The Substitute Bride: Indulged by the Obsessive CEO

Chapter 225: A Life In Exchange For A Promise

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The doctor came over and examined Ruan Qi. He confirmed that she was fine and needed to rest for two days.

Tang Beibei came by again but did not see Song Zhou. She walked to Ruan Qi’s bedside and saw that her eyes were red. She had been crying.

“Qiqi, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

“Just a little upset but I’m much better now. Beibei, your face, does it hurt?”

Tang Beibei nodded. “But it’s much better now after applying medicine. The wound on your forehead must be very painful too, right?”

Ruan Qi touched her forehead and sighed. “We’re really trouble sisters, aren’t we? We even got injured together.”

“I’m so sorry, Qiqi, I’m the one who dragged you in.”

Ruan Qi poked at Tang Beibei’s head as she said, “What are you thinking?

You’re a victim too. I’m lucky. I’m fine now.”

Tang Beibei smiled when she saw Ruan Qi’s calm expression and her usual vigor.

“Qiqi, you’re a good person. You’ll definitely find someone who dotes on you!”

Ruan Qi was stunned. She fluttered her eyelashes to hide the disappointment in her eyes.

“When two people get together, it’s not because they dote on each other. It’s because they feel happy together. Not every man is as considerate and responsible as your husband, who will protect you at all costs.”

“Don’t be disheartened. You will find someone.”

Ruan Qi was doubtful. Would she really?

Even if she did, would she be worthy of him?

Sigh, perhaps she wasn’t worthy. Otherwise, why would Song Zhou reject her despite her fondness for him?

The thought of Song Zhou made her heart feel like it was being squeezed; she couldn’t breathe well.

It felt terrible to be rejected.

Because of her injuries, Jiang Jingchen asked Tang Beibei to take a leave of absence and recuperate at home for two days.

Tang Beibei was worried that Ruan Qi would be bored in the hospital, so she went to the hospital to keep her company. When she was outside Ruan Qi’s ward, she saw Song Zhou standing there in a daze.

She walked over and was about to call him when Song Zhou shushed her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked softly.

“Ruan Qi has a visitor inside and they are talking.”

“Who is it?”

“A man.”

Tang Beibei peeked inside. Ruan Qi’s visitor was Zhu Fan. She looked at Song Zhou strangely. “Aren’t you going in?” “Why should I go in? It’s not nice to disturb them, right?”

Although he said that it wasn’t nice, his eyes were still drawn to them. It was obvious that he cared.

This man was as stubborn as a mule.

Tang Beibei felt a little helpless. She knocked twice and pushed the door open.

“Hi Senior Zhu Fan. What are you guys talking about?”

Zhu Fan was a little shy in front of outsiders. He cleared his throat and said, “Nothing much. I was just worried that Ruan Qi would be bored, so we are just chit chatting.”

“Oh. Ruan Qi, I brought you some desserts. Here, try some!” Tang Beibei walked to the head of the bed and saw a bouquet of flowers on the bedside table. She gave Ruan Qi a meaningful look.

But Ruan Qi was very calm and even smiled at her.

Tang Beibei put down the desserts and sat down beside Zhu Fan who was saying, “I’ll be doing my internship at a hospital soon. I’ll be busier then. Ruan Qi, 1 want to rent a place closer to yours so that I can see you occasionally.”

His attitude was obvious. He wanted to develop the relationship further with her.

Ruan Qi looked at him, feeling a little helpless at his sudden offer.

“Don’t do that. You’ll be very tired during your internship. You should find a place near the hospital. I live quite far away. It would be too tiring for you to run back and forth. 1 can always meet you near the hospital.”

Zhu Fan pushed his glasses up his nose and said, “That works too. How many days did the doctor say they will keep you here?”

“Two days. I can’t rest for too long. I still have to dance.”

“I see.”

The two of them were silent.

Zhu Fan wasn’t the type of guy who would take the initiative. He tried to find conversation topics with the girl he was interested in, but it seemed like they were miles apart professionally. He felt a little awkward.

Tang Beibei talked to Ruan Qi about dancing. They could watch more videos during their recuperation and perhaps make their choreography more interesting.

Zhu Fan watched them watch the videos. He was quite bored so he stood up and said goodbye.

After he left, Ruan Qi’s shoulders slumped. She held her face with her hands and sighed.

“You are not happy?”

