Qin Ya didn’t return his gaze, calmly resting her head on her hand. “I’m not familiar with him.”
That was her way of making it clear that she didn’t want anything to do with him.
Su Zhan felt a sense of bitterness in his heart, but he remained smiling. “Are we familiar strangers then?”
Qin Ya smiled too. “Are we familiar with each other? Why don’t I remember?”
Su Zhan couldn’t match Qin Ya’s coldness. Pursing his lips, he sat down. “If hurting me can make you happy, feel free to hurt me then.”
“You’re not worth me hurting you. You don’t mean anything to me. I don’t care about you. I don’t hate you. I simply dislike you.”
As she spoke, Qin Ya balled up her hand under the table and squeezed it tightly, digging her nails in her palm in an attempt to force herself to maintain calm.
She actually really wanted to slap him.
When Lin Xinyan was going to take the milk, she happened to take note of this small action. Even though she didn’t say anything, it was evident from Qin Ya’s actions that the woman wasn’t as calm as she claimed to be.
If Qin Ya really doesn’t care about Su Zhan, she wouldn’t need to control herself.
What on earth is she hiding? If she has really given up on him, then why is there a need to hurt him?
Sighing, Lin Xinyan pretended that she didn’t see anything and just poured the milk. When she reached for Su Zhan’s glass, she asked, “How’s Grandma doing?”
She wanted to change the topic to ease the tension.
“She needs someone to care for her.” The elderly woman couldn’t take care of herself – she wasn’t even able to talk now.
Lin Xinyan nodded. “Take good care of her.”
Su Zhan nodded. “I will. She’s my only family left. So, of course I will take good care of her.”
Zong Jinghao walked in and pulled out a chair. He glanced at Su Zhan but didn’t say anything.
Su Zhan smiled. “I’ll look for Peichuan next time. I won’t disturb you anymore.”
Zong Jinghao picked up the glass of milk that Lin Xinyan had poured him and looked at his friend. The man seemed to have deliberately chosen to come here.
Undoubtedly, it was because of Qin Ya.
Zong Jinghao didn’t expose Su Zhan’s intentions and asked, “Did you get drunk yesterday?”
Su Zhan paused. He had drunk a lot, but his mind had still been clear. Indeed, he had intentionally asked the bar staff to call Zong Jinghao’s mobile phone.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been so coincidental either. There were so many contacts on his phone. What were the odds that the staff called was Zong Jinghao?
“Could I have faked it?” Su Zhan refused to admit the truth.
Zong Jinghao glanced at him meaningfully. “Well, only you know the truth.” He didn’t ask any further. Reaching his hand out, he picked up an egg, then peeled it and handed it to his daughter. “Do you want to learn how to draw?”
Zong Yanxi immediately nodded. “Yes.”
She was really interested in drawing. Seeing her life-like drawings, she felt very accomplished.
“Shall we go to an arts school today?”
“Do you mean that?” Zong Yanxi asked in disbelief.
Of course, she would agree. She was so delighted that her busy father actually had time to bring her out.
“Of course.” Zong Jinghao had already called Guan Jing, informing him that he wouldn’t be going to the office today and not to contact him if there wasn’t anything important.
He wanted to spend time with his daughter today.
“Yay! I’m so happy.” Excitedly, she leaped off the chair and ran over to hug his leg. “Daddy, you’re so great!”
Zong Jinghao stroked his daughter’s head. It was easy to satisfy this kid. In the future, he would surely make an effort to spend more time with her.
Zong Yanxi was so happy to know that her father was bringing her out.
After breakfast, Su Zhan drove one of Zong Jinghao’s cars and left.
“Let’s go together.” Zong Jinghao leaned against the door and looked at his wife.
Lin Xinyan was busy helping the children put on some sunscreen. She looked up at him, saying, “Go by yourself. I’m a little tired. I don’t feel like going out today.”
Once the kids were gone, she would finally have time to talk to Qin Ya.
Now that the baby in her womb was growing larger and larger, she was beginning to feel tired more frequently. Even though Zong Jinghao wanted her to tag along, he did not want to force her into doing anything if she was feeling tired. “Do you want me to buy anything? I’ll bring it back for you.”
Lin Xinyan thought for a second before answering, “I want to eat watermelon.”
“Anything else?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Since you’re free, you should spend more time with the kids.”
So, Zong Jinghao just took the two kids. After sending them off and seeing the car leave, Lin Xinyan turned and headed back in.
Aunt Wang and Aunt Yu were busy with the housework. The house was rather big, and there were many surfaces to be cleaned frequently to avoid dust accumulating. Since it was inconvenient to speak in the guest room, Lin Xinyan helped Qin Ya back to her room.
As she sat on the bed, Qin Ya asked, “What do you want to talk to me about?”
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have stayed alone at home when the whole family was going out.
“Tell me. What’s going on with you?” Lin Xinyan looked at her seriously.
Qin Ya hugged the covers. “What could possibly be going on?”
“Look into my eyes and say that again,” Lin Xinyan stated solemnly. “If you’re not hiding anything from me, look into my eyes.”
She didn’t want to force Qin Ya into telling her. She was just worried that it would be bad for the woman to suppress this any longer.
Perhaps Qin Ya would feel better if she were to let it out.
Qin Ya didn’t dare look at Lin Xinyan as she insisted, “I’m really alright. You’re thinking too much.”
“I hope I am, but you’re really making me worried.” Lin Xinyan reached out and held her hand. “Don’t you trust me?”
Qin Ya lowered her head.
Her eyes were red, and the words she wanted to say were stuck in her throat. She didn’t know where to begin.
The pain she felt now was still as fresh as ever. Back then, when she had first heard about the news, she was devastated. She had felt as if life had lost its meaning.
After experiencing such heartbreak, Qin Ya had learned how to be more resilient. That was how she could face Su Zhan with such calmness and control.
Though Su Zhan believed her, she couldn’t deceive Lin Xinyan.
Slowly, she looked up. Her eyes were filled with pain and suffering.
“You know that I was previously pregnant…” she began hoarsely.
Lin Xinyan nodded. “Yes.”
“I… have lost the qualifications to be a woman… I…” She couldn’t bring herself to say it as the weight of that incident was still too painful to bear.
