Chapter 86 Between Loved Ones and Friends: Jealousy in the Hospital

Because Zuo Qinghuan had been lying in bed feeling very bored and wanted to listen to stories, she initially asked Qin Wanshu to tell her the "One Thousand and One Nights." However, after listening for many days, Zuo Qinghuan finally realized that it wasn't to her taste. So, at Zuo Qinghuan's request, Qin Wanshu brought a copy of "The Decameron" from home and told her three stories a day. Qin Wanshu was somewhat surprised that Zuo Qinghuan enjoyed listening to the stories from "The Decameron."

Zuo Qinghuan loved the expression on Qin Wanshu's face as she earnestly read the stories serene and elegant.

"Once all one hundred stories are finished, I'll be discharged, right?" Zuo Qinghuan asked Qin Wanshu. Although Qin Wanshu had been taking good care of her, lying in a hospital bed was still not a pleasant experience.

"Almost," Li Xin said that Zuo Qinghuan was recovering well and only needed to rest in the hospital for another month before she could go home to recuperate. Compared to the hospital, recovering at home would be much more convenient, and Qin Wanshu also hoped that Zuo Qinghuan could recover and be discharged sooner.

"Are you tired? Do you want to take a break before continuing?" Qin Wanshu put down the "Decameron" in her hand and considerately asked Zuo Qinghuan, who had been staring at her.

"I'm not tired, but you've been staying with me in the hospital all this time. You must be the one who's exhausted," Zuo Qinghuan reached out and gently caressed Qin Wanshu's face, her voice filled with concern. Taking care of a patient was extremely tiring, and Qin Wanshu never let the nurses handle Zuo Qinghuan's personal hygiene, always doing it herself.

"I'm relieved to see you recovering well," Han Shibin came in with a bouquet of flowers to visit Zuo Qinghuan. Although Han Shibin still looked impeccably dressed in a suit, the unshaven stubble on his cheeks and the fatigue in his eyes made him appear somewhat disheveled.

"Luckily, you didn't hit me hard enough," Zuo Qinghuan said sarcastically. It was clear that neither she nor Qin Wanshu welcomed Han Shibin's visit.

Han Shibin felt embarrassed by her words, but he forced a smile.

"I think many men would lose their temper in the situation I was in at the time. But no matter what, I was in the wrong, and I've done my best to make amends," Han Shibin felt that while he had made mistakes, they were not entirely to blame.

"If you're here to apologize, we accept it, but you're not welcome here," Qin Wanshu said coldly.

"Wanshu, can you tell Qin Teng to stop causing trouble? Let's end this matter here, okay?" Han Shibin's tone carried a hint of pleading. Qin Teng had taken advantage of Han Corporation's heavy investment in a major European project to play underhanded tricks. With the company's financial chain already strained, Qin Teng spread rumors about Han Corporation's financial difficulties, sabotaging the loan negotiations with the bank. If this continued, it would cause significant losses to the company.

"I've already shown leniency by not pursuing legal action against you. As for what Qin Teng does, I have no control over that," Qin Wanshu felt she had been more than merciful.

"Qin Wanshu, are you saying you bear no responsibility in this matter at all?" Han Shibin was surprised that Qin Wanshu even considered pursuing legal action against him. It seemed she was more ruthless than he had anticipated.

"Yes, mistakes deserve punishment. Zuo Qinghuan was almost killed by you that's her punishment, and mine too. And since you made a mistake, shouldn't you also be punished? Compared to people, money is nothing. After all, problems that can be solved with money are never real problems," Qin Wanshu smiled and retorted.

"You only see the harm I caused her, but what about the harm you caused me? It turns out that the difference between being loved and unloved is this vast. If you had shown even half the affection and intimacy toward me that you show to Zuo Qinghuan, perhaps I wouldn't have cheated. But there's no point in saying this now. Maybe you're right mistakes deserve punishment. The heaviest punishment for me isn't losing money; it's losing you," Han Shibin said these words heavily, then turned and left the room. Qin Wanshu and Zuo Qinghuan didn't want to see him, and he no longer wanted to see them either.

Qin Wanshu felt a mix of emotions. Indeed, in some ways, she had also been unfair to Han Shibin.

"Qin Wanshu," Zuo Qinghuan softly called out to Qin Wanshu, who had been silent.

"Hmm?" Qin Wanshu's gaze met Zuo Qinghuan's.

"Do you regret it?" Zuo Qinghuan asked. It was because there had been a rift between them that she had been able to come between them. If there had been no rift, they might have been a loving couple. Zuo Qinghuan somewhat understood Han Shibin's feelings. Qin Wanshu probably hadn't loved Han Shibin before, and despite their mutual respect, the distance between them had always existed. That was why Han Shibin had sought passion elsewhere.

Qin Wanshu shook her head. "I don't regret it. I just feel that I've been quite selfish too."

"If one day, I accidentally cheated but still loved you, would you forgive me?" Zuo Qinghuan asked curiously. If there was no love, even one betrayal was unacceptable. But what if there was love?

"No," Qin Wanshu replied without hesitation. The thought of that scenario made her very uncomfortable.

