Before My Withering [枯萎之前]

Chapter 17

The living room was so quiet that I could hear my own breathing.

Zhou Chen took out a small pill bottle from his pocket and poured a pill for me. I ate slowly for a while before I managed to feel more comfortable.

"Is Qi Shu looking for me?" I asked, clutching my pillow.

Zhou Chen reassured, "It's safe here, don't be afraid."

I couldn't help being afraid.

Scars still littered on my body up to this day, a steady reminder of what had happened to this body of mine.

There were also certain moments where I unconsciously protected my belly, but it also reminded me that I once had Qi Shu's child and had lost him because of Qi Shu.

The suture of my wound next to the eyebrow was just removed a few days ago. Whenever I see myself in the mirror every morning, I could spot the ugly scar meandering on my forehead.

If Qi Shu could see me, he'd definitely lose interest in me forever.

He spared Wen Yan and Wen Ziqing, but he was willing to do this to me.

Something suddenly occurred to me. I asked Zhou Chen, "Did I give you trouble..."

"As I said, you don't have to think about this." Zhou Chen didn't really care. "If he had another way, he wouldn't talk to me on the phone."

I hope so.

Zhou Shen didn't go out for the next few days. I only sprained my foot, and there were servants and housekeepers at home, yet he still had to look at me personally.

He'd decided that I was a crippled and careless buffoon with a negative self-care ability of level 10. I couldn't argue.

When my foot finally got better, Zhou Chen came back one day and dragged a large box out of the car. The butler carefully helped move the box to the living room. Zhou Chen stood next to me and said, "Open it and have a look."

So huge, what could it be?

After unpacking the box, a glossy walnut wood case was revealed inside.

...An instrument?

My breath stagnated and my beating heart quickened its pace.

When I opened the case, a beautiful cello was lying inside.

It really was an instrument.

"I got it from a trusted friend, do you like it?" asked Zhou Chen.

I hadn't touched the instrument for a long time.

When my fingers glided on the smooth and exquisite surface of the instrument, I seemed to hear the years flowing on top, and the cells all over my whole body revived following the musical notes in my mind.

As it turns out, I still have something I love passionately.

"Like it." I looked up at Zhou Chen. "Is this for me?"

He froze for a moment, averted his gaze slightly unnaturally, and said, "Consider it my early present for you..."

There were no recent holidays, and after thinking about it, he reluctantly said, "Children's Day present."

After the surprise, I suddenly felt uneasy.

This instrument seemed rare. Zhou Chen said it was taken, it probably cost a lot of money.

"It's too expensive. I..."