Chapter 45 The Grilled Squid Is Rich, Spicy, Fragrant, Tender, and Juicy…
Bai Yuanzhi handed the grilled squid to Chen Shuojie, “Here, your midnight snack.”
Chen Shuojie didn’t take it, sneering coldly, “Now you don’t even call me Mr. Chen?”
Yesterday, she was still coldly addressing him with “Mr. Chen” and “you” one after another.
Why is she acting like nothing happened today?!
Bai Yuanzhi frowned, “I’m not on duty right now.”
“If you don’t want to eat, then I’m leaving.” After saying that, she turned and walked away, taking a bite of the grilled squid as she went.
And honestly, the grilled squid was really delicious!
It had a unique sea scent, enhanced by the seasoning, making it rich, spicy, fragrant, tender, and juicy.
“You… stop.” Chen Shuojie was infuriated by her heartless decisiveness.
Seeing Bai Yuanzhi determined to leave, he had no choice but to call out to stop her. But he was still so angry that he couldn’t help but ask sarcastically, “Is this all you brought me? No plain congee?”
Bai Yuanzhi: …
“Are you following me?” Bai Yuanzhi frowned slightly.
Chen Shuojie argued unreasonably, “Just happened to run into you.”
When he discovered she was on leave this morning, Chen Shuojie was very angry.
He knew she was avoiding him.
But not seeing her made him feel terrible.
He couldn’t help but wonder where she had gone, whether she was with another man…
And the more he thought about it, the more anxious and angry he became.
Finally, he couldn’t hold back and started guessing where she might be.
He thought, could she have gone to night school?
So he went to the night school to look for her, and he actually found her!
But seeing how seriously she was studying, Chen Shuojie couldn’t bear to disturb her. He thought he’d wait until she finished class and then pick her up.
Unexpectedly…
Zhou Weihao beat him to it!
At that time, Chen Shuojie was sitting in his luxury car across from the night school, watching helplessly as Zhou Weihao stopped Bai Yuanzhi, and then watched as Bai Yuanzhi got into Zhou Weihao’s car!
It made him so angry…
He had no choice but to order Ah Bin to drive and follow them.
Chen Shuojie followed them all the way to the night market.
He watched them sit at a small stall,
watched Bai Yuanzhi order all that junk food… so angry that he ordered the exact same things, while secretly cursing whether the Zhou family was about to go bankrupt. Why didn’t he take her to eat something better instead of bringing her to such a filthy and dirty place to eat?
Seeing Bai Yuanzhi enjoying her food so much,
Chen Shuojie hesitantly took a few bites himself, then put it down with a look of disgust.
The best way to cook high-quality seafood is the simplest methods like steaming or blanching, which bring out the natural sweetness of the seafood.
Only frozen seafood, which is less fresh, is cooked with methods like grilling or frying, paired with strong-flavored seasonings to mask the less-than-fresh smell.
And so, Chen Shuojie sat not far away, staring intently at Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Weihao.
He saw them talking animatedly,
saw Zhou Weihao’s helpless and ashamed expression,
and also saw Bai Yuanzhi’s charming and cheerful smile.
Chen Shuojie was mad with jealousy!
He thought, what is Bai Yuanzhi doing? Knowing full well that Zhou Weihao only has eyes for that Filipina domestic helper, why can she still laugh so happily with him?
Is she blind?
Why can’t she look at him?
Why can’t she show him a little kindness?!
What exactly did he lack compared to Zhou Weihao!
Chen Shuojie was so angry he puffed up like a blowfish.
After finally waiting for the two of them to finish their late-night snack,
Chen Shuojie watched helplessly as Bai Yuanzhi got into Zhou Weihao’s car.
Once again, he ordered Ah Bin to follow in the car,
his heart filled with tension.
He thought, if Zhou Weihao wasn’t planning to send Bai Yuanzhi to Bilanting but instead intended to take her to his own place, then he would…
order Ah Bin to crash into them!
Fortunately, Zhou Weihao still took Bai Yuanzhi back to Bilanting.
