TIMO - Chapter 83
Chapter 83
Of course, Fu Zhao wouldn't choose to let Shi Nan bite her again.
After all, she cherished the time she spent as a Beta, unaffected by pheromones.
The longer, the better.
Of course, she wasn't opposed to becoming an Alpha either.
Letting nature take its course was the state she most wanted to achieve right now.
No need to worry about the future, no need to think about the past.
Just doing what she wanted to do.
This was probably the most peaceful state she had been in after everything she had experienced.
Fu Zhao collected her thoughts and came back to her senses. Her gaze fell on Shi Nan's face, which was now close enough to touch, and she pressed her lips together. "More than that, I'd rather you eat something right now."
Shi Nan was slightly taken aback, her eyelashes lowering. "Did... did you hear everything?"
Fu Zhao shook her head frankly. "I didn't."
"But I know you definitely haven't eaten anything." She paused for a few seconds, her gaze shifting to the meal boxes on the table before returning to Shi Nan. "I can tell just by looking at all these boxes on the table."
"They're all neatly arranged, not even opened."
"I haven't eaten or slept much these past few days..." Shi Nan bit her lower lip, her eyes dropping before looking up at her again. She took a soft breath. "...Do I look ugly?"
"Ugly?"
Fu Zhao didn't process it at first and subconsciously repeated the question, only to meet Shi Nan's gaze, which instantly locked onto hers.
She seemed to really care about it.
Logically speaking, Shi Nan's current appearance was indeed a far cry from her usual confident, radiant, and beautiful self.
Her eyes were still red and a little swollen, and they wouldn't get better anytime soon.
Her skin was almost colorless, excessively pale.
Her lips also seemed a bit dry, having lost their previous moisture. It looked as if she hadn't even thought to take a sip of water these past few days.
The clothes she was wearing were wrinkled, and her long, exquisite hair was simply tied back haphazardly, unkempt and a little messy.
All of the above was just a logical assessment.
But Fu Zhao would only judge by her heart. She looked at Shi Nan with frank eyes, her gaze gentle and affectionate, and shook her head softly.
"Not ugly. You're very beautiful."
"More beautiful than any other time I've ever seen you."
How could she be more beautiful than any other time?
Every other time, she had been meticulously dressed up.
But this ghostly appearance now... she knew it wasn't pretty, even without looking in a mirror.
It was clearly a lie.
But once any words were spoken by Fu Zhao, they were frank and candid, each and every one carrying a sincerity heavier than anyone else's.
Shi Nan knew this from deep experience. She watched Fu Zhao quietly for a moment, the light in her eyes flickering as they grew moist. After a while, she spoke in a light tone.
"If you had dared to say I wasn't beautiful just now..."
She didn't finish her sentence, merely walking silently to the table and sitting down. She opened a meal box, and the silent, scorching gaze she cast over said it all.
Fu Zhao smiled, the corners of her lips curving up. She understood Shi Nan's unspoken words.
But it didn't matter whether she understood or not.
After all, in her eyes, her Shi Nan was beautiful at all times.
When Fu Wanqing rushed over, she was greeted by the sight of a lively and energetic Fu Zhao.
Fu Zhao was sitting up in the hospital bed, obediently opening her mouth to accept the food Shi Nan was feeding her, bite by bite.
Although her complexion was still a sickly white, her exceptionally bright eyes made her seem full of spirit and vitality.
The situation was much better than she had imagined.
She recalled the time she had just brought Fu Zhao back to Nanke Island from RT Planet.
Before that day, she had always imagined and looked forward to what her and Gu Shubai's child would be like-whether she would be more like Gu Shubai or more like her.
But she had never imagined.
That her Zhaozhao would be such an unhealthy child.
Even though she was already thirteen, she was like an undeveloped child-thin and frail, completely colorless, and lifeless.
She would shrink into a corner, not daring to look at her.
So, on the day she met Fu Zhao, Fu Wanqing hid in the cemetery and cried for a long time. She couldn't bear to blame Gu Shubai, so she could only blame herself.
Later, she took Fu Zhao for a comprehensive physical examination.
It wasn't just simple malnutrition.
There were also wounds of varying degrees all over her body.
Bruises, cuts.
Everything.
Low spirits, insomnia, and an unwillingness to communicate with anyone.
All of this was rarely seen in an ordinary thirteen-year-old child; they were symptoms of depression.
Fu Zhao was far more unhappy than she had ever imagined.
Later, she spent a very long time helping that unhappy, tiny little Fu Zhao grow into a free and bright young woman, then into the cheerful and dazzling Little Island Master, and finally, into the calm and quiet Island Master.
Her Zhaozhao had finally found someone she liked.
As her mother, she could only be supportive.
That's what she thought at the time-perhaps letting Fu Zhao try to love someone would make her happier.
Looking at it now.
It seemed her thoughts had been right.
Even if the relationship hadn't been so smooth at the beginning.
But a relationship that has gone through twists and turns will make both parties cherish this hard-won affection even more.
This was a lesson from her own past.
She and Gu Shubai had not been able to overcome worldly obstacles.
Fortunately, Fu Zhao and Shi Nan were lucky enough to have both chosen each other firmly.
Their situation was so much better than hers had been.
"Mother?"
