You're my wife, don't doubt it!

And what's with this lingering, damned ambiguous atmosphere?

I must be overthinking it! Am I just being too complacent?

Xiao Yao awkwardly shifted his gaze to the twilight outside the window.

“Um,” when he looked back at the hospital bed, he was surprised to find the girl kneeling on the bed and bending down: “Thank you, I’m sorry.”

Xiao Yao subconsciously took two steps forward and reached out to help the girl up, but whether intentionally or due to exhaustion, the girl let out a soft "woof" and her body went limp, collapsing straight towards Xiao Yao.

The boy was shocked, feeling a warm ball of cotton in his arms. He instinctively wanted to push her away or take three steps back, but he was worried that Zhou Qi would fall headfirst off the bed if she lost her support. He froze on the spot, not knowing what to do.

Chapter 199 Offering Myself in Return? Thank You

2023-05-20

Even though Zhou Qi should be very light now, Xiao Yao still felt as if he was suddenly overwhelmed by the weight, and his body swayed violently.

But he still managed to steady Zhou Qi and roughly supported her with both hands.

He could feel the softness of Zhou Qi's body, as if she were a blooming flower, fragrant and soft, warm and comfortable in his arms.

Unfortunately, the boy had no interest in enjoying it.

"Are you alright?" Xiao Yao asked, his voice tinged with anxiety.

Zhou Qi slightly raised his head, his eyes bright, and smiled, "I'm fine."

Her voice was soft and warm, making Xiao Yao feel as if his heart was wrapped in a layer of soft feathers.

So he said, "It's good that you're alright."

Then, he pushed forward with both hands, roughly shoving the girl onto the bed, before quickly taking two or three steps back.

Their eyes met for a fleeting moment, and an awkward silence filled the air.

Yu Luying must have a pretty good idea of ​​what happened from that sudden hug, and it will take a lot of time and effort to coax her back.

In situations like melon patches or under suspicious circumstances, where a lone man and woman are alone, such matters should truly be avoided.

In fact, Xiao Yao knew that Zhou Qi had harbored feelings for him when the semester first started.

Actually, if Zhou Qi had thrown herself at Xiao Yao like this two months ago, before their daughter arrived, Xiao Yao would have been secretly delighted, reminiscing about it later, and then asking Zhou Qi to be his girlfriend.

Unfortunately, in just two months, Xiao Yao was no longer the same person he used to be.

Firstly, although Zhou Qi is somewhat handsome, his standards have been completely raised by Shen Jie and Yu Luying.

Secondly, although it's open and transparent, dealing with Yu and Shen has already drained his libido. How could he have the leisure to provoke other people? If he gets into trouble, it would be a loss that doesn't outweigh the gains.

Thirdly, although Xiao Yao didn't mind her unrequited love for Teacher Yao, she was, after all, an active participant in bullying him over the past year. While he could forgive her, he didn't want any further interaction with her.

"I really didn't mean to." As if she could tell what Xiao Yao was thinking, Zhou Qi quickly explained. She omitted the "I didn't mean to" part and directly used "really" to emphasize the point.

"Okay, it's nothing." Xiao Yao didn't bother to find out whether she steamed or boiled her. He pulled over a chair, sat down half a meter away from the bed, and exchanged polite greetings with her.

Zhou Qi explained to him the meaning of her kneeling on the bed and saying "thank you, I'm sorry"—actually, even if she hadn't explained, Xiao Yao would have understood, but he still listened to her confession.

Saying "thank you" naturally refers to the fact that Xiao Yao and his group risked their lives to rescue her from the palace—considering that her attitude towards Xiao Yao before this was not so...pleasant, this act of repaying evil with good is all the more touching.

Xiao Yao accepted the thanks without any hesitation: "I was worried that you would resent us and forcibly pull you out of your utopia with... Lao Yao."

Zhou Qi frankly admitted, "At the beginning, there was a little bit."

"what?"

“But now I’ve figured it out. That… isn’t a long-term solution. How should I put it? Perhaps this is the inevitable outcome?” Zhou Qi said calmly with a smile. “In any case, I, Zhou Qi, am not an ungrateful person, much less someone who doesn’t know what’s good for him or repays kindness with enmity—I will never forget this kindness.”

“Okay, then you can remember this for now,” Xiao Yao readily agreed.

As for saying "I'm sorry," it refers to Zhou Qi's involvement in isolating Xiao Yao over the past year, as well as other things—including but not limited to undermining him in front of Shen Jie at Gongqing Forest Park.

Actually, if you hadn't ruined things that day, Shen Jie wouldn't have given me socks on our first date, Xiao Yao thought to himself.

That being said, it's entirely possible that if you meet another girl, she might just break up with you.

Xiao Yao hesitated for a few seconds, then magnanimously said, "I forgive you."

"Thank you," Zhou Qi said, feeling both pleased and apologetic.

"I had already forgiven you the moment I made up my mind to go to the palace to save you." Xiao Yao thought for a moment, then added another boastful remark.

He certainly didn't need to tell Zhou Qi that he wasn't very enthusiastic about the risky rescue of her at the time, and that it was Yu Luying who dragged him along.

Zhou Qi, of course, couldn't read Xiao Yao's mind. Hearing what he said, he was so moved that tears almost welled up in his eyes.

So Zhou Qi took the initiative to extend his right hand to him, and the two shook hands and greeted each other.

Having reconciled with "Airplane Head" in the morning and now made peace with Zhou Qi, the moral education he received in the catechism class these days flowed through Xiao Yao's heart, making him feel that his heart was filled with great compassion.

