Hearing that Lu Qiqi would come immediately, Fang Lehong smiled with satisfaction. Although she wasn't entirely pleased with this daughter-in-law, she was still somewhat useful at critical moments, not entirely a waste.

If it were anyone else, Lu Qiqi would have naturally ignored it. Fang Lehong thought she could just use her connections to help the Si family maintain relationships? It wouldn't be that easy. However, since it was Chu Linchen's mother, that was a different story.

Applying a warm-toned lipstick, Lu Qiqi pursed her lips and smiled. The reflection in the mirror showed a beautiful, generous, and vibrant woman. Perfect, that was the look.

She chose a demure dress, her fingers gliding across the dressing table, finally landing on her favorite bottle of perfume.

She sprayed a little on her wrist and the hem of her dress, then inhaled the scent, a faint smile unconsciously appearing on her face.

Arriving at the hospital, Lu Qiqi bought an exquisite fruit basket at the entrance and also carried the bird's nest that Fang Lehong had just purchased. She knocked on the door.

"Come in." Inside the room, Mrs. Chu's somewhat impatient voice sounded. She had just been admitted, and visitors were already coming in waves, irritating her to no end.

Entering the ward, Lu Qiqi casually placed the gifts on a nearby cabinet.

It was a VIP ward with an excellent environment. Sunlight streamed in through the window, brightening the room. The suite even had a TV, a living room, and a refrigerator. There was no trace of the cold, pungent smell of disinfectant typically found in hospitals. Instead, it had a warm, homey feel.

"Mrs. Chu, I'm Lu Qiqi. You can just call me Qiqi. I heard you sprained your ankle, so I came to see how you're doing."

Before her marriage, Lu Qiqi had already met Mrs. Chu a couple of times. A beautiful and sensible young lady—that was Mrs. Chu's impression of her, so naturally, she wasn't too resistant to her.

Moreover, Qiqi's current attitude was respectful without being servile, unlike the woman who had just left, whose fawning flattery treated her like a fool. This made Mrs. Chu feel much more at ease.

"Oh, it's Qiqi. What brings you here? Is there something you need?" Since her mood had improved, Mrs. Chu decided that if Lu Qiqi had any requests that weren't too outrageous, she would agree to them.

"No, Mrs. Chu. I happen to know a director at this hospital. I was originally here to see her today, and I happened to see that you were hospitalized, so I came to visit. By the way, I already spoke to her when I came in. She'll take extra care of you here."

Lu Qiqi explained her intentions in a few words. Her straightforwardness surprised Mrs. Chu a little.

Then, Lu Qiqi, with her meticulously washed hands, sat obediently by the bedside, peeling an orange. Her fair and slender fingers danced nimbly. Her sweet smile, gentle voice, and the faint scent of orange dispelled Mrs. Chu's irritability caused by the pain in her ankle.

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After chatting for a while longer, Mrs. Chu discovered that this young lady was quite knowledgeable and humorous. Her fondness for Qiqi grew even more, and she even felt a pang of regret. Such an outstanding girl, why did she marry so young? Otherwise, she would have been a good match for her son...

The thought of her son filled Mrs. Chu with both pride and a headache.

After about an hour, Lu Qiqi noticed a subtle look of fatigue on Mrs. Chu's face. She immediately understood that it was time to leave. She stood up and said politely, "Mrs. Chu, I enjoyed our conversation so much that I lost track of time. I'm so sorry for disturbing your rest. I should take my leave now."

"Alright, I won't keep you then." Mrs. Chu nodded, preparing to take a nap. Her fondness for this considerate girl deepened.

Lu Qiqi thoughtfully adjusted the angle of Mrs. Chu's bed and was about to leave when an imposing figure appeared at the doorway.

He wore a well-tailored dark suit over a fitted black shirt, buttoned all the way to the top, giving him an air of abstinence.

He lowered his head slightly, looking at Lu Qiqi. His handsome, icy face was expressionless, but his deep-set eyes narrowed, like a leopard sizing up its prey.

"Uncle." Lu Qiqi's body stiffened slightly, and she subconsciously took two steps back. Then, she quickly put on a well-behaved smile and bowed slightly. "I'll be on my way now."

"Linchen, see Qiqi out."

In the hospital room, Madam Chu's voice was heard. Lu Qiqi was about to decline, but Chu Linchen had already turned and walked a few steps before stopping, his cold gaze fixed on Lu Qiqi.

His stare made Lu Qiqi's hair stand on end. She had no choice but to quicken her pace to catch up. Chu Linchen, with his long legs, strode forward. Although he was ostensibly seeing her off at his mother's request, he showed no intention of waiting for her. Lu Qiqi didn't dare to voice any objection and could only hasten her steps to keep up.

The two of them walked out of the hospital, one after the other.

Throughout the journey, Chu Linchen remained silent, his face taut and gloomy as a stormy sky. His handsome brows were tightly furrowed, and the air pressure around him was terrifyingly low. Even though the temperature outside wasn't low, Lu Qiqi felt a chill emanating from him, making her heart palpitate with unease.

Recalling that Chu Linchen had also encountered her the last time she was discussing business, Lu Qiqi guessed that he must have misunderstood her again, thinking that she was trying to use Madam Chu to get close to the Chu family. She was about to explain, but the person in front of her suddenly stopped.

Caught off guard, Lu Qiqi nearly bumped into him. She quickly halted her steps, the distance between them now incredibly close. Lu Qiqi could smell the faint scent of cold cedarwood on him.

The somewhat familiar scent evoked memories of that day for Lu Qiqi, but she quickly pulled herself back to reality.

"Lu Qiqi, I don't care about your little schemes, but I'm warning you, don't involve my mother in them."

His voice was as cold as ice water, devoid of any warmth. He looked down at her condescendingly, a hint of warning in his eyes.

Lu Qiqi felt a surge of resentment. She had acted out of kindness. A look of exasperation crossed her face, and she sighed, explaining, "You've probably misunderstood. I have no such intentions."

"It's best if you don't. Otherwise, don't blame me for intervening." He remained noncommittal about her words and warned her again.

She didn't want to explain further, but she worried that Chu Linchen's misunderstanding would ruin her plans. Left with no choice, she could only reassure him again, "Chu Linchen, even if you don't think I'm a good person, please rest assured that I won't involve innocent people. Similarly, please turn a blind eye."

With that, she turned and left without a backward glance, no longer attempting to waste her breath. Some things only need to be said once. Those who don't trust you will doubt you even if you lay your heart bare before them.

As Lu Qiqi walked away, her graceful figure stirred a fragrant breeze. Chu Linchen watched her retreating back, a strange feeling arising in his heart. It was an inexplicable sense of familiarity, a fleeting thought that he couldn't quite grasp.