Chapter 71

Chapter 71

How could Xu Xun not recognize Song Qingning?

Last time when Song Qingning was injured by a motorcycle, it was Xu Xun who accompanied Shen Tingzhou to the hospital. They were at the ward door when they overheard Song Qingning talking about how she met Shen Tingzhou in high school.

Knowing that Xu Xun was just being jealous, deliberately asking questions he already knew the answers to, Shen Tingzhou felt both helpless and amused.

Xu Xun still looked at Shen Tingzhou, seemingly expecting an answer from him.

Shen Tingzhou said nothing, instead, he took the hand of his jealous Xiao Xu and walked towards Song Qingning.

Seeing their hands intertwined, Song Qingning was slightly taken aback.

Shen Tingzhou introduced her with grace, "This is my boyfriend."

The satisfied Xu Xun gave Song Qingning a polite smile, "I'm Xu Xun."

Song Qingning regained her composure and quickly replied, "H-hello, I'm Song Qingning."

As she spoke, her eyes glanced again at their joined hands, still somewhat shocked that Shen Tingzhou was dating a man.

But if Song Qingning had to say whom Shen Tingzhou should date, she hadn't really thought about it.

Shen Tingzhou smiled and asked, "How's your exam preparation going?"

Song Qingning felt a bit embarrassed, "My tutor says I'm doing well; I scored twenty points higher than last time."

Shen Tingzhou was genuinely pleased for her, "That's great! What major do you want to pursue?"

To Shen Tingzhou's surprise, Song Qingning answered, "I want to study forensic medicine. What do you think, senior?"

Meeting Song Qingning's expectant gaze, Shen Tingzhou was a bit surprised but still supported her choice.

"That sounds good. With your scores, you can get into Z University, S University, or F University. All three are excellent, though they're not in the capital. Mr. Li and the others..."

Shen Tingzhou paused subtly.

Song Qingning understood what Shen Tingzhou meant, "Muye and the others know, and it's fine."

Shen Tingzhou advised, "Then you should read some related books and watch documentaries to see if you can handle this field."

After all, it's a profession that deals with corpses frequently, requiring an extremely strong heart, especially when working in the judicial system where one might encounter any kind of case.

Song Qingning nodded eagerly, "I've been reading a lot lately."

She wasn't afraid, but Li Muye, who watched documentaries with her, had nightmares for several nights.

Song Qingning came out today to buy related books, and Li Jinghang approached with a few books in hand.

Seeing Shen Tingzhou chatting with Song Qingning at the boutique entrance, his eyebrows twitched, and he strode over.

Upon getting closer and seeing Shen Tingzhou's hand intertwined with Xu Xun's, Li Jinghang's frown eased slightly.

"Doctor Shen," Li Jinghang's gaze naturally shifted to Xu Xun, pulling the conversation towards him, "Who is this?"

Another person asking questions they already knew the answers to.

Xu Xun took the initiative, "Xu Xun, Tingzhou's partner."

Li Jinghang showed appropriate surprise before saying, "Congratulations."

Xu Xun responded smoothly, "Thank you."

Shen Tingzhou found their exchange a bit too formal.

He broke the false atmosphere, "Where are you guys headed next?"

Song Qingning felt a bit regretful, having finally run into Shen Tingzhou and wanting to talk more, but not wanting to disturb their date. She said, "We're heading back. Doctor Shen, have a good time."

The shop next door was renovating its facade. As Song Qingning bid farewell to Shen Tingzhou, she didn't notice and accidentally bumped into a scaffold, causing something above to fall.

Li Jinghang's eyes darkened as he pulled Song Qingning into his arms, shielding her head with his hand.

A string of acrylic letters fell, leaving a long cut on Li Jinghang's arm.

Hearing a slight grunt, Song Qingning trembled, holding Li Jinghang's bleeding hand, her face drained of color.

"Are you okay?" Song Qingning blamed herself, "I'm sorry, I was... too careless."

Li Jinghang patted Song Qingning's back, soothingly, "It's okay, just a little blood."

Shen Tingzhou walked over, "I have some medicine in my trunk."

Li Jinghang's wound wasn't deep, and Shen Tingzhou skillfully cleaned it, applied medicine, and bandaged it.

Because of the injury to his right arm, Li Jinghang couldn't drive, and Song Qingning didn't have a license. Shen Tingzhou drove Li Jinghang's car to take them back.

Shen Tingzhou gave Li Jinghang two medications and instructed Song Qingning on how to use them.

