WHCTIL - 22

Over the years, wherever Qin Tang went, local volunteer organization leaders would greet her. This was the first time a station leader recognized her identity, and she couldn’t figure out when she had slipped up.

Had Jiang Chuan investigated her?

Jiang Chuan looked at her. “Are you?”

Though it was almost certain, he still wanted confirmation.

At this point, there was nothing to hide.

Qin Tang nodded. “Mm, An Yi Foundation was established by my parents when I was three years old.”

Jiang Chuan chuckled softly and said nothing.

“You haven’t answered yet. How did you recognize me? Did you investigate me?”

Jiang Chuan glanced at her and said, “You gave Yueyue a rabbit doll, and its ears had the An Yi Foundation logo. I saw it when I visited Yueyue.”

The rabbit was palm-sized and pink. That day, he and Lü An had gone out to run errands, and on their way back, they passed by the hospital. Lü An said he wanted to visit Yueyue. When they arrived, Yueyue was asleep, hugging the rabbit.

When Yueyue woke up, she said that the rabbit was a gift from Sister Qin Tang.

The An Yi Foundation’s logo was a little angel with wings.

Qin Tang was stunned. “Just because of that?”

Jiang Chuan nodded. “You’re surnamed Qin, and your parents donated a Hope Primary School, the one I attended.”

Actress Jing Xin and her husband had always been passionate about charity work. The townsfolk and A Qi mentioned that Qin Tang resembled Jing Xin quite a bit, which was indeed true.

Beautiful, from a good family, devoted to charity, and surnamed Qin—everything pointed clearly to her being the same little girl he once kissed until she cried.

His dark eyes gazed at her as he said, “I met you when you were very young.”

This time, it was Qin Tang’s turn to be stunned. “How young?” Upon reflection, it wasn’t strange. When she was little, she often accompanied her parents on their charity trips. Jiang Chuan was six or seven years older, so it made sense that he remembered her parents and her.

Jiang Chuan raised his hand, indicating a height above the bed. “About this tall.”

Qin Tang: “...”

During this trip, the two had spent two nights together in Yangquan Mountain and shared the harrowing experience of surviving last night. Qin Tang’s attitude towards Jiang Chuan had improved significantly.

Jiang Chuan looked at her and asked indifferently, “You were young back then. You probably don’t remember much about the children in the mountainous areas.”

When she was young and accompanied her parents on charity visits, the mountain children were too shy to play with her. They would watch her from afar or circle around her without saying much, as if afraid of contaminating her.

Qin Tang thought for a moment and gritted her teeth. “Who says I don’t remember? There was a little thug who took advantage of me.”

Jiang Chuan: “...”

“He was several years older than me and already knew better, yet he still took advantage of me.”

“How did he take advantage of you?” he asked lazily.

“That little thug kissed me.” Qin Tang frowned. Her father had always sternly taught her not to let boys kiss or hug her randomly. At that time, she was young and easily frightened, thinking being kissed by a boy was a serious matter, so she burst into tears immediately.

Her memories from ages three or four were now hazy, and she didn’t recall many things clearly. But that particular incident was etched in her mind vividly. Even now as an adult, she couldn’t tolerate anyone taking advantage of her.

“How did he kiss you?” Jiang Chuan asked again, his deep voice tinged with amusement.

Qin Tang’s face flushed slightly, but she remained silent.

The doctor and nurse entered the room to check Qin Tang’s condition. The nurse said, “You’ll need another IV drip this afternoon.”

Qin Tang nodded. Just then, Jiang Chuan’s phone rang. He glanced at it and stepped out of the ward.

After a while, the doctor and nurse left the room.

Qin Tang sat on the bed in silence for a moment, thinking about her destroyed camera. Her chest tightened painfully, throbbing with each heartbeat. She felt unbearably miserable, and her mood quickly plummeted. She couldn’t muster any energy.

Jiang Chuan had gone out to answer the call and hadn’t returned yet.

At noon, someone brought her food. After eating, Qin Tang lay down for a while.

In the afternoon, the nurse came to administer the IV. Seeing the empty bed next to Qin Tang’s, the nurse couldn’t help but whisper, “I told him to rest properly, but he keeps running around. Miss Qin, your boyfriend is so badly injured, and you don’t even take care of him.”

Qin Tang opened her mouth, about to explain that Jiang Chuan wasn’t her boyfriend.

But before she could speak, the nurse found the right spot and inserted the needle. It hurt a little, and she momentarily lost her words.

The nurse continued, “But, you know, your boyfriend really takes good care of you. Last night, when your hands were covered in paint, he asked me for olive oil and painstakingly cleaned them off. Look, your hands aren’t even scratched.”

Qin Tang was stunned. “He washed my hands?”

The nurse smiled. “Yes, it was him.”

Last night, Jiang Chuan was injured, and Qin Tang had carbon monoxide poisoning with her hands covered in paint. They had rushed to the emergency room. Several nurses gossiped privately about how the two ended up in such a state, but ultimately, it was patient privacy, so they only whispered among themselves.

After the nurse left, Qin Tang spread her fingers and looked at her hands.

So… he also trimmed her nails?

Qin Tang bit her lip, moving her fingers slightly, her face reddening.

It wasn’t until evening that Jiang Chuan returned.

The ward lights were off, leaving the room dimly lit. Qin Tang leaned against the bed, her legs curled up, her demeanor dejected and low.

