CHAPTER 41

Qin Yinong returned to her own home.

Ji Shulan was in the yard, fixing the swing frame. Their swing was made of green vines, with leaves intertwining and surrounding it, creating a beautiful scene as if one were in a sea of flowers. It was exquisite, but it required occasional pruning. Fortunately, Ji Shulan had free time at home, and she and Aunt Fang took care of the garden with ease.

Upon hearing the sound of a car driving in, Ji Shulan lifted her head from the lush flower bushes.

Qin Yinong supported herself as she got out of the car and exchanged a distant glance with Ji Shulan, nodding gently.

Perhaps due to the fever, Qin Yinong felt dizzy as she sat in the car, and when she got out, she felt the world spinning. That's why she leaned against the car door for support. Guan Han came out from the other side and held onto her arm.

Qin Yinong glanced at her but didn't refuse her help.

Ji Shulan put down the gardening shears and approached with a hint of worry on her face. "What's wrong?"

"Qin Jie has a slight fever." Guan Han truthfully informed her.

"Is it serious? Should we go to the hospital?" Ji Shulan immediately suggested, but when she saw Qin Yinong's pale lips and noticed her fingers curling by her side, she hesitated and didn't reach out.

"It's not serious, just need some rest." Qin Yinong casually asked, "Have you had lunch?"

She glanced at her wristwatch. It was a little past twelve now, and according to the normal mealtime at home, they should have already eaten.

Ji Shulan hesitated, her lips moved slightly. "...Not yet."

Qin Yinong paused for a moment, then realized, "Were you waiting for me?"

Lately, she had been spending more time resting at home and often had meals together with Ji Shulan. Following the normal family routine, they would wait for the family member who returned late without receiving any notification.

Ji Shulan didn't speak but nodded.

"Why didn't you call me?" Qin Yinong asked.

"Weren't you busy?" Ji Shulan wiped her hands on her apron as if trying to conceal a hint of uneasiness. She forced a loving smile and said, "We didn't have anything urgent, so it's fine to wait."

Qin Yinong fell silent for a moment, then took the initiative to hold Ji Shulan's arm and smiled gently, "Since I'm back, let's have our meal."

As they approached the entrance, she called Aunt Fang, who was weeding in the vegetable garden, to join them.

While the others were in the kitchen, Guan Han took the opportunity to fetch dishes and bowls and took out the box of takeout smashed cucumber salad from the bag, placing it in the refrigerator. Qin Yinong probably wouldn't be able to finish it for a while, and considering the hot weather, it might spoil easily.

Qin Yinong had already eaten at Tang Ruoyao's place and wasn't particularly hungry. She reluctantly had a bowl of soup and a few bites of rice before going upstairs to rest.

Guan Han enjoyed a free lunch, and at Ji Shulan's insistence, she sat for a while to aid digestion.

There was a long staircase separating the upstairs and downstairs. Ji Shulan glanced upward and sat down on the sofa to the left of Guan Han. Seeing this, Guan Han knew that Ji Shulan wanted to have a chat.

Guan Han sat up straight, adapting to the situation, and politely said, "Aunt."

Ji Shulan's face didn't show the uneasiness she had with Qin Yinong. A hint of sharpness gleamed in her cloudy old eyes, but her voice remained gentle. "What was Qin Yinong doing last night?"

Guan Han followed her consistent approach and vaguely replied, "Met a friend."

"What kind of friend?" Ji Shulan pressed on.

Guan Han hesitated, showing a touch of difficulty on her face at the right moment.

Usually, an observant adult wouldn't continue probing, and indeed, Ji Shulan didn't ask further. She went straight to the point, saying, "Did she go to meet her lover?"

Guan Han: "!!!"

How did the old lady know?

Guan Han was startled internally but didn't show it on her face. She smiled politely and chose not to engage in further conversation.

Ji Shulan said, "I know. She's keeping a lover outside. I don't mean to blame her."

Guan Han subtly raised an eyebrow.

Is the old lady really so open-minded?

The sharpness in Ji Shulan's eyes disappeared, and she spoke gently, just like any ordinary elderly lady would. She said, "Xiao Guan, there are some things I can't say directly. I trust you to advise her."