He was absolutely certain that the fortress of power within him, the Don Quixote, had been strengthened once again.

If this continues, it might not be long before I can fight that "policewoman" to a draw.

If one day one is forced to enter the hall of one's father-in-law, the chances of survival will increase considerably.

“I know you’re ignoring me because Wang Ming forced you to,” Xiao Yao told Zhou Qi. “I just gave him a good beating a while ago.”

“Actually, it’s not just Wang Ming.” Zhou Qi didn’t ask Xiao Yao how he knew: “It’s not something one person can do to incite the whole class to isolate someone.”

“Who else was involved? Tell me their names,” Xiao Yao asked his new friend whom he had just regained.

Although he hadn't figured out what the benefits of having these names would be, he just wanted to know.

Without hesitation, Zhou Qi named two male classmates and one female classmate.

Xiao Yao nodded silently, keeping the three names in his mind.

Jesus taught us that if someone offends me seven times a day, and then turns to me seven times and says, "I regret it," I must forgive him.

But the premise is that they have already regretted it, Xiao Yao thought to himself.

"Speaking of which," Xiao Yao pulled his chair a little closer to Zhou Qi's hospital bed, "you'll be able to come back to class when the next semester starts, right?"

Zhou Qi shook his head sadly: "There are rumors circulating outside that I have a teacher-student relationship with Teacher Yao, and that I was kidnapped by Teacher Yao willingly, which is why Teacher Yao wasn't punished..."

"Well... it's hard to call it a rumor," Xiao Yao thought calmly.

“Of course, it can’t really be called a rumor,” Zhou Qi repeated Xiao Yao’s inner thoughts: “In short, my family is probably going to transfer me to another school.”

Xiao Yao showed a surprised and regretful expression, and told the other person to keep in touch often even after going to a new school, and to tell him in time if they encountered any difficulties.

Then Zhou Qi asked Xiao Yao, "What happened in the class after I left?" Xiao Yao told him about the various deeds of the new homeroom teacher, Song Haijian, and mentioned that he died in a car accident, but did not mention anything related to the Hall of Fame.

Zhou Qi was taken aback, but didn't press further about Song Haijian's matter.

Seeing that the atmosphere between the two was becoming more and more harmonious and enthusiastic, Xiao Yao figured it was time to get down to business.

However, Zhou Qi was a little too enthusiastic—because she started reminiscing about the past between the two of them.

She started by talking about Xiao Yao's performance of "Those Flowers" on the guitar during the art performance at the start of the first year of high school military training. She was amazed and impressed by Xiao Yao at that time.

"Very cute," Zhou Qi commented.

"Is he/she really that cute?" Xiao Yao asked, a little embarrassed.

Actually, he didn't quite believe what Zhou Qi was saying at that moment, feeling that it was inevitably exaggerated, but he still liked listening to it.

Then, Zhou Qi mentioned that shortly after the start of the semester, the two of them took a walk together in Lu Xun Park.

Actually, it wasn't a date; it was just a class activity. Xiao Yao had forgotten the specific reason for the activity.

However, the two of them did take a walk during their free time, and Xiao Yao even treated her to something to eat—what they ate is now forgotten.

"I'll treat you to this meal when I'm discharged from the hospital," Zhou Qi said.

"Ah, okay." Xiao Yao didn't think much of it and casually agreed, "But Lu Xun Park is really boring, there's nothing fun to do. It's not as good as War Park—there are no animals and no boating."

“Ah, it’s just a park, nothing special.” Zhou Qi paused for a moment, not understanding whether Xiao Yao was implying something, but she didn’t mind and continued to reminisce about “happy times in the past.”

The more Xiao Yao listened, the more uneasy he felt. He couldn't help but think that this was a prelude to a prelude to "a life-saving grace that I cannot repay, so I offer myself in gratitude." Of course, he couldn't be 100% sure, after all, this was one of the three great illusions of men. Besides, even if Zhou Qi really meant it, since she hadn't made it clear, it would be difficult for him to refuse her outright.

The boy lowered his head and pondered for a moment before preparing his words: "By the way, Zhou Qi, I have some good news for you—I've won over Yu Luying."

"Huh?" Zhou Qi looked surprised.

"Didn't she tell you just now?" Xiao Yao asked Zhou Qi.

“No,” Zhou Qi said, “I did ask her, but she neither said yes nor no, she just changed the subject, so I assumed it wasn’t decided yet.”

“Well, actually, we’ve officially confirmed our relationship,” Xiao Yao told Zhou Qi. “Yu Luying is rather low-key.”

Xiao Yao wasn't particularly bothered by Yu Luying's reluctance to acknowledge him in front of others, because he knew what she was worried about.

Sure enough, Zhou Qi asked, "What about that girl from No. 7 Middle School? The one I met in the forest park, did you two break up?"

"Ha!" Xiao Yao said nonsensically, "After you messed things up, they blocked me when they got back."

Zhou Qi's face turned pale instantly.

"I was just kidding," Xiao Yao said with a grin. "Don't ask about our relationship."

“Okay,” Zhou Qi breathed a sigh of relief, but his tone was not without disappointment. “Anyway, congratulations to you and Yu Luying.”

Seeing that the conversation had already started, Xiao Yao quickly pressed on, "Qi, I have something else I want to ask you."

“I know what you want to ask,” Zhou Qi sighed. “If it were you, I would tell you—but I have one more small request.”