CHAPTER 159: CHAPTER 150: HAVING A CRUSH ISN’T STUPID, WHAT’S STUPIDER IS HAVING A MUTUAL CRUSH

The voice on the other end was an anxious male: "Brother Shen, is Li Shiyi with you?"

"Yes, she’s at my company."

Li Yihao breathed a sigh of relief. Shen Yanchen put the phone on speaker and handed it to Yi Bao: "It’s your dad."

Yi Bao covered her ears and shook her head: "I don’t want to listen! I don’t want to talk to him ever again! Hmph!"

Li Yihao on the other end was also helpless, and he simply said: "I’ll come over to pick her up now. Sorry to trouble you, Brother Shen."

...

Her dad was quite young, looking like he was only about twenty-five or twenty-six. He wore glasses and had a gentle demeanor, appearing to have a good temper.

As soon as she walked in, Yi Bao rushed into Gu Qimiao’s arms and said with grievance: "I don’t want to go back, I don’t want Dad and Mom anymore, you all bully me!"

"Stop being silly. Your mom is worried sick and cried."

The little one calmed down a bit upon hearing her mom cried. When Li Yihao came over to hold her, she didn’t refuse.

"Next time, don’t run off on your own, got it?"

Yi Bao negotiated: "Then you’re not allowed to scold me anymore either!"

"Okay, Daddy was wrong."

Yi Bao was finally satisfied. As they were leaving, she turned to Shen Yanchen and Gu Qimiao and said, "Chen and Miaomiao, hurry up and have a baby to play with me, okay?"

Gu Qimiao: "...!"

"I want a little sister, but if it’s a little brother, I don’t mind either."

Li Yihao looked at Gu Qimiao and said, "So you’re the sister-in-law, huh? I’ve never heard about it. I’ll bring Ke Ning to visit properly on Uncle Shen’s birthday. The family is worried, so I’m going back first."

Shen Yanchen didn’t explain anything and escorted the father and daughter to the elevator.

Gu Qimiao followed behind, slightly blushing. Now everyone thought she was Shen Yanchen’s wife. He didn’t explain nor deny it. What did that mean?

Could it be that he had a bit of affection for her too?

"Gu Qimiao." As soon as he called her name, Gu Qimiao snapped back to reality.

"Stay late and work overtime tonight if you have no plans."

Gu Qimiao hesitated: "I need to go to the hospital tonight..."

Shen Yanchen suddenly remembered there was an invalid in the hospital! How long did he plan to burden Gu Qimiao?

In the following two days, Gu Qimiao also had to take care of Mo Ming. She only came to the company in the afternoons and left after two or three hours, which made Shen Yanchen very frustrated.

As Shen Yanchen’s subordinate, one could directly sense his mood changes.

After a gloomy meeting ended, He Ye asked Shen Yanchen: "Chen bro, what happened between you and your Miaomiao again?"

Shen Yanchen looked out the window and thought for a moment before asking He Ye: "What if a woman keeps thinking about another man? What should I do?"

"What?! Your wife is thinking about another man?!" He Ye was surprised and then suddenly realized, "You mean that Mo Ming? I was wondering why your wife seldom comes to the company these days, she’s been at the hospital, right?"

After clapping his hands, he said, "It’s simple, Chen bro. If your wife is at the hospital, you should go to the hospital too."

"For what reason?"

"Hehe, what reason do you need to go to the hospital? Pretend you’re sick and lie on a bed, I’ll handle the rest."

Shen Yanchen looked at him doubtfully, but in the end, he didn’t bother. "Prepare the car, we’re going to the hospital."

...

Gu Qimiao was having dinner at the small table next to the hospital bed. Mo Ming could only have some liquid food, but he didn’t like it, and he seemed to have lost quite a bit of weight over the past few days.

"Keep it away while you eat."

Gu Qimiao giggled: "Feeling hungry? Weren’t you not hungry when I fed you porridge just now?"

Mo Ming turned his head away, unwilling to talk.

Gu Qimiao purposely smacked her lips: "Mmm~ today’s dishes are really delicious! Serves you right for not taking care of yourself?"

"Just wait until I get out of the hospital to see how I’ll deal with you."

Gu Qimiao pouted indifferently and continued eating.

"Knock knock—"

Someone knocked on the door of the hospital room. Gu Qimiao quickly put down her spoon and went to open the door.

Seeing the girl outside, Gu Qimiao hurriedly shut the door. "Xiaoxiao, why are you here?"

Xiaoxiao said, "My brother is sick too. I just heard that Mo Ming is also in the hospital?"

Gu Qimiao frowned slightly: "Your brother is sick?"

"Yes, he was just admitted to the hospital and is in a ward now." Xiaoxiao couldn’t stop peeking into the ward, "Is he okay?"

Gu Qimiao shook her head: "He’ll be discharged the day after tomorrow. Do you want to come in and see him?"

"... never mind, as long as he’s okay."

"So which ward is your big brother in? I’ll go check on him."

He was just fine in the afternoon, and he seemed to be in good health overall. Why did he suddenly get hospitalized?

Gu Qimiao returned to the ward and told Mo Ming that she was going out to buy something, then followed Xiaoxiao to Shen Yanchen’s ward, which was nearby on the same floor.

In the ward, the doctor was giving him an IV while He Ye stood by.

