Chapter 40 : Stop taking advantage of me

The two had known each other since they were around twelve or thirteen.

They were classmates in both middle school and high school, and people around them always thought they were a perfect match.

You could say they were childhood sweethearts.

Chen Qingyue was good-looking and academically excellent, and many girls liked him he was once the golden boy.

He always believed that if the accident hadn’t happened, his life would have gone smoothly, and he would have gone to the same university as Jiang Nanshu.

With time, love would have naturally grown, and they would have ended up together.

After Chen Qingyue lost his leg, he couldn’t accept it.

Part of the reason was that the person responsible was Jiang Nanshu’s father.

For a while, he had mixed feelings toward her, love and hate, causing serious psychological issues.

Later, with the help of a psychologist, he gradually accepted reality.

The only thing he clung to was the idea of keeping Jiang Nanshu by his side.

It seemed that only by doing so could his broken life be pieced back together.

But reality was cruel, Jiang Nanshu transferred schools and fell for someone else.

Jiang Nanshu knew Chen Qingyue used to like her.

But after so many years without contact, she thought he had moved on.

Her head felt a bit dizzy.

Hearing what Chen Qingyue said made her feel a headache coming on.

She looked at him helplessly and said, “There is no ‘what if’.”

Chen Qingyue looked at her silently for a long time, then lowered his head and adjusted his glasses, curling his lips in self-mockery: “I know. That’s why I said ‘what if’.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“I already answered it just now.”

Chen Qingyue’s gaze shifted back to her.

“At the time, every time I called you, you came to see me.

I thought we’d always be together.”

Jiang Nanshu paused for a moment and said, “That was because…”

“Pity.”

Chen Qingyue interrupted her, his voice low.

“I know.”

Jiang Nanshu didn’t know what to say.

It was obvious Chen Qingyue was avoiding her question and hadn’t really answered it.

Chen Qingyue saw that there was only a small bottle of medicine left in her basket.

He looked up at the medicine bottle hanging on the stand, then turned to her and said, “You should get some rest.

I’ll keep an eye on it for you.”

“No need. You should go keep your mom company.”

Jiang Nanshu politely declined.

She couldn’t fall asleep with him nearby anyway.

Chen Qingyue looked at her and fell silent again.

Then he leaned back against the chair and said hoarsely, “It’s been years since we last met.

Is it really so hard to spend just a little time together?”

Before Jiang Nanshu could answer, her phone rang.

She pulled it from her pocket and saw the name “Song Ye” flashing on the screen.

Her left eyelid twitched slightly, and she had a strong feeling that Lu Youchuan had arranged another high-end meetup.

She paused for a moment before answering the call.

She pressed the phone to her ear, slightly lowered her head, and heard the gentle voice on the other end: “Have you finished the injection?”

“No.”

Jiang Nanshu blinked.

“Are you coming over?”

Song Ye’s grandparents lived in a neighboring city.

It took over two hours to drive there, assuming no traffic.

He had just driven back that morning and hadn’t even had dinner yet when he got a call from Lu Youchuan.

He grabbed his car keys and left, ignoring Ye Qing’s angry yelling.

It was Li Yi who gently pulled Ye Qing aside and consoled her in a low voice, “Maybe he’s going to chase after his girlfriend.”

He had just heard his brother on the phone mention a hospital, saying, “Looks like she’s sick.”

Only then did Ye Qing calm down, waving her hand at her cold-faced son: “Go, go, go.

You’re so handsome, if you can’t win her over, don’t bother coming back.”

Without resting the whole way, he drove three hours back to Jiangcheng.

Song Ye’s hand rested on the steering wheel as he drove off the highway.

He replied faintly, “Just got off the highway.

Still need half an hour to get to the hospital.

Let me know when you’re done with the shot, I’ll come pick you up.”

Jiang Nanshu noticed the intense gaze beside her and replied softly, “Okay.”

After hanging up, she turned to look at Chen Qingyue.

