Shen Qingqing first went to the hospital.
She briefly explained Chenchen's symptoms to the doctor, whose expression turned serious. "The child's condition might be quite serious. Preliminarily, it looks like it could be an adjustment disorder, but further examination is needed. We also need to observe the child's symptoms."
Shen Qingqing's heart sank to the bottom. "Do I need to bring the child in?"
"Not yet," the doctor said, considering his options. "If the child really has developed a mental disorder, it's in its early stages. Bringing the child to the hospital now might provoke their aversion. Here, let's exchange contact information."
He tore off a piece of paper, wrote down his phone number, and handed it to Shen Qingqing.
"Go back and observe the child's condition and symptoms. Call me if anything happens. Also, please don't treat the child differently because of this. Maintain a normal attitude, otherwise, you might scare them."
Shen Qingqing felt the slip of paper in her hand was incredibly heavy. "Okay."
...
Returning home, she saw a familiar figure sitting in the living room.
Luolina.
"What are you doing here?!"
Luolina stood up and extended her arms towards her. "What, you don't welcome me?"
Despite her words, when Shen Qingqing approached, Luolina hugged her tightly.
Shen Qingqing hugged her back. "What are you saying? I'd hit you if you said that. When would I not welcome you?"
"Heh heh."
Luolina let go and looked Shen Qingqing up and down, finally concluding, "You look good. Not fat, not thin. It seems Fu Jingshu is taking good care of you. I can rest assured leaving you with him."
Shen Qingqing pulled her to sit down. "Why did you suddenly come? You didn't call me, I could have prepared some of your favorite dishes in advance."
She chattered on, but every word showed her care and understanding for her good sister.
Luolina was in high spirits. "No need for delicious food. I've just been a bit troubled lately and couldn't find anyone to talk to, so I came to find you."
"Your first love?"
Luolina's eyes widened. "You guessed it so quickly?"
"...It wasn't that hard."
Shen Qingqing remembered very clearly that over the years, Luolina had only ever been devastated for one person: this first love. When they broke up, she had been in great pain and fallen into a slump for quite some time.
Luolina's face was filled with inner turmoil. "I don't know how to say it. I just feel like he's being excessively enthusiastic towards me now."
Shen Qingqing frowned slightly. "Does he still have feelings for you?"
"I don't know." Luolina was afraid she was overthinking things and appearing conceited, yet she trusted her intuition, which was why she felt conflicted. "Why don't I tell you about it, and you can analyze it for me."
She briefly recounted a few incidents.
For example, during lunch, the teacher brought her a heart-shaped fried egg.
And when she encountered a bottleneck at work, the teacher would help her solve it, but he wasn't this enthusiastic with other students.
Moreover, setting aside other things, this man's professional experience in this area was indeed unparalleled. Luolina respected him greatly, and at the same time, due to their past as first loves, her heart was complicated.
Shen Qingqing thought for a moment and decided to ask directly. "Just tell me, do you like him?"
Luolina was taken aback. "Why are you so direct?"
"Then what else? Should I be conflicted with you?" Shen Qingqing wasn't that kind of person and couldn't do such things. She inherently disliked procrastination. "If you really like him, then give it a try. If you think he's not the one, then decisively give up. Don't wear yourself out in a relationship that doesn't belong to you."
Luolina felt her words were very reasonable. "You're right. In fact, I already have the answer in my heart, I just haven't dared to face it."
"It seems you don't plan to accept him."
"How did you know?" Luolina's eyes widened again. She felt Shen Qingqing was almost inside her head. "Sister, how are you so amazing? Have you opened your heavenly eyes?"
She reached out to touch Shen Qingqing's forehead, but Shen Qingqing quickly grabbed her hand and said exasperatedly, "If you wanted to get back together with him, would you need to come find me to say it?"
You'd just act directly!
Even if it was out of a girl's reserve, not knowing how to take the initiative, then you'd consult me on how to get him to speak first, not whether to get back together.
Luolina gave her a thumbs up, then sighed again. "Actually, it's not just because I don't want to get back together. It's also because I saw my teacher involved with another woman. I saw them..."
"An ambiguous scene?" Shen Qingqing interjected.
"No," Luolina shook her head, then nodded again. "You could say that. Although it was just a hug, I saw how dependent that woman was on him, and he... didn't refuse."
Shen Qingqing didn't know what to say for a moment.
So he was a scumbag playing both sides.
Looking at Luolina's sad face, Shen Qingqing forcefully patted her shoulder. Luolina winced in pain, and before she could complain, Shen Qingqing said sternly, "Pull yourself together. It's just a man. You've forgotten him, so he's a stranger when he returns. No, a colleague. As for his relationship with that woman, that has nothing to do with you."
Luolina grimaced. After being hit like that, she felt as if her meridians had been cleared.
"I understand. I'll listen to you. I'll decisively cut ties with him."
"That's the spirit!"
Shen Qingqing rolled her eyes at her and didn't offer further comfort. She got up and said, "I'll go to the kitchen and get you a glass of juice. Consider it my comfort. Don't expect too much!"
"You call yourself a good sister, but you only offer a glass of juice as comfort..."
Luolina said this with a sigh, but a smile played on her lips. Regardless, her sister cared about her, she was absolutely sure of that.
That night.
Shen Qingqing received another call from Fu Jingshu, saying he had to work overtime and wouldn't be back for a while.
Shen Qingqing didn't think much of it. She reminded him, "Take care of yourself, don't stay up too late. Call me if anything happens. The children and I are at home, don't worry."
"Okay, you get some rest too. Love you."
Fu Jingshu's deep voice lacked emotion, but this rare expression of affection told Shen Qingqing that the man felt guilty.
She chuckled and said, "It's fine, working overtime is normal. I know your company is facing some difficulties lately, and you need to resolve them. Don't worry, I'll be fine, and the children will be okay too."
However, after hanging up the phone, the smile on her face slowly disappeared.
"Mommy, time to sleep."
Shen Jinxi, holding Chenchen's hand, stood on the stairs. The two brothers looked at Shen Qingqing.
Shen Qingqing stood up and walked towards them. When she reached them, she ruffled each child's hair as usual. But seeing Chenchen's expression, the smile on her lips froze slightly.