Inside the ward.
Orange juice dribbled on Qian Grandfather’s mouth corner.
With his hands inconvenient to use, Qian Duoduo immediately pulled out a tissue and carefully wiped him clean.
Qian Yongyong sat on a chair at the foot of the bed, one moment scratching his nose, the next fiddling with his pants.
His eyes kept sneaking glances at his young cousin, as if tangled in some dilemma.
After a while, he cleared his throat and finally made up his mind.
“Duoduo.”
“Hmm?” Qian Duoduo turned with a puzzled look. “What’s up, Ge?”
“It’s not convenient to talk here,” Yongyong said with a grin. “How about we step outside the ward and talk?”
Qian Duoduo thought for two seconds.
“Okay.”
They stepped into the corridor and stood by the window at the end.
Zhang Xuelan and Qian Haisheng just finished getting water from the Boiled Water Room and came out.
Seeing the two figures by the window, Zhang Xuelan’s heart sank with a bad feeling.
She called out, “Yongyong, what are you talking to your sister about?”
“Nothing much, just chatting,” Yongyong replied cheekily.
Relatives have a way of pretending not to hear but really paying close attention.
Zhang Xuelan couldn’t say it outright and could only half-jokingly, half-seriously warn, “Don’t drag your sister into any trouble.”
“I know,” Yongyong said.
Zhang Xuelan and Qian Haisheng left carrying their kettles.
Yongyong refocused on his cousin, scrutinizing her.
It was just past nine in the morning.
The sun was high in the sky, golden light streaming through the window, casting a gentle glow over Duoduo.
She stood there without makeup, her clear eyes sparkling with an innocent tenderness, breathtakingly beautiful.
Truly a stunning beauty.
No wonder she caught people’s attention.
Yongyong narrowed his eyes, quietly mulling things over.
Across from him, Qian Duoduo, noticing his silence, couldn’t help but ask.
“Ge, why did you want to see me?”
Yongyong snapped back to reality, grinning.
“Actually, it’s nothing much. My friend is one of your fans and wants to meet you. When are you free? I’ll treat you to karaoke.”
“Uh…” Duoduo hesitated, her smile stiffening slightly. “Maybe another time. I’ve been busy at work lately. I even took special leave to come see Grandpa.”
Yongyong said, “I know. I heard Grandma say you’re doing food promotions at a military camp.”
Duoduo didn’t correct him and simply nodded.
“Yes. The place where I live is special. It’s a hassle to come out even once.”
“The military’s pretty strict…” Yongyong stroked his chin thoughtfully.
After a moment, he proposed a solution.
“Since you’re already out today, why not hang out tonight? We’ll get a group together, have some fun, and tomorrow morning I’ll personally drive you back to the camp.”
“I only took half a day off. I have to be back before lunch,” Duoduo said.
Yongyong was speechless and asked, “Then how long will you be at the camp?”
“A month.”
“Okay, got it,” Yongyong waved his hand helplessly. “Then let’s wait until you’re done with this busy period.”
After chatting, Qian Duoduo returned to the ward.
Things hadn’t gone as planned, and Yongyong felt frustrated.
He paced the corridor a couple of times, then pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket.
Lighting a cigarette, he crouched in the stairwell, exhaling smoke as he dialed.
The call connected in seconds.
“Why are you calling so early? Are you crazy?” a voice on the other end snapped angrily.
“Sorry, sorry, Brother Yu, please calm down,” Yongyong smiled ingratiatingly, apologizing repeatedly. “I was eager to report the situation and didn’t pay attention to the time.”
Silence followed for two seconds, as if the man suddenly recalled the caller’s identity.
“Qian Yongyong?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
“Oh…” The man yawned lazily and asked, “Did you manage to get your cousin to meet me?”
Yongyong’s face darkened.
“Everything was fine at first, but recently she’s been too busy with work. She really can’t spare the time. I know she’s not lying to me.”
He paused briefly, then tried again, sounding humble and hopeful.
“So, President Chen, about the money you promised to lend me last time…”
“No problem,” the man chuckled. “Once I say something, I don’t go back on it.”
Hearing this, Yongyong was overjoyed.
“Really? Thank you, President Chen! Thank you so much!”
“Alright, a man must keep his word,” Chen Yu said casually. “Make some time today to come over and sign the agreement.”
“Okay, okay,” Yongyong said happily. “So it’s seventy thousand, to be repaid in three years at an annual interest rate of 24%, right?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you, President Chen. You’re truly a great man!” Yongyong felt a huge weight lift from his heart. “Now my hotpot restaurant finally has hope. Once I start making money, I’ll definitely reward you generously!”
“Brotherhood doesn’t need such formalities.”
“All right then. I’ll find time this afternoon to come sign.”
“Fine. Let me know when you arrive, and I’ll have someone come pick you up.” Chen Yu ended the call.
On the bedroom bed, a slender hand like a water snake wrapped around Chen Yu’s neck.
“Yu Ge, you didn’t manage the personnel matter, yet you still want to lend her money?” a woman teased, laughing. “Are you switching careers to charity now?”
Chen Yu slung an arm around her shoulders, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.
“What’s said is said. Of course I have to keep my word. In this world, money makes the devil go. Especially when you’re the poor devil.”
…………..
Qian Duoduo stayed by Grandpa’s side for a while in the hospital and left around 10:30 a.m.
Zhang Xuelan hadn’t seen her daughter for several days and was reluctant to part.
She accompanied Duoduo all the way to the hospital’s main entrance, asking this and that about her daily needs and circling back to the topic of finding a partner.
Duoduo didn’t argue and simply acted obediently.
Whatever Zhang Xuelan said, she would agree for now.
Whether it would be carried out in reality was up to her.