“My boyfriend is coming to pick me up in a bit.”

“Song Ye.”

Chen Qingyue gave a faint laugh.

The smile looked a bit bleak, full of strong self-mockery.

“After all these years, you still like him.”

Jiang Nanshu was completely stunned, eyes widening in shock.

“You know Song Ye? Since when?”

“A long time ago.”

Chen Qingyue looked away, staring ahead, recalling the day he first heard the name “Song Ye” from her mouth.

It was during the Spring Festival of their senior year in high school.

Because he was too stubborn, he wore his prosthetic leg for too long, which caused his wound to get infected, and he had to undergo a debridement surgery.

He had called Jiang Nanshu over, and she had kept him company in the hospital room for most of the day.

In the evening, her phone rang, and she stepped out to answer it.

After she left, Chen Qingyue picked up his crutch and went to the bathroom, not wanting her to see him using it.

When he came out of the bathroom, he stood behind the door and heard her saying, “There’s been this homeless guy loitering in the alley the past few days.

This afternoon, I saw him again; he wasn’t even wearing pants.

It was so gross, I got really scared, and now I don’t even feel safe going home…”

“My mom’s been busy lately, trying to get a promotion… she’s really tied up.”

“Song Ye comes with me sometimes, but I can’t ask him to escort me all the time.”

The girl muttered softly, her voice a little shy, “It’s not like he’s my boyfriend…”

When Chen Qingyue heard the words “boyfriend,” he froze behind the door.

After that, whatever else she said became a blur; he didn’t really catch it, nor did he dare to listen anymore.

After she ended the call and returned to the room, she saw him sitting on the bed, his face pale.

Worried, she asked, “Your face is so white.

Does your leg hurt?

Should I call a doctor?”

Chen Qingyue looked at her silently, then forced out two words with difficulty: “I’m fine.”

The name “Song Ye” was well-known at No. 1 High School.

Just a bit of asking around…

Song Ye was handsome, got a guaranteed admission to Tsinghua University, and was chased by many girls.

Jiang Nanshu was usually low-key, but because of her looks, many people knew her too.

There were rumors that they were dating, saying that Song Ye came to school every day just to be with his girlfriend.

Back then, the only guy rumored to be involved with Jiang Nanshu was Chen Qingyue.

Chen Hou had gone to the alley a few times after evening self-study.

Those times, it was always Jiang Yu picking her up never a homeless man in sight.

That homeless guy had scared some kids in the neighborhood and was eventually chased away by the locals.

One night, Jiang Yu was on duty and couldn’t pick up Jiang Nanshu.

That evening, it was Song Ye who walked her home.

Chen Qingyue, wearing a baseball cap, sat on a stone bench in the shadows under a tree.

After waiting for a long time, he finally saw Jiang Nanshu walking into the alley with a tall, slender boy.

Both were wearing No.

1 High School uniforms.

The girl was holding a cup of milk tea.

The boy had both hands in his pockets, walking lazily.

Suddenly, a dark figure darted out of the alley.

Startled, the girl dropped her milk tea and instinctively stumbled into the boy’s arms.

It was the same homeless man; he had come back.

The boy protected the girl in his arms, turned slightly, and shouted coldly at the homeless man: “Get lost!”

After a while, the girl, still nestled in the boy’s arms, spoke softly.

“Song Ye, is he gone?”

“Yeah, he’s gone.”

“Gone far?”

“Yeah.”

“My milk tea fell…”

“Want me to buy you another one?”

“No need… Song Ye, you… smell kinda nice.”

“…”

The boy gently pulled her out of his embrace and chuckled, teasing: “Stop taking advantage of me.”

Chen Qingyue watched them from his shadowed corner.

A damp, suffocating emotion welled up inside him.

He was crazed with jealousy, but completely powerless.

…

Under the bright hospital lights, Jiang Nanshu looked at the side of Chen Qingyue’s face.

She pressed her lips together and said coldly, “Did you say something to Song Ye?”

