were no security cameras around, so we just had to accept our fate.

"Never mind, Uncle Zhang, could you buy me another phone and get my SIM card fixed while you're at it?"

Uncle Zhang smiled and nodded: "No problem, the phone cards here can be processed very quickly."

Ruan Qing picked up a shawl and draped it over her shoulders, walking towards the house. "By the way, Uncle Zhang, did you need something?"

Uncle Zhang followed beside her: "It's like this, there's a business banquet tomorrow night, and Young Master He said he wants you to attend with him, Miss."

Since being kicked out of the Su family, Ruan Qing has disliked participating in these activities.

Without even thinking, she refused: "I'm not going. Let my brother find someone else."

Uncle Zhang looked troubled: "Miss, Young Master He has already prepared your dress and wants me to take you over to try it on."

Ruan Qing stopped in her tracks: "Oh, so it was to inform me."

After saying that, he walked straight out.

Uncle Zhang, walking behind her, advised, "Miss, Young Master He is doing this for your own good. The people attending the banquet are all leaders in their respective fields. Getting to know more people will also help your career."

What he said seemed to make some sense.

"Come on, take me there to have a look."

She got into the car and suddenly felt a sharp pain in her stomach.

"hiss--"

Uncle Zhang sensed something was wrong with her and quickly asked, "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

Ruan Qing shook her head, clutching her stomach, and after a moment spoke up: "It's nothing, I probably just caught a chill from drinking cold drinks and being exposed to the wind."

I figured my period was almost here, but why was it hurting so badly this time?

Fortunately, the discomfort only lasted for a short while, and I put it out of my mind after getting off the bus.

He Xunnan stood downstairs, his light gray suit making him look much younger, holding a pink shopping bag in his hand, looking on with longing.

He exudes a sense of being a married man.

The two girls passing by kept turning around, and even though they covered their mouths, they couldn't hide the smiles in their eyes.

Seeing Ruan Qing walk in, he stepped forward and said, "This is a new product from a friend of mine. Would you like to try it?"

Ruan Qing hadn't eaten dinner and was actually a little hungry: "Thank you, brother."

Uncle Zhang looked at the packaging bag in Ruan Qing's hand. This was not a dessert that ordinary people could afford. Just this one piece cost 1999 yuan, and you had to make a reservation to buy it.

It seems that Young Master He dotes on his younger sister, whom he lost and then found again, quite a lot.

The group walked to the private elevator and went straight up.

As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, someone was waiting outside and led them inside.

Although it's called a clothing store, it looks more like a showroom. At first glance, every dress is a haute couture work of art.

He Xunnan: "Choose one, is there one you like?"

Ruan Qing remembered that Fu Chen would also prepare dresses for her, but he would just choose them and have them delivered to her home.

This is the first time I've ever had to choose for myself like this.

She walked to the middle and asked, "Were all of these designed by the same person?"

The shop owner stepped forward and patiently explained, "No, these dresses are all designed by different designers, and each one is unique in the world."

She glanced at He Xunnan and continued, "These were all specially prepared for you by Mr. He, who had them flown in from all over the world."

These dresses couldn't possibly be made in a short time. Did he start preparing so early?

Ruan Qing looked into his eyes: "Thank you...brother."

He Xunnan patted her head: "It's what we should do. Make your choice."

His voice was calm, as if it were a trivial matter that could be done easily.

She walked towards the dress that had caught her eye at first glance, "This is it."

The shop owner quickly went to greet her and led Ruan Qing to the fitting room to change.

"Miss, you're so lucky. Mr. He has never been this nice to any other woman before."

Ruan Qing awkwardly explained, "I'm his sister."

The store manager's hand froze. Realizing what had happened, he quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't know..."

I really want to sew my mouth shut right now.

When I heard her call me "brother" just now, I thought it was a term of endearment between lovers.

But after living here for so many years, how come she's never heard of the He family having a daughter...?

He Xunnan sat on the sofa with his legs crossed.

Uncle Zhang stood respectfully before him and reported, "Young Master He, I have completed the task you entrusted to me."

He Xunnan nodded, took out his phone, and transferred 50,000 yuan to him.

"Buy her a new phone, you can keep the rest."

Uncle Zhang nodded repeatedly, "Thank you, Young Master He!"

After a long while, the shop owner pulled back the curtain.

He Xunan's eyes lit up instantly.

She wore a matte, flowing, smoky purple strapless dress that was impossible to look away from.

Ruan Qing's skin was already delicate and fair, and this dress made her look like a crystal grape with its outer skin peeled back, only to be admired from afar.

She turned around in front of the mirror and was very satisfied.

"This one will do."

He Xunnan looked away: "Okay, let's go home."

On the way, Ruan Qing thought of her lost phone and Lin Yun'en.

I don't know what she replied, or how she is now.

*

Beijing, hospital.

"Grandpa, please go in by yourself. I'll wait for you outside."

When Grandpa Lin heard that Fu Chen had been in such a serious car accident, he insisted on coming to visit him in person, despite his advanced age.

His attitude was firm: "What's wrong with you, child? Is this how I raised you?"

Lin Yun'en stood outside the door, refusing to go in no matter what.

Dong Chenye said that Fu Chen was in a car accident the night Ruan Qing left. Could it be that he got into an accident while chasing after her...?

Fu Chen is so smart, he must have already guessed who helped Ruan Qing leave. If she goes in now, wouldn't she be walking into a trap?!