"Advise her on what?" Guan Han spoke up, her voice carrying a unique sense of calmness.

Ji Shulan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Although she's young, she still needs to exercise some restraint."

Guan Han almost choked. She composed herself and said, "Okay, I'll convey the message." But whether Qin Yinong would listen or not was not her concern. Guan Han felt that Qin Yinong was already quite restrained. She only had that kind of lifestyle once every few months, which could be considered quite abstinent at her age.

"Thank you." Ji Shulan slowly picked up her glass and took a sip of water before getting up and walking away.

With Qin Yinong resting and Guan Han having nothing much to do, she felt it was time to take her leave. Ji Shulan escorted her to the front door and watched her figure disappear before turning back inside.

The afternoon sunlight illuminated the three-story standalone villa, casting a bright golden hue on its walls. The tranquility of the afternoon was undisturbed.

Ji Shulan paused her flower pruning scissors and looked up at a window on the second floor, quietly observing as the light gray curtains swayed in the wind.

Qin Yinong had always been strong and rarely fell ill, unlike her sister, Qin Luning.

Qin Luning was a premature baby who stayed in an incubator for a long time before being discharged. She required careful nurturing and was a frequent visitor to the hospital until the age of three. She almost didn't make it, but gradually her health caught up with that of a normal person after turning three. However, her resistance was weaker than others, and she would often catch fevers and colds during seasonal changes. Ji Shulan would become anxious every time the seasons changed, and no matter how busy she was with work, she never forgot to find time to care for Qin Luning, showing her concern and making sure nothing happened to this daughter she had struggled so hard to raise. Even Qin Hongjian, who had a volatile temperament, treated his first daughter with great tolerance.

Qin Yinong, on the other hand, had grown up like a wild child, but she was remarkably healthy. Her constitution was robust, and while other children would succumb to the flu and various ailments during winter, leaving the entire class sick, she remained energetic and unaffected by any illness.

As the saying goes, a crying child gets sweets, and similarly, parents always tend to put more thought and effort into a weak and sickly child, while the other child who is quiet, well-behaved, and rarely falls ill naturally gets overlooked.

Ji Shulan remembered an incident from when Qin Yinong was around four, five, six, seven, eight, or nine years old. Qin Yinong fell ill and couldn't get out of bed, but Ji Shulan thought she was just being lazy and went to knock on her door, urging her to go to school.

Oh! Ji Shulan recalled it now. It was when Qin Luning was starting junior high school. She was worried that Qin Yinong would disturb her studying, so she cleaned up a small storage room in the house and let the two sisters sleep separately. Ji Shulan pushed the memory back and realized that Qin Yinong must have been around seven or eight years old at the time.

When she knocked on the door, there was no response. Ji Shulan pushed the door open and found Qin Yinong covered in cold sweat, with a burning forehead, huddled up in the bed. Ji Shulan wanted to take her to see a doctor, but the little girl was stubborn. She struggled to catch her breath, holding onto the edge of the bed tightly, refusing to let go.

Ji Shulan became frustrated and threatened in a low voice, "If you don't listen, your father will come over."

Qin Yinong was very afraid of her father because Qin Hongjian had unpredictable moods. He would often throw things in fits of anger, and when he was really upset, he would even resort to physical violence. Unless absolutely necessary, Ji Shulan wouldn't mention it in front of Qin Yinong, but when she became stubborn, no one could control her, so she had to resort to this last resort.

Sure enough, as soon as she said those words, Ji Shulan felt a tremor in the back of her hand that was pressed against her thin palm.

Little Qin Yinong raised her unusually red eyes and let go of the fingers she had been pinching the edge of the bed with.

It was many years later that Ji Shulan realized that Qin Yinong wasn't afraid that Qin Hongjian would beat her for not listening to him, she was afraid of seeing her father beating her mother. In hindsight, Ji Shulan realized how cruel it was for her to have used Qin Hongjian to scare Qin Yinong when she was a child.

She went to the clinic to pick up medicine and took a day off for Qin Yinong to rest at home, while she hurriedly went to work.