Xu Xun was waiting outside, so Shen Tingzhou didn't stay long. After leaving the Li residence, he realized he still had Li Jinghang's car keys.

When Shen Tingzhou returned, Song Qingning was helping Li Jinghang undress.

Watching Song Qingning's lowered eyes, Li Jinghang reached up and touched her face, causing her to freeze.

Song Qingning's throat tightened, and she looked up in panic.

Li Jinghang's gaze seemed like a net, capturing Song Qingning and ensnaring her. His hand slid from her eye to her cheek.

Shen Tingzhou stopped in his tracks, unsure whether to enter or leave quickly.

Just as he was at a loss, a hand rested on his shoulder. Shen Tingzhou's scalp tingled, and he reacted strongly, turning to look.

Li Muye stood behind him, apparently intending to scare Shen Tingzhou, but upon seeing Song Qingning and Li Jinghang in the living room, his smile froze at the corners of his mouth.

Shen Tingzhou: !

Li Muye's eyes widened with disbelief, then shock, and finally anger.

In just two seconds, three emotions changed.

Shen Tingzhou felt that something terrible was about to happen. He thrust the car keys into Li Muye's hand and hurriedly fled from the scene.

Sure enough, the next moment, Li Muye erupted, "What are you doing!"

Shen Tingzhou didn't pause for a second, stepping out of the villa's door, but Li Muye's roar still reached his ears—

"Do you think I'm an idiot? If I hadn't come back, you would have kissed her!"

As Shen Tingzhou walked out, he ran into Li Muye and Li Jinghang's father, Li Jingchong.

Inside the villa, faint sounds of Li Muye's angry, aggrieved, and sorrowful voice could be heard, "Didn't we agree to wait until after Ningge's exam... How could you do this..."

Li Jingchong clearly heard it too, his expression changing abruptly.

At that moment, Shen Tingzhou wished he could become invisible, quickly disappearing before Li Jingchong. He nodded in greeting and hurried away without a word.

-

Opening the car door, Shen Tingzhou sat in the passenger seat, fastened his seatbelt, and said to Xu Xun, "Hurry up, hurry up."

If they were any later, the fact that both Li family members had their eyes on the same person would be exposed.

Xu Xun looked over, "What happened?"

Shen Tingzhou pursed his lips, then said, "This is complicated..."

Xu Xun didn't say anything more, starting the engine and driving out of the villa area.

Shen Tingzhou sighed in relief, noticing a large bag in the backseat. He wondered, "What's this?"

Xu Xun replied, "Hats."

Shen Tingzhou's eyes widened, "Did you really buy all the hats from the store?"

A small curve appeared at the corner of Xu Xun's mouth, "Don't you like them?"

I...

Shen Tingzhou did like them, but this liking often came with a price.

When Xu Xun wore a fluffy hat to bed that night, Shen Tingzhou felt both softened by the fluffiness and endured the accompanying price. How could "ice and fire" describe it?

-

It wasn't until late that Shen Tingzhou finally fell asleep.

Half-asleep, Shen Tingzhou suddenly woke up, "What time is it?"

Xu Xun hugged Shen Tingzhou, nuzzling his neck, "It's still early, go back to sleep. I'll wake you up when it's time."

Hearing this, Shen Tingzhou closed his eyes in relief.

When he woke up again, it was already past nine the next morning. Although the Steward didn't say anything, Shen Tingzhou felt that such a wild night life wasn't good for his health.

He carefully broached the topic with Xu Xun, "I think..."

Before he could finish, Xu Xun, holding a cat, lifted its paw, revealing the pink pads.

Shen Tingzhou's eyes involuntarily turned to the cat, continuing, "The body is the capital of revolution, we can't..."

Xu Xun pressed a spot on the pad, and a sharp claw instantly "popped" out.

Shen Tingzhou couldn't resist hooking the cat's paw with his nail and scratching its pad. The kitten immediately swatted at Shen Tingzhou.

Shen Tingzhou couldn't hold back anymore, picking up the cat and starting to pet it vigorously.

Such a soft belly!

Xu Xun took out several tiny hair clips, the size of sunflower seeds, and clipped a row on the cat's back, transforming it into a beautiful dinosaur cat.

Shen Tingzhou forgot what he wanted to say, holding the cat while Xu Xun tied lace bows around its legs.

Shen Tingzhou took out his phone, snapping a grid of photos of the beautifully dressed cat, then posted them on social media to show off.

