Chapter 19: Let’s Go Somewhere
“Sorry…”
“Then sleep.”
Chen Jiamu awkwardly touched his nose and silently withdrew his hand. Footsteps sounded outside the door. He thought it was Chen Cheng, wondering why she had returned so quickly; hadn’t she said she had company business to attend to?
But turning his head, he saw Song Jin standing at the doorway, looking at Li Qi with a joyful expression.
“Aunt Song… he’s asleep again.”
After Chen Jiamu finished speaking, Song Jin only shook her head slightly. She gestured for him to come over.
Chen Jiamu obeyed. The two went to the living room, and Song Jin closed the door before speaking, “You’ve been through a lot.”
“Where’s your classmate?”
“I haven’t had a chance to thank him yet.”
Song Jin was very relieved that Li Qi had such a good friend.
“He went back; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to return to the dorm after it closed.”
Hearing this, Song Jin remembered that everyone except Li Qi and Chen Jiamu lived on campus.
“Then ask him out for me another day; I want to thank him.”
“Aunt Song, helping a classmate is what anyone would do. It’s nothing.”
Chen Jiamu’s smug expression softened Song Jin’s heart. If Li Qi were as lively and playful as him…
At least he would be happy.
“Remember to ask him out; let’s all have dinner together.”
Song Jin’s eyes slightly narrowed as she said this, as if she had made a decision.
“Okay.”
Chen Jiamu didn’t think much of it and readily agreed. In the evening, Chen Cheng came to pick up Chen Jiamu. Fearing that Li Qi might do something rash, Song Jin stayed in the living room.
Meanwhile, her eyes were fixed on her phone, waiting for Li Ru’s message. She wanted to see what tricks Zhang Yongmei was up to.
As time slowly passed and it grew darker, Li Ru finally sent a message.
[She’s addicted to gambling, and she’s used all her money, so she’s targeting Xiao Qi.]
Seeing this message, Song Jin sneered, then instructed Li Ru to handle the matter.
Turning off her phone, Song Jin called a number she rarely contacted. Her opening words silenced the other party.
“Help me with something, get me a passport.”
The other party was silent for a while before asking, “Whose? When do you need it?”
“Li Qi’s, in five days.”
“Okay.”
After the other party agreed, Song Jin hung up, tiredly collapsing onto the sofa.
The room was dark, only the faint light from the medical equipment illuminating the space.
Li Qi woke up. Looking at the dark room, he felt a strange sense of security; he didn’t turn on the light.
Instead, he stared out the window at a faint yellow light. A small lamp hung on a tree branch; the tiny lamp on the large branch looked so incongruous.
Yet so harmonious…
The large branch supported the lamp, and the small lamp illuminated the pedestrians who were afraid of the dark.
It was like… Chen Jiamu, and he was like the pedestrian afraid of the dark. The light wasn’t very bright, but seeing the light, the pedestrian felt much safer…
Closing his eyes gently, Li Qi curled up in his bed.
The next day, Li Qi came out of his bedroom and saw Song Jin sitting on the sofa. Seeing his normal expression, Song Jin’s face lit up, “Xiao Qi, you’re awake.”
“Mm.”
Li Qi responded faintly, went to the water dispenser, poured a glass of water, handed it to Song Jin, then poured one for himself.
Song Jin was thrilled but controlled herself. She carefully asked, “When did that woman look for you?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Li Qi paused his drinking, his lowered eyes trembling slightly, “A few days ago.”
“But I ignored her. But this time, she seems…”
“Don’t be afraid, I’ll handle her.”
“Also… would you like to leave with me?”
Song Jin wasn’t sure if Li Qi would agree to go abroad with her. If he didn’t want to, she would find a way to make Zhang Yongmei disappear forever.
“Where to?”
Everything was unexpected. Li Qi frowned nervously, unsure what Song Jin meant by “leave.”
Was it what he thought?
“Abroad.”
Sure enough, hearing the word “abroad,” Li Qi’s heart trembled. He looked up at Song Jin in shock, wondering why she suddenly wanted to go abroad.
Was it because of Zhang Yongmei?
“There’s something I think you should know; I want to divorce Li Ru, so staying in the country isn’t good for either of us. So I want to take you abroad.”
“You might have a better life abroad; I’ve already contacted schools and teachers there; the resources are as good as Chengda’s.”
“Of course, if you don’t want to, I’ll find another way. But I won’t change my mind about divorcing Li Ru.”
Song Jin was straightforward, openly admitting her failed marriage. She respected Li Qi’s thoughts and gave him the choice.
Go abroad?
Li Qi’s sudden silence made Song Jin’s heart sink. Did he really not want to go abroad with her?
“Give me some time.”
“I… I’ll think about it.”
Li Qi finished his water, nervously biting his finger. Just as he was about to go back to his room, a knock came at the door.
They both turned to look and saw a pair of black shoes entering.
Chen Jiamu, in his wheelchair, appeared in the living room, noticing the serious expressions on their faces.
Chen Jiamu also became nervous, “Good… afternoon?”
“Jiamu, come in.”
As soon as Chen Jiamu arrived, Song Jin regained her relaxed smile and pushed him next to Li Qi, “You two chat, I’ll go out for a bit.”
After Song Jin left, Chen Jiamu awkwardly scratched the back of his head, “Did I come at a bad time?”
“What, aren’t you going to class today?” Li Qi glanced at him and went to the water dispenser to pour him a glass of water. Chen Jiamu was surprised and gratefully took the water, “It’s boring without you.”
Chen Jiamu casually complained, but Li Qi looked at him for a moment.
“Since you don’t want to go to class, how about we go somewhere?”
“Huh?”
Li Qi was inviting him? Chen Jiamu, who was drinking water, almost choked.
“What, you don’t want to go?”
“No!”
“As long as you want to go, I’ll go through fire and water.”
Chen Jiamu quickly swore, fearing that Li Qi would change his mind. Seeing his enthusiastic attitude, Li Qi found it funny, but still said crisply, “You’re crazy.”
They packed up and left. Li Qi, fearing that Song Jin wouldn’t find him, sent her a text message.
But Song Jin didn’t notice her phone ringing and continued to discuss her divorce with her lawyer.