The Beauty Is Seducing Me Again Chapter 4
byChapter 4: 004 The Great Beauty Has a Kind Heart!
The negotiations in Manhattan had concluded, but Shen Qing’an did not rest for a moment.
For the next month, Shen Qing’an remained busy, though her daily schedule now included a regular stop at Quanhai First People’s Hospital.
Chen Xiaonuan had practically become an unofficial member of the hospital’s VIP ward staff, reporting to the room punctually every day. She seemed to treat this entirely as a summer job, and was even more dedicated than she had been during her part-time work.
Yuan Yanyu’s recovery was progressing well. The cast on her arm had been removed and replaced with a more convenient brace, and her complexion was getting rosier by the day. While top-tier medical resources played a role, Chen Xiaonuan’s companionship was indispensable.
She was like a Little Sun, always bringing warmth to those around her.
Shen Qing’an did not visit frequently, but every time she did, she always ran into Chen Xiaonuan.
Habit is a terrible thing.
Shen Qing’an began to grow accustomed to the sight of the figure sitting next to the hospital bed the moment she pushed the door open—often wearing a simple patterned white T-shirt and a rotating pair of jeans.
“Qing’an, you’re here?” Yuan Yanyu saw her and held up the knitted item in her hand. “Come quickly and take a look. Xiaonuan recently started learning knitting. Look at this cup sleeve she crocheted. Although the color combination is a bit funny, look how delicate and beautiful the stitching is.”
Yuan Yanyu couldn’t help but praise her: “Our Xiaonuan is such a clever and skillful girl.”
Chen Xiaonuan was praised until she felt embarrassed. She was just a beginner; the ones in the tutorial videos looked beautiful, but when she crocheted them, they turned out strange.
Shen Qing’an looked at the multicolored cup sleeve, her brow twitching, and said against her better judgment, “It’s fine.”
Hearing this, Chen Xiaonuan was shocked and started doubting herself. So, Chen Xiaonuan repeatedly examined the cup sleeve several times, recalling the finished product in the tutorial video. After looking at it for a while, she also started to think she had done a decent job.
Could she really be a crocheting prodigy?
Shen Qing’an didn’t want to continue the topic and switched to discussing Yuan Yanyu’s discharge: “Mom, Doctor Xu can arrange for your discharge in a few days. If there aren’t any major issues at the company then, I’ll come pick you up.”
“We’ll see then,” Yuan Yanyu said without much enthusiasm. She knew her daughter well; if Shen Qing’an could spare half a day, Yuan Yanyu would thank the heavens.
She was a workaholic woman. Yuan Yanyu would consider anyone who was half as dedicated as her daughter to be impressive.
Chen Xiaonuan opened the food container. It had excellent insulation, and steam rose the moment it was opened.
“Auntie, eat it while it’s hot!”
“Oh, yes.” This time, Yuan Yanyu responded readily, leaving Shen Qing’an standing to the side.
Yuan Yanyu noticed the bird’s nest soup in the container and was momentarily surprised: “I just mentioned it casually, and Xiaonuan, you actually stewed bird’s nest. Oh, Xiaonuan is truly a Thoughtful Little Cotton Jacket, warming my heart.”
Chen Xiaonuan laughed shyly: “Hehehe.”
Shen Qing’an, standing by: “…”
Who exactly were the mother and daughter here?
“Mom, I’m heading back to the company now. I’ll come back tonight.”
“Go on, go on. You leave after barely staying for a few minutes every time.” Yuan Yanyu waved her hand impatiently, not forgetting to add, “Your father used to be able to take time off to travel with me. Why is it that when you manage things, you spend all day stuck at the company?”
Shen Qing’an felt a headache coming on. She called out, “Mom…”
“Fine, I won’t talk about you. Hurry back to the company. Anyway, I have Xiaonuan accompanying me, so you don’t need to worry.”
*
In the evening, as the sun set.
Shen Qing’an pushed open the ward door. Instead of the expected scene of laughter and chatter, she saw an unexpected sight.
Yuan Yanyu was asleep on the hospital bed, breathing steadily.
Chen Xiaonuan was not sitting in the chair beside the bed as usual, but was curled up in the single armchair by the window, also asleep. She was clutching the textbook she always seemed to be reading, her head tilted to the side, a faint red mark pressed onto her cheek by the pages.
Her long eyelashes drooped, casting a small shadow beneath her eyelids.
The lingering sunset rays streamed through the window, gently bathing Chen Xiaonuan, enveloping her in a layer of warm light.
She looked completely defenseless, even somewhat fragile.
Chen Xiaonuan was sleeping soundly, not even hearing the sound of Shen Qing’an opening the door.
Shen Qing’an softened her steps and did not wake them. She stood at the doorway, watching quietly for a few seconds.
In this moment, the ward was very quiet.
A strange, unfamiliar emotion slowly crept into Shen Qing’an’s heart. Shen Qing’an couldn’t help but press her hand to her chest. She felt a little odd.
She finally closed the door softly.
“Auntie! I’m heading back! I’ll come see you again tomorrow. I’ll bring you the steamed buns from the shop at the end of the alley tomorrow. They’re so delicious; one bite and your mouth is full of savory juice, absolutely fragrant.”
Yuan Yanyu chuckled: “You naughty child, just trying to make me hungry. That’s for tomorrow morning, and you’re already trying to whet my appetite tonight.”
Chen Xiaonuan stuck out her tongue, made a face at Yuan Yanyu, and skipped out the ward door with her small bag.