"Qin Wanshu is a demanding person," Zuo Qinghuan laughed. So Qin Wanshu could also feel jealousy. Zuo Qinghuan loved this side of Qin Wanshu it made her feel so close to her.

"Yes," Qin Wanshu nodded. She had always felt that she was stricter with those closest to her. She could indulge Zuo Qinghuan in many ways, but there were certain lines that couldn't be crossed.

Not long after Han Shibin left, Shi Yunyang also arrived, dressed in fur, exuding luxury and sensuality, completely out of place in the hospital setting.

"You look in good spirits. It seems the young lady has been taking good care of you," Shi Yunyang smiled with her usual charm. Even Zuo Qinghuan had to admit that Shi Yunyang was captivating, much like Li Xin the kind of person who could charm anyone.

Zuo Qinghuan disliked Han Shibin's visit even more than Shi Yunyang's. In the past, when she was with Qin Wanshu, Shi Yunyang would occasionally tease her but never took her seriously. Now, however, Zuo Qinghuan sensed a subtle hostility from Shi Yunyang.

"I'll go wash some fruit," Qin Wanshu left Shi Yunyang alone in the room with Zuo Qinghuan. In Qin Wanshu's mind, Shi Yunyang was her childhood friend and confidante, someone who would unconditionally support her, right or wrong. She wouldn't cause trouble for Zuo Qinghuan, just as Qin Wanshu had always indulged Shi Yunyang's various misdeeds.

"The young lady has never waited on anyone like a maid before. You're lucky," Shi Yunyang said with a mix of envy and nonchalance, as if she were just joking.

Zuo Qinghuan, who had always been adept at reading people, could tell that Shi Yunyang indeed harbored some hostility toward her. This hostility hadn't been there before, likely because Shi Yunyang hadn't taken her seriously, thinking Qin Wanshu wouldn't truly care for her. The reason for this hostility, Zuo Qinghuan instinctively thought, was that Shi Yunyang had feelings for Qin Wanshu. If Shi Yunyang liked Qin Wanshu but still acted so promiscuously, it didn't make sense. Or perhaps Shi Yunyang herself didn't realize her feelings for Qin Wanshu? Or maybe Zuo Qinghuan was overthinking it.

What was she probing for? Shi Yunyang felt uncomfortable under Zuo Qinghuan's scrutinizing gaze. She stared back at Zuo Qinghuan, her eyes cold.

"She went out to wash the fruit for you," Zuo Qinghuan said to Shi Yunyang with a smile, breaking the tense atmosphere. She wouldn't antagonize Shi Yunyang. Qin Wanshu's friends didn't have to be her friends, but she wouldn't make things difficult for Qin Wanshu.

When Qin Wanshu returned with the washed apples, she didn't notice anything unusual between the two.

"Here's the apple you like," Qin Wanshu tossed an apple to Shi Yunyang. After catching the apple, Shi Yunyang's gaze softened. Zuo Qinghuan became even more convinced that her guess was correct.

"Do you want a banana or an apple?" Qin Wanshu asked Zuo Qinghuan, who liked all fruits equally.

"An apple," Zuo Qinghuan chose the apple.

Qin Wanshu peeled an apple and handed it to Zuo Qinghuan.

"Young lady, you didn't peel mine but only peeled Zuo Qinghuan's. That's so unfair," Shi Yunyang protested jokingly.

"You're fine eating apples with the skin on, but Zuo Qinghuan isn't," Qin Wanshu didn't think much of it, assuming Shi Yunyang was just joking.

"Whatever, you have to peel mine too," Shi Yunyang handed the apple she had already bitten to Qin Wanshu, insisting playfully.

Qin Wanshu reluctantly took the apple and started peeling it.

Zuo Qinghuan felt a pang of jealousy but didn't say anything. After all, they were childhood friends, and this level of intimacy was normal.

"Qin Wanshu, let me ask you something. What if Shi Yunyang likes you?" After Shi Yunyang left, Zuo Qinghuan asked Qin Wanshu.

"You're overthinking it. That girl loves herself the most she's as selfish as they come," Qin Wanshu said dismissively. She knew Shi Yunyang all too well. Qin Wanshu raised an eyebrow, feeling that her relationship with Shi Yunyang was somewhat similar to Zuo Qinghuan's with Li Xin they could confide in each other, but being lovers was out of the question.

"I'm saying if. Just humor me with a hypothetical," Zuo Qinghuan needed to confirm whether Shi Yunyang posed a threat.

"If she likes me, that's her business. What does it have to do with me?" Qin Wanshu retorted. If Shi Yunyang heard this, she would probably be hurt. Regardless of what feelings Shi Yunyang had for Qin Wanshu, when Qin Teng had liked Shi Yunyang back then, Shi Yunyang had said the same thing. What goes around comes around.

"You seem particularly interested in her today?" Qin Wanshu was well aware of Shi Yunyang's irresistible charm. Wherever she went, she was the center of attention. Qin Wanshu herself might not even have that kind of allure.

"I'm only interested in the people around Qin Wanshu," Zuo Qinghuan said with a smile. Her interest was entirely based on Qin Wanshu.

Qin Wanshu simply smiled.