"You don't need to overthink it. If you want to completely cut ties with President Qin, can't you do that while staying in the same city? This city is so vast; if you don't want to see someone, you might never meet them again."
Chang Qingchuan's words deeply touched her. He was right. In such a large city, finding someone was like searching for a needle in a haystack. As long as they both wanted no further involvement, they might never cross paths again.
Furthermore, Xiao Xingxing had lived a nomadic life since birth, following her. She also had a responsibility to provide her child with stability.
"I'll consider what you've said," Gu Susu replied. "There's also something I need your help with. Could you help me find a place to rent? It doesn't need to be too big, just enough for me and the child. Preferably near the child's kindergarten. I've never rented a place on my own before and I'm not very familiar with the rental market. If it's convenient for you, could you help me look?"
Chang Qingchuan nodded. "Renting a place? I've been renting since I graduated from university, and I know many real estate agents quite well. But if you're planning to rent, does that mean you're not leaving Lancheng?"
"Let me think about it again," Gu Susu said. "But no matter what, I shouldn't be living in Qin Tianyi's house anymore."
"That's true. Alright, you wait for my news."
Gu Susu was very grateful. "I'm counting on you. You should go and attend to your business. I'll sit here a bit longer, finish this coffee, and then head back."
Chang Qingchuan said no more. He picked up her resignation letter and left the coffee shop.
Gu Susu remained seated, holding her coffee. She used to always want to escape this city, its people and its affairs, but fate kept pulling her back.
Unknowingly, this place had become a familiar city to her. Everywhere else felt foreign.
This time, Chang Qingchuan's reminder made her wonder: why was it always her who had to run away?
She sat up straight, her posture open and honest. Why couldn't she rely on her own strength to live openly and honorably in this city?
...
Qin Tianyi lay in his hospital bed, letting the sunlight filter through the gaps in the blinds and fall onto his face. He kept his eyes closed, unwilling to move or get up.
Shu Yan entered with a vase, placing the freshly arranged flowers on the table beside the bed. She smiled and nudged him. "Tianyi, stop lying there. The doctor said you're recovering well and can start rehabilitation. Shall I accompany you?"
"No," Qin Tianyi replied, his voice low and muffled by sleep.
Shu Yan sat on the edge of his bed and asked, "Is it that you don't like the rehabilitation room here because it's too chaotic and crowded? How about I find you a private rehabilitation center? It would have a serene environment, and you could have a training room all to yourself."
"No need," Qin Tianyi said, his eyes lazily closed. He felt her presence beside him and turned his back to her.
Shu Yan was at her wit's end. The doctor had stressed the importance of getting him out of bed for rehabilitation as soon as possible. Otherwise, if they missed the optimal recovery period, it would be difficult to regain normal function later.
But for the past two days, Qin Tianyi had simply remained in bed, refusing to get up and move.
Shu Yan had tried every method to cheer him up, her mouth dry from talking. Yet, he continued to keep her at a distance and refused to listen to her about rehabilitation.
"Qin Tianyi, do you want to be paralyzed for the rest of your life? Haven't you already agreed on a wedding date with my parents? It's not long until our wedding. Do you want to be carried to the ceremony?" she had to raise her voice to remind him.
Qin Tianyi still replied lazily, "You're so noisy, it's annoying."
Shu Yan, unable to tolerate it any longer, stood up and tried to pull him up forcefully. "The doctor said your condition is not without hope for full recovery. Why are you giving up on yourself like this? Get up, get up!"
Qin Tianyi was very annoyed with her. He opened his eyes, not wanting to move. He intended to push her away, but he used too much force and instead of pushing her away, he caused her to lunge forward, losing her balance and falling onto him.
Shu Yan unexpectedly landed entirely on him but didn't immediately get up. She wrapped her arms around his waist.
She hadn't expected this man's physique to feel so good. She just wanted to lie on him like this, feeling his body and warmth.
"Get off me immediately!" Qin Tianyi said coldly.
Shu Yan held him tighter, pressing her face against his chest, and said softly, "Tianyi, don't move. I don't want you to get better now. Just lie here forever, so I can get close to you and have you. If you don't listen, I'll have someone tie you up. Even if you're disabled, at least you'll belong to me..."
Qin Tianyi was shocked by her words and even more disgusted by this crazy woman. He used all the strength in his upper body to push her away. "Let me up, I'm going to the rehabilitation room."
With his push, Shu Yan rolled off the hospital bed.
But as she fell, she wildly grabbed Qin Tianyi's arm. Qin Tianyi, unable to brace himself and sit up, was pulled down with her and landed heavily on top of her.
Shu Yan cried out in pain, almost gasping for breath.
Qin Tianyi tried to get up from on top of her, but he still couldn't exert force below his waist.
She recovered her breath, saw his face filled with anger, and then smiled. "Tianyi, you're on top of me now. What do you want to do?"
Qin Tianyi roared, "What can I do!"
"Whatever you want, I'll let you do it," Shu Yan licked her lips, suddenly hooked her arms around his neck, and kissed him.
She actually didn't know how to kiss a man, and was just kissing him forcefully and haphazardly.
She thought that if she was this proactive, even if he had psychological trauma regarding women, he wouldn't be able to resist her.
Qin Tianyi just wanted to break free from this woman. An overwhelming feeling of nausea and disgust made him want to kill her on the spot!
"Tianyi..." Xiao Anjing walked into the ward. At first glance, the bed was empty, and he was puzzled. Then he heard a woman's whimpering.
He followed the sound to the bedside and saw Qin Tianyi and Shu Yan lying on the floor by the window. Qin Tianyi was on top of Shu Yan, one hand propping up half his body on the floor, the other hand choking Shu Yan's neck.
His posture was not playful. Shu Yan was having difficulty breathing. She glanced at Xiao Anjing from the corner of her eye and whimpered, her voice barely a croak from her throat, "He's trying to kill me..."
Xiao Anjing hurried over, forcefully pulled Qin Tianyi away, and helped him back onto the bed. "Young Master, what are you two doing?"
Qin Tianyi glanced at Shu Yan, who was getting up from the floor, his gaze dark. He couldn't explain clearly to Xiao Anjing.
After standing up, Shu Yan touched her neck and instinctively glanced at Qin Tianyi's lower body, finding no change.
Qin Tianyi's expression was extremely cold. This woman was clearly insane. If he had fully recovered, he would have thrown her out the window right now. "What are you looking at?"
Xiao Anjing quickly stepped between them and said cautiously to Qin Tianyi, "What happened? You were on top of Miss Shu, so why are you still so fierce with her?"
Qin Tianyi didn't bother to explain. He coldly commanded, "Take me to the rehabilitation room."