Chapter 62 He Has Nothing to Keep Her

Chapter 62: He Had Nothing to Hold Her With

Sensing the stiffness of the body under her hands, Qin Shuyi lightened her touch.

“Does it hurt?”

Ling Jue muttered, “No.”

“Alright, turn your head.” Well, if he says it doesn’t hurt… The guy was made of iron anyway.

Ling Jue had originally been facing away from Qin Shuyi with his head lowered, but some of the wound was on his side. As he shifted slightly, they ended up face-to-face.

Because of the wound’s location, Qin Shuyi was very close—close enough to pull into his arms.

He caught her familiar scent, and his fingers resting on his knees twitched, itching to move.

Neither spoke again.

Qin Shuyi’s hair fell onto his chest, and Ling Jue instinctively wanted to reach out and tuck it behind her ear.

But at that moment, Qin Shuyi had already finished bandaging him. “Done.”

She took a step back.

Ling Jue abruptly snapped back to reality.

They were no longer on terms intimate enough for embraces or tucking hair behind ears.

He stared into those clear eyes and, without anyone noticing, withdrew his half-raised hand.

“The hospital…” Her eyes held a trace of concern.

Ling Jue knew it was just out of her kindness and gratitude toward someone who had saved her. She would be this kind to anyone.

Perhaps because it was him, there was even a hint of frustration.

“I’ll go myself,” he said calmly.

He picked up the suit jacket from the sofa and draped it over his arm, then stood up and looked at Shi Qilan. “Miss Shi, could I trouble you for your driver?”

He had driven himself here today.

Shi Qilan was momentarily stunned, as if she didn’t quite understand why the atmosphere had suddenly shifted.

But since Ling Jue had asked, she certainly couldn’t refuse.

“No problem.”

As long as this difficult guy agreed to get his injuries treated and didn’t insist on toughing it out like before.

Ling Jue then turned to Qin Shuyi, his tone distant. “You’ve already treated my wound. Consider it even.”

Qin Shuyi pressed her lips together.

“Alright,” she nodded gently.

Since he wanted to draw a clear line and maintain distance, she should respect that—especially in front of their respective blind dates.

“If there are any issues with follow-up treatment, you can have Special Assistant Li contact me. I’ll definitely help with whatever I can.”

It was a polite formality, but it was the attitude expected from someone who had been rescued.

What could she possibly help him with? They both knew he wouldn’t seek her out.

Ling Jue nodded slightly.

They had parted amicably, and now, meeting again, they maintained the necessary decorum.

Ling Jue and Shi Qilan left.

Chi Yu, who had been waiting nearby, walked over, his voice gentle. “Shall I take you home?”

Qin Shuyi smiled. “Let’s go.”

…

In the car.

Qin Shuyi spoke up first. “The person we met at the café earlier was my ex-boyfriend.”

Chi Yu replied, “I had a feeling.”

Qin Shuyi’s eyes curved into a smile.

Chi Yu was a very kind and considerate person, and they got along comfortably, but she hadn’t changed her initial thoughts.

Earlier in the shop, with Ling Jue nearby, it hadn’t been convenient to bring up this topic.

“We broke up not long ago. Although I’ve sorted things out, I don’t have any immediate plans to jump into a new relationship right now.”

Some people might quickly move on and start a new relationship right after a breakup.

But she wasn’t someone who liked to transition seamlessly between relationships.

Leaving some space in between felt like a courtesy to the next person, and it was better for herself too.

It was just as Qin Yuan had worried—the timing of their introduction might not have been ideal.

Chi Yu, however, smiled. “If it’s okay to ask, is it because you still have feelings?”

Qin Shuyi shook her head. “We’re over.”

“Then between the two of you…”

“It’s not like there were no feelings,” she answered. “But more than that, we weren’t compatible.”

People aren’t made of wood or grass. Although neither she nor Ling Jue had invested fully, they had been in a serious relationship. How could there not have been any affection at all?

She wouldn’t completely deny the past.

In certain moments, they must have felt something for each other.

Chi Yu understood.

There were feelings, but not deep enough.

At least, from his observation, Qin Shuyi had truly closed that chapter. As for the other person…

He recalled those sharp, profound eyes that had met his own, and the man’s unwavering, focused gaze fixed on Qin Shuyi as she bent over to bandage him.

"Actually, I think my timing is perfect."

He said, his tone playful, "If I came earlier, you two might not have broken up yet. If I came any later, you might already have new suitors."

Chi Yu felt a wave of relief. "Honestly, I was on the fence about coming today. But then I thought, maybe meeting someone new wouldn't be a bad thing, so I came anyway."

"Shuyi, may I call you that? Perhaps we can take things slowly."

He said earnestly. Qin Shuyi paused for a moment, then nodded.

"So what made you hesitate about coming to this blind date?"

A wry smile touched Chi Yu's lips. "It's a little like your reason, I guess. I wasn't sure if I was ready for a new relationship. I guess I'm not great at meeting a partner's emotional needs."

"Sounds like there's a story behind that," Qin Shuyi responded.

Chi Yu gave a faint smile. "My last relationship ended a year ago. She was five years younger than me, bubbly and energetic, but later she always seemed unhappy."

A pained look crossed his face. "She said I was too rational, that arguing with me was like punching cotton—frustrating and infuriating. And back then, I was also very busy with work; I often couldn't be there for her. In the end, she said she was tired."

Between people, it's often a matter of missed connections and ill-timed love.

They just weren't right for each other.

Qin Shuyi understood.

Everyone's past shapes who they are today.

A somewhat heavy silence fell in the car.

Noticing the silence, Chi Yu went on, "But after we broke up, we didn't stay in touch. She went abroad for further studies and now has a bright future ahead of her."

He looked at Qin Shuyi. "I agree with what you said. You need to be over the last person before you start something new. So, when I said I hope to get to know you slowly, it's based on the premise that I've already let go of the past."

Things with his ex were doomed from the start.

There were regrets, but he wouldn't look back.

As for Qin Shuyi, he had actually heard many praises about her from his mother. At the time, he just felt helpless, thinking his mother would stop at nothing to get him married off. But after meeting her today, he saw she hadn't been exaggerating.

He was starting to believe his mother's words—he'd be thanking her later.

Such a wonderful girl; it was probably impossible not to like her.

Although his competition was stiff, the other guy clearly wasn't thinking straight yet. He figured it was worth a shot.

...

Unlike Qin Shuyi and Chi Yu, who engaged in deep conversation along the way, Ling Jue and Shi Qilan parted ways as soon as they left the café.

On the way to the hospital, he received a phone call.

It was the butler asking whether they should continue purchasing the new season's women's clothing from major brands.

When Qin Shuyi was around, it was the default to have them delivered directly. But now, with no woman by Ling Jue's side, he wasn't quite sure.

The wound on his back throbbed faintly. Ling Jue gazed out the window at the stream of cars, lost in thought. What came to mind was Qin Shuyi's words at the blind date table about "two people, three meals a day, with cats and dogs"—a picture of simple contentment.

The simple image and the intricate, expensive clothing seemed to represent two different ways of life.

His expression grew somber. "No, there's no need. Don't send anything from now on."

"And also, send someone to clear out the things in the apartment on Qingcen Road."

After Qin Shuyi left, he hadn't touched that place.

But now, as she was about to walk hand-in-hand with someone new, perhaps it was time for a complete farewell.

As for transferring the property to Qin Shuyi, he remembered the long list of charitable donations Special Assistant Li had shown him.

A self-mocking smile touched the corner of his lips.

Even if he gave it, she probably wouldn't accept it.

He had nothing left to keep her.

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