Sure enough, Qingmu and Yao Jingjing met again a few days later.
With Mei Yiqiu and the Xia Family's power, the hospital treated the Yao family like honored guests. They not only arranged expert consultations for them but also set up a special care ward, providing 24-hour top-level care. Mama Yao thought her daughter had come to the wrong place. It wasn't until a large group of doctors in white coats surrounded her, showing concern and discussing her condition, that she realized she was in a hospital, and she was struck by the difference between a remote fifth-tier city and a developed city.
Qingmu visited Mama Yao on the afternoon of her hospitalization, accompanied by Hu Xing. After learning Hu Xing's identity, Mama Yao's mood shifted from joy and surprise to deep worry. She had always thought that although Qingmu was wealthy, he was just a rich second-generation who was willing to spend a million to treat his future mother-in-law's illness. She never expected that the girl with him was not only beautiful but also seemed to be the daughter of a very wealthy family.
When no one was around, Mama Yao asked Yao Jingjing, " Jingjing, how far have things progressed between you and Qingmu? A girl from our Cuan Family can't become someone's mistress!"
Yao Jingjing blushed and said, "Mom, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Papa Yao was unhappy and said, "Why do you keep calling her 'old Cuan Family' Cuan Family? Jingjing's surname is Yao, okay? She's from our Yao family."
Mama Yao said, "Your Yao family is nothing in Cuanzhou! Besides, the Yao family can't be someone's mistress!"
Papa Yao said, "That's true."
Qingmu visited her every day, partly to check on Mama Yao's mental state and partly to learn about the hospital's consultation results. This put Mama Yao at ease; in her eyes, who else but her son-in-law would be so attentive?
But just two days after she felt relieved, Qingmu arrived again with a tomboy and a little girl holding a cat. The little girl seemed to know Yao Jingjing, calling her "Auntie, Auntie" affectionately. However, the pretty, flat-chested girl dressed like a boy seemed quite familiar with Qingmu. Mama Yao sensed the unusual relationship between them. But she was too embarrassed to ask, so she kept giving Yao Jingjing meaningful glances.
Yao Jingjing didn't recognize Bi Shenghua either, and feeling quite curious, she secretly asked Yu Meiren, "Who is that auntie?"
Yu Meiren said, "She's Aunt Flower, and she lives with Qingmu Yeye. They're really close."
Yao Jingjing's heart skipped a beat, and for some reason, she felt extremely disappointed.
"Aunt Jingjing, what's wrong?" Yu Meiren asked, noticing Yao Jingjing's change.
"Oh, it's nothing," Yao Jingjing said with a smile. "Where does that Beauty live now?"
Yu Meiren said, "I live at my uncle's house. Sometimes Aunt Xing will also take me to stay at her place and play with Xia Tian. Their house is so big! Because I'm coming to see you all today with Qingmu Yeye, I stayed at Aunt Hua's place yesterday."
Yao Jingjing said, "Isn't Aunt Hua living with your Qingmu Yeye? It's so inconvenient for you to live with them, isn't it?"
Yu Meiren said, "They don't live in the same room either; Aunt Hua's house has many rooms."
Yao Jingjing let out a relieved "Oh," and then asked, "So, which of Aunt Xing and Aunt Hua is your girlfriend, Qingmu Yeye?"
Yu Meiren shook her head and said, "I don't know." Then she added, "Does Aunt Jingjing also want to be Yeye's girlfriend?"
Yao Jingjing was lost in thought when she unconsciously hummed in agreement, then quickly denied it. "Ah? No, no, I didn't!"
Yu Meiren laughed like a flower and ran off, saying, "I know, Aunt Jingjing wants to say it, but she's too shy to. I'll go tell Qingmu Yeye!"
Yao Jingjing couldn't stop her, and watching the Beauty run away, she scolded her, "You little devil!"
Bi Shenghua only came to visit Mama Yao because she had nothing better to do. She had been idle for two whole days.
