Seven days later, Liu Yi’an was discharged from the hospital and returned home.
As soon as she stepped through the door, she heard Fu Yanchen’s concerned voice. “Does this make you feel any better? I heard that when you’re on your period, you should drink more brown sugar water.”
“I’ve already asked Sister-in-law to prepare some. Remember to finish it later.”
Liu Yi’an raised her eyes and saw Fu Yanchen half-embracing Wei Qing, his large hand gently massaging her abdomen. If one ignored their identities, the scene before her could almost be described as harmonious.
She watched silently, suddenly feeling sick to her stomach.
So their affair had started even earlier than she had thought. If she had discovered it sooner in her previous life, she would not have endured a lifetime of humiliation, only to end up dying such a miserable death on the street!
Hatred filled Liu Yi’an’s eyes.
The two people inside looked over at the same time. When Wei Qing saw her, she sprang up as if frightened. “An’an, why are you back? We weren’t doing anything just now. Don’t misunderstand.”
Liu Yi’an replied calmly, “I didn’t say anything. Why are you two so eager to confess without being asked?”
Wei Qing’s eyes reddened. “An’an, we’re both women. You know that my current position makes me especially vulnerable to gossip, so why are you deliberately making things difficult for me?”
Listening to her affected act, Liu Yi’an’s hatred surged even more fiercely. “If you already know that being around him will invite gossip, then why do you keep getting close to him? Isn’t that exactly what you want to make people misunderstand?”
Fu Yanchen said, “Liu Yi’an, you…”
“That’s enough.” Liu Yi’an cut him off. “I don’t have time to watch the two of you put on an act. I came back today to collect my things.”
The research institute had dormitories for its employees, and Liu Yi’an planned to stay there for the time being.
She walked past the two of them, returned to her room, quickly packed her belongings, and left.
When she passed through the living room, Wei Qing called out to her, but Liu Yi’an left without even turning her head.
Seeing this, Wei Qing’s eyes flickered. She grabbed Fu Yanchen by the wrist. “What should we do? An’an must have misunderstood us. Yanchen, go explain it to her quickly.”
Fu Yanchen’s gaze fell on her hand, and his expression softened. “There’s no need. Whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with me.”
Wei Qing looked anxious. “What nonsense are you talking about? If Mom and Dad find out later, they’ll definitely blame you.” Her face filled with self-reproach. “It’s all my fault for being so useless. If I hadn’t been feeling unwell, you wouldn’t have been misunderstood.”
Upon hearing this, disgust appeared in Fu Yanchen’s eyes.
That woman, Liu Yi’an, really never changed. This time, she was trying to use his parents to pressure him again.
“It has nothing to do with you,” Fu Yanchen said coldly. “If she wants to make a scene, then let her calm down by herself. I saw her leave carrying her research materials. She probably went to the research institute.”
Wei Qing’s eyes flickered. “Has An’an also been taking part in the institute’s recent talent selection?”
Fu Yanchen didn’t pay much attention. “Yes. She should be nearly finished.”
Wei Qing said nothing, but her eyes darkened.
…
Liu Yi’an quickly settled into the research institute’s dormitory.
There were only five or six days left before the institute’s talent selection, so she needed to speed up and finish her research.
But the next day, Wei Qing came looking for her.
“Is there something you need?” Liu Yi’an asked coldly.
Wei Qing acted as though she hadn’t noticed her rejection and smiled as she handed over the lunch box in her hand. “You didn’t come home last night, and Mom was worried about you, so she asked me to come check on you.”
“She made these dumplings for you. Eat them while they’re still hot.”
Liu Yi’an frowned. “No need. You…”
Before she could finish, someone suddenly came running over. “Researcher Liu, someone outside is looking for you. They said it’s urgent.”
The person grabbed her wrist and immediately pulled her outside. By the time Liu Yi’an realized what was happening, she was already at the main gate, but there was no one there.
“Huh? Where did they go?” The person who had brought her outside looked bewildered.
She scratched her head and apologized to Liu Yi’an. “Researcher Liu, I’m sorry. There really was someone here just now.”
Liu Yi’an was about to speak when she suddenly thought of something. Her expression changed, and she immediately turned around and hurried back.
As soon as she reached the dormitory, she saw Wei Qing coming out, still carrying the lunch box. “I’ve put the dumplings into a bowl for you. I have something else to do, so I’ll head home first. Remember to go home early.”
She quickly left.
Liu Yi’an entered the room and immediately checked her research materials. Everything was still exactly where she had left it, with no sign that anything had been touched.
Could it be… that she was simply overthinking things?
Liu Yi’an frowned, unable to shake her suspicions.
Soon, the final submission deadline arrived. Liu Yi’an completed all the remaining materials and submitted her research results.
Three days later, the assessment results were announced.
Liu Yi’an arrived at the bulletin board early to check her results, only to discover that Fu Yanchen and Wei Qing were there as well.
“Yanchen, do you think I’ll fail this time?” Wei Qing asked nervously.
Fu Yanchen, however, looked completely confident. “Don’t worry. Nothing will go wrong this time.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly caught sight of Liu Yi’an from the corner of his eye. Wei Qing followed his gaze. The two exchanged a subtle glance, inexplicably giving Liu Yi’an an ominous feeling.
Before she could think it through, someone arrived with the list and began posting it.
“The results are out!”
“Quick, quick! Let’s see what rank I got.”
“Oh my God! Wei Qing is in first place?!”