Chapter 218 - 217: A Whiff of Green Tea

Chapter 218: Chapter 217: A Whiff of Green Tea

This body was too fragile, especially after taking a large dose of sleeping pills. Gu Qingyin was afraid that other foods would irritate her stomach, so she bought a bowl of eight-treasure congee. It was warm and soft, both filling and a quick source of energy.

Setting up a small tray table on the bed, Gu Qingyin placed the bowl of congee on it and began to eat as if no one else was there.

A vein throbbed on Zhou Jingchuan’s forehead. "Gu Qingyin...!"

Huh? Gu Qingyin paused mid-sip. ’The original owner of this body has the same name as me! And we look very similar...’ Her brow furrowed. ’Don’t tell me I’ve been thrown into a parallel universe?’

Zhou Jingchuan had wanted to talk to her about their engagement, but the thought of her amnesia made it inexplicably difficult to bring up, even though this was all her own doing. After a moment of consideration, he decided to start with an introduction.

"My name is Zhou Jingchuan. I’m your... fiancé."

Gu Qingyin’s head snapped around in shock. ’My fiancé is right here beside me!’ She shook her head and quickly tried to distance herself. "No, no, no, the engagement is already off. From now on, our lives, deaths, and marriages have nothing to do with each other!"

Seeing the unpleasant look on Zhou Jingchuan’s face, she thought for a moment before asking, "Did we exchange any keepsakes? Or did our families’ elders exchange betrothal letters?"

"No." Zhou Jingchuan’s thin lips pressed into a line, his expression darkening. "It was just a verbal agreement. After your parents passed away, the agreement was supposed to be voided, but my mother couldn’t bear to see you all alone, so..."

"I understand," Gu Qingyin said with a nod. "Once I’m discharged from the hospital, I’ll go and explain things clearly to your mother." She wiped her mouth and asked politely, "Could I trouble you to answer a few questions for me?"

Zhou Jingchuan nodded. "Go ahead."

"You just said my parents have passed away, right? So am I living on my own now? Do I have any close relatives I’m in contact with? And what do I do for a living?"

Zhou Jingchuan thought for a moment. "You don’t have a job, and you don’t usually socialize much."

It was rare for him to be so tactful; he was afraid of upsetting the patient. In reality, what he wanted to say was that Gu Qingyin was a reclusive loner who lived like a ghost, making it impossible for anyone to like her. She didn’t even have a single friend.

After that thought, Zhou Jingchuan continued, "The inheritance your parents left you, plus the insurance payout from the accident back then, is enough for you to live several lifetimes without doing a thing."

It dawned on Gu Qingyin, which only made her more confused. ’No terrible relatives and a huge inheritance in hand, so why would she commit suicide?’ After thinking it over, she could only come up with one reason.

She looked at Zhou Jingchuan. "Were we close before?"

Zhou Jingchuan looked at her with a complicated expression.

Before this, Gu Qingyin had indeed been very dependent on him. Out of pity, he had once considered taking good care of her, but he simply had no feelings for her. Whether it was their hobbies, interests, or personalities, they were just too incompatible.

So, after trying for a while, Zhou Jingchuan gave up. He began to intentionally keep his distance, looking for the right moment to break off the engagement for good.

Now... might just be the perfect opportunity.

"We were just friends. I have someone I love," Zhou Jingchuan said bluntly. "Even if you hadn’t brought it up, I was planning to end the engagement soon. I can’t let Xiao Xiao be wronged."

Gu Qingyin got it. The look she gave him became a bit peculiar. ’It was most likely because the original owner was in love with this fiancé, who was in love with someone else... Sigh. There are plenty of fish in the sea, so why couldn’t she see past this one guy?’

"You and that Xiao Xiao... you haven’t already made it official, have you?"

Zhou Jingchuan frowned instinctively. "No. Don’t get the wrong idea."

Gu Qingyin shrugged, not bothering to press the issue, and turned back to her congee.

Zhou Jingchuan should have been relieved, but his brow only furrowed deeper. He was clearly not used to this indifferent attitude from her.