She finished work early that day, with Qin Hongjian not at home yet and Qin Luning still not back. Only Qin Yinong was there, sitting in front of the television, moving a small stool and watching cartoons. Ji Shulan put the groceries she was carrying into the kitchen and turned around to ask, "Dudu, has your fever gone down?"

Xiao Qin Yinong stared at the television and casually replied, "I don't know." She raised her hand and touched her forehead, then calmly put it down and said, "It still feels hot."

Ji Shulan frowned, put down the groceries, and approached her. She placed her palm on Qin Yinong's forehead and was immediately shocked to find that it was even hotter than when she left for work in the morning. The skin on her lips was dry and showed signs of peeling.

"What's wrong with you? You're running such a high fever, and you're sitting here watching TV?" Ji Shulan's face was filled with anger as she snatched the remote control from her hand.

It seemed that because of this sudden illness, Little Qin Yinong developed a rebellious attitude. Faced with Ji Shulan's stern questioning, she acted as if nothing was wrong, lightly patting her bottom and walking half-crouched to the television, manually changing the channel.

Ji Shulan couldn't spare much thought for her unusual behavior. It was only when she went to rummage through Qin Yinong's room for the medicine bag that her anger started to rise rapidly. She stormed out, throwing the medicine bag on the coffee table. "I told you to take the fever medicine. Did you take it?!"

Little Qin Yinong didn't turn around, continuously changing the TV channels. There weren't many TV channels at that time, only a few that could be received, and they kept repeating. Listening to the intermittent voices of the local TV host due to channel switching, Ji Shulan couldn't control herself anymore.

"Qin Yinong! Come here!"

Little Qin Yinong slowly dragged herself over and stood in front of Ji Shulan. She had grown quickly and was almost shoulder-height with Ji Shulan.

"Why didn't you take the medicine!" Ji Shulan pointed at the plastic bag on the coffee table, interrogating her in a stern voice.

"Why should I take medicine?" Xiao Qin Yinong calmly countered, sounding nothing like a seven or eight-year-old girl.

Ji Shulan was taken aback by her response and said, "When you're sick, you have to take medicine! Do you know how much these medicines cost?"

"I didn't ask you to buy them." Xiao Qin Yinong shrugged indifferently.

"What did you say?"

"I said I didn't ask you to buy them." Little Qin Yinong repeated each word with no change in her emotions.

"You—" Ji Shulan was furious. "You don't appreciate what you have! Children in Africa don't have money to buy medicine when they get sick. They can only wait to die. Do you know that?"

"Then I should just die." Xiao Qin Yinong shrugged, looking up at Ji Shulan, with barely noticeable redness in her eyes. She spoke clearly, "Anyway, I'm just a burden to you, aren't I? You'll be happy if I die."

Ji Shulan thought she had misheard, and her eyes revealed strong disbelief.

Little Qin Yinong went back to her room without hesitation and closed the door.

Ji Shulan walked over, raising her hand to knock on the door, but she heard a faint unusual sound. The old house had poor soundproofing, so Ji Shulan listened carefully, and she could hear suppressed crying coming from inside.

After a while, Ji Shulan withdrew her hand and lowered her gaze.

In the evening, Qin Luning returned home from school. Ji Shulan sat on the sofa, her restless mind suddenly calming down. As soon as Qin Luning made eye contact with Ji Shulan's pleading gaze, she paused for a moment. Then, Ji Shulan pulled her hand and anxiously said, "You, go and check on your sister quickly."

Qin Luning put down her school bag. "What happened to my sister?"

"She has a fever, refuses to take medicine, and she also said..."

"What did she say?"

Ji Shulan's heart was in a panic as she said, "She said she doesn't want to live anymore. Please go and check on her quickly. She only listens to you."

Without wasting a moment, Qin Luning immediately headed towards Qin Yinong's room.

"Du du, it's me, your sister. Can you open the door, please?" Qin Luning stood in front of Qin Yinong's room, her voice gentle.

Ji Shulan twisted her clothes in her hands, anxiously looking towards the door, her heart pounding in her throat.

No response came from inside.

"Du du?" Qin Luning knocked on the door. "Are you asleep?"

Silence persisted.

