After being lectured by An An, Huo Rou finished her dinner seriously.
An An looked at Qin Ningyi, "Dad, you're right here, you must supervise Mom's eating. They say regular diet and rest are good for health."
The two did not tell An An about what they had encountered, and could not help but smile watching him fuss.
Qin Fei Wan returned the next day at noon.
She looked disheveled, and An An was the first to notice her, "Auntie!"
He greeted Qin Fei Wan as usual, but Qin Fei Wan could only manage a faint smile in response.
She had exhausted all her strength.
Qin Ningyi came out of the kitchen, saw Qin Fei Wan's pale face, and took off his apron to walk over.
"Sister, are you alright?"
Qin Fei Wan shook her head.
How could she be alright? She had simply been rejected. Qin Fei Wan gave a self-deprecating laugh. While she was lost in memories, that person had already moved on to the future.
Even though his eyes held some past affection, he still shook his head. He even forcefully threw the ring off her hand.
He said, "Sister Qin, don't take childhood jokes seriously."
He said, "You will find your own happiness."
It was late and the dew was heavy. He found her accommodation, and his considerate manner was something she had never seen before.
She had intentionally wanted to delve into his inconsistent words and actions, still holding onto a sliver of hope, but Chen Guochao's lips were too tightly sealed.
She was not one to dwell on things. She had asked him, received an answer, and it was time to let go.
Qin Fei Wan touched the spot on her palm where the ring used to be, feeling an emptiness in her heart.
For so many years, her affection had seemed to become an obsession, and obsessions couldn't be changed in a short while.
Qin Fei Wan gave a bitter smile and looked at Qin Ningyi, "Ningyi, you and A Rou be well. I want to go out and have some quiet time… I should be back by Grandma's birthday."
She needed to go somewhere else to clear her thoughts and empty out those dead memories.
Qin Ningyi looked at her unwell expression. Her usually vibrant red lips had lost their color, and she was no longer her usual cheerful self.
But when it came to matters of the heart, he couldn't help her at all.
"Alright," Qin Ningyi nodded. "Where are you going? Just let me know when you arrive."
Huo Rou came downstairs and saw Qin Fei Wan's bare-faced and not-so-good state. She asked with a light tone, "What did my brother say?"
Qin Fei Wan looked up and met Huo Rou's concerned gaze, smiling and shaking her head. "He just doesn't like me, that's all."
"A Rou," she paused and said, "I'm sorry, I can't go buy gifts with you. I…"
She wanted to be alone, and there was a competition abroad that could serve as an escape. She had to leave today to make it in time.
She went back to her room, quickly packed her things, applied the most vibrant lipstick, and seemed to regain her usual efficiency as she dragged her suitcase into the car and left.
After seeing Qin Fei Wan off, a lingering worry remained in Huo Rou's eyes. She knew Chen Guochao was not someone indecisive. He was a straightforward guy. Even when saving someone, he wouldn't worry about them catching a cold, nor would he give them his jacket.
Everything he did was out of character for him. It wasn't hard to guess his intentions…
"Alright, don't worry. My sister is very good at self-regulation. She'll handle it."
Qin Ningyi had already sent people to follow her, so there would be no danger.
He tugged at Huo Rou's hand, wanting to pull her out of her emotional state. "You don't need to worry about the gift either. I already found one."
He couldn't help but kiss her eyes when he met Huo Rou's puzzled gaze. "I told you, I'll handle everything."
The thought of Huo Rou's intention to choose a gift for her grandmother filled him with inner brightness.
"Let's go."
An An heard them say they were going out, let go of Shen Feng's hand, and raised his own. "An An wants to go too!"
"Dad, what should An An give Grandma for her birthday?"
An An knew his classmate's interests for his birthday, but he didn't know how to approach this great-grandmother he had never met…
What was that word again? An An frowned. Right, catering to their preferences.
Since Dad had already prepared everything for Mom, did he also have a share! He wanted to see what his great-grandmother liked so he could prepare it himself next time.
Qin Ningyi looked at An An's expectant gaze and felt a jolt. He chuckled inwardly.
He was so focused on preparing for Huo Rou that he had forgotten about An An.