"Get some rest. I’m leaving now."

Gu Qingyin gave a polite wave. "Bye-bye. You don’t have to close the door, I’d like to air the room out."

Zhou Jingchuan took a deep breath, feeling inexplicably unwilling to let it go. "Let me know when you’re being discharged. I’ll come pick you up." Afraid she would refuse, he quickly added, "We’ll go straight to my house to clear things up with my mother."

Just as he expected, Gu Qingyin nodded. "Alright. Does your mother like anything in particular? It wouldn’t be right to show up empty-handed."

Zhou Jingchuan’s expression grew even more complicated. "Your personality has changed a lot since you lost your memory."

Gu Qingyin let out a calm "Hah." "I’ve already been to death’s door and back. A little change is perfectly normal."

"Jadeite," Zhou Jingchuan said. "My mom likes jadeite. And she’s your godmother, not just some ’Auntie’."

Gu Qingyin nodded to show she understood. "I won’t see you out."

Zhou Jingchuan took a few steps toward the door, then stopped, turning back to look at her, hesitant to speak.

Gu Qingyin sighed inwardly. "Is there something else you need to say?"

As if he had made up his mind, Zhou Jingchuan said, "You’ll always be my little sister. If you ever run into any trouble, you can always come to me."

Gu Qingyin gave a couple of perfunctory "uh-huhs," just wanting to get rid of him so she could go back to watching her variety show while eating her congee.

But things didn’t go as planned. Before Zhou Jingchuan could even reach the door, there was another knock, and the door was pushed open.

Gu Qingyin assumed it was a nurse, but instead, a delicate-looking woman in a long dress walked in. The moment she opened her mouth, she reeked of "green tea."

The woman stopped at the doorway, glanced at Gu Qingyin on the bed, then at Zhou Jingchuan, and her eyes immediately reddened. "I’m sorry, am I interrupting you?"

An expression of heartache instantly appeared on Zhou Jingchuan’s face. He walked over and took the woman’s hand. "No, I was just about to leave."

The woman then looked at Gu Qingyin with concern. "Doesn’t Sister Gu need someone to stay with her? Jingchuan, you’re busy with work and don’t have time. I can stay and take care of her."

Zhou Jingchuan looked disapproving. "Your hands are for painting. How could you do such menial work? If she really needs someone to look after her, we can just hire a caregiver."

The woman shook her head, refusing. "An outsider could never be as attentive as family."

Zhou Jingchuan’s brow furrowed again. "Then how about we have Mrs. Chen come over?"

’The woman’s heart skipped a beat. Mrs. Chen is the cook at the old Zhou Family residence and has worked there for over twenty years. Her status in the Zhou Family is significant. If she really came, wouldn’t that be like giving Gu Qingyin an assist?’

She shook her head again. "Mrs. Chen is getting old. I’m afraid she can’t pull an all-nighter. It’s better if I stay." ℴ

As one of them made suggestions and the other kept refusing out of "heartfelt concern," Gu Qingyin, on the hospital bed, stopped eating her congee. She looked on as if watching a particularly cringey drama.

"Um... everyone has their hobbies, and while I don’t get it, I respect it. But if you’re going to act out your little soap opera, can you please not do it in my hospital room? I’d much rather be watching a variety show!"

The two people at the door froze, momentarily at a loss for words.

Gu Qingyin’s gaze fell on the woman. She ventured a guess, "You must be Xiao Xiao?"

The woman started, looking back in confusion. ’Why is Gu Qingyin asking something she already knows? And her tone is so calm... Has she changed her strategy?’

Beside her, Zhou Jingchuan reminded her, "She has amnesia."

Lin Xiao was surprised for a second, then put on a pained expression. "Don’t be sad. We’ll help you remember the past and get back on your feet as soon as possible."

Gu Qingyin raised an eyebrow. "I’m young, beautiful, single, and rich. I’m free to live as I please, and my body... will be healthy soon. What do I have to be sad about?"

Lin Xiao froze again. ’Single...?’