Qi Nan had given Yu He a full body examination the morning before. Her hand had primarily suffered external injuries, and spasms might occur after surgery due to nerve issues.
Qin Beiting put away her acupuncture kit and took it with him. Knowing the young woman, if he didn't stop her, she wouldn't sleep until dawn.
Yu He thought about meeting her adoptive father the next day and didn't insist further, allowing him to hold her and Shuang Shuang as they lay down.
The single hospital bed had enough space for Yu He alone, but it felt a bit cramped with two of them.
Qin Beiting lay on his side, trying to leave as much room for her as possible.
Yu He, nestled in his arms, couldn't sleep. "What if my left hand is ruined?"
Yesterday, in front of her grandmother, she hadn't wanted her to worry and had acted indifferent. But truthfully, it was impossible not to care at all.
She was only human, after all.
"I'll support you," Qin Beiting kissed her forehead. "Besides, you're a divine doctor. Trust your own medical skills. Be good, don't overthink it, and sleep."
Yu He fell silent, contemplating their future. As she thought, she drifted off to sleep at some point.
She slept until ten in the morning. Qi Nan waited for her to wake up before bringing her breakfast and medicine.
"Still no feeling in your left hand?" Qi Nan asked after she finished breakfast.
He had received a message from Qin Beiting early that morning about her left hand's condition.
Yu He tried to move her fingers, but there was still no sensation. She shook her head. "No. Please arrange a hand CT scan and a cervical spine MRI for me."
"Okay, I'll go arrange it now." Qi Nan left and went to make the arrangements.
A short while later, he returned and took Yu He to get the scans.
After completing both procedures, Yu He saw Butler Qin speaking with Qin Beiting in the corridor as she emerged. Qin Beiting had a cold expression.
Seeing Yu He, Qin Beiting ignored Butler Qin and walked directly to her side, leading her back to the ward.
As they passed, Yu He glanced at the distressed Butler Qin. Back in the ward, she asked Qin Beiting, "Did the Qin family want something from you?"
"They want me to return to Qin Corporation headquarters to take over Qin Yonghao's work," Qin Beiting replied.
This wasn't unexpected. As long as he didn't allow Qin Yonghao and his son to be released, Qin Yongchao would have very few people to rely on in the Qin family.
"Is Master Qin Seven getting a promotion and raise?" Yu He teased.
"I refused," Qin Beiting said.
Yu He, remembering Butler Qin's troubled expression, was not surprised.
It was common knowledge that Qin Yongchao had always disliked Qin Beiting. They couldn't stand to be in the same room, and arguments would erupt whenever they met. Thus, Qin Yongchao had sent Qin Beiting to the military early on. After Qin Beiting retired, Qin Yongchao had casually assigned him to a branch company.
Now, only when the Qin family needed someone did they remember him. If it were her, she wouldn't be pleased either.
Seeing her lack of surprise, Qin Beiting asked, "Aren't you surprised why I refused?"
Yu He replied, "What's there to be surprised about? The behind-the-scenes boss of XS Group."
Qin Beiting chuckled softly. The young woman understood him.
Yu He understood his establishment of XS Group was to oppose the Qin family. But what she didn't understand was, since he was going against the Qin family, why wouldn't he let her vindicate her adoptive father?
Was it genuine loyalty?
Or was he actually the murderer or accomplice in Master Qin Three's death, and her adoptive father had taken the fall for him?
She thought: the truth would be revealed when she met her adoptive father.
The CT and MRI results wouldn't be out so quickly. Yu He changed out of her hospital gown in the restroom and into a loose, white casual tracksuit. Her long, dark hair was tied up, giving her a youthful and vibrant appearance.
"When are we leaving?" she asked after coming out.
Qin Beiting glanced at a message from Bei Ming and said, "Let's go."
Two hours later.
A black sedan arrived at Qin City Prison. Warden Luo Guangbai, with two subordinates, came to personally welcome them.
Luo Guangbai saw that the person was being driven by Bei Ming, the special assistant to the Star Palace Master, and that Bei Ming was personally opening the car doors for them. This indicated that these were no ordinary distinguished guests.
He quickly stepped forward. "Assistant Bei, Master Seven, Miss Yu."
Bei Ming nodded. "Is everything arranged?"
"We've asked Master Three to wait in the meeting room in advance. Please follow me," Luo Guangbai said, leading the way.
The three followed him through winding corridors, finally arriving at the meeting room.
Unlike the typical prison meeting rooms, perhaps due to Qin Beiting's prior arrangements, Luo Guangbai had assigned them a private small room, with a prison guard stationed outside.
"You go in. I'll wait here for you. Call me if you need anything," Qin Beiting said.
Yu He nodded. It was better if he didn't go in; she would have fewer reservations talking with her adoptive father.
The prison guard opened the door for her. The meeting room was not large, about seven or eight square meters. It contained a rectangular table and four chairs. A man was sitting at a chair with his back to the door.
Qin Yongyi heard the door open and footsteps and turned around.
His eyebrows bore a slight resemblance to Qin Beiting's. His face was chiseled, and though in his early forties, he looked no older than thirty, indicating he hadn't suffered too much hardship inside.
Yu He gazed at the familiar face. Compared to the one in her memory, it had only aged slightly, showing the traces of time, but not much else had changed. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Qin Yongyi looked at the graceful young girl before him, her face cold, beautiful, and flawless, exuding an air of calm detachment. She was no longer the soft, always smiling little girl from his memory. He was filled with emotion.
"Shu'er... Xiao He, you've grown so big," he stood up and walked over. Seeing the bandage on her left hand, he asked, "What happened to your hand?"
Yu He's eyelashes fluttered slightly. His address indicated he already knew about the switched babies. She changed the "Dad" that was on the tip of her tongue to "...Uncle. I'm fine. Long time no see. You know everything?"
"Yes, long time no see." Qin Yongyi couldn't help but reach out and gently pat her head, his eyes filled with undisguised affection. "Brother Four came to see me before and told me about the swapped children. He took a blood sample from me for a paternity test."
"Yes, Ye Zisu is your and Aunt Yun'er's daughter. But I will always remember the kindness of raising me," Yu He said.
"Your mother would be proud in the afterlife," Qin Yongyi said, his voice filled with relief. "I'm also very happy you came to see me. If possible, I wish you'd always be our child."
Compared to his biological daughter, whom he had never met, Yu He was far better.
He had heard that Ye Zisu didn't want to acknowledge him as her father, while Yu He had been trying to vindicate him.
Seeing that he still called himself "Dad," a warmth surged through Yu He, and she couldn't help but hug him.
He was one of the people who had doted on her the most as a child, the one who had raised her. Although his companionship was brief, he had given her a complete childhood.
"You're a grown woman now, and still so clingy," Qin Yongyi hugged her back, patting her on the back.
Although he sounded scolding, his tone was filled with indulgence. "You must have suffered a lot without me by your side. I'm sorry for burdening you."
Yu He shook her head. "Seeing you makes it all insignificant."
"Silly girl," Qin Yongyi playfully flicked the tip of her delicate nose with his index finger, just as he used to do when she made mistakes as a child.
After reminiscing, Yu He calmed her emotions and got to the point. "Can you tell me about the incident where Master Three was murdered?"
Hearing this, Qin Yongyi's expression changed slightly. "Don't investigate anymore."