"Xixi, what do you mean?" Qin Siye asked, a hint of displeasure in his voice the moment the call connected. "I sent you a WeChat message, why didn't you reply?"
"Ah? Did you? Maybe I was tidying up the room just now and put my phone aside. I didn't notice," Shen Xi replied calmly. "Is there something urgent?"
"I... I just wanted to ask if you're really not coming over tonight?" Qin Siye's voice was tinged with dejection.
"Yes. What's wrong? Isn't Yin Zhe there? Are you not satisfied?" Shen Xi retorted. She continued, "He volunteered to take care of you, saying he wanted to repay your kindness through this. I've already told him all the precautions. If there's anything he fails to do, I'll remind him."
"Xixi, you should know what I feel in my heart. I don't want any repayment from him, I just want you by my side." Qin Siye completely skirted her question. He sighed and continued, "Are you deliberately avoiding me because of what happened last night?"
Hearing his words, Shen Xi felt a slight ache in her heart. She closed her eyes and whispered, "No... it's not like that."
She had slept soundly and securely in his arms last night, falling asleep without realizing it. Her decision not to go over today did contain an element of avoidance, but it wasn't avoidance of him as a person, rather a fear of further intimate contact.
"Alright. You've worked hard taking care of me in the hospital these past few days. Rest well at home." To her surprise, Qin Siye didn't probe further. He said this in a light tone and hung up.
However, Shen Xi's heart was a mix of emotions. She had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep well. The next morning, after eating the breakfast Mei Yun had bought, she personally drove the children to the hospital to pick up Qin Siye.
As soon as the three children entered the ward, they rushed towards Qin Siye.
"Uncle Qin, Mommy personally chose these flowers for you to congratulate you on your discharge," Chen Chen said, handing him a bouquet of flowers.
A gleam suddenly appeared in Qin Siye's deep eyes. He took the flowers and looked up at Shen Xi, "Thank you!" The melancholy that had plagued his mind all night seemed to dissipate significantly at this moment.
Shen Xi smiled slightly at him, glanced at the IV drip, and asked Yin Zhe, "How many more bags until it's finished?"
"The last one," Yin Zhe replied.
"Okay," Shen Xi continued. "A Zhe, you pack up your things first. I'll go handle the discharge procedures."
As soon as Shen Xi left the room, Yan Yan tugged on Qin Siye's hand and said, "Uncle Qin, you have really dark circles under your eyes. Didn't you sleep well last night?"
Before Qin Siye could respond, Shuo Shuo looked at Yin Zhe and asked, "Uncle, your dark circles are also very serious. Did you two stay up all night talking yesterday?"
Yin Zhe chuckled sheepishly, unsure how to answer. After washing up last night, they had chatted for a while, but they had gone to bed before ten o'clock. Who knew Qin Siye had tossed and turned all night, likely not sleeping at all, which had affected him too.
Qin Siye took over, saying, "I'm sorry, A Zhe. I had a lot on my mind last night and didn't sleep soundly, which disturbed your rest."
Yin Zhe replied nonchalantly, "It's okay, I'll catch up on sleep tonight."
"Can't you tell that Mommy's mental state isn't great either? She seems to have dark circles too?" Chen Chen said with a serious expression. "So, it's best to let Mommy come and take care of Uncle Qin." The implication was that this arrangement would leave all three of them sleep-deprived.
Hearing this, Qin Siye's eyes were filled with melancholy. He forced a smile.
When Shen Xi returned after completing the discharge procedures, Qin Siye's IV drip had just finished. The group gathered their belongings and pushed him out of the ward.
As soon as they entered the house, Qin Siye insisted on walking in himself with his crutch.
Shen Xi said, "Why don't you still sit in the wheelchair and let me push you in?"
"No need." Qin Siye stood by the car, leaning on his single crutch. "The doctor said it's not a bone injury, and I need to keep walking myself to recover faster."
What he said made sense, so Shen Xi didn't object further. As they opened the main door, they saw Mei Yun, wearing an apron, standing by the dining table, smiling at them. When her gaze fell upon Qin Siye, she nodded to him somewhat awkwardly, "Mr. Qin."