Chapter 50: The Canary’s Self-Cultivation (15)

Ling Qiong's scrape on her hand was minor, but her leg injury was more serious.
As the doctor tended to her wounds, the young girl frowned, looking pitiful indeed.
Shen Hanlan asked, "Does it hurt?"
"No," she replied.
"Then why that expression?"
Ling Qiong was silent, regret written all over her face.
How unsightly it is to be injured!
Seeing Ling Qiong still frowning, Shen Hanlan suddenly pulled her head into his embrace, shielding her from view.
Darkness surrounded her eyes, and a faint floral scent filled her nose, leaving her momentarily dazed.
After a while, the girl lifted her head, gazing up at the one holding her, and blurted out, "Why do you smell so nice?"
Shen Hanlan was baffled. "Smell nice? How?"
"Like flowers."
Shen Hanlan, seeing the nurse had left, lifted his hand and sniffed himself. "I don't smell anything."
Ling Qiong sniffed again and nodded with certainty. "You do."
Shen Hanlan was speechless.
He pushed Ling Qiong away, keeping his distance.
Where would he have any floral scent?
Had her head been injured too?
"Stay here, don't move," Shen Hanlan instructed, leaving the room toward the restroom.
Inside, he sniffed carefully, confirming there was no scent—she was just making things up.
He closed the stall door, took out his phone, and sent a text message.
...
"Darling, want to draw a card?"
The sparkling voice appeared out of nowhere, startling Ling Qiong.
She pressed her pounding heart, complaining, "Why do you suddenly pop up to trick me into spending money?"
"Darling, since you drew too few cards early on, your target is now in danger."
Ling Qiong was speechless.
Danger in a hospital?
Meteorite crash or explosion?
How could this relate to how many cards I've drawn?
"If you don't draw a card, the target will be discovered by his stepmother, and everything will return to the beginning."
Ling Qiong grew wary. "What do you mean?"
"All your efforts wasted," Sparkling summarized in three words.
Wasted...
Wasted...
Wasted...
This can't be allowed!
...
"How is she?" Zhou Jing came out of the elevator with several people.

"Nothing serious."
"This child," Zhou Jing sighed. "Never gives anyone peace of mind—she's already grown up..."
Though Zhou Jing had no children, she did have a nephew.
That nephew was her favorite, almost raised as her own son.
He lived far better than Shen Hanlan ever did.
"We've spoiled him too much these past years—it's time for some discipline..." Zhou Jing was speaking when something caught her eye, making her pause and look over.
That back profile...
"President Zhou?"
"You go ahead, I'll be there in a moment," Zhou Jing said.
She walked in that direction, finding the figure she'd glimpsed earlier.
Shen Hanlan?
The figure seemed familiar, but she couldn’t see the face.
Just as Zhou Jing tried to move for a better view, several doctors and nurses came out from a nearby door, blocking her line of sight.
Once they'd passed, the person she thought was Shen Hanlan turned around—revealing an unfamiliar face.
Zhou Jing breathed a sigh of relief.
Returning to the corridor, not quite reassured, she called Kelly to confirm.
"Young master? He hasn't returned yet. Said he's going to the lantern festival with Miss Ye, will be back later."
Zhou Jing narrowed her eyes. "Are they on a date?"
"...I suppose so?" Kelly hesitated. "That's what he said."
"Alright, got it."
...
Shen Hanlan was pushed into a corner by Ling Qiong. The girl peeked out, saw Zhou Jing leave, and retreated.
"Who were you talking to just now?"
"You didn't know who I was speaking to, so you pushed me here?"
"Would you rather Zhou Jing see you? Should I call her back for you?"
Shen Hanlan was speechless.
He hadn't expected Zhou Jing to be at the hospital—it was such a coincidence...
Buzz buzz buzz...
Ling Qiong's phone rang.
Caller—Zhou Jing.
Ling Qiong glanced at Shen Hanlan, not bothering to hide, and answered directly.
Zhou Jing didn't say much; Ling Qiong responded briefly and hung up.
"What did she say?"
"Asked if we were on a date," Ling Qiong clicked her tongue. "Now I know why you acted so strange today—you’re using me as your shield."
Perhaps feeling guilty, Shen Hanlan said nothing, simply grabbed Ling Qiong’s wrist and carried her on his back.
Afraid of running into Zhou Jing again, he left by another route.
...
Kelly was worried—Zhou Jing’s sudden call meant something was up.
So Kelly waited by the door.

Shen Hanlan returned carrying Ling Qiong, startling Kelly.
"What happened to Miss Ye?"
"Nothing," Shen Hanlan replied.
Ling Qiong protested, pointing at the injury on her arm. "Is this nothing?"
Shen Hanlan set her down on the living room sofa, giving her a silent glance.
Kelly was quite concerned. "How did it happen? Did she fall?"
Ling Qiong huffed. "Ask your young master."
Young Master Shen kept a stern face, instructing Kelly, "Take good care of her."
With that, Shen Hanlan strode upstairs.
...
"Young master?"
After Kelly had seen Ling Qiong back to her room, he finally went to find Shen Hanlan.
"Earlier, they called asking where you were—did something happen?"
Shen Hanlan was fiddling with his Rubik's Cube, perhaps in a foul mood, the cube clacking loudly, showing just how much force he was using.
"How is she?"
"Miss Ye is back in her room, asleep."
"Good."
Shen Hanlan briefly recounted the hospital incident.
Kelly quickly found out, "She was visiting her nephew."
"A coincidence?"
Kelly nodded. "Most likely."
After all, if he hadn't gone to the hospital, he wouldn't have met Zhou Jing.
And accidents are a matter of probability.
He'd been walking ahead, and Ling Qiong hadn't influenced his path, so it couldn't have been planned.
After sending Kelly away, Shen Hanlan twisted the cube a while longer, then lay in bed, unable to sleep.
He got up, unlocked Ling Qiong's door with his key.
The girl was asleep, hugging her quilt, one leg draped over it, the white slender limb covered with gauze—a bit unsightly.
Shen Hanlan stood there for a few seconds, then gently pulled out the quilt and covered her with it.
He didn’t sleep all night, only dozing off near dawn.
When he finally came downstairs, he found Ling Qiong wearing a long dress, with sleeves reaching her wrists—the only constant was her beauty.
She lay listlessly at the dining table, like a wilted eggplant after frost.
Shen Hanlan pulled out a chair and sat across from her, coldly asking, "Did you change your bandages?"
Ling Qiong, clearly in low spirits, just shook her head, saying nothing.
Shen Hanlan turned away, returning moments later with medicine, sitting beside her and taking her arm to change the bandage.
Ling Qiong showed no nervousness at being tended by the young master—her demeanor was pure enjoyment.
Once again, Shen Hanlan wondered who was truly the young master here.