Chen Qingyue turned his head and met her clear, bright eyes.

For a moment, he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

Back in the sophomore year of college, after learning his mother had cheated on his father, with hers, he regretted what he had done.

But then he thought of his mother and felt maybe he was just born this way.

That his genes carried something cruel.

The thought somehow made him feel at ease.

Even so, he still wanted to maintain a shred of dignity in front of Jiang Nanshu.

Did she really not care at all?

“Fang Xu ran into him and his friend, and he told him we were dating.

” Chen Qingyue lowered his eyes, looking down at his leg.

“I told him… to stay away from you.”

“…”

Jiang Nanshu stared at him in disbelief.

After a moment, her voice turned cold: “Chen Qingyue, you went too far.

Don’t you know what that’s called?

Spreading rumors!

Because of what you said, he and I”

“I know.” Chen Qingyue cut her off and turned back to look at her.

“You can think I’m twisted, that I’m sick.

I am, you know that.

But all these years we missed each other… he’s not blameless either, he”

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the red blood backflowing into the IV tube.

His face changed, and he immediately turned to call for a nurse.

The nurse rushed over.

Seeing that the blood had flowed back over half a meter, she couldn’t help scolding Chen Qingyue, probably assuming he was her boyfriend.

“You should’ve been watching it.

So much blood’s flowed back.”

“Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention…” Chen Qingyue apologized.

The nurse removed the IV needle and asked, “Do you want to switch to the other hand?”

“There’s only a small bottle left.

Can I just skip it?

I don’t want another needle,” Jiang Nanshu’s hand hurt a little, and she didn’t want to stay in the hospital any longer.

The nurse paused, then said, “I’ll have to ask the doctor.”

Jiang Nanshu replied, “Then please ask for me.”

The nurse went off to find the doctor.

Chen Qingyue stood nearby, looking down at the bruises on the back of her hand, and murmured, “I’m sorry.”

Jiang Nanshu kept her head lowered and didn’t look at him.

When she wasn’t smiling, her face seemed cold and distant.

“You should go.”

Chen Qingyue stood there in silence, staring at her for a while, then replied in a hoarse voice, “Okay.”

With that, he turned and left.

The nurse soon returned and said the doctor had agreed to her request.

Jiang Nanshu packed up her things and shoved the prescribed medicine into her bag, then went to the restroom.

After coming out, she checked the time on her phone.

Song Ye should be arriving soon.

She hesitated, then texted him while walking toward the hospital entrance.

Song Ye had just parked.

As he stepped out of the car, he glanced down at the message from Jiang Nanshu:

shu: You’re almost here, right?

I’ll come to the parking lot to meet you.

As he shut the door and looked up, he came face to face with a man walking toward him.

When Song Ye recognized the man’s face, his steps faltered slightly.

His expression darkened, and he coldly averted his gaze, walking forward.

As they brushed past each other, Chen Qingyue suddenly said:

“Actually, I didn’t like her that much.”

Song Ye stopped, turned slightly, and glanced at him.

He was a bit taller than Chen Qingyue, his gaze dropping coolly as he looked down at him.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.”

Standing beside him, Chen Qingyue felt a little uncomfortable.

He pressed his lips together, about to speak again, when the sound of light footsteps came from behind.

He instinctively turned around.

The lighting in the parking lot was a bit dim.

Jiang Nanshu was walking toward them from a distance.

At first, she only saw Song Ye straight ahead and approached him with light steps.

But when Chen Qingyue turned his head, she froze mid-step, surprised.

Song Ye stood there for a moment, then walked toward her.

His expression was calm, almost emotionless.

He pulled his hands from his pockets and naturally adjusted the hood of her down coat.

Jiang Nanshu’s gaze shifted from Chen Qingyue to Song Ye.

Then suddenly, she reached inside his unzipped jacket and wrapped her arms around his lean waist, pressing her cheek to his chest, murmuring:

“You were so slow.”