In the city, taking a taxi was convenient.
As soon as she placed the online taxi order, it was accepted within a minute.
Qian Duoduo got into the car and rolled down the window, waving at Zhang Xuelan.
Only then did Zhang Xuelan remember something.
Leaning over the window, she asked, “By the way, what did Qian Yongyong say to you just now?”
Duoduo answered honestly, “He said his friend wanted to meet me for karaoke. I declined.”
“Good decision,” Zhang Xuelan nodded. “Your cousin isn’t a decent guy. He doesn’t have proper friends. Stay away from him.”
“Got it.”
After chatting a little with her daughter through the window, Zhang Xuelan showed reluctance and gently brushed Duoduo’s bangs with her fingertips.
“Looks like you’ve been too busy to visit the hair salon. Your bangs have grown long. Take some time to get a trim this week, okay?”
Duoduo obediently nodded, “Mm.”
At noon, traffic was noticeably heavier than in the morning.
Cars crawled forward, stopping and starting, making Duoduo drowsy.
She hadn’t slept enough that morning.
Seeing the traffic jam ahead, she rested her head against the seatback and closed her eyes for a nap.
But after less than three minutes, her phone rang and jolted her awake.
Half-asleep, she pulled out her phone and saw a string of Arabic numerals displayed as the caller ID.
She froze.
The number gave off a strangely familiar yet unknown feeling.
Her intuition told her it wasn’t a spam call.
Hesitating for a few seconds, she sluggishly swiped to answer and cautiously uttered, “Hello?”
The voice on the other end was silent for a moment and then asked, “You haven’t saved my number?”
“…” So it was him.
She felt a bit guilty and awkward, her voice revealing a trace of embarrassment.
“Most of the time, we contact each other via WeChat. We don’t call much, so I just forgot to save it.”
Silence on the line.
Qian Duoduo held the phone tightly, blinking rapidly as realization dawned.
Oh no. Did her words cause any misunderstandings?
“Uh, Team Leader, don’t get me wrong. What I just said was simply to explain why I hadn’t saved your number,” she hurried to clarify. “I absolutely, absolutely don’t mind you calling me so often…”
Before she finished, the man on the other end let out a light chuckle, tone ambiguous.
At that moment, Duoduo realized she only made things worse.
She covered her face with her hand, her cheeks, neck, and even the roots of her fair ears flushing bright red.
After a moment,
she heard Lu Qiming ask on the phone, “How’s Qian Grandfather’s condition?”
“The wrist bone is slightly fractured,” Qian Duoduo quickly composed herself, cleared her throat, and answered casually, “But overall, he’s doing quite well.”
“When are you planning to return to the camp?” Lu Qiming sounded in good spirits, his voice warm despite the casual tone. “I just left the airport. I’ll be passing by the City People’s Hospital in about thirty minutes.”
Duoduo didn’t respond right away.
“And then?”
“I’ll pick you up,” Lu Qiming said.
“…Ah, thank you, Team Leader,” Qian Duoduo was surprised but soon smiled anew. “No need to trouble you. I’m already on the way back.”
“Then,” Lu Qiming paused for half a second, “see you at lunch.”
“…Huh?”
The man gently reminded, “You still owe me a week’s worth of cafeteria meals.”
“Alright,” Duoduo suddenly realized, her cheeks flushed a bright cherry blossom color in the sunlight streaming through the car window. “See you then. Should I hang up now?”
“Mm.”
After the brief exchange, Duoduo put the phone away and moved her finger to tap the red button on the screen.
The call ended.
She pursed her lips, leaning her head against the car door.
Her gaze fixed on the topmost black digits in her call log.
A number starting with 153, seemingly a China Unicom line?
She didn’t seem to have any friends using a Unicom number.
Finding it interesting, she blinked, tapped the number twice, and added it to her contacts.
After that, she took a screenshot, opened WeChat, and sent it to a certain pure black night sky avatar.
With a sincere message attached, ready for inspection: 【Team Leader, I saved your number.】
……………..
At the airport expressway service area on the other side of the city.
Two senior experts had gone to the restroom, leaving Lu Qiming alone in the SUV.
Just as he lit a cigarette, his phone vibrated.
He lazily flicked ash with his index finger and turned on the screen.
A contact screenshot appeared through the smoke and into the man’s dark eyes.
He saw the note the girl left for him: 【Lu Qiming】
Following the text were two emojis—a little saluting figure and a military medal.
Lu Qiming raised an eyebrow slightly.
@InfiniteGoodStories, all on Jinjiang Literature City
He held the phone quietly for a moment, then replied with a friendly emoji: 【Smile】
Just then, footsteps approached.
The two casually dressed experts returned from the restroom.
Lu Qiming’s smile faded as he put away his phone and stubbed out his cigarette.
One of the gray-haired colonels got in, wiped his face with a tissue, and said jokingly in a casual tone, “Team Leader, you’re a famously busy man. We’re truly honored that you personally came to pick us up.”
“You two are my seniors. Running errands is the least I can do,” Lu Qiming replied.
The colonel was polite and warm, laughing several times.
The other expert joined in.
They chatted about the city’s changes over the past few years, and somehow the conversation turned to Lu Qiming’s personal life.
The colonel chuckled, “By the way, Team Leader, your kid should be in kindergarten now, right?”
At this, the senior engineer burst out laughing, “Huang Jin, what nonsense are you talking about? Comrade Lu Qiming isn’t married yet.”
“What?” Jin Engineer looked at Lu Qiming in shock, his voice cracking in surprise. “It’s been years, and Team Leader, you’re still single? Surely you must have a girlfriend?”
Lu Qiming smiled faintly and said calmly, “I’m trying hard to have one as soon as possible.”