Tan Qinyin’s condition was not serious. With regular dressing changes for the head wound at the hospital, she could now go home to rest.
Given her current situation, returning to her original home was clearly impossible—otherwise, the truth would be exposed.
Tan Yan arranged for trusted people to move her belongings. Although Lu Yanzhi’s expression was grim, he did not try to stop them.
After handling the move, Tan Yan had urgent work to attend to. Entrusting his sister to Chu Nanyu, he left the hospital first.
Chu Nanyu stepped out to make a phone call. In the hospital room, Lu Yanzhi remained, not leaving.
Tan Qinyin glanced at him and spoke somewhat awkwardly, “Brother Lu, aren’t you leaving?”
Lu Yanzhi lowered his eyelashes, casting a shadow under his eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he said, “I’ll wait until you’re discharged.”
Thinking he was acting on her brother’s request, Tan Qinyin urged again, “It’s fine. My husband is here. You should go back first, Brother Lu.”
A vein twitched at Lu Yanzhi’s temple. He stayed silent and unmoving.
Seeing that persuasion was useless, Tan Qinyin stopped bothering with him and turned her gaze toward the door of the hospital room.
Chu Nanyu returned after finishing his call. He glanced briefly at Lu Yanzhi before softening his voice to say to Tan Qinyin, “We can leave now.”
“Okay!”
Just as Tan Qinyin tried to stand up, a wave of dizziness hit her. She swayed slightly, and a sudden phrase flashed through her mind:
“Husband, my whole body hurts! Hold me, please.”
She froze for half a second, still processing the thought, when Chu Nanyu swiftly reached out to steady her, his voice lowering slightly. “Take it slow.”
As the dizziness eased, Tan Qinyin looked up, the corners of her eyes tinged with a faint, physiological redness, her nose wrinkling lightly.
Was that… her earlier self, acting spoiled toward Chu Nanyu?
She blinked, tugged gently at the man’s sleeve, and said in a soft, delicate voice, “Husband, can you carry me?”
Chu Nanyu paused, his gaze fixed on her clear, lake-like eyes. His thin lips pressed together slightly as he glanced down at the faint redness at the corners of her eyes.
A moment later, with a proper gentleman’s hold, he bent down and lifted her into his arms horizontally. His cool, crisp voice carried a hint of gentleness. “Hold on tight.”
Tan Qinyin wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head against his shoulder. The crisp, snow-like scent enveloped her, and she smiled softly in response. “Mm.”
Beside them, Lu Yanzhi stood rooted to the spot, the air around him seeming to freeze.
The vein at his temple throbbed more visibly. His gaze was glued to Chu Nanyu’s hand supporting Tan Qinyin’s slender back, as if an invisible hand were squeezing his heart, making his breathing heavy and labored.
As Chu Nanyu passed by him, he lifted his eyelids slightly, meeting Lu Yanzhi’s gaze without any extra emotion, then walked away.
Only Lu Yanzhi remained in the hospital room.
After a moment of silence, the trash can was kicked over with a loud clatter.
**
Chu Nanyu carried her all the way to the parking lot.
Assistant Qin Jun had been waiting there for some time. Seeing this scene, even his usually steady composure faltered, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
After settling her securely in the back seat, Chu Nanyu got in from the other side.
Qin Jun quickly started the car.
Chu Nanyu handed a bag to Tan Qinyin. “A new phone. The SIM card is already inside.”
Tan Qinyin took it with a bright, smiling face, pulling out the phone from the bag. It was the latest triple-fold model.
Red, and very beautiful.
She loved it. “Thank you, husband!”
“Mm.”
Compared to Chu Nanyu’s calm reaction, Qin Jun in the front seat nearly lost his grip on the steering wheel.
What did Miss Tan just call President Chu?
He… he… had he heard something he shouldn’t have?
Tan Qinyin immediately logged into WeChat as soon as she got her phone, and several messages popped up.
The earliest message was from her senior Shen Luo: 【Arrived safely in Nancheng.】
【If you come back, you must hang out with me.】
Since it was a new phone, she couldn’t see the previous chat history. Tan Qinyin replied with an 【Mm-hmm.】
Then there were messages from her best friend Song Qinghe sent in the morning: 【Qinyin, guess what script I got?】
【It’s the one you just sold, “Transmigrating to Ancient Times to Become a Female Prime Minister”!】
【I’m going to play your female lead! Hahaha, isn’t it a surprise?】
【Still sleeping?】
【Message me when you’re awake.】
【I’m returning to the capital tomorrow. Let’s meet at our usual spot for a meal.】
Qinghe was going to play her female lead?
