The Reluctant Bride Book II Chapter 102

Mummy.

Gu Jiao Wu stretched his arm to hold Qiao Tan Yuan’s hand, but Tong Shang Wen, Hu Zui Ren and Du Lei Xin carried gifts into Shen Cheng’s hospital room.

Tong Shang Wen brought flowers, Hu Zui Ren brought a laptop and Du Lei Xin brought books. They were surprised to the see the two Gu brothers visited Shen Cheng too.

‘Shen Cheng, you should thank me for saving you from dying of boredom,’ Hu Zui Ren said. ‘I brought a laptop for you to entertain yourself. Unlike these two fools who brought you flowers and feminine books.’

‘You don’t need to brag,’ Tong Shang Wen said. ‘Shen Cheng hit his head. It’s not good for him to use the laptop while he’s recovering.’

‘Which is why I brought books,’ Du Lei Xin said. ‘You can keep your mind busy reading books.’

‘Big brother Lei Xin, what books did you bring for me?’ Shen Cheng asked.

‘I chose books suitable for you to read,’ Du Lei Xin said and smiled.

Shen Cheng looked at the meditation books and frowned. Did he look like a monk?

Hu Zui Ren patted Shen Cheng’s good shoulder.

‘If you don’t want to read,’ Hu Zui Ren said. ‘Turn on the laptop. I asked a programmer to install the latest games, music and movies for you.’

‘Zui Ren, look at Shen Cheng’s arms,’ Gu Jiao Wen said. ‘Do you expect him to play games with one hand?’

‘So what if Shen Cheng injured his arm?’ Hu Zui Ren asked and looked at Qiao Tan Yuan. ‘He has someone to take care of him.’

Hu Zui Ren was busy with work, and hadn’t seen everyone since Xiao Bao’s one month milestone celebration. He thought since Gu Jiao Wu didn’t attend Xiao Bao’s celebration, it meant Shen Cheng and Qiao Tan Yuan had a chance to be together.

‘Big brother Zui Ren, what nonsense are you saying?’ Shen Cheng asked.

Shen Cheng didn’t want Hu Zui Ren to embarra.s.s Qiao Tan Yuan in front of everyone.

‘Shen Cheng, you shouldn’t play games or read too much,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘You need to rest to recover.’

‘I know,’ Shen Cheng said.

‘That’s right,’ Tong Shang Wen said. ‘You need to rest. Since you didn’t attend my birthday party, you need to recover to attend Zui Ren’s birthday party.’

‘Big brother Shang Wen, give me a break,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘Do you want me to show up at big brother’s Zui Ren’s birthday party looking like a mummy?’

‘So what?’ Tong Shang Wen asked. ‘I’ll organise a costume birthday party for Zui Ren. You’ll look like the perfect mummy.’

‘Good idea,’ Du Lei Xin said. ‘Shen Cheng, now you have no excuse not to go to Zui Ren’s birthday party.’

‘Zui Ren, is your birthday coming up?’ Gu Jiao Wen asked.

‘Big brother Jiao Wen, you forgot all our birthdays after you got married,’ Tong Shang Wen teased. ‘You can only see your wife and sons. Even Tan Yuan who has a daughter came to my birthday party. Big brother Jiao Wen, you neglected your friends too much.’

Gu Jiao Wen did want to go to Tong Shang Wen’s birthday party, but his boys were sick that day and he couldn’t have fun while worrying about his boys.

‘But I know big brother Jiao Wen is a dedicated family man so I’ll forgive you,’ Tong Shang Wen said. ‘Shen Cheng, make sure you get plenty of rest and recover to attend Zui Ren’s birthday party.’

‘OK,’ Shen Cheng said.

Shen Cheng looked at Gu Jiao Wu who was glaring at Qiao Tan Yuan’s hand on his good shoulder. He sensed Gu Jiao Wu’s feelings for Qian Tan Yuan had changed a lot since Xiao Bao was born. But he didn’t know if he was happy or sad about the change in Gu Jiao Wu.

‘Tan Yuan, I’m thirsty,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘Can you pour me a gla.s.s of water?’

Qiao Tan Yuan nodded her head, and poured a gla.s.s of water for Shen Cheng. She wanted to do what she could do to help Shen Cheng recover.

‘Thank you,’ Shen Cheng said.

Shen Cheng drank a sip of water, and felt a sharp pain in his injured arm. He would have dropped the gla.s.s if Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t brace his arms.

‘What’s wrong?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘Are you in pain? Do you want me to call your doctor?’

‘I’m OK,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘You don’t have to worry.’

‘Looks like we’re the third wheels,’ Hu Zui Ren teased. ‘Shen Cheng has a beauty on his arm, and can’t see his friends. It’s our cue to leave.’

‘I need to go home and help Pan Ting take care of our boys,’ Gu Jiao Wen said. He looked at Gu Jiao Wu. ‘Big brother, are coming with me?’

‘I’m coming,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. He patted Shen Cheng’s good shoulder. ‘Shen Cheng, stay here and rest. I’ll visit you another day.’

‘I’m leaving too,’ Du Lei Xin said. ‘If you’re up to it, read the books I brought you.’

‘Um,’ Shen Cheng said.

‘Bye Shen Cheng,’ Tong Shang Wen said.

‘Bye,’ Shen Cheng said and waved to everyone with his good hand.

Qiao Tan Yuan stayed behind to apologize.

‘Shen Cheng, I’m sorry,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘It’s my…’

‘You don’t have anything to be sorry about,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘It’s my fault for driving carelessly. Don’t blame yourself.’

‘Shen Cheng, honestly I’m…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

‘You don’t need to say anything,’ Shen Cheng said and held Qiao Tan Yuan’s hand. ‘I understand. You don’t need to feel guilty. You don’t owe me anything.’

Qiao Tan Yuan thought it was her fault for giving Shen Cheng hope then dashing his hope.

‘Alright,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘If you think you owe me then tomorrow come here, and spend time with me.’

‘OK, I’ll come visit you tomorrow,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

‘There’s nothing to do here,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘I’ll be happy if I have you to keep me company.’

‘Starting from tomorrow, I’ll come visit you at the hospital until you recover,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

‘Tan Yuan, thank you,’ Shen Cheng said and smiled.

Outside the hospital, Gu Jiao Wen was reversing out of the parking lot when Gu Jiao Wu asked him to stop the car.

‘What’s wrong?’ Gu Jiao Wen asked.

‘I remembered I need to go somewhere,’ Gu Jiao Wu said and got out of the car. ‘You can go home first.’

‘Big brother, do you want me to ask a driver to come pick you up?’ Gu Jiao Wen asked.

‘No need,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I’ll take a taxi home.’

Gu Jiao Wen drove off, and Gu Jiao Wu walked to Qiao Tan Yuan’s car.

Qiao Tan Yuan stayed inside Shen Cheng’s hospital room until Mrs Shen came back. When she walked to her car, she was surprised to see Gu Jiao Wu.

‘What are you doing here?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.

Gu Jiao Wu lifted Qiao Tan Yuan’s arm, he looked at her watch and frowned. She was in Shen Cheng’s hospital room for more than an hour.

Qiao Tan Yuan ignored Gu Jiao Wu. She wanted to open her car door, but he was blocking her way.

‘Can you move aside?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.

End of Chapter 102