Chapter Fourteen Everyone’s Speculations

After hanging up the phone, He Zheyu rubbed his brow with two fingers. Seeing this, Mo Qinghan guessed something must have happened. She took a small step forward and gently moved his hand away from his brow, her eyes clear as gemstones gazing straight at him. “Is something wrong? Do you need to leave in a hurry?”

He Zheyu nodded. “I can’t take you with me. Zhao Yiya is with Han Mo right now.”

Suddenly, Mo Qinghan understood why He Zheyu had said, “Han Mo has an urgent matter to handle! So that’s it…” Her eyes wandered in their sockets for a moment, and she wore an awkward expression as she spoke, “This really isn’t a situation where I should go with you. You go ahead. I’ll return home on my own.”

He Zheyu leaned down and kissed Mo Qinghan’s lips lightly. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll have someone from the manor take you to the airport.” He left in a hurry, and before Mo Qinghan could speak, his figure had already disappeared from her sight.

On the plane, Zhao Yiya sat beside He Zheyu. Seeing him with his eyes closed, not speaking to her, she wondered if Han Mo had told him about the tracking chip she had placed in his clothes. She probed, “Did Han Mo mention my ‘adventure’ here?”

He Zheyu kept his eyes closed and replied casually, “He probably doesn’t have the time for that.”

Hearing his response, Zhao Yiya knew Han Mo hadn’t told him. She let out a relieved breath, adjusted the blanket on He Zheyu, and said nothing more. She’d been busy all day herself and was tired, so she pulled the blanket up and closed her eyes to rest.

After landing, He Zheyu didn’t go home but went straight to the hospital. Naturally, Zhao Yiya followed him.

He Zheyu first sought out Lin Mo to learn about He Xuan Yi’s condition and whether his life was truly at risk.

Lin Mo handed over the full examination report. After studying it for a while, He Zheyu sighed, “I don’t know what the old man is playing at now, suddenly resorting to psychological tricks.”

Lin Mo patted He Zheyu’s shoulder. “Go see him in the ward. He must have his reasons for doing this.”

He Zheyu entered the ward with a cold expression. He saw Zhao Yiya sitting at the bedside, chatting with He Xuan Yi, whose face was full of smiles, clearly pleased with her company. When He Zheyu came in, looking stern, He Xuan Yi deliberately used a weak voice, “I’m like this, can’t you give me a smile? You look like I owe you something.”

Zhao Yiya quickly explained, “Zheyu is exhausted. As soon as he heard about your illness, he rushed back and came straight to the hospital after arriving home.”

He Xuan Yi chuckled, “Look at your wife, she really knows how to speak, always defending you.”

Zhao Yiya’s heart soared hearing He Xuan Yi acknowledge her as He Zheyu’s wife. In the manner of a proper lady, she said, “Zheyu and I are one. I ought to put him first in all things…”

She meant to continue, but He Zheyu interrupted, “I’ll have Han Mo take you back to the Zhao family. I need to speak with the old man alone.”

Receiving He Zheyu’s subtle dismissal, Zhao Yiya didn’t linger. She said to He Xuan Yi, “Uncle He, I’ll visit you another day.”

Seeing He Zheyu’s attitude, He Xuan Yi also knew Zhao Yiya shouldn’t stay. “Alright, take care on your way.”

After Zhao Yiya left and gently closed the door, the room fell so silent that even their breathing could be heard. He Zheyu spoke first. “You lied to get me back here. If it’s about marrying Zhao Yiya, you might as well not start. There’s nothing to discuss.”

He Xuan Yi threw off his blanket and got out of bed, pacing angrily by the bedside. His face was full of confusion. “I don’t understand what’s wrong with Yiya. Her family and education are well-matched with yours. What’s your issue?” After pondering for a couple of seconds, he added, “Have you got a woman outside?”

He Zheyu sat on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and listened to He Xuan Yi’s questions. He took a deep drag, held it in his mouth for a while before exhaling, but said nothing in reply.

He Xuan Yi, seeing no denial, took it as confirmation. “I don’t care who you’re keeping outside, but the only one allowed through the He family doors, the only one to be mistress of the house, will be Zhao Yiya!”

He Zheyu crushed his cigarette forcefully in the ashtray, expressing his displeasure, then stood up from the sofa.

“The one who took the bullet for you was Zhao Guangxiong, not Zhao Yiya. And it was him who saved you, not me. Why should I pay your debts? Besides, I’m not as fickle as you, swapping wives whenever you tire of them.”

He Xuan Yi was stung by the last remark. He slapped He Zheyu’s face, the sharp sound freezing time for a moment.

“You’ve hit me, you’ve scolded me. Can I leave now?”