Sitting in the car, Chen Shuojie watched Bai Yuanzhi walk into the hotel with his own eyes and finally let out a sigh of relief.
But he still stayed in the car, stewing in his anger for a while before returning to his room.
However,
now facing Bai Yuanzhi’s direct accusation,
Chen Shuojie didn’t think there was anything wrong with following her.
A young, beautiful, single girl going out late at night,
wasn’t he allowed to worry a little?
Besides, he hadn’t disturbed her while she was eating and chatting with that guy.
Bai Yuanzhi shot Chen Shuojie a glare before turning to leave.
Chen Shuojie was so furious his lungs were about to explode, yet he still suppressed his anger and growled her name, “Bai—Yuan—zhi!”
After shouting those three words, his temper suddenly vanished.
What could he do with this stubborn little chili pepper?
Absolutely nothing!
“Before you leave, at least leave the late-night snack behind?” Chen Shuojie said helplessly.
Bai Yuanzhi chewed on the delicious grilled squid in her mouth and glanced at the skewer in her hand, now only half left. “…You can call the restaurant to deliver some for you! Or I can ask A Xi to order food for you.”
Chen Shuojie took a deep breath. “I want to eat this one.”
“No, I’ve already eaten from this,” Bai Yuanzhi firmly refused.
She prepared to leave,
but Chen Shuojie maneuvered his wheelchair over and snatched the skewer from her hand.
Bai Yuanzhi: …
Chen Shuojie directly took a bite of the grilled squid.
Bai Yuanzhi: ???
“Are you crazy? That’s what I was eating!”
Chen Shuojie ignored her.
He slowly chewed the grilled squid, thinking to himself that it was actually quite tasty, different from what he had bought at the night market stall.
(Ah Bin: Young master, don’t talk nonsense! This is clearly from the same grilled skewer stall!)
To be honest, Bai Yuanzhi was shocked by Chen Shuojie.
—Wasn’t he the young master of Wanmei Film Industry? He was a rich man! How could he snatch and eat something someone else had already eaten?
And he was even enjoying it…
Bai Yuanzhi stared blankly for a moment before fleeing in a panic.
Chen Shuojie chuckled softly.
He leisurely ate the grilled squid skewer, even savoring the wonderful flavor in detail.
After finishing it completely,
he carefully licked the skewer clean.
Finally, he licked his lips and smiled faintly.
The next day, Chen Shuojie changed his strategy.
Since Bai Yuanzhi didn’t like serving him…
then he would change it up and serve Bai Yuanzhi instead.
So, early in the morning, as Bai Yuanzhi pushed her cart to clean each room one by one,
Chen Shuojie maneuvered his wheelchair, following closely behind her step by step.
Bai Yuanzhi deftly tidied the beds, while Chen Shuojie clumsily helped her dust;
Bai Yuanzhi quickly organized things, while Chen Shuojie slowly handed her items;
Bai Yuanzhi agilely swept and mopped, while Chen Shuojie clumsily tried to help her with the broom…
Then,
the broom fell over and knocked down the cleaning agent,
he hurriedly bent down to pick it up but accidentally fell to the ground, his wheelchair tipping over and bringing down the bucket…
The room was instantly left in a mess.
Chen Shuojie: …
Bai Yuanzhi leaned on the cleaning cart with one hand, frowning at him. “Is this the show you prepared for me today, Mr. Chen?”
Chen Shuojie lay sprawled on the floor in utter disarray, feeling deeply ashamed. “No, no, I didn’t…”
Bai Yuanzhi sighed, put down what she was holding, walked over to help Chen Shuojie up, settled him back into his wheelchair, and then wheeled him out of the room before closing the door.
Only then did she efficiently begin cleaning.
She finished quickly.
Stepping outside, she saw
Chen Shuojie still waiting by the door, but looking utterly dejected.
“I really didn’t handle this well,” Chen Shuojie said softly.
Bai Yuanzhi ignored him and pushed the cart toward the next room.