Qin Si, who had eight cat masters at home, saw the post and left a sour comment.

"Refuse to dress cats according to human aesthetics; it's tacky!"

Shen Tingzhou replied, "If you're so capable, don't order these pretty little hair clips on shopping apps."

Qin Si, who was about to search for the same hair clips: ...

Qin Si fiercely declared, "I won't! I'll go to the store."

After posting the perfect photos, Shen Tingzhou removed the hair clips, letting the cat roam freely.

Just as he finished, the phone on the coffee table rang. Shen Tingzhou picked it up and saw that it was Song Qingning calling.

Shen Tingzhou instinctively glanced at Xu Xun, who was looking at him.

Shen Tingzhou cleared his throat and answered the phone in front of him.

"What's wrong?" Shen Tingzhou asked. "Is there a problem with Mr. Li's injury?"

Song Qingning hurriedly said, "No, I saw online that you're renting out a house. Senior, do you have an empty room?"

He spoke the last sentence softly, and Shen Tingzhou reacted, "Yes, I have a three-bedroom apartment I'm planning to rent out."

There was silence on the other end, and Shen Tingzhou tentatively asked, "Do you have a friend who wants to rent it?"

After a few seconds, Song Qingning spoke up, "…I want to rent it."

Did the Li family’s three men fight yesterday?

Shen Tingzhou didn't feel right asking Song Qingning the specific reason for wanting to move out, "If you want to rent it… sure, whenever you're free. I'm available these days and can show you around."

Song Qingning knew Shen Tingzhou's address; otherwise, she wouldn't have known it was his place just from the rental listing.

Song Qingning cautiously asked, "Can we meet this afternoon?"

Shen Tingzhou replied readily, "Sure."

After Shen Tingzhou hung up, Xu Xun asked, "Your junior is going to rent your place?"

Shen Tingzhou nodded, "He seems interested. It's better to rent to someone familiar than a stranger."

Xu Xun exposed his cat's belly, "Did their family of four have an argument?"

Shen Tingzhou frowned slightly, "I don't know."

Then Xu Xun realized something, and Shen Tingzhou was shocked, "How did you know?"

Xu Xun countered, "Isn't it obvious?"

Shen Tingzhou: …It is quite obvious.

Li Jinghang and Li Muye's feelings for Song Qingning were clear as day. Yesterday must have been when the conflict erupted, and Song Qingning couldn't handle the pressure, so she wanted to move out.

-

Shen Tingzhou had arranged to show the apartment at three in the afternoon. He and Xu Xun arrived half an hour early.

After the water pipe broke last time, all the living room floors were replaced, and new wallpaper was put up, making it look like a new home.

Shen Tingzhou had lived here for a long time and had developed an attachment to this place. If Song Qingning really came to rent it, he believed she would take better care of it than others.

Song Qingning arrived right on time, ringing the doorbell at exactly three o'clock.

She came alone, looking a bit tired, with dark circles under her eyes.

Shen Tingzhou pretended not to notice and gave her a brief tour of the house.

"All my things have been moved out. If you decide to rent it, you can use everything here."

Song Qingning remained silent throughout the tour. Afterward, she said, "Senior, I want to sign a one-year lease."

Seeing her nervous expression, Shen Tingzhou gently said, "Sure, short-term or long-term, whatever suits your needs. You can even stay for free if you want; I'm just worried the house might develop mold if left unoccupied for too long. The rent doesn't matter."

Song Qingning quickly assured Shen Tingzhou, "I have money."

Shen Tingzhou smiled, "Good, you have money."

Song Qingning felt a bit embarrassed, "The rent should be fair, but…"

Shen Tingzhou waited silently for her to continue.

Song Qingning looked at Shen Tingzhou timidly, "I want to move in as soon as possible."

Shen Tingzhou grew more suspicious that they had argued yesterday, "Sure, you can move in tonight. Just buy some daily necessities and bedding."

As they were talking, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Shen Tingzhou was puzzled and went to open the door. A tall young man stood outside, his eyes filled with anxiety.

Both were surprised to see each other.

"Muye?"

"Doctor Shen?"

Li Muye recovered first, his eyes wide with shock, saying, "Doctor Shen, you're not planning to live with Ningge, are you?"

Behind Li Muye, Zhou Zitan frowned, "What co-living?"

Shen Tingzhou: …

Why does Xiao Zhou always show up at the most unexpected times?