Chapter 018: Didn’t You Say We’re Not Just a Casual Relationship?

Zhou Jingyi walked over and directly snatched the phone from the man’s hand. The man’s other hand was hooked up to an IV, preventing him from getting up. He twisted his body, staring at the man who had suddenly appeared before him. With an extraordinary presence that set him apart from ordinary people, Zhou Jingyi made the man instinctively tense up. “You—you’re stealing my phone,” he stammered.

Zhou Jingyi paid no heed to the man’s barking. He opened the photo album and saw many short videos. Judging by the angles, they were all secretly filmed. The latest videos were all of Wen Ni. Wen Ni sat in the chair; even though she was careful, in her sleepy daze, it was inevitable that she’d accidentally expose herself. Whether it was experience or skill, the man’s filming angles were particularly suggestive.

Zhou Jingyi deleted all the videos related to Wen Ni. Then he turned off the screen. Deliberately entering the wrong password several times, he locked the phone for an hour.

The scholarly-looking man hurriedly explained, “Sir, I was just taking some pictures. They didn’t lose anything, I didn’t do anything to them. I only filmed them because they looked good. Please don’t take it personally, alright?”

Just looking at him made Zhou Jingyi feel filthy. Afterward, Zhou Jingyi called the police. Two officers soon arrived, took the phone from the man, and led him away.

Zhou Jingyi’s gaze withdrew. Expressionless, he removed his suit jacket and casually draped it over Wen Ni, just covering her legs.

Wen Ni was startled awake. The tall figure before her was a little blurry. She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again. “Zhou Jingyi, why did you come back?”

Without a word, Zhou Jingyi sat beside her. The simple plastic bench seemed instantly elevated with his presence.

Wen Ni said, “Can you help me to the restroom?”

Zhou Jingyi gave her a look as if she were dreaming.

Wen Ni pressed her legs tightly together, her body trembling. She really couldn’t hold it anymore. She had woken up from the urge to pee. Everyone knows that when nature calls urgently, words fail.

Seeing Wen Ni’s phone vibrate instead of ring, Zhou Jingyi approached a nearby aunt. “Hello, I’ll watch your child for you—could you help take her to the restroom?”

The aunt had her seven-year-old granddaughter with her. Seeing Zhou Jingyi, she was stunned by his looks. No matter the age, people appreciate beauty. But soon reason prevailed; perhaps she recalled viral videos about child abduction tricks and quickly shook her head.

Zhou Jingyi spoke gently, “If you’re worried, you can take your granddaughter along as well. Is that alright?”

The aunt looked at Zhou Jingyi, then at Wen Ni, hesitating for a moment before finally agreeing, “Then you watch my granddaughter, I’ll go now.”

Zhou Jingyi nodded. The aunt got up, walked over to Wen Ni, and said, “Miss, your man asked me to help you to the restroom.”

Wen Ni looked up and quickly agreed. The two headed off to the nearby restroom.

Zhou Jingyi sat beside the child. The little girl asked, “Is that lady your girlfriend?”

Zhou Jingyi replied, “No.”

The girl insisted, “Are you married?”

“No.”

This baffled the child. “Is she your sister?”

Zhou Jingyi shook his head.

Curiously, the girl whispered, “Are you in an improper relationship?”

Zhou Jingyi was silent.

Five minutes later, Wen Ni returned. She greeted the little girl, “Thank you for letting your grandma help me.”

The girl stared at Wen Ni’s breathtakingly beautiful face and blushed, softly saying, “It’s nothing, sister.”

The aunt sat beside her granddaughter, observing the two who seemed so perfectly matched. She couldn’t help but comment, “Such a lovely couple—the husband accompanies his wife for her IV drip. Newlyweds, I suppose?”

Before either could respond, the little girl piped up, “Grandma, I asked—they’re not boyfriend and girlfriend, not married, not siblings, and definitely not in an improper relationship.”

The aunt was speechless, quickly apologizing.

Wen Ni laughed, “It’s all right.”

Soon, the little girl went off to have her IV removed.

Wen Ni tugged playfully at Zhou Jingyi’s sleeve.

Zhou Jingyi glanced at her with cold eyes. “If you want to talk, talk. Don’t touch.”

Wen Ni asked, “Didn’t you tell the child that we’re in an improper relationship?”

Zhou Jingyi squinted, “Improper relationship?”

Wen Ni gave a soft affirmation.

Zhou Jingyi neither agreed nor denied, but he slapped Wen Ni’s restless hand.

Wen Ni, caught playing with his sleeve, cried out and withdrew her hand, muttering, “It’s all red now. So Mister Zhou doesn’t just like spanking.”

Zhou Jingyi closed his eyes, resting as if he hadn’t heard a word.

Wen Ni pouted. He really could pretend—more than the largest garbage bag could ever hold.

Wen Ni had another bottle of IV fluids. She fell asleep again, this time resting peacefully.

When she woke, she found the needle had been removed and a medical tape covered her hand. Zhou Jingyi was nowhere to be seen.

She stood up. After sitting so long, her legs were a little numb. Passing the nurse’s station, a nurse hurried over. “Your husband just went downstairs, probably to get the car.”

Wen Ni smiled her thanks.

Once Wen Ni was gone, the nurse remarked to her colleague, “It’s like a movie—she leaned on his shoulder and slept for an hour. So beautiful.”

Her colleague laughed, “It’s only beautiful because they’re good-looking. If it were us, it would seem forced. I’d be afraid a passerby would film us and post it online, saying we’re an eyesore in public.”

They both laughed.

Wen Ni entered the elevator and called Lin Luo.

Lin Luo said, “I just finished a meeting. I’ll come find you in a bit.”

Wen Ni replied, “I’m almost at the first floor. Don’t bother, I’m fine now.”

Lin Luo thought it over and reassured her, “Don’t be anxious. Sometimes haste makes waste. Take it slow. If you really can’t manage, I’ll help figure something out.”

Wen Ni agreed. The elevator doors opened. She straightened her jacket and stepped out.

Suddenly, she remembered half a year ago, when she caught the flu and Zhou Mingfan accompanied her for her IV drip. Zhou Mingfan attended to every detail, almost to the point of wanting to insert the needle himself. That day, the concern in Zhou Mingfan’s eyes was still vivid.

Standing at the hospital entrance, Wen Ni looked up. The evening glow blazed orange and gold across the sky. She realized she didn’t understand—love for someone could be feigned, and the act could be so convincing.

If Zhou Linchuan hadn’t died, if Zhou Mingfan hadn’t pretended to be Zhou Linchuan, could Zhou Mingfan have kept up the act for a lifetime?

If he really, meticulously, flawlessly pretended forever, would Zhou Mingfan be considered a good person in Wen Ni’s eyes?

She didn’t know. And she’d never have the chance to find out.

In the car, Zhou Jingyi watched Wen Ni stop at the hospital entrance, unmoving. A glimmer of tears appeared at the corner of her eye.

That single tear—was it for her grandmother? Or for Zhou Mingfan?