Chen Shuojie maneuvered his wheelchair to follow her. “But Ah Zhi, I don’t understand why you insist on staying here.”
“Even though you can do this job well.”
“Ah Zhi, does this job… hold some special meaning for you?”
Bai Yuanzhi glanced at Chen Shuojie.
His eyes clearly said, “This job isn’t suitable for you, so you must have some ulterior motive for staying.”
Yes, Chen Shuojie had guessed Bai Yuanzhi’s intentions.
The reason she had come to work at Bilanting Hotel was to get close to the source and uncover the truth behind Zhou Sier’s fall.
But as A Yao had warned her: the mastermind behind it all was so powerful that even high-ranking police officials were quietly protecting him. Bilanting had also taken corresponding measures early on…
Bai Yuanzhi truly couldn’t find anything useful.
Now, Zhou Sier had already woken up.
So—
There was no longer any point in her staying at Bilanting.
The most important thing now was to protect and care for Zhou Sier, work hard to earn money, and grow stronger as quickly as possible. Only then could she both protect Zhou Sier and free up her hands to seek revenge for her past life.
“What does it have to do with you?” Bai Yuanzhi said irritably. “I didn’t think that much about it before. I just thought the job here was easy and stable, so I signed a long-term contract.”
Of course, she wouldn’t tell Chen Shuojie the truth.
She hadn’t even told A Yao much.
It was A Yao who was too clever and had figured it out on his own.
Chen Shuojie, “I don’t believe you can’t resign. You have money; even if there’s a penalty for breach of contract, you can afford it. If you don’t want to pay, I can also—”
Bang!
His response was the sound of a door slamming shut.
—Bai Yuanzhi had already entered the next room to start cleaning. And she had closed the door, leaving Chen Shuojie outside.
Chen Shuojie sighed.
During lunch, Bai Yuanzhi ate her work lunchbox while flipping through an English textbook.
Chen Shuojie carefully took Bai Yuanzhi’s lunchbox away and handed her an exquisite food container instead, sighing in relief. “Here, this time I didn’t spill it…”
As soon as he finished speaking, the work lunchbox he was holding—perhaps due to the poor quality of the disposable container being too flimsy, or maybe because Chen Shuojie had gripped it too tightly—suddenly spilled all over his clothes.
Chen Shuojie: …
Bai Yuanzhi was also stunned.
Chen Shuojie, both angry and embarrassed, didn’t dare trouble Bai Yuanzhi. He quickly lifted the hem of his shirt to catch the spilled food and sauce, then maneuvered his wheelchair to flee quickly toward his room.
A Xi, standing nearby, was taken aback. “Mr. Chen, let me help you clean that up?”
“No need, no need! Let Ah Zhi eat her meal in peace, I’m fine!” With that, Chen Shuojie had already fled without a trace.
Bai Yuanzhi, A Xi, and Xiao Yu exchanged bewildered glances.
Xiao Yu mimicked, “I’m fine, I’m fine, let Ah Zhi eat her meal!”
A Xi burst into laughter, then quickly covered her mouth, glancing in the direction Chen Shuojie had left. Seeing that Chen Shuojie hadn’t reappeared, she relaxed and laughed freely.
Bai Yuanzhi flushed red, glaring fiercely at the two of them.
After finishing her meal, Bai Yuanzhi received a call from Zhou Weihao, saying he was about to leave and would arrive at the west gate of the Bilanting Hotel in about half an hour. He asked her to wait at the entrance when the time came.
Bai Yuanzhi handed over her work, changed into her own clothes, picked up her small bag, and prepared to leave.
But,
To reach the elevator, she had to pass by Chen Shuojie’s room.
Whether it was intentional or not,
His room door was wide open.
If Bai Yuanzhi wanted to leave the floor and Chen Shuojie happened to be sitting in the living room, he would be able to see her passing by.
And just like that, by sheer coincidence!
Chen Shuojie happened to wheel himself out from the suite into the living room, coming face-to-face with Bai Yuanzhi as she passed by his door.
“Bai Yuanzhi! Where are you going?” Chen Shuojie asked.