Qin Luning heard a faint sound and turned the doorknob, successfully opening the door.

Ji Shulan's eyes widened slightly.

She had tried to turn the doorknob earlier, and it was definitely locked from the inside. It seemed that Qin Luning, as the older sister, was treated differently. Ji Shulan's emotions were complicated. Even though she knew very well that she hadn't invested as much energy in Qin Yinong as Qin Luning had.

Qin Luning turned back and gave Ji Shulan a reassuring look before entering the small room and closing the door behind her.

Ji Shulan felt a sense of relief, but not long after, she heard arguing coming from the small room. More precisely, it was Qin Yinong making all the noise, her voice mixed with sobs. Qin Luning's voice was softer, almost gentle. She had always been that way.

After a while, the noise from the small room disappeared.

A little later, Qin Luning came out quietly, mimicking that Qin Yinong was asleep. Ji Shulan looked at her eagerly, and it was only when they reached the balcony that she dared to ask, "What happened?"

Qin Luning sighed softly.

"Mom, haven't you been neglecting Du du all this time?"

Ji Shulan wanted to deny it, but under the intense gaze of her eldest daughter, she inexplicably felt uneasy and stammered, "She's under your care, why do I need to pay attention? Besides, I'm always so busy, I don't have time."

"I am her sister, and you are her mother. Our roles are different, and I can never replace you. Do you know what she just said to me?"

"What did she say?"

Qin Luning sighed again. "She said you only love me and don't love her at all. If that's the case, why did you even give birth to her? She wished she didn't have me as her sister."

"How could she say such things?!" Ji Shulan exclaimed, her anger rising and her heart pounding. She had given birth to her, raised her, provided for her. Just because she showed more love and care towards her sister, who was weak and frequently ill, did that mean she had to endure her tantrums? If she didn't correct her now, who knows what she would become in the future?

Qin Luning looked at her mother with utmost calmness. "What you should reflect on is why she would say such words, instead of simply blaming her. This is something both of us are responsible for."

"Why are you bringing yourself into this again?" Ji Shulan wondered.

Although Qin Luning was still young, she was intelligent and mature beyond her years, excelling in her studies. Ji Shulan no longer saw her as a child but naturally regarded her as an equal, even subconsciously listening to her opinions.

"I didn't notice it in time and remind you." Qin Luning said, pinching her brow.

Qin Yinong depended on her, but deep down, she might harbor resentment for taking away the love that should have been hers. It may not have been evident in normal circumstances, but during her illness, these negative emotions were magnified several times, leading to her current terrible state.

During the dusk before dinner arrived, Ji Shulan was forcefully dragged into a session of family education by Qin Luning.

"Care more about Du du, just like you care about me."

After Qin Yinong had taken her medicine and slept, her fever subsided slightly. Once again, she deliberately acted defiant, sitting in front of the television, eyes fixed on the screen without blinking. Ji Shulan was about to reprimand her when Qin Luning grabbed her arm and whispered, "Remember how you talk to me when I was watching TV?"

Ji Shulan thought for a moment. Qin Luning was a self-aware learner. After dinner, she would bury herself in her homework and seldom watched TV. Ji Shulan didn't mind her watching TV; on the rare occasions when she did, instead of scolding her, Ji Shulan would even prepare fruits for her and place them within easy reach, patiently and gently allowing her to watch a little longer.

Ji Shulan frowned. "But how can she be like you? All she does is watch TV and neglect her studies."

Qin Luning chuckled. "She's currently a patient. Just comfort her a bit."

Ji Shulan patiently approached her daughter and coaxed her. With a fruit platter in her hand, specially bought from the nearby fruit stall after dinner, it contained juicy and sweet peaches that melted in the mouth. They were the most expensive fruits they had bought in a while.

Ji Shulan smiled and said, "Du du, would you like to have a peach?"

Little Qin Yinong ignored her completely.

Undeterred, Ji Shulan continued, holding the peach in front of her and enticingly said, "It's very sweet."

Little Qin Yinong didn't fall for it and coldly replied, "You're blocking my view of the TV."

Ji Shulan's smile froze for a moment, but she tried again in a warm tone, "Is this cartoon interesting? What's it about?"

