Shen Qi didn’t deny that Grandpa Fang felt compassion toward her and held protective intentions.
But people change.
Fang Yi’s fierce resistance had angered the old man who had been in charge his entire life.
His stubborn refusal to relent, his insistence on pairing Fang Yi and Shen Qi together, was undoubtedly his silent assertion of authority.
Human beings are complex.
In her previous life, Shen Qi had believed Grandpa Fang’s support and protection stemmed from affection and gratitude.
Later, after meeting more people and experiencing more things, she suddenly came to a realization one late night.
Of course, Shen Qi remained grateful to Grandpa Fang. Although his motives later became impure, when initially arranging this marriage alliance, the old man had acted with genuine goodwill.
It’s just that the current Shen Qi no longer wished to be involved in the power struggle between grandfather and grandson. She wanted to live her own life.
The Fang family was rendered speechless by Shen Qi’s words.
Fang’s Father and Ding Mengshu were astonished by Shen Qi’s perceptiveness. How had she discerned all this?
She couldn’t possibly have figured it out on her own, could she?
Fang Yi was furious.
He thought Shen Qi was talking nonsense, making malicious speculations!
What grandfather would use his own grandson’s lifelong happiness in some power struggle?!
Clearly, Shen Qi herself had begged for this marriage, yet from her mouth, it became Grandpa forcing it upon them?
What could a village girl raised in the mountains possibly possess that would make Grandpa scheme so meticulously?
She truly had no shame!
Is this your new tactic?
Shen Qi, I admit, you’ve indeed provoked my anger and captured my attention!
Just as Fang Yi was about to speak, a nurse approached with a stern expression: “Please keep quiet, family members. This is a hospital, not a marketplace. Your noise is causing quite a disturbance.”
“Sorry, we’ll be quiet.” Shen Qi quickly responded, properly sitting on the bench and closing her eyes to rest.
Two hours later, Grandpa Fang was wheeled out.
The surgery was successful, but given the old man’s age, postoperative recovery required extreme caution.
“The most important thing is for the patient to remain emotionally stable—no great joy, sorrow, or anger. If something like this happens again, don’t bother sending him to the hospital; go directly to the funeral home.”
The doctor spoke bluntly. None of the Fang family dared show displeasure, merely nodding repeatedly in agreement.
Grandpa Fang was moved to the ICU for observation. If his condition stabilized within a day or two, he could be transferred to a regular ward.
Before he entered the ICU, Shen Qi went to take a look. The old man was pale, eyes tightly shut, tubes covering his body—he had suffered greatly.
At least he was still alive.
Shen Qi turned to leave but had only taken two steps when someone grabbed her arm.
“Let go.” Shen Qi said coldly.
Fang Yi shot her a glare and dragged her out of the hospital.
Unable to break free, Shen Qi simply let him pull her along. Outside, snow had begun to fall unnoticed, the chilly wind whistling and blowing icy cold against their faces.
“Let’s not talk outside; it’s too cold.” Shen Qi had no desire to freeze outside with Fang Yi in such weather.
Fang Yi wanted to mock her for being delicate, but seeing Shen Qi’s pale, chilled face, he found a small restaurant nearby.
Each ordered a bowl of noodles. As soon as the noodles were served, Shen Qi picked up her chopsticks and began eating.
She had eaten breakfast early, and lunch had been delayed. By now, she was genuinely hungry.
After eating her fill, Fang Yi finally spoke.
“You asked Grandpa to annul the engagement yesterday?”
Shen Qi shot him a disdainful look. “Yes.”
Fang Yi fell silent for a moment, his tone reproachful. “How could you suddenly bring this up with him? Don’t you know he’s not in good health?”
“What else was I supposed to do? Hold my nose and marry you? Please get this straight—I was the one who saved him back then. It was your Fang family who insisted on repaying the debt. Now that I’m not satisfied with you and don’t want this favor anymore, is that not allowed?”
“You!” Fang Yi’s anger flared. “What do you mean by ‘holding your nose and marrying me’? Shen Qi, have you forgotten how you pestered me relentlessly for the past three years?”
“Who hasn’t been blind in their youth?” Shen Qi said lightly. “My vision has been cured now.”
“Shen Qi.” Fang Yi suppressed his anger. “Can you actually speak properly?”
“I’ve been speaking properly all along.”
“Anyway, don’t go provoking my grandfather during this time,” Fang Yi softened his tone. “You heard what the doctor said—he can’t handle major emotional fluctuations.”
“I know.” Shen Qi’s tone turned serious as well.
Things hadn’t gone as she expected.
She thought canceling the engagement would be simple, but she never imagined it would escalate like this.
Grandpa Fang ended up in the hospital, similar to the previous lifetime. After surgery, he needed emotional stability, avoiding extreme highs and lows.
In her past life, she had used this very point to force Fang Yi into marrying her. Could it be that in this life, Fang Yi would use the same tactic to pressure her into marriage?
A chill ran down her spine, and the noodles she had just eaten lost their flavor.
“I absolutely will not marry you.” Shen Qi stood up, her words firm and resolute. “Fang Yi, you should work on persuading your grandfather. I’ll continue to tactfully express my stance as well. In short, I will not marry you.”
The thought of her previous life—where Shen Baozhu married Fang Yi’s elder brother, and she had witnessed their flirtatious exchanges and intimate glances—filled her with disgust.
She refused to be entangled with those two rotten people ever again.
“You’d better mean that.” Fang Yi sneered coldly, lighting a cigarette. “Shen Qi, cut out those reverse psychology tactics.”
Shen Qi turned and left. Fang Yi watched her retreating figure coldly, his eyes obscured by the haze of smoke.
Back at the Compound, she had just entered the house when Shen Baozhu stopped her.
“Did you go to the hospital?”
“Move aside.” Shen Qi was in no mood to deal with Shen Baozhu.
“Are you determined to harm Yi Ge?” Shen Baozhu’s voice trembled with tears. “You know how much he cares about his family. Grandpa is old—why did you have to tattle?”
Shen Qi laughed in disbelief. “Who told you I tattled?”
“Yesterday, Yi Ge only asked me to go skating with him. You saw it, didn’t you? You’re jealous, right? You’re angry, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have hit Yi Ge.” Shen Baozhu’s eyes reddened, making it seem as though she were the one being bullied.
“You hit Yi Ge, and that wasn’t enough? You had to go complain to Grandpa Fang, and now he’s so upset he’s in the hospital. Are you happy now?”
“I’m not happy.” Shen Qi’s face darkened as she suddenly slapped Shen Baozhu. “Every time I see you, I’m reminded of the Zhou Family. I’m not happy at all. Stay away from me from now on, or I’ll return every slap the Zhou Family gave me back to you, one by one!”
Shen Baozhu hadn’t expected Shen Qi to strike without warning and stumbled from the blow.
The scene was just witnessed by Shen Jinan. The young man cried out in alarm, rushing over to shield Shen Baozhu behind him and play the hero.
“Shen Qi, have you gone mad?! You hit me yesterday and I haven’t even settled that with you yet, and now you’re hitting Sister Baozhu too? Are you even human?!”
“Get lost!”
Shen Qi felt her eyes ache just looking at Shen Jinan’s wretched appearance.
Xu Ailian emerged from her room and saw the three children locked in a tense standoff. Feeling weary but compelled to intervene, she came over to play judge.
“What’s going on now?”