Jiang Chuan stood at the door and flicked on the light switch.

He looked at her.

She raised her head to look at him.

After observing her for a moment, Jiang Chuan placed the food on the table and said, “Come and eat.”

Qin Tang crawled over, silently took the chopsticks, and began eating with her head down.

She didn’t speak, and neither did Jiang Chuan ask.

By nightfall, it started raining.

Qin Tang borrowed Jiang Chuan’s phone. He handed it to her, and she turned her back to him to make the call, her voice soft and tender.

“Mom... my phone got stolen...”

“It’s okay... it was my fault. I’ll buy a new phone and get a SIM card tomorrow... Mm, I know... I’ll be more careful...”

“Alright... Bye, Mom.”

Qin Tang hung up and returned the phone to Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan placed the phone on the table and said, “Your parents are worried?”

Qin Tang hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. “A little.”

“They should be concerned. A young girl like you venturing into the mountains isn’t safe, especially if you encounter someone like me.” Jiang Chuan thought about last night’s events. He hadn’t expected her to get involved, but fortunately, nothing serious happened. Otherwise, he wouldn’t know how to explain to her parents or to himself.

“You’re good. You didn’t do anything wrong,” Qin Tang said, looking at him. “Zhao Qianhe is a bastard, using charity for his selfish gains. You did the right thing by gathering evidence and reporting him.”

Jiang Chuan observed her for a moment and chuckled. “Why did you run back to find me last night?”

Qin Tang lowered her head. “I came here with you; I couldn’t just leave you behind.”

After a few seconds, she added, “I was afraid you’d get beaten to death…”

Though it wasn’t her responsibility, she was genuinely terrified of someone dying near her.

Besides, Jiang Chuan could have chosen not to exchange places with her last night, but he did. Regardless, she couldn’t bring herself to leave him alone.

Jiang Chuan stared straight at her, leaning back and smiling. “Don’t worry, I’m not that easy to kill. Don’t do that again next time.”

Qin Tang let out a small humph, pulled the blanket over herself, and lay down.

The storm raged outside during the night, making quite a racket.

Having slept too much during the day, Qin Tang couldn’t fall asleep now. She tossed and turned, her thoughts returning to the shattered camera.

She lay flat, staring at the pitch-black ceiling.

“Jiang Chuan, my camera is gone.”

Her small, fragile, sorrowful voice suddenly filled the ward.

Jiang Chuan pressed his tongue against his back teeth, remaining silent for a few seconds. He sat up against the headboard, propping one leg up.

“Qin Tang, come here for a moment.”

Qin Tang didn’t move, turning her head to look at him. The ward was dark, making it hard to see clearly. “What for...”

Jiang Chuan’s deep voice commanded, “I have something for you. Come here.”

Qin Tang hesitated, then lifted the blanket and got out of bed. She took a couple of steps, stopping half a meter away, and extended her hand. “What is it?”

Jiang Chuan grabbed her hand and pulled her forward.

Qin Tang exclaimed, “What are you doing!”

She fell onto the edge of his bed, her head bumping against his leg—hard.

Unbalanced, her hand accidentally pressed against his abdomen through the blanket.

Jiang Chuan stiffened, quickly grabbing her hand and rasping, “Where do you think you’re putting your hand?”

Qin Tang: “...”

Her face turned bright red. It was him who called her over to give her something!

Stiffly, she tilted her head up and asked, “What are you giving me? If you don’t have anything, let go of me.”

In the darkness, his eyes were deep and inscrutable.

Qin Tang grew flustered and struggled slightly. “You...”

The next second, Jiang Chuan grasped her hand and slipped a tiny, familiar object into her palm.

Qin Tang felt it with her fingers and looked at him in surprise. “The memory card!”

Jiang Chuan: “Mm.”

It was the camera’s memory card.

Qin Tang carefully examined it, her heart racing with excitement. A wide smile spread across her face. “How did you manage to get this?”

“I happened to grab it during the fight.”

He said, “A part of it was broken, but I glued it back together. I tested it—it still works.”

Qin Tang couldn’t stop touching the memory card, her mood much improved. Although the camera had been smashed, the photos were still intact, which made up for a lot of the loss.

By the faint light from the window, Jiang Chuan could make out her face.

Qin Tang turned to turn on the light, but Jiang Chuan stopped her, leaning closer and whispering low in her ear, “Happy now?”

Qin Tang pursed her lips, her heart pounding wildly. She pulled back slightly and whispered, “Mm, much happier. Thank you.”

Getting the memory card under those circumstances must have been incredibly difficult.

“Why are you backing away?” he asked.

“...Then why are you so close?” she countered.

“Come here,” Jiang Chuan said, his voice low and raspy, tinged with a hint of temptation. “I’ll tell you another secret.”

Qin Tang blinked, skeptical but curious.

After a moment, she leaned closer anyway.

Jiang Chuan said, “Closer.”

Qin Tang: “...”

The next second, she abruptly stood up, realizing he was just teasing her.

But Jiang Chuan didn’t let her escape so easily. He tugged her back forcefully, and she fell onto the bed again.

Furious and embarrassed, Qin Tang slapped his chest. “Jiang Chuan, you’re bullying me!”

Jiang Chuan chuckled, moving closer to her ear. “That little thug who kissed you back then... that was me.”