Morning Longing for Warmth – Chapter 11
by Little PandaFacts
I didn’t hear anything at all
“Do you like Third Miss?”
Shiyi was stunned by Su Ziyan’s question for quite a while. Clearly, this question was difficult for her to answer. The waiter moving nearby made soft sounds. Shiyi came back to her senses and whispered, “Doctor Su, Third Miss and I, we don’t have that kind of relationship.”
She couldn’t explain it to Du Yueming because the situation at the time didn’t allow it, but she didn’t want Su Ziyan to misunderstand, as it would harm Third Miss’s reputation.
Not knowing her thoughts, Su Ziyan slightly furrowed his brows: “You don’t like Third Miss?”
Shiyi opened and closed her mouth: “No, I… we don’t have the kind of relationship you’re thinking of.”
She was clumsy with words, not good at explaining. Her pretty face turned completely red, her eyes bright. Su Ziyan spoke gently: “If one day, you two develop that kind of relationship, would you dislike her?”
Shiyi was completely dumbfounded.
Seeing her like this, Su Ziyan lowered his head and smiled: “I’m just joking.”
“Let’s eat.”
When Shiyi picked up her chopsticks, her heart was in complete chaos. From Su Ziyan’s expression, she saw seriousness. Could it be that Third Miss had said something to him?
It must be so, Third Miss must have said something to him for him to ask such questions.
If they developed that kind of relationship, would she dislike her?
So was Third Miss the same as those male masters who took her back?
Because of this thought, Shiyi lost her appetite. She lowered her head, finished her soup, and just sat quietly. Only when Su Ziyan put down his chopsticks did she softly say, “Doctor Su, I’m full.”
Su Ziyan: “I’ll go pay.”
Shiyi looked up: “I… let me pay.”
Su Ziyan chuckled: “Do you have money?”
Shiyi felt somewhat embarrassed under his gaze but firmly said: “Yes.” Though not much.
Her money was wrapped in a handkerchief, which she learned from her grandmother. When she worked as a servant before, she couldn’t receive monthly wages like others because she wasn’t of age. Moreover, those mistresses all disliked her, so they just gave her whatever small amount to get by. Shiyi had never stepped outside, so she didn’t need to use money, and just saved bit by bit this way.
Su Ziyan watched as the child took out a washed-out, whitened handkerchief from her pants pocket. When opened, the banknotes inside were neatly stacked one by one. Who knows how long she had saved them – these bills had deep crease marks. He suddenly felt a pang in his heart and said: “Let me handle it.”
Shiyi looked up at him in surprise. Su Ziyan smiled: “I promised to treat you to something good, how could I let you pay?”
After saying this, he called the waiter. When taking out his wallet, he paused for a few seconds, then stuffed it back into his pocket and pulled out several red notes to give to the waiter.
After paying, Su Ziyan took Shiyi back to the hospital. Neither spoke during the journey. At the office, Su Ziyan told Shiyi to rest first, saying they could leave once Wei Hui finished. Then he opened a drawer: “Take whatever candy you want.”
He added: “Don’t be greedy.”
Shiyi twisted her hands together: “Thank you, Doctor Su.”
Su Ziyan patted her head and left the office.
The office wasn’t large but was well-equipped. There was a small sofa by the window, with sunlight falling on it, looking very warm. Shiyi curled up on the sofa, arms wrapped around her legs, head resting on her knees, tilting her head to look outside.
Su Ziyan’s words echoed in her ears again.
If you two develop that kind of relationship in the future, would you dislike her?
Shiyi didn’t know. She only knew that this sentence had completely overturned Wei Hui’s image in her heart. She had thought Wei Hui was different from those men.
So there was no difference after all?
Then why did she send her to the hospital for examination and treatment?
Was it because she was afraid she was dirty?
When Shiyi thought of this possibility, it felt as if a sharp blade had pierced her heart, the pain making her face turn pale. Her arms wrapped tighter around her legs as she curled up even more severely.
The scattered sunlight filtered through the window onto her body, yet she couldn’t feel any warmth.
One room in silence, another in clamor.
When Wei Hui opened her eyes, she saw Su Ziyan sitting by the hospital bed, holding medical records and making notes. She spoke: “What is it?”
Her voice was very hoarse, completely unlike its usual clear tone.
After finishing writing, Su Ziyan looked up at her: “We need to increase your medication.”
Wei Hui wasn’t surprised: “Alright.”
“Before the New Year, I contacted Doctor Bai from abroad. He replied to me two days ago, saying he would come to take a look. He has researched in this field for thirty years. If he’s willing to take over, we still have hope.”
Hope – Wei Hui couldn’t remember how many times she had heard this word. Each hope had been accompanied by disappointment. She had grown used to it.
Su Ziyan lowered his head: “What you need to do now is take good care of your health.”
“I think you should put work aside for now.”
Perhaps due to the IV drip, the slight redness had faded from Wei Hui’s face, leaving her skin fair. She had just had a peaceful sleep, and now her spirits were quite good. Hearing Su Ziyan’s words, her expression showed no change, she just said flatly: “I know.”
Su Ziyan sighed: “If you really knew, I wouldn’t have to worry so much.”
At his motherly nagging, Wei Hui pressed her head: “You can go now, I’ll sleep some more.”
Just as Su Ziyan stood up, there was movement at the door, and Pei Tian’s voice came through: “Third Miss.”
Wei Hui glanced at Su Ziyan, and under his displeased gaze, she spoke: “Come in.”
After Pei Tian opened the door, he received two eye-rolls from Su Ziyan. He frowned, but before he could ask anything, Su Ziyan had left. The door closed, and Wei Hui sat up in the hospital bed. Pei Tian asked: “Are you feeling better?”