That’s great!
She immediately typed a reply: [Fireworks][Fireworks][Fireworks]
[Jumping][Shaking][Spinning]
【Yes, yes!】
Song Qinghe hadn’t replied yet, so Tan Qinyin opened her contacts and searched for the word “husband.”
However…
Why wasn’t it there?
She started scrolling through the list one by one and soon saw Chu Nanyu’s name.
Huh? Why was it saved under his full name?
Seriously.
She tapped into the edit field, deleted the three characters “Chu Nanyu,” and replaced them with “husband.”
Tan Qinyin smiled with satisfaction. That’s more like it.
It was a pity she couldn’t see the chat history anymore. Otherwise, she would have liked to see what they usually talked about.
She was about to check her Moments when a slender, large hand blocked the screen.
Tan Qinyin looked up in confusion and met Chu Nanyu’s amber eyes, clear yet carrying a cool sharpness.
“Don’t look at your phone too much in the car. It can make you dizzy,” he said.
Tan Qinyin blinked and obediently closed her phone, then took hold of that large hand and began playing with it.
A tingling sensation spread from his fingertips, and Chu Nanyu’s slightly relaxed back stiffened instantly.
Tan Qinyin was carefully examining his hand, completely unaware of the fleeting discomfort on his face.
“Your hands are really beautiful.”
The man’s hands were well-defined, fair, and slender—the kind that exuded a strong sense of sexual tension in novels.
Chu Nanyu took a slow breath before uttering two words: “Thank you.”
Tan Qinyin looked up but still didn’t let go of his hand.
Her eyes sparkled as she suddenly said, “Husband, can I write you into my novel?”
She had written too many historical romance stories and wanted to try a modern sweet romance. Her handsome husband was the perfect template for a male lead, flawless from his hair to his shoes.
She had even thought of a name: “The Iceberg Husband Keeps Getting Teased into a Smile.”
Huh, strange.
Why did it feel like she had come up with this title before?
Chu Nanyu: “…As you wish.”
**
Chu Nanyu’s residence was in Whale Pond Manor, a villa area in the heart of the capital. The surroundings were bustling and lively, while the estate itself was tranquil and serene.
An hour earlier, the moving team had already transported Tan Qinyin’s belongings from Lu Yanzhi’s place without any changes.
The car stopped in front of the gate, where the butler was already waiting.
As he welcomed Tan Qinyin out of the car, he greeted her respectfully with a smile: “Hello, Miss Tan. I am Li Deming.”
Although Tan Qinyin had no memory of him, she was very polite: “Hello, Uncle Li.”
“If you need anything, just let Uncle Li know,” Chu Nanyu said.
He didn’t get out of the car: “I still have matters to attend to. You go in first.”
Because of the hospital visit, he had postponed all his morning work to the afternoon and had already received several calls on the way.
Tan Qinyin knew he was busy, so she only asked, “Will you be back for dinner?”
Chu Nanyu paused briefly. “I might not make it in time.”
“Oh.” Tan Qinyin lowered her gaze, then looked up again and said, “Then remember to come home early.”
Chu Nanyu’s brow twitched slightly as he replied softly, “Alright.”
Watching the car drive away, Tan Qinyin followed Uncle Li inside.
As soon as she entered, a middle-aged woman warmly greeted her.
It was Auntie Liang.
She led Tan Qinyin upstairs. “Miss Tan, what would you like for dinner?”
Having eaten three meals prepared by Auntie Liang in a row, Tan Qinyin smiled and replied, “Anything is fine. Your cooking is so good—I love whatever you make.”
Auntie Liang beamed with delight at the compliment. “Miss Tan, you really know how to sweet-talk!”
Tan Qinyin’s room was arranged on the west side of the second floor, while Chu Nanyu’s room was on the east side of the hallway.
Once they reached the room, Auntie Liang reminded her to rest well and then went downstairs, leaving her undisturbed.
Tan Qinyin looked around, feeling both familiar and unfamiliar with the room.
Her gaze fell on the large Lina Bell plushie by the bedside, and her eyes lit up. She walked over and reached out to squeeze it.
So cute!
But when did she buy this again?
She couldn’t remember.
After sitting with Lina Bell for a while, she got up to take a shower.
Not having bathed for two days, she felt sticky all over.
However, when she went to the walk-in closet to get her clothes, Tan Qinyin noticed something odd.
Why were there only her things in the room?