Gu Qimiao moved closer, and seeing his pale face made her heart ache. Was he too exhausted from work?

Shen Yanchen had his eyes tightly shut, so Gu Qimiao bent over and asked He Ye, "Brother He, what’s wrong with him?"

He Ye put on a worried expression, "Sigh, probably too much work. He passed out during a meeting."

Gu Qimiao was alarmed. He was so exhausted that he passed out.

He Ye noticed the worry in Gu Qimiao’s eyes and was certain that this girl definitely cared about his Brother Shen. Last time, when he mentioned Brother Shen got drunk, she rushed over immediately after getting the call.

He just couldn’t figure out what was going on between these two.

Xiaoxiao stayed in the ward for a while and then made an excuse that she had to go back to school, but she sneaked over to Mo Ming’s ward instead.

She hesitated at the door for a while, carefully turned the doorknob, and peeked her head halfway in, looking at him sleeping from a distance.

Calm and gentle, with no trace of disgust towards her. He looked so handsome...

Seeing him asleep, she quietly closed the door and left.

With her head lowered, she couldn’t figure out why he hated her so much.

...

Meanwhile, Gu Qimiao went to get the medication as per the doctor’s instructions, and Shen Yanchen opened his eyes as soon as she left. He Ye immediately leaned over, "So, Brother Shen? This plan wasn’t bad, right?"

Shen Yanchen raised an eyebrow, not commenting, then looked up at the IV bottle and asked, "What kind of medicine is this?"

"Hehe, don’t worry, Brother Shen. It’s all glucose. The medication list I just gave her is all for boosting health and kidney function."

Shen Yanchen glared at him, and He Ye said, "Actually, Brother Shen, I don’t understand what’s going on with you and the little sister-in-law. You like her, but she doesn’t like you yet?"

In the past, Shen Yanchen would absolutely refuse to discuss anything about emotions, but this time he thought for a moment and responded, "Pretty much."

He Ye’s eyes widened instantly, "Brother Shen, I think your happiness is just around the corner! I swear on my future happiness that the little sister-in-law definitely likes you too!"

Hearing this conclusion, Shen Yanchen looked a bit surprised and asked indifferently, "How can you tell?"

"Trust a man who mixes with women to have a sharp intuition! You know the look in little sister-in-law’s eyes when you pretended to be unconscious?"

"Full of worry!"

Hearing this conclusion, Shen Yanchen’s eyes dimmed again, "When Mo Ming was injured, she was even more worried."

He Ye clicked his tongue, "Brother Shen, have you ever told the little sister-in-law that you like her?"

Shen Yanchen shook his head.

He Ye sighed and shook his head helplessly, "What about hints? Have you hinted that you have feelings for her?"

Shen Yanchen paused, then shook his head again.

This [repressed][clueless] behavior made He Ye want to punch him!

"If you don’t say anything, how will sister-in-law know your feelings? You have to confess first to create an opportunity. Otherwise, even if sister-in-law truly likes you, if neither of you makes the first move, you’ll just keep dragging this out forever?"

Shen Yanchen fell silent. When it came to emotional matters, He Ye felt like he was the one in charge, lecturing Shen Yanchen non-stop.

"Brother Shen, you know what? Crushing on someone isn’t foolish, but mutual crushing is! I think sister-in-law really likes you! God, just thinking about it worries me to death for you two!"

Seeing him getting worked up, Shen Yanchen remained calm, "What if the confession fails, and even the current relationship can’t be maintained?"

"Brother Shen, are your smarts taking a break? Think it through. Do you want things to stay the same, or at least try to fight for something? If you keep hesitating, sister-in-law might end up with another man!"

Shen Yanchen went silent. It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about these things, but he never dared to take the risk. He just wanted to keep her by his side as they were. He thought he could be patient, but he realized he wasn’t that patient; seeing her made him want to have her immediately.

"Brother Shen, muster up your courage. Even if she doesn’t accept your confession this time, at least she’ll know your feelings. There’ll be more chances in the future!"

It seemed like Shen Yanchen was starting to take his words to heart; his inner calm was beginning to crumble. He couldn’t seem to be satisfied with the status quo anymore. He even began to anticipate Gu Qimiao’s response to his confession.

Could it be like He Ye said, that she likes him too?

He Ye suddenly teased him, "Haha, Brother Shen, I always thought you were flawless. Turns out, you’re an emotional black hole whose EQ needs some serious work."

Shen Yanchen instantly put on a stern face and glanced at him.

He Ye quickly switched his tone cheerfully, "But it’s not your fault, Brother Shen. It’s because you didn’t date early. I’m someone who started having girlfriends since primary school, so I understand women better than women themselves! When it comes to love matters, you should consult me! I guarantee..." His words trailed off as he quickly reminded Shen Yanchen, "Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law is back!"

Shen Yanchen nonchalantly shut his eyes, and Gu Qimiao’s slightly panting voice came through, "Not awake yet?"

He Ye nodded seriously, then pretended to check his watch, "I have something to attend to. I’ll leave him in your care."

Gu Qimiao nodded, "Okay, go ahead."

He Ye glanced at Shen Yanchen, thinking that he probably didn’t have time to warn him earlier. He hoped Brother Shen wouldn’t be so impatient to confess his feelings right here in the ward.

With Gu Qimiao here, he couldn’t say much more and could only hope that Brother Shen’s IQ and EQ both had a sudden surge.