“Mr. Qin, the new CT results are out. I’ll take you over.”
“Go ahead. I’ll bring Grandpa with me.”
“…Mm.”
After confirming with the doctor that Cen Miao’s body was completely fine, Qin Zelin returned to the ward.
The moment he pushed the door open, he saw the boy who had been eating buns with his head down suddenly stiffen his neck, his shiny little lips puckered high, as if declaring a total refusal to interact with him ever again.
Qin Zelin looked at the bulging side profile with a bun in his mouth and almost laughed. “Isn’t your neck tired? Once you finish, put on your shoes. I’ve requested leave for you, so we’ll head home first. The tutor will come over today for a trial lesson.”
The moment he finished speaking, Cen Miao stiffened his neck even more, his mouth practically pointing at the ceiling, using his whole body to perform the message: I’m angry, can’t be coaxed, don’t want to deal with you.
Qin Zelin sighed inwardly. “…It wasn’t me who told them, it was Shao Siheng who ran into the doctor treating you.”
“?” Could it be that he had wronged humans?
Cen Miao slowly turned his neck back. “Then… I’ll… believe you this once.”
Qin Zelin exhaled in relief. The little monster was still very reasonable when he wasn’t sick.
He finished the remaining buns in a few bites, put on his shoes, and twisted around, his little face scrunching in discomfort.
His bottom hurt so much!
“Let’s go.” Qin Zelin picked up the bag containing the blanket and Cen Miao’s changed clothes, turning to leave.
“Husband, hug me.” Cen Miao tugged at Qin Zelin’s sleeve, tilting his face up, eyes glistening with tears.
Qin Zelin looked down at the hand gripping his coat: …………?
Had the little monster misunderstood, thinking that last night’s hug meant Qin Zelin liked him too?
“Cen Miao,” he said as calmly as he could, “I hugged you last night because you were uncomfortable and couldn’t move easily. If your body wasn’t unwell, I wouldn’t have hugged you.”
“I’m uncomfortable now too,” Cen Miao said, leaning into Qin Zelin, voice soft and sticky. “Mm~~ hug me~ hug me~”
The nasally little hums tickled Qin Zelin’s ears, sending a shiver through him.
The doctor had said the little monster’s body was completely fine. He wasn’t uncomfortable; he just wanted to cling to Qin Zelin and be held.
If Qin Zexi acted like this, Qin Zelin would have kicked him away long ago.
But the little monster… looking at his trembling lashes, sigh… he was pitiful. He had been so unwell last night and developed PTSD from losing his family.
Alright. Just this once—never again.
Qin Zelin switched the bag to his left hand and whispered, “Hold your neck tight. If you fall, that’s on you.”
“Mm mm.”
In the underground parking lot, the driver stared blankly at the two emerging from the elevator. The boss held the bag in one hand, and the person in his arms with the other.
Wasn’t it said earlier that Madam was fine?
The bodyguard quickly opened the car door, took the bag from Qin Zelin, and opened the back seat.
As Qin Zelin leaned to place Cen Miao in the seat, he heard a sharp “Hiss.”
“What’s wrong? Did you hit your head?”
Cen Miao scrunched his little face and shifted. “Husband, my bottom hurts.”
Driver: “!!!”
Bodyguard: “!!!”
Qin Zelin almost said, “What nonsense are you talking?” then remembered that Cen Miao had run to the bathroom seven or eight times last night. He paused, then said, “Who told you to eat so much? It’ll be better tomorrow.”
The driver’s pupils twitched: “Bottom… ate… what??? And it hurts…?”
Madam was sick last night, and the boss… too much.
The bodyguard calmly placed the bag in the trunk and got into the passenger seat.
Forgive his dirty mind—he really had no idea what else a “bottom” could eat besides… that.
On the way back, the car was eerily quiet. The driver and bodyguard even held their breaths, afraid that a single word would betray their expressions.
Only Cen Miao lazily leaned on Qin Zelin’s shoulder, staring out the window.
“….”
Qin Zelin remained silent. The little monster truly wanted to stick to him every moment.
As the car drove into the yard, a few gardeners were transplanting yew trees. Cen Miao’s gaze lingered on the small red berries on the tree for a while before he and Qin Zelin returned inside.
As soon as they entered, Auntie Wang and Old Lin, hearing the car, were already waiting in the foyer.
Auntie Wang looked at Cen Miao and placed a hand on his back, voice full of concern. “Oh dear, I heard you suffered last night. No more picky eating—you must eat more greens. Having ten jin of stool in your stomach for several days must’ve been so uncomfortable.”
Old Lin nodded repeatedly in agreement. “Exactly, Madam should eat more vegetables next time. You were in pain and crying last night.”
Cen Miao was stunned by the sudden situation, staring at Qin Zelin with eyes full of little daggers.
Big liar!!!
Qin Zelin caught a glimpse of his expression and immediately felt a headache coming on.
He could roughly trace the path of the news.
Director Wu → Shao Siheng → Grandpa → Uncle Lin → Auntie Wang
Who would believe that he hadn’t told a single word to any of them? Jumping into the Yellow River couldn’t wash this off.
He really wanted Director Wu to cry right now.
After changing shoes, Qin Zelin hadn’t even had a chance to defend himself when Cen Miao angrily walked toward the sofa.
“…..”
“What’s wrong with Madam?” Old Lin looked puzzled.
“Nothing. He’s just… didn’t sleep well last night and is unhappy.”
Qin Zelin followed a few steps toward the sofa, but his phone rang. Seeing the work piling up, he reluctantly went upstairs to shower and change.
When he came downstairs again, Cen Miao was nowhere near the sofa.
Seeing Qin Zelin lingering, Old Lin cheerfully explained, “Young Master, Madam said it was stuffy inside, so he went to play in the yard.”
Qin Zelin cleared his throat awkwardly. “…Mm, I wasn’t looking for him. Remember to make him eat more vegetables at lunch. I’m heading to the company now.”
“Alright, Young Master. Don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried.”
Old Lin nodded repeatedly. “Mm mm mm! You’re not worried!” He simply assumed Madam had a terminal illness and almost cried.
Qin Zelin: “….”
Stepping outside, he saw Cen Miao standing aside, watching the gardeners transplant yew trees with keen interest. As Qin Zelin bent slightly to get into the car, Cen Miao’s actions made his eyelids twitch.
“Cen Miao!!!”
Driver: “? Boss?”