C45 She Started to Talk Nonsense

In the hospital room, Lo Qing was chatting with An An, managing to make the little girl laugh a few times with her words.

Watching her daughter's joy, Soong Ruanruan didn't mind that it was Lo Qing who brought out the happiness.

Fu Jingchuan entered the room and approached the bedside, deliberately softening his usually indifferent tone, "Fu Sui will be here this afternoon."

An An's eyes sparkled with excitement. "An An will rest well and wait for big brother to come!"

After addressing the child, Fu Jingchuan's gaze moved from Lo Qing to rest on Soong Ruanruan.

"Get ready for the next phase of Fu Sui's treatment."

Soong Ruanruan paused, caught off guard. She had the treatment plan ready, but the abruptness of his command set her on edge. "Is Dear Sui not feeling well?"

She recalled that today, Dear Sui hadn't stayed by An An's side as usual but had abruptly returned to the mansion for lunch, which was out of character for him.

"Oh, that's right, I almost forgot to mention," Lo Qing interjected, as if a crucial thought had just occurred to her. "Sui has been forcing himself to eat meat, and he won't listen to anyone's advice. Dr. Soong, do you have any suggestions? It seems like he might have anorexia."

Soong Ruanruan's brow furrowed with concern. She spoke with conviction, "I will cure Dear Sui!"

She had pursued medicine not to stand by while two children suffered!

A few days later, An An's health was visibly improving, though her cheeks had thinned noticeably.

The day after the child was discharged, Soong Ruanruan took An An to the Fu Mansion.

Upon entering and finding Lo Qing in the living room, she wasn't the least bit surprised.

She had assumed that Fu Jingchuan's relationship with his fiancée was indifferent, but recent observations suggested otherwise. Lo Qing's freedom to come and go from the Fu Mansion and her authority over the Fu family's servants indicated that the family held her in high regard as the future fiancée.

It seemed that Fu Jingchuan did care for her, his aloof nature simply made it less apparent.

As these thoughts weighed heavily on her chest, Soong Ruanruan worked hard to dispel the gloom and flashed a radiant smile at her son.

"Dear Sui, guess who's come to see you?"

Fu Sui had been downcast over the past few days due to some issues with meals. However, his spirits lifted instantly when he saw the person he missed the most.

"Brother!" Soong Le'ann dashed over, twirling in the dress he had bought her. "Look, An An is wearing the new dress you got for me today~"

Fu Sui, assuming the role of a little grown-up and standing just a tad taller than the young girl, gently patted her head and offered a sincere compliment: "It's pretty."

Hand in hand, the children made their way upstairs to their play area. Soong Ruanruan, not in any rush to begin therapy, settled onto the couch to quietly delve into a professional book.

She had hoped for some quiet time to herself, but Lo Qing approached, eager to strike up a conversation.

"It's no surprise that Dr. Soong is hailed as the face of the Central Hospital's Psychology Department at such a young age. You're so diligent behind the scenes; others simply can't keep up," Lo Qing remarked with a hint of admiration, setting a plate of fruit before her, exuding the air of a gracious hostess.

Soong Ruanruan responded with courtesy, "You flatter me, Miss Lo. I've heard that you swept the piano awards at the last Saint Luo Music Academy competition. That's an honor truly beyond the reach of others."

Competing in flattery, she thought, was something she could do with ease.

A proud glint shone in Lo Qing's eyes. Indeed, she had spoken the truth. Only someone of her exceptional caliber deserved to be in the Fu Mansion, unlike this Soong Ling...

She smiled and continued, "It's a modest accomplishment, just a school award. After all, I'm an alumna."

Looking around the living room, she suggested casually, "We could place a piano in that corner in the future, so I can play every day. Or perhaps convert one of the upstairs rooms into a dance studio. Even after marriage, I can't let my dancing slip."

Soong Ruanruan listened without a flicker of emotion crossing her face.

