The submissive mute wife's persona has collapsed.
Shen Ke Qin no longer needed to go to the hospital as Miao Zi was discharged. Besides work, she stayed home with her parents.
On Tuesday evening, she received a WeChat message from Ye Jing Qiu, asking her to dress more elegantly the next day.
Shen Ke Qin didn't particularly like wearing skirts, but that didn't stop Xi Ru Xue from buying them for her.
Shen Ke Qin listlessly opened her wardrobe, her mood, already gloomy for several days, worsening.
Why did she have to wear a skirt just to have a meal?
Could it be that Ye Jing Qiu had booked a Western restaurant?
It made sense; dressing in a leather vest to a high-end Western restaurant seemed a bit inappropriate.
On Wednesday morning, the weather was exceptionally good, a perfect day for a date.
To show respect for Ye Jing Qiu, she even put on light makeup.
Xi Ru Xue, seeing her daughter dressed up and wearing makeup for the first time in a while, was quite pleased. "You look so beautiful in a skirt, dear. You should wear them more often."
"Of course, my dear mother gave me this beauty, so I look good in anything," she replied cheekily.
Xi Ru Xue playfully tapped Shen Ke Qin's nose, "Always so glib. Who are you dressing up to see today?"
Shen Ke Qin hid nothing. "A high school classmate. Mom, I'm leaving, and I won't be back for lunch!"
As soon as Shen Ke Qin left, Xi Ru Xue became restless. On one hand, she wished for her daughter to start dating soon, as she was already twenty-two. Other girls her age were either dating or engaged. Her daughter, still like a child, hadn't even had her first love. On the other hand, she worried that her daughter was too naive and might meet the wrong person.
Previously, Xi Ru Xue never worried about this because Jian Mu Bai was by Shen Ke Qin's side. Even if she encountered bad people, Jian Mu Bai would protect Qin Qin. Now that Jian Mu Bai had left the Shen family, when she tried to find another bodyguard for Qin Qin, she refused outright, saying she had grown up and could protect herself.
Despite her words, Xi Ru Xue remained very worried. Thinking of Shen Ke Qin being close to Song Qi Nian, she called him.
Upon hearing Xi Ru Xue's anxious tone, Song Qi Nian gently comforted her, "Auntie, Qin Qin has grown up. She knows what she's doing. You should let go and stop worrying. We will also protect her."
Under Song Qi Nian's comfort, Xi Ru Xue gradually calmed down.
Meanwhile, as Shen Ke Qin stepped out of her house, she saw Ye Jing Qiu dressed in a black suit. He had made an effort to dress up, looking completely different from his usual appearance in a white coat. He exuded an elite, gentlemanly aura. He held a bouquet of roses. Seeing Shen Ke Qin emerge, he smiled and walked over to present the flowers to her, adding, "Qin Qin, you look so beautiful today."
Shen Ke Qin's heart skipped a beat upon seeing the roses, but she accepted the bouquet anyway. "Thank you, you look very handsome too."
"Let's get in the car."
Ye Jing Qiu, like a gentleman, opened the car door for Shen Ke Qin. After she got in, she fastened her seatbelt.
"Where are we going?"
Ye Jing Qiu smiled mysteriously. "You'll know when we get there."
"Okay."
During the journey, Shen Ke Qin felt a bit constrained. She had been perfectly fine at the hospital, but now she felt a sense of awkwardness interacting with Ye Jing Qiu. Fortunately, Ye Jing Qiu was adept at starting conversations, and she just needed to follow his lead.
Upon arriving at their destination, Shen Ke Qin discovered that Ye Jing Qiu had booked the most luxurious penthouse restaurant in Jinghua City and had decorated it exceptionally romantically. Every table was adorned with vibrant roses, and soft, romantic English music played in the background. The atmosphere felt… off.
Ye Jing Qiu, the gentleman, pulled out a chair and smiled at Shen Ke Qin. "Princess Qin Qin, please have a seat."
Shen Ke Qin nodded.
After they were seated, a waiter slowly brought out the dishes. Ye Jing Qiu had pre-ordered them according to Shen Ke Qin's taste. Ye Jing Qiu also thoughtfully cut her steak for her.
Looking at the uniformly shaped and sized steak, Shen Ke Qin couldn't help but smile. "Doctors who perform surgery are truly different. They cut a steak so precisely, like a work of art."
Ye Jing Qiu smiled tenderly. "If this work of art can please Princess Qin Qin, then it is my honor and its honor."
As he spoke, Ye Jing Qiu presented the cut steak to Shen Ke Qin. "Here, try it. See if it's delicious."
Before even tasting it, Shen Ke Qin praised, "You picked the place, so it must be delicious."
Indeed, the texture was tender, and the dry aroma was rich. Shen Ke Qin smiled and nodded, giving Ye Jing Qiu a thumbs-up.
Ye Jing Qiu smiled and picked up his wine glass. "I remember you drink. Would you like some?"
"Sure."
They raised their glasses together. Ye Jing Qiu said happily, "To our reunion."
Shen Ke Qin smiled slightly. "I should be the one thanking you properly."
Ye Jing Qiu let out a wry smile. "Saving people is my responsibility as a doctor. I don't want this kind of thanks. If you really want to thank someone, thank Mr. Jian and Miss Miao. If they hadn't gotten injured, who knows when we would have met again."
Hearing Jian Mu Bai's name at this moment truly soured Shen Ke Qin's mood. Ye Jing Qiu, noticing her change in expression, realized he shouldn't have mentioned that person. He stopped talking and snapped his fingers.
The next second, romantic and heartwarming music began to play, followed by a foreign man playing the violin. Ye Jing Qiu seized the opportunity, stood up, and walked in front of Shen Ke Qin.
Shen Ke Qin stared at him blankly, not understanding what he was doing. Then, she saw Ye Jing Qiu take out a delicate box from his pocket. Her expression changed, and a bad premonition welled up inside her.
Ye Jing Qiu opened the box, revealing a diamond necklace. He knelt on one knee, his gaze fixed on Shen Ke Qin, his handsome face filled with tenderness. "Qin Qin, I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?"
Shen Ke Qin's mind went blank for a moment. She had received many confessions in her life, but none as grand as Ye Jing Qiu's.
Seeing Shen Ke Qin remain silent, Ye Jing Qiu felt a knot of anxiety in his stomach. "Actually, I liked you the first time I saw you in high school. I never confessed for so many years because I was afraid you'd reject me, and we wouldn't even be friends anymore."
"When we met again and I found out you don't have a boyfriend, you have no idea how happy I was. Qin Qin, I want to be with you, to take care of you and treat you well. Please give me a chance."
Shen Ke Qin's expression was very serious. To be honest, Ye Jing Qiu was an excellent man. He was handsome, came from a good family, was accomplished, and had a kind heart. Whether choosing a boyfriend or a husband, he was undoubtedly the best candidate. For a fleeting moment, Shen Ke Qin felt a sense of despair, thinking she should just find a man and get married.
But upon calming down, she felt that without affection, being together would be meaningless. No matter how good Ye Jing Qiu was, if she couldn't fall for him, it was all for naught.
"Jing Qiu, I..."
Just as Shen Ke Qin was about to speak, Ye Jing Qiu interrupted her. "Qin Qin, you don't have to answer me right away. I hope you'll consider it carefully and give each other a chance."