“Yes, I feel guilty.”

“Oh, why?”

Ruan Qi said, “When 1 said that I was looking for a boyfriend, 1 was doing it out of spite. Now that I’ve caught Senior Zhu Fan’s interest, I’m thinking about how to be honest with him and tell him that I may not become his girlfriend.”

“When I see him now, 1 can’t help but compare him to Song Zhou. 1 hate myself for doing that.”

“Song Zhou doesn’t even like me. So what if Zhu Fan is better than him?”

Tang Beibei knew that Song Zhou was outside. She glanced at the door and asked, “Do you think Senior Zhu Fan is better than Song Zhou?”

Song Zhou, who was outside the door, could indeed hear their conversation.

Ruan Qi would compare him to Zhu Fan. Did she think that Zhu Fan was better?

Song Zhou felt nervous at the thought of this.

Ruan Qi thought for a bit and replied, “Not really. Although Song Zhou is just a butler, he’s very capable. His gentlemanly manners are very special. No one can compare to him.”

Ruan Qi covered her face as she spoke, feeling a little frustrated.

“No, no, that bastard Song Zhou doesn’t even like me. The more highly I think of him, the harder it is for me to let him go. I can’t do this. It’s better to be practical.”

“Qiqi, didn’t you say that the best way to get over a past relationship is to start a new one? You can try things out with Senior Zhu Fan. You can tell him when things don’t work out.”

Ruan Qi waved her hand. “No, no, I’d better tell Senior Zhu Fan now. It will be immoral of me if 1 continue to lead him on when I’m not interested.”

“Alright. But a certain immoral man really deserves to be whacked. What a bastard!” Tang Beibei said while looking at the door.

“Don’t scold him. He didn’t do anything wrong. He treats me as a friend, but I want to sleep with him. Tsk, let’s not talk about it. The more 1 talk about it, the more my head hurts.”

“Take a nap if you head hurts.”

Tang Beibei helped Ruan Qi lie down and waited for her to fall asleep before she left.

When she walked out, she didn’t see Song Zhou. She looked around in confusion and saw him in the smoking area.

He flicked the cigarette he was holding and stared at his phone with a frown.

This was the first time Tang Beibei saw Song Zhou smoke.

“Song Zhou?”

Song Zhou snapped out of his daze, put out his cigarette and kept his phone.

“Young Madam, what can I do for you?”

“Song Zhou, you should have heard what Qiqi said. Where’s your head at?”

Song Zhou lowered his head in silence. “I don’t know either.”

“When it comes to love, you either like someone or you don’t. Does your ‘I don’t know’ mean that you don’t like Ruan Qi?”

“No, it’s just that…”

There were some things he didn’t know how to explain.

Tang Beibei interrupted him, “You just don’t know who you like more, right? I heard from my husband that you had a fiancee and you’ve been waiting for her, but she hasn’t given you an answer.”

“Song Zhou, I don’t care what feelings you have.”

“But you’re thinking about your fiancee while getting involved with my best friend. If you hurt Ruan Qi, I won’t let you off.”

“As a man, you don’t even have the courage to face your own feelings. You’re not as brave as Qiqi. To be honest, you’re not worthy of her!”

Song Zhou chuckled. “Yes, Miss Ruan is very good. I’m not worthy of her.”

“You…” Tang Beibei took a deep breath. She was furious.

“Since you’re so determined not to be with Ruan Qi, don’t show up in the future and stir up her feelings!”

Song Zhou closed his eyes and was quiet for a few seconds. “Okay, I’m sorry.”

He then turned and left.

Tang Beibei was so angry that her lungs hurt, and she felt sorry for Ruan Qi.

Tang Beibei spent the night at the hospital with Ruan Qi. Jiang Jingchen, who felt left out when he returned to the villa, looked at Song Zhou coldly.

Song Zhou explained helplessly, “Young Madam warned me not to go near her friend. 1 can’t take care of her.”

“Oh, so this is my wife’s fault?”

“No, it’s my fault.”

Jiang Jingchen sneered. “What’s the point of waiting for a woman who made you wait like that?”

“She saved my life back then and 1 promised her.”

“Right.”

Jiang Jingchen was very disdainful of Song Zhou’s promise.

A life in exchange for a promise, but this promise put Song Zhou in a difficult position. His fiancee’s refusal to let him go wasn’t a promise of marriage but blackmail..