Little Qin Yinong turned off the TV, walked away, swinging her arms widely like an arrogant little crab, heading towards her room.

Ji Shulan couldn't hold back any longer. "Stop right there!"

Little Qin Yinong turned a deaf ear and slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

Ji Shulan turned around in frustration and complained to Qin Luning, "Look at her! What's wrong with her?"

Qin Luning smiled gently. "You should try a different approach."

Ji Shulan asked, "What approach?"

Qin Luning taught her a method. Whenever Ji Shulan wanted Qin Yinong to do something, she would deliberately sing a different tune and forbid her from doing it. By the time Qin Yinong realized what was happening, Ji Shulan had already improved rapidly by taking her medicine on time and relying on her body's resilience.

According to Qin Luning, Qin Yinong later came to apologize to Ji Shulan for her hurtful words that day. Qin Luning's words had an effect for some time, and Ji Shulan learned to put more effort into Qin Yinong. However, people tend to have a natural inertia, and once Qin Yinong recovered from her illness, she reverted to being a well-behaved and occasionally mischievous child at home, obedient and rarely causing trouble. Ji Shulan gradually returned to her original state.

In the following years, Qin Yinong fell ill again. At that time, Qin Luning was studying in another city and couldn't play a mediating role. Qin Yinong became defiant, contrary to Ji Shulan, for a whole week. In the midst of it, she even endured two heavy slaps from Qin Hongjian, falling to her knees and hitting her head on the coffee table, causing blood to spill. She even ran away from home in a fit of anger. She stayed at a classmate's house for two days before returning on her own.

From then on, Qin Yinong didn't fall ill again, or if she did, Ji Shulan was no longer aware of it.

Qin Yinong despised getting sick, even more so than mere dislike—it could be described as disgust.

Today, she was sick again.

However... she would never again use the awkward and forced method of singing a different tune to attract her attention, as she did when she was younger. Ji Shulan missed her childhood, where she could provide the attention and care that Qin Yinong needed. That little flower had struggled to grow and no longer required her belated concern.

Ji Shulan stared at the window without moving for a while.

"Madam." Fang Yi approached with small steps and handed her a soft, white tissue.

Ji Shulan touched her cheek with her hand and realized that it felt cold, without knowing when it had become so.

"I must have looked ridiculous." Ji Shulan took the tissue and wiped her face, managing a slight smile.

"Madam, are you thinking about Miss Qin?" After becoming their nanny, Aunt Fang automatically changed the way she addressed their former neighbors and their daughter. Qin Luning had also become Miss Qin. Before her passing, Qin Yinong was known as Second Miss, but later the "Second" was dropped, and she was referred to simply as Miss.

From the time Qin Luning returned to the country until she passed away, Ji Shulan often washed her face with tears. It took nearly a year for her to recover, but even when she thought about it, her eyes would still turn red. Therefore, Aunt Fang concluded that she must have been thinking of Qin Luning again.

When Aunt Fang and Ji Shulan were neighbors, compared to the radiant and seemingly from a different world Qin Luning, who was like a typical "child from someone else's family," the neighbors clearly favored Ji Shulan's lively and adorable little daughter. Qin Yinong, when she was young, had a round face and slightly puffy lips, giving the impression that she was constantly displeased. However, she loved to laugh, and a little tease would make her giggle, making her face even rounder. The nickname "Du Du" came from the neighbors, but the exact origin is unknown.

Qin Luning went to school, while Qin Yinong was not yet of school age, so she would roam around visiting neighbors. She spent more time at the neighbors' homes during the day than at her own. One of the households she liked to visit had a particularly beautiful and gentle lady as the host. Unfortunately, this young woman unexpectedly passed away, and the family moved away. Qin Yinong was low-spirited for a long time after that.

During that time, the neighborhood was filled with warmth and a sense of community. People helped each other, and true neighbors were better than distant relatives. It wasn't like nowadays when everyone shuts their doors, and no one knows each other. Some people helped take care of Qin Yinong, and Ji Shulan was relieved.

