Beijing-Hong Kong Rosemary

Chapter 22 What are you doing staying by my side?

Su Yuchen rarely showed a look of surprise. Did these words come from the mouth of someone who was indifferent to women?

He stared at Qu Yanci with great interest, a smirk playing on his lips. "She wouldn't happen to be one of yours, would she?"

"You're overthinking it." Qu Yanci remained indifferent, his eyes devoid of any extra emotion.

Su Yuchen narrowed his eyes suspiciously, "Then you..."

Qu Yanci said calmly, "Just consider it an act of kindness. I don't want to see Xia Xi's teacher being persecuted by you."

Su Yuchen was furious. "Damn it, what do you mean?!"

How did he persecute people?
Qu Yanci ignored him.

At this moment, Uncle Bai came over and said, "Sir, Young Master Zhou has arrived and is in the reception room."

Qu Yanci nodded, "Mm."

Five minutes ago, Shen Guining felt a little uncomfortable after finishing an ice cream mochi and wanted to go out for some fresh air.

A tall man walked towards us, dressed in a suit and tie, with a neatly slicked-back hairstyle, strong features, and a touch of unruly arrogance.

Shen Guining was no stranger to him, because this was Zhou Chongli, the head of the Zhou family, a name known to everyone in Hong Kong's entertainment circle, and a face that could often be seen in media reports.

When their eyes met, she froze, unable to react.

The other person was also somewhat surprised to see her there, then smiled and said in an ambiguous tone, "Miss Shen, so you're here."

Shen Guining gripped the hem of her dress tightly, as if her throat was blocked.

Zhou Chongli didn't say anything else and walked past her as if nothing had happened.

Inside the reception room, Uncle Bai poured tea and placed it on the tea table. He then turned around, walked around the screen, and left, closing the dark carved wooden door behind him.

Zhou Chongli picked up his teacup and took a sip, casually asking, "How come Shen Guining is here with you?"

Qu Yanci didn't answer. "What?"

Zhou Chongli smiled and said, "It's nothing, I just find it strange."

His half-brother is quite persistent about this Miss Shen, and I heard he's trying every means to find her.
-
Shen Guining was feeling unwell and left early after telling Xia Xi.

Uncle Bai arranged a driver for her.

On the way back, Shen Guining developed red and itchy symptoms, which was an allergic reaction.

She didn't taste the nuts in the ice cream mochi.

Red spots started appearing on her arm, and it was very itchy. She tried her best to control herself from scratching.

I remember when she was ten years old, she accidentally ate a cake with nuts in it and vomited non-stop. It was so bad that she had to go to the hospital for treatment. The nanny who was taking care of her left her alone in the ward to get an injection because she had to deal with personal matters. Later, she had a shock reaction, but fortunately the nurse on duty found her in time and saved her life.

Since then, Shen Guining has been very afraid of going to the hospital alone.

There was a pharmacy near her apartment complex, so she asked the driver to drop her off on the side of the road and buy two boxes of allergy medication before returning to her apartment.

Feeling extremely dizzy, Shen Guining took her medicine and fell asleep on the sofa.

At 11 o'clock, the cell phone on the table kept buzzing, and automatically hung up because no one answered.

Qu Yanci made two phone calls but no one answered.

He was on his way back to the company to handle some official business and stopped by to pick up some important documents.

Considering that Shen Guining lived in an apartment, he originally wanted to inform her in advance, but he couldn't get through on the phone, so he could only open the door and go in directly.

The living room lights were on.

Qu Yanci walked through the entrance hall and immediately saw a person sleeping on the sofa.

Under the porcelain-white light, the little girl's face had an unnatural red tinge.

As Qu Yanci approached, he noticed that the skin on her neck and arms was bright red, as if she had a rash.

"Shen Guining".

"Wake up."

Shen Guining heard someone calling her name in her sleep. She groggily opened her heavy eyelids and saw a figure in her blurry vision.

She could vaguely make out the outline. "Mr. Qu?"

Am I dreaming?

Her hands were so itchy that she couldn't help but scratch them, but Qu Yanci grabbed her wrist.

"what happened to you?"

The little girl looked at him pitifully, her voice weak and feeble as she said, "Allergy..."

Qu Yanci asked, "Should I take you to the hospital?"

Shen Guining shook her head, "I've already taken my medicine..."

She shook her head, and suddenly felt nauseous. She quickly covered her mouth and sat up from the sofa. "I...I feel like throwing up..."

Qu Yanci reached out and brought the trash can to her.

Shen Guining gagged a few times but couldn't vomit, and tears streamed down her face from the discomfort.

His eyes were red at the corners, and his face looked extremely weak.

Qu Yanci got up and went to the island platform to pour her a glass of warm water. "Rinse your mouth."

Shen Guining took the water glass from his hand, took a sip, and spat it out.

After two minutes, the nausea subsided.

Qu Yanci handed her two tissues to wipe her mouth, "What are you allergic to?"

"Nuts." Shen Guining wiped her mouth, then slumped against the sofa, her hair disheveled and clinging to her cheeks.

She closed her eyes helplessly, her head tilting to one side.

Qu Yanci raised his hand to brush away her hair, but just as he was about to withdraw his hand, she suddenly hugged him.

Through the thin shirt, the girl's soft arms pressed against him, her body heat clearly transmitted.

Qu Yanci frowned slightly. "Let go."

"No..." Shen Guining not only didn't let go, but hugged him even tighter, mumbling, "Mr. Qu, can you please not leave?"

Qu Yanci remained squatting on the ground without moving.

She continued muttering to herself, "I don't want to... go back..."

Do not marry Zhou Shilin.

However, Zhou Chongli already knew she was in Beijing, and Zhou Shilin would find her soon.

Shen Guining was completely enveloped by anxiety, clutching her only lifeline, "I want to stay by your side..."

The little girl spoke a sentence in Cantonese, her accent soft and gentle.

Qu Yanci's deep gaze fell on her face. "What are you doing staying by my side?"

Shen Guining unconsciously rubbed against his arm and whispered, "Anything is fine... I'll do whatever Mr. Qu tells me to do, I'll be a good girl..."

The softest part of the girl's body pressed against him, and Qu Yanci's breath hitched. He pried her hands apart and pulled his arm away.

Suddenly feeling empty in her arms, Shen Guining lost her sense of security. She forced herself to open her eyes and stared accusingly at the man in front of her.

"Go back to your room and sleep." Qu Yanci didn't take her words to heart, assuming they were just her ramblings from being sick.

Shen Guining remained motionless, then seemed to remember something. "Mr. Qu, what time is it?"

Although Qu Yanci didn't know why she suddenly asked for the time, he still raised his wrist and glanced at it. "12:03."

Is it September 20th?

"Ah."

Shen Guining remained silent for a long time, staring blankly at a certain spot.

Just as Qu Yanci was about to remind her to go back to her room again, the little girl moved her lips and murmured, "Today is my birthday..."

"I envy Xixi too."

"But I don't have a mom or dad... They all bully me..."

Her only relative only used her.

Shen Guining sniffed, trying hard to suppress her sobs.

Qu Yanci felt a tightness in his chest, unable to describe the feeling. He placed his fingertip on the corner of her eye and gently wiped away the hot tears.

In the silent space, a deep voice slowly rose—

No one will bully you.

Happy birthday, Shen Guining.

(End of this chapter)