Lo Qing turned to her and asked, "Dr. Soong, which option do you prefer?"

"Anything works." Soong Ruanruan lifted her tea to her lips, only to find it tasted exceptionally bitter.

"You're right, we might as well renovate both." Lo Qing's lips curved in a seemingly casual smile. "Jingchuan will agree to it anyway. Once we're married, we should clear out a larger toy room upstairs. Then An An and Dear Sui will have even more space to play."

Soong Ruanruan's grip on her teacup faltered imperceptibly, and for some reason, she couldn't muster a smile.

Lo Qing beamed at her. "Dr. Soong, you must attend our wedding with Jingchuan. And bring An An along, too."

Her tone suggested they were the closest of friends for years.

Soong Ruanruan's response caught in her throat, but before she could voice it, the butler's announcement echoed from the hallway: "Young Master, you've returned."

"Jingchuan~" Lo Qing, clearly delighted, approached and wrapped her arm around the man's. "I'm exhausted. I spent quite a while helping out in the kitchen. Oh, and we have a visitor."

Her playful tone was charming, and even Soong Ruanruan had to admit it would sweeten any man's ear.

Yet for Fu Jingchuan, all gestures seemed to be met with the same equanimity.

He didn't shrug off Lo Qing's hand, merely listening with a detached demeanor. His gaze briefly swept over Soong Ruanruan without lingering.

Lo Qing was quite pleased with herself.

After all, she was merely a doctor who had managed to wedge her way into the Fu Mansion, someone who healed following the rules. She couldn't possibly be of any significance to Jingchuan!

"Oh, my fruit platter," Lo Qing suddenly remembered, fetching a plate of fruit from the kitchen. She ascended the stairs with enthusiasm, saying, "I heard An An loves strawberries, so I prepared some especially for her. I hope she likes them... Ah!"

Her foot missed a step, and Lo Qing's face drained of color as she tumbled down the stairs!

In the nick of time, Fu Jingchuan's swift action caught her hand, pulling her safely into his embrace.

Lo Qing thought she would take an embarrassing tumble down the stairs, but to her surprise, the man was quick to react, saving her from danger.

"Jingchuan, thank you..." A blush crept onto Lo Qing's face as she inhaled the man's distinctive scent, resting her head on his shoulder while casting a meaningful glance at the woman on the sofa.

Their nearly embracing posture caused Soong Ruanruan's palms to clench. Though their paths had diverged, why was there still a pang of pain deep in her heart?

It wasn't until the hot water from her teacup splashed onto her fingertips that Soong Ruanruan snapped back to reality, closing her eyes to forcibly push aside the unease.

The past was just that – the past. Whoever Fu Jingchuan chose to date or marry was no longer her concern.

The sound of the fruit plate clattering down the stairs drew the children's attention, prompting them to run out and investigate.

Upon seeing their father and Lo Qing in an embrace, Fu Sui furrowed his brow, while An An innocently inquired, "What happened?"

Fu Jingchuan steadied Lo Qing, his expression subdued.

The two created some distance between them. Seizing the moment, Lo Qing turned to An An with warmth, "Auntie almost had a little accident on the stairs, but thankfully, Mr. Fu caught me."

The young girl eyed her with concern, but upon seeing she was unharmed, she exclaimed, "Mr. Fu is so strong!"

"Yes, he is. It's just too bad about the fruit platter I made for you. Such a waste," Lo Qing sighed. "I'll prepare another one."

As she was about to head downstairs, Fu Jingchuan interjected calmly, "Leave that to the butler."

Lo Qing hesitated, "But I wanted to personally do something for the children..."

Before she could finish, the butler downstairs cut in, "There's no need to trouble yourself, Miss Lo. I can handle these small tasks."

He had long hoped Lo Qing would cease such endeavors. The house was not without servants, and her insistence on doing things herself only served to create chaos in the kitchen, adding to everyone's workload.

At that point, Lo Qing could do nothing but close her mouth, feeling frustrated.