Jiaochen

“He’s still at work so I dare not give him a call yet.” Ye Zhenzhen was obviously in a panic, “I’ve also sent a text to Senior Ji, but she hasn’t replied…”

Ye Qing understood immediately and calmly instructed, “Don’t call Fu Yanzhi for now. I’ll help deal with it from my end.”

“…Okay.” Ye Zhenzhen hesitated for a little while before replying, “Auntie, I believe Senior Ji isn’t that kind of person.”

Hearing this, Ye Qing laughed before saying, “Am I, your Aunt, that untrustworthy?”

Ye Zhenzhen didn’t know how to reply to that. She was originally afraid that Ye Qing would grow to hate Ji Qingying because of this incident. Isn't it typical for mother-in-law and daughter-in-laws to have a complicated relationship?

“Well, in any case, if your school’s over, go over to Qingying’s place. I think… she’s not doing pretty well right now, but it isn’t convenient for me to go there myself.”

“Okay.”

After the call ended, Ye Zhenzhen asked her roommates to keep an eye on the school forum and Weibo, and to tell her immediately if there are any new developments. She then hurriedly changed her clothes and ran out.

During the time that Ji Qingying was quietly watching the surveillance video in her room, her phone had run countless times.

Chen Xinyu, Chi Lu, Zhou Zhilan, Yan Qiuzhi and Shen Muqing were also calling her, one after the other.

The ringing was getting too noisy so she put the phone in silent mode without thinking twice.

At that moment, she didn’t want to pick up the phone, nor did she want to get comforted, or even want to talk.

Ji Qingying was solely focused on watching the entire video, after which she called Sun Yijia.

“Hello.”

Sun Yijia was glad, “Finished watching it?”

Ji Qingying “hmm-ed” a reply.

Sun Yijia slightly paused before carefully saying, “I didn’t expect Lin Xiaoshuang to be so cruel. She didn’t even give you any time to mentally prepare and just exposed it right away.”

Hearing her say this, Ji Qingying scoffed, “You’ve got that right. But thank you.”

Sun Yijia sneered herself, “We both know there’s no need to thank me. I just don’t like her more.” She went quiet for a while, before she gave another piece of advice, “If you happen to find the time and the resources, try to check Lin Xiaoshuang and He Yuan’s affair, and also what she did overseas too.”

Ji Qingying responded, “Okay. I’ll be going first.”

Sun Yijia understood, “Okay.”

After the call ended, Ji Qingying found that it was already half past six in the evening.

She closed her eyes for a bit, trying hard to prevent her tears from spilling. She then dug out a memo buried deep in her phone’s files, then dialed a number that hasn’t been used in a long long time.

“Hello?”

Ji Qingying’s throat grew parched and she found her words were stuck to her throat. It was only after a little while did she manage to speak, “Mrs Xu, it’s me, Ji Qingying.”

There was a momentary silence before the other line spoke in surprise, “Qingying?”

“Yes.” Ji Qingying replied. “You told me back then that if I ever wanted to uncover the incident that happened back in my college days, you’d prove my innocence, right?”

Again, another moment of silence before a reply was heard, “Yes. Did something happen?”

“Yes. A certain someone had decided to dig up that incident.”

Mrs Xu grew silent once again, before softly replying, “I understand. Just call me if you need anything.”

Her voice grew dispirited with a mix of helplessness, “Back then, I failed you.”

Ji Qingying smiled, “It's alright.”

Then she added, “You must be busy, so I’ll hang up first.”

“Okay.”

After she hung up, Ji Qingying hugged her knees while sitting on the chair. She stayed like that for a long time.

Suddenly, a knock could be heard from outside.

“Qingying, open the door.”

Ji Qingying made no movement.

Chen Xinyu hurriedly added, “Why are you alone inside? Hurry up and open the door!”

Ji Qingying took a sip from a cup on her side before replying, “I just want to be alone for a bit.”

“…You… Then come out first so we can discuss a solution.”

Ji Qingying didn’t reply.

Suddenly, another familiar voice sounded from outside.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

Fu Yanzhi stood tall as he stretched out his hand to knock on the door. His somber voice said, “Qingying.”

Ji Qingying's eyelashes trembled.

When Fu Yanzhi found that the door remained locked from the inside, he stared at it before finding that his throat had closed up quite a bit, “Open the door first.”

His voice didn’t sound worried or impatient, as he knew how to comfort her this time.

He continued, “It’s half past six now right? Aren’t you hungry?”

Ji Qingying, who had shut herself in for quite some time, slowly walked to the door.

When she unlocked it, only Fu Yanzhi walked in.

The two looked at each other silently for a time, before Fu Yanzhi reached out and touched her face, gently asking, “Well, hungry?”

Ji Qingying shook her head, “Just close the door.”

“Okay.”

Fu Yanzhi didn’t let Chen Xinyu and the others come inside for now. After locking the door, he led her to the bed.”

The temperature of his body was normally high, so Ji Qingying felt herself calming down from the endless stream of warmth she got from the palm of his hands.

Fu Yanzhi looked at her then put his forehead to hers, asking, “What time did you come home?”

“Around four.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

Ji Qingying “hmm-ed” again before softly replying, “I forgot.”

Fu Yanzhi immediately understood, so he pinched her nose and said, “I’ll forgive you this time.”#pleasereadthischapteratfoxaholic.com

Ji Qingying didn’t rebut.

She looked up at him and asked in a slightly strained voice, “Why did you get off work so early today?”

“Wasn’t busy.”

Ji Qingying’s eyelashes trembled as she remembered him saying something earlier, “Didn’t you say you were on duty tonight?”

“Yes.”

Fu Yanzhi tightened his hold on her hand and added, “But I exchanged shifts with Dr Xu.”

Ji Qingying looked at him.

Fu Yanzhi took the cup on the side and moved it towards her mouth, “Drink some water first.”

Ji Qingying shook her head, “I can’t drink anymore.”

Fu Yanzhi then embraced her head before softly asking, “Then what do you want to eat or drink?”

“I don’t want any.”