The bar's renovation was only halfway done, with all three shops already connected and the workers were working hard when Old Wang and Auntie Zhang from next door suddenly sent a message as if they had planned it beforehand, saying that the shop was no longer for sale and that they would return the transfer fee that Bi Shenghua had given them through a bank transfer.
Bi Shenghua was completely stunned. How could things change so suddenly?
Since they had been neighbors for over ten years, Bi Shenghua wasn't in a hurry to sign the transfer agreement. Old Wang and Auntie Zhang's shop business was so-so; they weren't losing money, but they weren't making a lot either. When Bi Shenghua negotiate, in addition to the transfer fee, she also gave them 5% of the bar's shares, so Old Wang and Auntie Zhang agreed without hesitation.
This kind of business is clearly a win-win situation, and there seems to be no reason to back out.
Qingmu reminded Bi Shenghua, "Do they think the transfer fee and rent are too low? After all, house prices and rents have risen a bit outrageously these days."
Bi Shenghua said, "As long as it's about money, it's easy to talk about. We've been neighbors for over ten years, what can't we talk about openly? I gave them each 5% of the shares, so they won't lose out no matter how you look at it."
She went to see Old Wang and Auntie Zhang to discuss it further. If it really was about money, she was willing to add a little more within a reasonable range. This time, she was determined to sign the contract.
But then, as if they had planned it all along, both families suddenly disappeared. Not only were there no people at home, but their cell phones were also switched off. The neighbors said they had gone on a trip abroad.
Bi Shenghua had nowhere to vent her anger, so she could only go home and sulk.
The worker asked her if she wanted to continue working. Bi Shenghua slammed her hand on the table. "Yes! Keep going! Damn it, I don't believe you can kick me out after I finish the renovation!"
That's what she said, but she just kept the workers doing the work, since she'd already paid them and bought the materials. However, she herself wasn't going to be foolish enough to work so hard anymore; she took a long vacation.
Originally, Mama Yao's illness had nothing to do with her, but she was really bored after staying at home for two days. Since Qingmu and Yu Meiren were going to the hospital to visit Mama Yao, she came along.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Bi Shenghua noticed that Yao Jingjing's gaze towards Qingmu was somewhat strange, and Mama Yao's attitude towards Qingmu was even more odd.
Bi Shenghua was already furious about Qingmu losing the package and money she had prepared for him after his trip to Southern Yunnan. But then he found a million yuan, gave it away in the blink of an eye, and now he's hooked up with a flight attendant. She was even more enraged.
On the way back from the hospital, Bi Shenghua berated Qingmu: "Are you fucking some kind of protagonist in a novel?! Have all those women lost their minds? Why do they all cling to you?"
Yu Meiren, holding a cat in her arms, looked up at Bi Shenghua and said, "Auntie Hua, you're a woman too!"
Qingmu chuckled.
Seeing his malicious smile, Bi Shenghua glared at him and yelled, "What the hell are you laughing at! Don't you ever see me as a woman?"
Qingmu nodded vigorously, "Of course! How could I not be a woman? In my heart, you are the most beautiful woman in the world!"
"Tch!" Bi Shenghua waved her hand dismissively, her composure failing her, and she burst into laughter.
She wasn't a petty person; she just yelled a few times, but then it was all over. Remembering how Qingmu rescued Yao Jingjing in Spring City, she said, "Have you heard? Something happened in Nuanzhou again. A Windmill driver killed a girl."
Qingmu also saw the news online and sighed, saying, "Those in power don't care about their own lives, while the common people are treated like straw dogs!"
"Nonsense!" Bi Shenghua thought Qingmu's words were far-fetched. Instead of blaming society, she'd rather take action herself. A person who hated evil, she brandished her fist and said, "If I were that girl's father, I'd take a knife and bleed that irresponsible ride-hailing platform owner dry, and see if they dare to hold their positions without doing any work again!"
As they passed Riverside Park, the cat in Yu Meiren's arms meowed. Qingmu saw a dark gun barrel sticking out from behind a large tree nearby.