Bai Yuanzhi’s eyes darted around,
Thinking to herself,
Was there a way to trick Chen Shuojie into going to the hospital too?
If so, that would be perfect!
So she stopped in her tracks, tilting her chin up to look at him. “None of your business!”
Chen Shuojie was taken aback.
“You’re meeting him again?” Chen Shuojie frowned.
Bai Yuanzhi replied, “Whoever I’m meeting is my private affair.”
“Aren’t you working?”
“I took leave!”
Chen Shuojie was both angry and frustrated. “He’s still thinking about that Filipina domestic helper, and he’s about to marry Sheng Qing! You… what exactly are you getting involved in?”
“Brother Hao and I are friends! Our business is none of your concern!” With that, Bai Yuanzhi strode away.
However, she deliberately slowed her pace.
She was both afraid he would chase after her,
And afraid he wouldn’t.
Finally, it occurred to her that she still had to go downstairs to wait for Zhou Weihao’s car. The time difference should be enough for Chen Shuojie to catch up.
So, without further hesitation, Bai Yuanzhi strode briskly to the elevator.
Coincidentally, her coworker Jennifer was also waiting for the elevator.
Jennifer asked Bai Yuanzhi, “Going up or down?”
“Down.”
Jennifer nodded and said, “I’m going up.”
After a pause, Jennifer asked Bai Yuanzhi, “Heading out?”
Bai Yuanzhi immediately replied in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, “Yes, I’m going to the hospital.”
Jennifer was taken aback. “Huh? Are you not feeling well? Are you sick?”
Bai Yuanzhi answered evasively, “I’m going to St. Maria Hospital.”
“Wow, that’s quite far…”
“It’s fine, a friend is coming to pick me up.”
“Is it your boyfriend?”
“No, just a regular friend…”
As the two were talking,
Suddenly, a “ding” sounded—the elevator had arrived.
It was heading down.
Bai Yuanzhi bid farewell to Jennifer and stepped into the elevator.
After reaching the west gate, Bai Yuanzhi waited for a while before spotting Zhou Weihao’s car.
She looked around and finally saw a familiar black Mercedes-Benz slowly driving out from inside the west gate…
A smile curled at the corner of her lips.
After Zhou Weihao parked the car by the roadside, he got out—yesterday, Bai Yuanzhi had told him she had a lot of things to carry. Believing her, he had prepared to get out and help her with her belongings.
But in the end…
“Ah Zhi, where’s your luggage?” Zhou Weihao asked.
Bai Yuanzhi made up an excuse to brush it off.
Zhou Weihao didn’t mind either. “Alright, then get in the car.”
Bai Yuanzhi glanced back slightly and saw the black Mercedes-Benz parked motionless at the street corner.
She smiled again, quickly walked to the passenger seat of Zhou Weihao’s car, but pretended she couldn’t open the door. “Oh, Brother Hao, why won’t this door open?”
Zhou Weihao looked puzzled. “Huh? That can’t be!”
He walked over to Bai Yuanzhi, reached out, and easily pulled the door open.
Bai Yuanzhi tilted her head and said, “Sorry, Brother Hao, I’m just so clumsy!”
Zhou Weihao didn’t say anything, just urged her to get in quickly.
But this scene, seen from afar by Chen Shuojie hiding in the Mercedes-Benz—was solid proof that Zhou Weihao was being attentive and considerate by opening the car door for Bai Yuanzhi!
Chen Shuojie was so angry he gritted his teeth!
He thought to himself: Zhou Weihao, this guy, eats from one bowl while eyeing another, and still tries to deceive the naive girl Bai Yuanzhi! Only a fool like Bai Yuanzhi would be so easily tricked… Hmph, today he had to follow them to see why this silly pig Bai Yuanzhi was going to the hospital with Zhou Weihao! He also had to expose the true colors of this two-timing scoundrel Zhou Weihao!
“Ah Bin, follow them! They’re going to St. Maria Hospital,” Chen Shuojie ordered.
The journey passed in silence.
After Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Weihao arrived at St. Maria Hospital, they didn’t go directly to see Zhou Sier but instead went to consult Dr. Huang, Zhou Sier’s attending physician, about her condition.
Dr. Huang patiently explained Zhou Sier’s situation to Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Weihao:
“Her recovery is going quite well! She’s young, after all, and has a good physical foundation. Honestly, her current vital signs… as long as she wakes up and undergoes some rehabilitation therapy for a while, she should be able to walk again.”
“That’s the positive side. The family can imagine the best-case scenario.”
“But Zhou Sier’s current condition also has a downside… her vital signs are already similar to a normal person’s, but she still hasn’t woken up, which is a bit dangerous.”
“What I mean is, we don’t know what’s causing her to remain unconscious…”
Just as Dr. Huang said this—
A sudden ringing sound echoed in his room.
“Ding-ling-ling—”
Followed by an urgent broadcast announcement, “Dr. Huang Zhihan! Dr. Huang Zhihan, please note, please rush to the intensive care unit, fourth floor, Room 350. Your patient Zhou Sier requires your immediate emergency treatment!”
“Dr. Huang Zhihan! Dr. Huang Zhihan, please note…”
Dr. Huang’s face changed, and without another thought, he dashed toward the inpatient department.
Bai Yuanzhi was overjoyed!
But she desperately suppressed her smile, forcing a look of tension as she said to Zhou Weihao, “Brother Hao, let’s go!”
Zhou Weihao widened his eyes, pointing at the broadcast and asking, “…Your sister?”
Bai Yuanzhi nodded and turned to run.
Zhou Weihao hesitated no longer and quickly followed Bai Yuanzhi.
As they ran—
Chen Shuojie’s urgent voice suddenly rang out, “Bai—Yuan—Zhi!!!”
Bai Yuanzhi turned her head to look—
—Chen Shuojie, sitting in a wheelchair, was staring at her with a mix of urgency and fury.
The driver Ah Bin stood behind Chen Shuojie, watching Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Weihao sprinting away, utterly dumbfounded.
Bai Yuanzhi turned her head back and continued running toward Zhou Sier’s hospital room.
However, Zhou Weihao, who was following behind her, paused for a moment when he saw Chen Shuojie, slowing his pace as if wanting to greet him.
Bai Yuanzhi urged him, “Brother Hao, hurry up!”
Zhou Weihao then remembered that he had accompanied Bai Yuanzhi to the hospital today specifically to help with her sister’s situation…
With that thought, Zhou Weihao waved at Chen Shuojie and said, “We’ll talk later when you’re free, Chen.”
Then he continued running after Bai Yuanzhi.
Chen Shuojie: …
He instructed Ah Bin, “Let’s follow and see what’s happening.”
Ah Bin quickly pushed Chen Shuojie’s wheelchair, following along as they ran.
When Bai Yuanzhi arrived at Zhou Sier’s room, panting heavily,
Qiao Yusheng was crying uncontrollably.
To be honest, it was the first time Bai Yuanzhi had seen a man cry so pitifully.
It was the kind of… complete emotional breakdown.
—Qiao Yusheng trembled all over, his mouth wide open as tears, snot, and saliva streamed down his face, smearing it completely and soaking the front of his clothes!
He even appeared pale and bluish from the overwhelming emotions, as if he were about to go into shock.
On the hospital bed, Zhou Sier had slightly opened her eyes and was looking in their direction.
Dr. Huang was anxiously asking Zhou Sier, “Zhou Sier? Zhou Sier! Can you see me? Zhou Sier… can you hear me?”
But Zhou Sier only stared blankly at Bai Yuanzhi, tears welling in her eyes.
She struggled to move her facial muscles, as if trying to smile at Bai Yuanzhi.
Bai Yuanzhi widened her eyes, “Sister!”
She rushed toward Zhou Sier.
But just then, a loud “thud” came from behind Bai Yuanzhi.
It turned out that Qiao Yusheng had fainted from the overwhelming emotions…
Zhou Weihao was startled and hurriedly helped Qiao Yusheng up, shouting, “Doctor! Doctor!”