Just as He Zheyu reached for the ward door, it happened that He Xuan Yi’s third wife, Zhao Xuer, was standing outside. Zhao Xuer was Zhao Yiya’s aunt, and her sudden appearance made it hard for He Zheyu not to suspect that He Xuan Yi’s feigned illness was her idea—she looked frail but was full of scheming.

Seeing the red mark on He Zheyu’s face, Zhao Xuer guessed what had transpired but still wore a kindly smile. “Zheyu, are you leaving already? I’ve just made chicken soup—have a bowl before you go.”

He Zheyu couldn’t stand her pretentiousness. “I’m afraid if I drink it, I won’t be able to leave.” Ignoring her, he walked out.

He Xuan Yi, furious, said, “Xuer, ignore this rebellious son.”

After closing the door, Zhao Xuer put the soup container on the table, then helped He Xuan Yi to the sofa, gently patting his chest to comfort him. “Calm yourself. At your age, you should know better than to lose your temper. As for Zheyu and Yiya, let them sort it out themselves.”

He Xuan Yi sighed, “How can I not care? I like Yiya very much.”

Zhao Xuer smiled, “Suit yourself. Do you think Zheyu really has a woman outside, and we just don’t know?”

He Xuan Yi understood that Zhao Xuer wanted him to investigate secretly. But since this involved the family’s reputation, his expression grew serious. Seeing this, Zhao Xuer realized her purpose was achieved and quickly changed the topic, ladling chicken soup into a bowl. “Try the soup I spent hours making.”

After landing, Mo Qinghan dragged He Zheyu’s suitcase, wearing the same outfit she’d worn abroad. She felt it wasn’t appropriate to wear a kimono at home, so she changed and went straight to the apartment, carrying the suitcase since she couldn’t return to school.

Just as she finished tidying up, her phone rang. She checked the caller ID—it was He Zheyu.

“Are you there yet?”

“I’m at the apartment. Should I have Han Mo pick up your suitcase?”

“No need. Just take my clothes to the dry cleaners.”

“Alright.”

They both hung up.

Mo Qinghan sorted out the clothes He Zheyu needed dry cleaned, packed them in a bag, and headed out.

After hanging up, He Zheyu glanced at Han Mo beside him. “Next time you go to the girl’s place, circle the area a few times first—make sure no one’s tailing you.”

Han Mo replied, “Understood.”

As he reached the office door, Han Mo hesitated, then returned. “Boss, you need to be careful with Miss Zhao. She’s starting to suspect there’s another woman around you.”

“That woman probably tipped her off. Stay away from the girl’s place for now. Any progress on what I asked you to investigate?”

“It’s been a while. I need a bit more time.”

He Zheyu said nothing more, just stared out the window, lost in thought. Han Mo quietly left, not wanting to disturb him.

After sending He Zheyu’s clothes to the dry cleaners, Mo Qinghan, having been abroad for a while, decided to visit Mo Qingyu. As soon as she entered the hospital, she ran into He Yurou.

Mo Qinghan asked with concern, “Are you ill?”

He Yurou pulled Mo Qinghan aside to sit. “No! My grandfather, for some unknown reason, pretended to be sick to trick my uncle into coming home, but my uncle saw through it and left in a huff. Now I have to help Grandpa take his things home.”

Mo Qinghan laughed awkwardly. “Your grandpa is really quite adorable!”

“Adorable? More like it was my third grandma’s idea.”

Mo Qinghan didn’t understand what He Yurou meant by ‘third grandma’ and how she related to her grandfather. He Yurou continued, “My grandfather has had three wives. My uncle is the son of his second wife. After my uncle’s mother passed away, Grandpa married my current third grandma, who brought along a child older than my uncle from her previous marriage.”

Mo Qinghan said, “I still don’t see how this connects to your grandfather tricking your uncle back.”

He Yurou explained, “The key is, my third grandma is the aunt of my uncle’s fiancée. A few days ago, Yiya went abroad to find my uncle, met him for a bit, but he left her with Han Mo and disappeared. Now Yiya thinks my uncle has a woman outside, so…”

Before He Yurou finished, she noticed a sheen of sweat on Mo Qinghan’s forehead. She touched her hand and asked, “Are you hot, Qinghan? You’re sweating.”

Mo Qinghan took a tissue from her bag, wiping her sweat while stammering, “I caught a cold recently. The doctor said to dress warmly and sweat it out for a quicker recovery.”

He Yurou handed her another tissue. “I thought you were overwhelmed by my family’s messy relationships.”

Mo Qinghan forced a stiff smile. “How could I be!” She changed the subject. “With your connection to Senior Zhao, the family tree gets even messier.”

Mentioning Zhao Qingwu made He Yurou’s eyes fill with tears. “I don’t know if Qingwu is blaming me for my uncle and her sister’s situation. When I call, he hangs up. When I visit, he’s often not home. I’m starting to forget I even have a boyfriend.”