My Youth Began With Him

”Mom, I’m going outside to answer a call. It’s getting late, so please get some rest. Tomorrow I’ll get the paperwork done to get you discharged. Then, we can go see Zhixin.” With that, Huo Mian carefully backed out of the hospital room, her cell phone in hand.

Picking up the phone, she whispered, ”Hello?”

”Where are you?” Qin Chu asked.

”At the hospital.”

”When are you coming home?”

”I’m working the night shift today.”

”When are you done?”

”Tomorrow morning.”

”I’ll go pick you up.”

”No thanks.”

”Why?” Qin Chu was clearly displeased. Did he have to remind her again that they were now husband and wife?

”Because your Audi R8 draws too much attention. I don’t want people saying things about me at the hospital. Besides… even our director’s car isn’t as fancy as yours.” If Huo Mian remembered correctly, Mr. Bigwig Director’s car was only an Audi A8.

If she were to really get into an Audi R8 right in front of the hospital, she would never hear the end of it.

On the other end, Qin Chu was silent. Huo Mian guessed that he might be upset.

”I can just take the bus by myself,” she added.

Clack! The call was ended from the other end.

This guy’s temper was still exactly the same as seven years ago, proud and stuck-up. What a piece of work.

After completing her night shift, Huo Mian was exhausted. First thing in the morning, she went to file the paperwork for her mother’s discharge.

Then, the two of them went to the VIP room together. Zhixin wasn’t awake yet. However, according to Doctor Liu, all of his vital signs were stable. It was only a matter of time before he woke up. In the end, her mother stayed behind to take care of Zhixin. Huo Mian headed home, hoping to get some decent sleep.

After several days of running up and down the hospital nonstop, she felt like she was on the verge of collapsing.

When Huo Mian walked out of the hospital doors, a white Volkswagen CC stopped before her.

Just as she was wondering what was going on, the driver rolled down the window and spoke, ”Get in.”

”Um… Why are you here?”

Huo Mian didn’t think that Qin Chu would actually come, and to come driving such a low-key Volkswagen CC at that.

The cars waiting behind him kept on blaring their horns. This stuck-up driver had parked in front of the door, severely obstructing vehicular movement.

Huo Mian didn’t dare stay there any longer, and quickly opened the car door to the passenger seat.

Only then did Qin Chu smugly start the car and drive away.

”You… got a new car?” she asked quietly.

”It’s my assistant’s car, I borrowed it.” Qin Chu’s tone was nonchalant.

Heavens knew that he had called Yang first thing in the morning, telling him that he wanted to swap cars.

Only God knew how bewildered Yang felt. He really didn’t know if he could handle driving his boss’s Audi R8 to work.

Besides, what was so great about his less-than-thirty-thousand-yuan CC that it caught his boss’s attention?

After the brief exchange, Huo Mian didn’t speak again. The two sat in awkward silence.

”What do you want to eat?”

”Huh?” Qin Chu’s sudden question left Huo Mian momentarily stunned.

”What do you want to eat?”

”It’s okay. I’m not really hungry.”

”Chinese or Western?” Qin Chu asked, ignoring Huo Mian’s response.

After some hesitation, Huo Mian realized with reluctance that this guy was just as bossy as he had been back in the day. She could only compromise.

”Chinese.”

Fifteen minutes later, the car stopped before First Class Royal Palace.

Qin Chu led her inside, heading straight up to the private rooms on the second floor.

Then he ordered some shrimp dumplings, crab congee, and other dim sum dishes.

Huo Mian hadn’t had such a lavish breakfast in a very long time. As she ate, she kept sneaking glances at Qin Chu.

She saw that, while he ate with immaculate table manners, he was scrolling on his cell phone with his other hand, checking on the day’s stock market.

After she finished, Huo Mian set down her spoon. ”I’m done,” she said slowly.

”Okay, then get your card and pay the bill,” Qin Chu said nonchalantly.

”What? Why am I paying the bill?” Huo Mian was about to explode. She didn’t think Qin Chu was this stingy. Besides, at a place like First Class Royal Palace, breakfast had to have cost at least a thousand yuan.

Like she had that kind of cash on her. All she had left were about two hundred yuan of pocket change.

Qin Chu looked up. Picking up a napkin, he dabbed at the corner of his mouth gracefully before speaking.

”I transferred my salary for this month to your card last night,” he said with a casual look, ”of course you’re paying the bill.”

”I…”

Huo Mian was petrified.