“It’s nothing,” Wei Hui frowned: “What did Wang Yongshun say?”
Pei Tian handed her the contract: “Chairman Wang agreed.”
“He agreed?” Wei Hui took the contract. She hadn’t forgotten how Wang Yongshun had been hysterical in the private room that day, furious to the point of murder when he learned he had been set up, yet now he actually agreed.
Pei Tian replied: “The Shen family must have pressured him.”
However, he couldn’t understand how Shen Hao had convinced Wang Yongshun. If Shen Hao really had such capability, he would have taken over the abandoned building project long ago. Why wait until now?
But regardless, the abandoned building project now belonged to the Wei Tian Group.
While Wei Hui held the contract, her phone suddenly rang from inside her bag. She looked at Pei Tian, who retrieved and handed it to her. The screen displayed Shen Hao’s name.
“Third Miss, are you satisfied?”
Wei Hui didn’t know what medicine he was selling in his gourd (a Chinese idiom meaning hidden motives), and smiled: “What does Chairman Shen mean?”
“Just a small gesture of sincerity.” Shen Hao looked at his wristwatch: “Tonight at eight o’clock, I wonder if Third Miss is free?”
Wei Hui said coldly: “No.”
Shen Hao: “Then…”
Wei Hui’s voice was ice-cold: “Not later either.”
Hearing her cool voice, Shen Hao showed no sign of annoyance. If Wei Hui were so easy to pursue, men would probably be lining up in circles around Jiang City. He wasn’t in a hurry.
After their last meeting, seeing Wei Hui becoming increasingly radiant, he had made up his mind – this woman, he must have her!
Wei Hui didn’t want to play games with him and said directly: “If Chairman Shen has nothing else, I’m hanging up.”
“Wait.” Shen Hao said: “About the cooperation—”
“We’ll discuss it at the company.”
Wei Hui hung up after saying this and handed the phone to Pei Tian. Her head was still faintly aching. Pei Tian, seeing her poor complexion, asked with concern: “Would you like to rest more?”
“Yes, you can go out first.”
When Pei Tian left the hospital room, he found Su Ziyan hadn’t left, obviously waiting for him.
“Is there something, Doctor Su?” Pei Tian looked at him. Su Ziyan closed the medical record: “Still playing dumb with me?”
“What happened?”
Although Wei Hui was dedicated to work, she wouldn’t disregard her health. She had always valued her life, following his medical advice strictly since learning about her illness. He couldn’t believe Wei Hui would suddenly work so desperately without some other change occurring.
Pei Tian glanced at Wei Hui’s hospital room and said quietly: “Doctor Su, let’s talk privately.”
Su Ziyan walked into the adjacent break room: “Come in.”
As Pei Tian entered, he said: “Luo Zhouping has returned to the country.”
Su Ziyan naturally knew about Luo Zhouping’s deep connection with the Wei family.
Wei Tian Group was built from scratch by the Old Master Wei. It took over twenty years of ups and downs to gain stable footing. But at that time, the economy was poor, and a law-abiding company could hardly bring much profit. It wasn’t until Wei Hui’s father, Wei Changyuan, joined the company that he met Luo Zhouping.
Luo Zhouping was initially just a street hustler, but he was intelligent, knew how to make money, and had good foresight. During those economically difficult times, he helped Wei Tian Group overcome several crises. Because of this, the Old Master felt confident entrusting Wei Tian Group to Wei Changyuan and Luo Zhouping.
Without the Old Master’s restraint, Luo Zhouping developed evil intentions, urging Wei Changyuan to take illegal paths. Of course, this was refused. By then, he was already the second-largest shareholder and united with many minor shareholders to try to force Wei Changyuan out. However, the Old Master had left a backup plan, so Luo Zhouping was arranged to leave the country. In all these years, he only returned briefly when Wei Changyuan passed away, hoping to seize the chairman position. He hadn’t expected to encounter Wei Hui. At that time, he looked down on her, thinking what achievements could a barely-of-age girl accomplish, so he maintained an attitude of watching the show, waiting for the company people to beg for his return. Unexpectedly, what he got instead was continuous good news from Wei Hui’s side.
He angrily went abroad again, to the branch company.
Luo Zhouping was Wei Changyuan’s biggest worry and lifelong regret. Initially, he had been blind to bring Luo Zhouping back to the company to work together, never imagining he would be bitten back. This was something he worried about until his death, and it became Wei Hui’s burden.
After Wei Hui took office, she had countless battles with Luo Zhouping, but being new to her position, she had to focus most of her attention on the company, giving the old fox an opportunity to win over board members.
This time upon returning, Pei Tian said: “Luo Zhouping might know about Third Miss’s illness.”
Su Ziyan’s expression changed slightly: “How could he know?”
All of Wei Hui’s medical records were with him, highly confidential, locked in a safe. How could Luo Zhouping possibly know?
Pei Tian shook his head: “He only suspects.”
“This abandoned building project was the challenge he set for Third Miss.”
Moreover, although Luo Zhouping had been abroad all these years, he never lost contact with the shareholders. This time, he used the board’s resolution to smoothly return to the country and company, leaving even Third Miss to temporarily endure it.
Su Ziyan understood and said: “Then keep a close eye on her health. Notify me immediately if there’s any discomfort.”
“I understand.”
As Pei Tian finished speaking and looked up, he met a pair of bright eyes. Shiyi was holding a cup, and being suddenly spotted like this made her flustered. She instinctively stepped backward, stammering: “I, I just came to get some water. I didn’t hear anything.”
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