Aunt Fang felt that Ji Shulan showed a particularly strong bias. When it comes to good food and drinks, her first thought was for her eldest daughter. When asked about her younger daughter, Ji Shulan would shake her head and smile, seeming reluctant to talk about her. Then she would start talking about how Qin Luning had achieved a perfect score on her recent exam.

Aunt Fang's ears tingled from listening, and she quickly changed the subject.

Aunt Fang also had a daughter who was even more disobedient. During her rebellious phase, she would cause trouble and give Aunt Fang frequent headaches. Comparatively, she felt that the youngest daughter of the Qin family was truly excellent. She had a strong physique, above-average grades, was diligent and hardworking, and excelled at household chores. If she had a daughter like that, Aunt Fang would wake up laughing from her dreams. However, it's unfortunate that she had an excessively outstanding older sister. How could there be room for another star to shine under the radiance of the sun?

Ji Shulan had placed too many fervent hopes on Qin Luning, while Qin Yinong, whom she didn't have high expectations for, unexpectedly became the pillar of the family after Qin Luning's untimely demise. She protected her almost unaffectionate mother and her niece, the daughter of her sister.

Fate can be elusive at times.

Upon hearing Aunt Fang's words, Ji Shulan shook her head.

Aunt Fang followed Ji Shulan's gaze from earlier and looked up, surprised, and said, "Are you thinking about Du Du?" She was so astonished that she forgot to address her with the proper respect.

Ji Shulan softly murmured in agreement.

Aunt Fang felt a mixture of emotions in her heart and sighed, "Have you finally seen her?"

During those years, Qin Yinong was attacked by the media, facing relentless criticism and false news. Journalists with all sorts of accusations gathered at their doorstep, and newspapers and the internet were filled with rumors about her. Even their neighbors, who had watched Qin Yinong grow up, couldn't bear it and their eyes turned red. They grabbed whatever they could find and drove the reporters away.

But what did Ji Shulan do? As Qin Yinong's biological mother, she only cared about her fleeting affection with Qin Hongjian, standing by idly and indulging Qin Hongjian's vain desires as he spouted nonsense in front of the entertainment media, adding fuel to the fire and worsening an already dire situation.

At that time, Qin Yinong was besieged from all sides, and her closest relative had stabbed her in the back.

With the "evidence" provided by her closest relative, no one believed her feeble defense anymore.

Aunt Fang's husband had passed away early, and she relied on her daughter. Putting herself in Ji Shulan's shoes, she couldn't understand how Ji Shulan could do such a thing. However, as an outsider, apart from venting her frustrations in private, she couldn't interfere in other people's family matters.

Ji Shulan's eyes shimmered with a hint of moisture. She remained silent for a while, turned her face slightly, and looked at the tall walls of the villa. She whispered, "It's my fault."

......

Qin Yinong had a good foundation of physical health, but the high-intensity work in recent years had taken a toll on her body to some extent. Coupled with aging, her recovery wasn't as fast as before. When she woke up, her head still felt heavy. She touched her cool forehead and took her temperature. She had gone from a high fever to a low-grade fever.

Barefoot, she walked to the window and pulled the curtains apart with both hands. The golden sunset flooded into the room, enveloping her entirely. Seeing the blue sky, white clouds, and vibrant evening glow, the expansive view lifted Qin Yinong's somber mood a little amidst her illness.

Looking down from the window, Ji Shulan and Aunt Fang were still in the front yard's small garden.

The villa was too large, with three floors and many rooms. Qin Yinong worried that the two elderly individuals would struggle to clean it all. So they hired a cleaning lady to come regularly, and Ji Shulan and Aunt Fang only took care of basic household tasks like cooking and laundry. The elderly still enjoyed basking in the sun. Even during summer vacation, Ningning would attend various extracurricular classes and wasn't often at home. The two of them would often spend time in the garden, sometimes chatting together and other times busy with their own tasks.

Loneliness is a terrifying thing, especially for older people. When their children are not around, the feeling of loneliness intensifies. That's why Ji Shulan smoothly went through with her planned divorce, and Qin Yinong brought Aunt Fang over shortly after, providing her with a companion to talk to.

