Chapter 210

This was Shen Xi's first visit to the Jing family home.

After Jing Yi got injured, Shen Xi had been accompanying the Jing family, waiting for Jing Yi to wake up. However, after just a few days in the hospital, Jing Yi insisted on going home.

If it weren't for the doctor confirming that Jing Yi was fine, Lin Ruiqing and the others wouldn't have agreed.

Shen Xi, however, remained uneasy and started visiting the Jing family every day, almost as if she were living there.

Who could blame her, considering how often this person ended up in the hospital?

Jing Yi savored the dessert made by Aunt Wang, "Who says I'm in the hospital all the time?" Shen Xi retorted, "Don't you remember how many times you've been admitted? Isn't that 'all the time'?"

She looked at Jing Zejun, seeking support, "Right, Junjun?" Jing Zejun just smiled and didn't contradict her.

Shen Xi glanced at Jing Yi, her expression clearly saying, 'See? Everyone thinks so.'

Jing Yi focused on her dessert, and perhaps because she was eating so enthusiastically, Shen Xi also picked up the dessert in front of her and took a taste.

She had often heard Jing Yi praise Aunt Wang's cooking and desserts, claiming there was nothing she couldn't make delicious. Shen Xi wanted to see just how good it was compared to Chen Yisi's cooking.

As the spoon touched her lips, Shen Xi's eyes lit up.

Jing Yi smugly said, "See? I told you no one can beat Aunt Wang's skills." Shen Xi pretended not to hear, burying her head in her dessert.

Jing Yi raised an eyebrow. It seemed Chen Yisi had really captured Shen Xi's heart completely.

Although she had a rough idea of how Chen Yisi had won Shen Xi over, Jing Yi still couldn't help but wonder, "What kind of magic does Chen Yisi have to make our Miss Shen so infatuated?"

Jing Zejun quickly leaned in, eager to hear the gossip.

Shen Xi blushed, rarely showing a hint of shyness, which only piqued Jing Yi's curiosity even more. "Didn't you find it frivolous when he invited you to dinner?"

Shen Xi quickly defended, "How could it be frivolous?! He didn't have any ulterior motives like those other guys. He just wanted to invite me to dinner."

He would ask her about recipes during their meals, saying he wanted to improve his cooking skills. And then she would always receive small cakes from him.

Jing Yi couldn't help but laugh. She didn't believe that for a second. If he had no intentions, why would he invite Shen Xi to dinner three times a week?

"And when he confessed to you, didn't you feel any hesitation?"

She had known Shen Xi for so long, and there were hardly any men who could keep her interest after a confession. So what kind of magic did Chen Yisi possess?

Shen Xi chuckled, "No, just looking at his face makes me feel butterflies."

Jing Yi was stunned, then burst out laughing, collapsing onto Jing Zejun. "What? So the senior back then just lost to his looks?"

"Jing Yi, you're making fun of me!" Seeing Shen Xi get flustered, Jing Yi quickly wiped her tears and composed herself. "Sorry, sorry. I'm not making fun of you. I just feel a bit sorry for that senior."

Shen Xi huffed. She knew exactly who Jing Yi was talking about. There was no comparison!

Thinking back, that senior was only after the expensive gifts she gave. Chen Yisi was different!

He would make her small cakes!

Speaking of Chen Yisi, Shen Xi remembered something Gu Lin had mentioned recently. She glanced at Jing Yi, who was chatting with Jing Zejun about the reasons Shen Xi had rejected men over the years.

Shen Xi relaxed, relieved that Jing Yi didn't seem too upset. However, she had no intention of telling Jing Yi about Shen Huaichu's current situation.

Gu Lin had said he was very busy, helping Shen Huaichu deal with work at Huarui Group. Apparently, Shen Huaichu had practically moved into the hospital, attending meetings and handling work online, rarely seen by anyone.

She understood what Gu Lin was implying, trying to get some information from her to pass on to Jing Yi, hoping it would make Jing Yi feel sorry for Shen Huaichu.

But Shen Xi was unwilling.

She didn't know what had happened between Jing Yi and Shen Huaichu, nor why Jing Yi had been discharged from the hospital while Shen Huaichu ended up there.

But no matter what happened, she would stand by Jing Yi's side.

Watching Jing Yi's lively expression, Shen Xi smiled.

...

"Brother."

Gu ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‍Lin pushed open the door to the hospital room. Shen Huaichu was inside, quietly painting.

Shen Huaichu was undergoing psychological treatment, a secret known only to Gu Lin, not even to Shen Tu.

To the outside world, Shen Huaichu claimed to be on a business trip abroad.

Gu Lin understood why Shen Huaichu was doing this. After all, his long-awaited wish had finally come true. But after seeing Shen Huaichu's state after therapy, he no longer felt so fortunate.

When had he ever seen Shen Huaichu in such a half-dead, pathetic state? So he visited from time to time, mainly to check if the man was still alive.

Earlier, he had inadvertently leaked some information to Shen Xi, but judging by her reaction, she wasn't going to help him.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

What a letdown! After sacrificing his pure and innocent friendship, she treated him like this.

Gu Lin leaned in, and sure enough, he saw Jing Yi's radiant smile on the canvas. It seemed that after so many years, his brother's painting skills were still top-notch.

He sighed and shook his head, moving to the sofa. Shen Huaichu's deep affection was downright terrifying, almost too mushy for comfort.

Gu Lin's gaze shifted to the small room inside the ward, its door tightly closed.

The therapist had said it was Shen Huaichu's 'safe room.' Shen Huaichu had requested the most direct form of treatment, and despite the therapist's advice, he had refused to change his mind.

So every time Gu Lin saw Shen Huaichu in this half-dead state, it was like reliving the trauma, not just memories but also using environmental props to 'return to the present.'

The method was cruel, and the 'safe room' was meant to create a secure space for healing.

Just hearing the term 'safe room' made Gu Lin shudder. He had no desire to see what was inside, but looking at Shen Huaichu's paintings, he could guess. Otherwise, where had all those paintings gone?

Thinking about it made Gu Lin shiver. Jing Yi was too terrifying! How could she turn someone into this in such a short time?

He decided he'd better stay away from relationships for now. It was too scary! Too scary!

Shen Huaichu calmly asked, "Is there something you need?" His hand holding the brush remained steady as he focused on his painting.

Gu Lin snapped back to reality. "Ah? Oh, nothing much. Just checking in on you. Also, my mom's starting to get suspicious. You should call her sometime."

Before leaving, Shen Huaichu had worried that Shen Tu might disturb Jing Yi, so he had revealed their breakup.

Shen Tu was furious but didn't interfere much. Poor Gu Lin was left at home, enduring his mother's nagging about his brother.