Dr. Huang had no choice but to leave Zhou Sier for the moment and rush over to check on Qiao Yusheng.
This gave Bai Yuanzhi the chance to get close to Zhou Sier.
“Be careful of the caregiver…”
Zhou Sier whispered quickly and indistinctly.
Bai Yuanzhi widened her eyes.
Zhou Sier seemed too weak and slowly closed her eyes.
After Dr. Huang administered emergency treatment to Qiao Yusheng, he finally regained consciousness. Slowly opening his eyes, he cried out sorrowfully and excitedly, “Ah Zhi! Ah Zhi! Ah Zhi, your sister is awake! Sier… she’s awake!”
Qiao Yusheng’s loud shouts attracted Chen Shuojie, who had been lingering nearby.
Ah Bin had accidentally lost track of them earlier and was frantically searching around like a headless fly.
Suddenly hearing someone shout “Ah Zhi”…
Chen Shuojie quickly directed Ah Bin to push him toward the sound.
However, a middle-aged woman in a caregiver uniform was timidly standing at the door of Zhou Sier’s room, craning her neck to peek inside.
She looked extremely suspicious.
Ah Bin rudely scolded the female caregiver, “Hey, move aside! Don’t you see Chen is here? How dare you block the way? If you don’t have eyes, do you not have a brain either?”
The caregiver was startled.
Turning around and seeing a man pushing another man in a wheelchair,
Her first thought was: Is this another patient?
So she asked, “Who are you? This is a ward. If you’re here to see a doctor, you need to go to the first floor for a consultation first; if you’re here to visit a patient, you need to register first. You can’t just come in like this…”
Ah Bin grew even angrier when the female nurse not only refused to make way but even dared to block them. Pointing at Bai Yuanzhi in the ward, he said, “Our Young Master Chen is here to visit! Look, that girl is the girlfriend of the Young Master of Wanmei Film Industry! Got it?”
At that moment, Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Sier were embracing each other.
The female nurse mistakenly assumed that the “that girl” Ah Bin mentioned referred to Zhou Sier.
After all, this was Zhou Sier’s ward.
Startled, the nurse quickly stepped aside.
Only then did Ah Bin push Chen Shuojie into the ward with an air of arrogance.
The nurse frowned, staring at Chen Shuojie’s back for a moment while muttering “Young Master of Wanmei Film Industry” under her breath before hurrying away.
After entering the ward,
Chen Shuojie found the place in complete disarray.
He remained silent, simply observing quietly.
As long as Bai Yuanzhi wasn’t alone with Zhou Weihao, he wasn’t as angry, and his emotions and rationality gradually returned.
Instead, it was Zhou Weihao who hurried over to greet Chen Shuojie upon seeing him.
Chen Shuojie fixed a dark, piercing gaze on Zhou Weihao, staring until Zhou Weihao felt uneasy inside…
Only then did Chen Shuojie ask what had happened here.
Zhou Weihao recounted everything to Chen Shuojie in detail.
Chen Shuojie’s expression instantly brightened, “Really? Ah Zhi only asked you to drive her here to visit her sister? Her sister was originally in a vegetative state and suddenly woke up today?”
Zhou Weihao scratched the back of his head, “Seems that way… But her sister seems to have lost her ability to speak again.”
“She just woke up, it’s normal for her to lack energy and stamina. What’s the rush!” Chen Shuojie said unhappily.
Zhou Weihao gave an awkward smile, thinking to himself that it really had nothing to do with him, but did it have anything to do with you either?
However, Zhou Weihao didn’t dare to speak up.
Bai Yuanzhi, sitting by the hospital bed, had noticed the middle-aged female nurse standing at the ward entrance, peeking in to observe the situation, ever since Zhou Sier reminded her to “be careful of the nurse.”
She also witnessed Ah Bin scolding the nurse and the nurse hurriedly fleeing the scene.
Bai Yuanzhi let out a long sigh of relief and tightly grasped Zhou Sier’s hand.