At that moment, Ji Shulan sat on the swing that Ningning often played on. She didn't swing; she just sat there. Aunt Fang stood by her side, and the two of them were engaged in conversation.

From a distance, Qin Yinong could only discern from their smiles that they were having a pleasant conversation.

Qin Yinong stood motionless for a long time.

The golden sun in the sky slowly sank below the horizon. The wind carried the scent of flowers, brushing against her nose. As darkness fell, Ji Shulan lifted her gaze, sensing Qin Yinong's focused gaze meeting her eyes.

A pang of sorrow surged in her heart.

Qin Yinong's slender fingers at her side curled slightly, and she unconsciously took a step back.

Before she could retreat further, Ji Shulan hurriedly spoke, "Ningning is back. She's downstairs. Have you recovered from your fever? Would you like to see her?" It was summer, and the evenings grew darker late. It was almost 7 o'clock now. Ji Shulan had already picked up Ningning and brought her home. Qin Yinong wore earplugs before going to sleep, so she hadn't heard anything.

Qin Yinong was slightly stunned, nodded, and didn't answer Ji Shulan's question about her fever. Her figure disappeared from the window.

She had just come down the stairs when a pink ball of energy pounced towards her and hugged her legs. She looked down, slightly sluggish, and realized it was Ningning wearing a pink princess dress.

"Mom!" Ningning hugged her briefly and let go, looking up with her sweet voice. "Grandma said you caught a cold. Are you feeling better now?"

Qin Yinong bent down, lifted Ningning in her arms, and walked over to the nearby sofa, saying, "Much better." She gently rubbed her cheek against Ningning's forehead.

Ningning said, "Mom, your face feels cool."

"Really?"

"Yes." Ningning's warm little hands cupped Qin Yinong's cheeks. "Does this make you feel warmer?"

"Much warmer." Qin Yinong squinted her eyes, expressing a look of genuine enjoyment.

Ningning became more enthusiastic in warming her face.

Qin Yinong was "forced" to maintain that expression.

As they continued to enjoy the warmth, Ningning suddenly sighed with an old-fashioned tone, "Why did you catch a cold? Did you not cover yourself properly with the blanket last night and caught a chill?"

Qin Yinong reminisced for a moment and decided to choose the option of "Mom had a pleasant night and then things took a turn for the worse." She nodded, her face showing embarrassment.

Ningning said, "Sigh, I'll sleep with you tonight. You're such a disobedient mom."

Qin Yinong: "..."

Dinner had already been prepared. After chatting for a while on the sofa to strengthen their mother-daughter bond, they were called to the table for dinner.

On the dining table were four dishes and a soup, a typical dinner arrangement, along with a box of smashed cucumbers salad with the lid already opened.

Ji Shulan asked, "I saw it in the refrigerator. Did you bring it from outside?"

Qin Yinong hesitated for a moment and replied, "Um."

Qin Yinong didn't eat rice for dinner. Besides a small bowl of soup, she mainly ate the smashed cucumbers salad. Ji Shulan lightly tapped her chopsticks on the bowl and softly reminded her, "Don't just eat one dish. Pay attention to a balanced diet."

In the past, there were no such conditions, and it was enough for children to grow up safely and healthily. But now it was different, especially since Qin Yinong was an artist who needed to maintain her figure. Ji Shulan had done quite a bit of research privately.

Qin Yinong, the troublemaker, glanced at Qin Jianing and sneakily took the ribs from her spoon. With a serious expression, she said, "Did you hear that? Grandma is telling you to eat your vegetables."

Ningning: "..."

Mom is so shameless. Grandma was clearly talking to you!

Qin Yinong lowered her head and sipped the soup, unable to hold back her laughter. She then coughed lightly, lowering her eyelashes to hide her amusement.

Ji Shulan also chuckled.

Ningning looked at her mom and grandma, both laughing, and tilted her little head. She joined in the laughter.

That night, due to catching a cold from not properly covering herself with a blanket while sleeping, Qin Yinong was forced to share a bed with little Ningning. As usual, she was comforting Ningning to sleep. Ningning blinked her big, innocent eyes like water grapes and asked with an immaculate face.

"Mom, do you have a boyfriend?"

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