He Yiqian's final words finally moved He Yining completely.
He Yining chuckled softly. "Then I won't refuse. I hope to hear good news from you soon, Brother!"
He Yiqian raised his glass to He Yining. "Cheers to a smooth partnership."
Thump, thump, thump—a knock sounded from outside.
Shen Qi struggled to open her eyes, her entire body aching so badly she didn't even have the strength to move a finger.
Who was knocking?
Shen Qi fought to get up, her vision blurring before her. She reached up to touch her forehead—it was burning hot.
It seemed the fever had spiked from not changing out of her wet clothes after yesterday's rain.
The door was pounded loudly, forcing Shen Qi to drag herself over and open it.
When the door swung open, Madam Shen and Shen Yinyin stood at the threshold.
Unsurprisingly, Shen Yinyin wore a look of contempt and disdain. "What's the deal? Knocking for so long and you just now open? If you're going to die, do it in the He family, don't linger at the Shen house!"
Shen Qi ignored Shen Yinyin's sharp-tongued remarks and turned to Madam Shen. "Mom, is something up?"
Madam Shen glanced at Shen Qi, completely disregarding the unnatural flush on her face, and said coldly, "Oh, the Zhan family called. They said Zhan Bo's body has been found..."
Shen Qi's mind went completely blank, one sentence echoing over and over: Zhan Bo's body has been found...
Her vision went dark, and she instinctively reached for the doorframe to steady herself, but her legs gave way, and she tumbled awkwardly onto the carpet.
Above her came Shen Yinyin's gleeful, triumphant laughter. "Seeing her this heartbroken is just so satisfying!"
Shen Qi's lips trembled. Ignoring Shen Yinyin's mocking voice, she struggled to get up from the floor.
She had to go to the Zhan family!
She had to see Zhan Bo one last time!
But she tried twice and couldn't push herself off the ground.
Watching Shen Qi's pathetic and helpless state, Shen Yinyin finally tugged Madam Shen away, satisfied. "Mom, let's not bother her while she's wallowing here. Let's go!"
Madam Shen merely glanced at Shen Qi before turning and leaving with Shen Yinyin.
Shen Qi lay sprawled on the floor, frantically wiping the tears from her face. Once her mind cleared a bit, she found a few fever pills and swallowed them hastily.
She called Zhan Bo's mother for the address, and despite her lingering fever and weakness, she went out, hailed a taxi, and headed straight for the destination.
By the time Shen Qi arrived, Zhan Bo had already been buried.
Zhan Bo's parents stood silently nearby, tears streaming, with a few others keeping them company.
Staring at the familiar, radiant smile on the tombstone, Shen Qi's heart felt like it was being twisted.
She stumbled forward, collapsing to her knees before the grave, trembling as she touched that familiar smile, tears silently breaking free like a dam.
Zhan Bo...
How could you do this to me?
Didn't you promise that when you came back this time, we'd never be apart?
Why is this reunion now a separation between life and death?
You big liar, you swore you'd protect me forever!
You said you'd never let go of the hand you held...
You said when you returned, we'd get engaged and married...
Look, my finger is already ready for your ring.
Where's the ring? Where's your proposal ring?
Take it out, hurry up, put it on me!
You can't... you can't... deceive me like this...
Zhan Bo's mother stepped forward, patted Shen Qi on the shoulder, and said with reddened eyes, "Xiao Qi, our Zhan family just wasn't blessed enough. If there's a next life, if I have another son, I'll still welcome you as my daughter-in-law."