A familiar call from her memories reached her ears, interrupting Fu Wanqing's thoughts. She came back to her senses and found that both Fu Zhao and Shi Nan in the hospital room were looking over at her, their faces filled with confusion, as if asking why she was standing at the door and not coming in.
Fu Wanqing collected her dazed thoughts and stepped inside, her gaze shifting between Fu Zhao and Shi Nan. "Seeing you two getting along so affectionately, I didn't want to break the atmosphere."
Hearing this, Fu Zhao grew embarrassed. She pursed her lips, her voice softening. "No... I just woke up and was eating something."
"Mm, I know." Fu Wanqing nodded and reached out to tidy Fu Zhao's hair, her eyes shimmering. "Does anywhere still hurt now that you're awake? Your wounds, your head, do they hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt." Fu Zhao shook her head gently, quietly allowing Fu Wanqing's touch. "It's nothing anymore."
"That's good." Fu Wanqing lowered her eyes and said softly.
The air fell silent again.
Fu Zhao looked at Shi Nan, then at Fu Wanqing. She cleared her throat and began hesitantly, "It's like this, Mother. About the marriage contract between Shi Nan and me..."
"I know."
Fu Wanqing waved her hand, cutting Fu Zhao off. She glanced at Shi Nan, her tone light. "You've decided to fulfill the marriage contract, is that right?"
"Yes." Shi Nan answered first, looking at Fu Wanqing a little nervously.
Fu Wanqing hummed softly. After a moment of silence, she spoke in a casual, conversational tone, "President Shi and I have already discussed it these past few days. We will no longer interfere with your marriage contract."
"When you plan to get married, or even if you just want to date without getting married... we two elders will no longer meddle. This is a matter between the two of you, and you should learn to think about it for yourselves."
"Just let us know when you decide to get married."
Fu Wanqing's answer was far more open-minded than Fu Zhao had imagined.
She knew Fu Wanqing would agree, but she hadn't expected that Fu Wanqing no longer planned to interfere with the contract at all, not even mentioning the previous rule about "not being able to actively break off the engagement before the age of thirty."
But since Fu Wanqing didn't bring it up, Fu Zhao certainly wouldn't either.
She opened her mouth, suddenly at a bit of a loss. "You mean?"
Fu Wanqing patted Fu Zhao's shoulder, the corners of her lips turning up slightly. "After you've recovered, I'm going to set down this burden and take a vacation on another planet for a while. When that time comes, you'll have to learn to handle all of Nanke Island's affairs yourself."
"Understand?"
Fu Zhao was stunned. It was just as she had experienced before. It was just that, originally, after inheriting Nanke Island, she hadn't put much thought into the island, so Fu Wanqing had never been able to rest easy and had stayed on Nanke Island to help her manage things.
But now, Fu Wanqing was probably going to leave Nanke Island again, just like last time.
Fu Zhao was a little reluctant to see her go, but she also knew this was what Fu Wanqing wanted most. She couldn't stop her, so she just pressed her lips together and said softly, "I understand."
"Mm." Fu Wanqing responded softly, her gaze flickering as she looked at her. "I'll return to Nanke Island tomorrow. Until your injuries have completely healed, I will temporarily manage the island's affairs."
"You can..." She paused, her gaze shifting to Shi Nan, her tone light. "...stay here with Nannan for a while longer. Go back once you're fully healed."
Fu Wanqing had arranged everything perfectly, and Fu Zhao had no objections. She just listened quietly to her plans.
After saying all this, Fu Wanqing ruffled Fu Zhao's hair again. "I'm going to have a private chat with your fiancée. You stay here by yourself for a bit."
Without waiting for Fu Zhao's response, she turned to the quiet Shi Nan. "Nannan, do you have a moment? Come chat with me."
Shi Nan clutched the hem of her clothes. These past few days, she still felt a little uneasy facing Fu Wanqing, always feeling that she was responsible for Fu Zhao ending up in a hospital bed and had let Fu Wanqing down.
So when Fu Wanqing made this request, she naturally couldn't refuse. She answered cautiously, "Okay."
Fu Zhao, of course, had no objections either and also agreed.
And so, Fu Wanqing and Shi Nan left the room.
Fu Zhao lay on the hospital bed, bored out of her mind. After some thought, she pressed the remote to open the curtains.
It was the season from her memories.
The sun was a bit intense. Unlike the blue skies and white clouds of Nanke Island, the sky here held only a blazing sun, like a furnace, baking the trees on both sides of the road.
"Creaak-"
It was the sound of the door being pushed open, but it was so faint by the time it reached her ears that it was almost inaudible.
Fu Zhao only heard that tiny sound. When she turned to look at the door, it was still properly closed.
Shut tight, without a single crack.
Strange.
She pressed her lips together, her brow furrowed.
Could she have misheard?
Just as she was thinking this, she turned her head and saw a folder sitting innocently on the table.
It had appeared out of nowhere.
She looked at it thoughtfully for a moment before taking it and opening it up.
The moment she opened it, her brow furrowed even more tightly.
The title on the first page was written in bold characters:
《Fu Zhao & Shi Nan's "Wedding of the Century" Proposal》
And it even pretentiously used the phrase "Wedding of the Century."
Man.. 💔
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