Yuan Yanyu was left behind, shaking her head helplessly.
Not long after Chen Xiaonuan exited the elevator, she saw a familiar figure at the hospital entrance—very familiar. She walked a few steps forward and immediately confirmed who it was.
“Miss… Miss Shen?”
Chen Xiaonuan hurried over, asking curiously, “Why aren’t you going up? Auntie said you promised to visit her tonight, but I’m already heading home, and you haven’t gone up yet.”
She urged, “Hurry up and go. Auntie is waiting for you.”
After nearly a month of interaction, Chen Xiaonuan was no longer afraid of Shen Qing’an at all. Although Shen Qing’an was truly an Iceberg Sister Great Beauty, the Great Beauty had a kind heart!
Shen Qing’an lowered her gaze, looking at the energetic Chen Xiaonuan. She said, “I was specifically waiting for you.”
“Waiting for me?” Chen Xiaonuan’s large eyes were full of confusion. “Why wait for me? Does Miss Shen have something to say to me?”
Shen Qing’an didn’t speak. Instead, she took out an exquisite wallet from her handbag, pulled a blank check from the inner compartment, and quickly wrote down a string of numbers.
One million.
She handed the check to Chen Xiaonuan.
Chen Xiaonuan’s round eyes widened again. She counted on her fingers: “Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands… so many zeros.”
So much money.
Chen Xiaonuan, who had never seen this much money in her life, felt her brain turn to mush. She was just a small-town bumpkin.
Chen Xiaonuan looked up, then down, and then pinched her own wrist.
“Hiss, that hurts.”
She confirmed that she wasn’t dreaming or hallucinating.
Chen Xiaonuan gasped, her hand holding the check trembling as if she had been burned.
Shen Qing’an, who witnessed Chen Xiaonuan’s entire sequence of actions: ?
Was she really a student at Yunjing University? Why was she acting like an idiot? Shen Qing’an couldn’t fathom how Chen Xiaonuan had managed to get into Yunjing University.
Shen Qing’an asked, “What are you doing?”
Chen Xiaonuan looked up at the sound, her face filled with immense confusion and panic. Her voice was slightly shaky as she asked, “Miss Shen… what are you doing?”
“A check, for you.” Shen Qing’an was afraid she would do something strange again, so she simply tucked the check into her hand. “Hold onto it, don’t lose it. This check can be cashed at major banks in Quanhai City. It’s not a bad check.”
Chen Xiaonuan, who had been handed the check, was even more bewildered. She couldn’t figure out what Miss Shen was trying to do tonight.
So strange.
What was going on? What check? Why was Miss Shen suddenly giving her a check?
Chen Xiaonuan felt her brain capacity was limited; her mind couldn’t process it immediately. She glanced at Shen Qing’an’s expression. It was the same as usual—a cold and beautiful Great Beauty.
She whispered, “I don’t need a check.”
Miss Shen must have mistaken her for someone else.
Shen Qing’an’s expression was calm, maintaining her usual businesslike attitude, tinged with habitual aloofness.
“This is what you deserve. Thank you for your hard work this past month, for taking care of my mother, and for saving her life initially.” Shen Qing’an paused, then added, “The Shen Family does not owe favors. Take this; it is your reward.”
Finally understanding Shen Qing’an’s meaning, Chen Xiaonuan immediately shook her head. She felt as if she were holding not a massive check, but a scorching hot piece of charcoal, and she urgently tried to shove it back to Shen Qing’an.
She said anxiously, “No need! Really, no need! Miss Shen, please take the check back!”
Chen Xiaonuan’s reaction was somewhat unexpected to Shen Qing’an. Shen Qing’an didn’t take the check, frowning slightly: “Do you think it’s too little?”
“No! I don’t!” Chen Xiaonuan grew more frantic, her cheeks flushed with agitation. She explained incoherently, “Taking care of Auntie was my choice. Auntie is very kind and takes great care of me too. She… she is like Director Mother, even better than Director Mother to me. It’s my duty to take care of her.”
“Besides, Auntie already gave me the Caregiver Fee. It’s enough for my tuition and living expenses for next semester. I can’t take Miss Shen’s money again.”
Chen Xiaonuan looked at the dizzying string of numbers on the check. There was no trace of greed in her eyes, only pure unease and panic regarding this unexpected wealth.
She stubbornly held up the check, her hand trembling slightly, as if she were holding a thousand-pound weight. She looked earnestly at Shen Qing’an, afraid that Shen Qing’an wouldn’t believe her words.
Shen Qing’an silently watched the girl before her. The girl’s eyes were incredibly clear. Shen Qing’an tried to search for any hint of feigned modesty or manipulation, but she only saw the girl’s genuine resistance to this windfall.
Just as Chen Xiaonuan was about to cry from distress, Shen Qing’an finally reached out, took the check back, and put it into her bag.
Chen Xiaonuan breathed a sigh of relief: “In that case, Miss Shen, I’ll head back now.”
“Wait.” Shen Qing’an called out to her.
Chen Xiaonuan asked curiously, “Is there anything else?”
“I’ll drive you back.”
“Drive me back again? Isn’t Miss Shen going up to see Auntie? Miss Shen promised to see her tonight, but didn’t come. She’s a little bit upset, you know.”
Shen Qing’an’s voice was devoid of emotion, speaking flatly: “I’ll take you home first. It’s not safe for you to go home alone as a girl.”
Chen Xiaonuan replied softly: “Oh.”