Chapter 111: Where Did My Perfect White Moonlight Go?

Pushing open the door, Meng Qiaoyuan was already awake, scrolling through videos on her phone to distract herself.

Her wounds had been aching and itching frequently of late. Reason told her to ignore it, but the bouts of unbearable, dull pain were impossible to tune out.

Seeing the two of them enter, a hint of color finally returned to her pale face.

"I had just arrived when Dr. Shen stood by the door lost in thought. I don't know what he was imagining, but he was actually blushing."

Meng Qiaoyan teased her sister. She had long since sensed the unusual, lingering tension between the two. She couldn't understand why they hadn't broken the ice yet, and as the eldest sister, it delighted her to no end.

Ever since she got married, it seemed as if the Meng children had collectively completed their marriage and child-rearing quotas; one by one, they preferred to remain single rather than find partners.

It had been hard enough for Meng Qiaochong to get a girlfriend, only for her to dump him a few days later in pursuit of her own dreams. As for Meng Qiaoyuan, she would steer clear of any man she saw, never bothering to dress up, let alone socialize. Aside from devouring professional textbooks, she had no hobbies whatsoever.

Now that Shen Mushi was in the picture, Meng Qiaoyan was practically beaming with joy.

Whether they married or not didn't matter, but they certainly needed to date. Otherwise, they couldn't just waste their prime youth on work alone.

Shen Mushi felt a bit awkward. He rubbed his nose and stood before the hospital bed, asking, "How are you feeling today? Is there any discomfort?"

Meng Qiaoyuan set her phone down. "The wounds are definitely uncomfortable, but it's bearable. Why are you here so early?"

Shen Mushi’s gaze was filled with intense warmth as he looked at her: "I went to the airport to pick up an elder. He brought me some things from the south."

Meng Qiaoyuan’s eyes darkened slightly. "Are they things related to me?"

Shen Mushi looked into her eyes and reached out to brush away her messy bangs. "In a way, yes. But don't worry, I'm here."

Seeing the two of them exchanging looks, Meng Qiaoyan put down the soup she was holding and prepared to leave. "I'm going to check where Meng Qiaochong is. He's on a business trip, and I don't know how things are going for him on the road."

Meng Qiaoyuan watched in silence as her sister hurried out. Meng Qiaochong had been traveling for work for years, and she had never seen her sister care so much about his whereabouts before.

"How is Jiang Zao?"

Lying in bed with nothing to think about, the only thing that could distract Meng Qiaoyuan was worrying about Jiang Zao’s health and her relationship with Zhou Lichuan.

"She came by yesterday morning. There are too many people in the hospital and too many germs, and it’s inconvenient for her with her pregnancy. We didn't talk much before I sent her back. I heard she had a talk with Zhou Lichuan. Have they reconciled?"

Shen Mushi pulled up a chair and sat down. "I'm not sure yet. I'll go check on them later and report back to you."

Meng Qiaoyuan nodded gently.

"Do you want some soup? I'll bring it over for you."

Meng Qiaoyuan nodded; she was truly hungry.

Shen Mushi had handsome hands—his fingers were nimble and slender. As he stirred the soup with a spoon, the swirling motion was captivating.

As a spoonful of soup flowed into her stomach, Meng Qiaoyuan finally felt as though she had come back to life.

"Shen Mushi, what are you staring at?" Seeing his dazed expression, Meng Qiaoyuan couldn't help but ask.

Shen Mushi didn't say a word, focusing intently on feeding her half a bowl of soup before setting the bowl aside. His gaze was incredibly focused, staring at Meng Qiaoyuan as if seeking a truth.

"When we were little... did we meet?"

Meng Qiaoyuan nodded, finding it strange. "Yes, in your grandfather's garden. You broke your bracelet and cried as if the world were ending, so I gave you my little pouch to use."

Shen Mushi froze in place. He stood up in disbelief. "You remember!"

"I do. Don't you? Did you get amnesia too?"

Shen Mushi was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead. "No, that was over twenty years ago! How could I possibly still remember? Why do you remember so clearly?"

Meng Qiaoyuan almost rolled her eyes. "I’m just gifted, okay? Stop making a racket; I’m in pain. I don't even dare to make a sound in front of my sister—she cries whenever she hears I’m hurting, which is terrifying."

Shen Mushi shut his mouth, looking at the woman lying on the bed with a panicked expression.

Recalling every detail since he had met her again, how could this person be the beautiful, spirited little girl from his childhood? The one with the pigtails! The pink dress!

Now, she wore nothing but white T-shirts or button-downs, had only one expression on her face, and rarely smiled even once throughout the day.

*Crack.*

Shen Mushi’s fantasies shattered into pieces, his internal monologue spiraling: "Where is my innocent, lively, and lighthearted childhood 'white moonlight'? How did the Meng family turn such a sweet little girl into this!"

Ignoring Shen Mushi’s shattered dreams, Meng Qiaoyuan struggled to sit up.

"Give me a hand. Where's your intuition?"

Shen Mushi reached out, tucked an extra pillow behind her head, and pressed the remote button to lift the bed higher.

"Qiaoyuan, have you been unhappy all these years?"

Meng Qiaoyuan gave him a strange look. "I'm in pain and itchy; if you stop acting like a fool, I'll be very happy."

Shen Mushi sat down and stared at her intently. "Fine, I won't act like a fool. I'll just watch you. If the pain becomes truly unbearable, just moan—it's okay, I won't tease you."

Meng Qiaoyuan finally rolled her eyes. "That's it, this guy really is an idiot. You didn't know we met as kids? You're so happy—were you harboring a secret crush on me?"

Shen Mushi’s eyes lit up. "Yes, I've had a secret crush on you for over twenty years. I never even knew what my childhood 'white moonlight' had grown up to look like. You knew all along and kept quiet about it—I even almost started liking someone else... but it doesn't matter, it's not too late to know now. I had planned to tell you after you were discharged, but I really couldn't hold it in any longer. Do you know how excited I am right now?"

Meng Qiaoyuan was stunned by the blunt confession.

If only she were radiant right now, wearing an exquisite, beautiful gown.

If only she weren't in a hospital.

If only... she could wash her face...

"...You’re quite rude, you know that?"

Shen Mushi looked startled. "What?"

Meng Qiaoyuan turned her head away. "Nothing. I'm sleepy."

She had only just sat up; it was impossible for her to be sleepy so quickly. Shen Mushi knew, of course, that she was trying to dismiss him.

But he didn't move. Instead, he took Meng Qiaoyuan’s hand. The warmth of his large palm was almost overwhelming. "I'm sorry. I didn't perform well in the past. Even when I sent flowers, I didn't know you hated lilies. I’ll pay attention from now on. I mean it."

Meng Qiaoyuan tried to pull her hand from his grasp, but his warmth was too intense.

"I know. I don't blame you."

The two smiled at each other.

Twenty minutes later, Shen Mushi stood up and walked out. He still had to go to Zhou Jiayan’s house. After finally uncovering all the evidence, it was time to launch a counterattack.