Puchi~

Lin Fan was amused by Qiu Ruohan's naive simplicity. In today's society, such a naive girl is truly rare.

"Big Brother Lin, why...why are you laughing?" Qiu Ruohan shyly peeked at Lin Fan, puzzled.

"It's nothing! Alright, go in and see your mom." Lin Fan smiled, unable to continue teasing the pure-hearted Qiu Ruohan, and let go of her hand.

Qiu Ruohan frowned slightly, looking at her empty hand, suddenly feeling a bit lost inside. Did he... did he despise her?

Lin Fan couldn't guess Qiu Ruohan's thoughts and went into the ward with her.

Mrs. Qiu learned from the doctor that if it weren't for Lin Fan's timely help, she would not have survived. Seeing Lin Fan, she wanted to get up and kneel to him.

Lin Fan hastily stopped her, and after much persuading, finally convinced Mrs. Qiu to give up kneeling. Then, he checked her pulse and reminded her of a few things before preparing to leave.

"Mr. Lin, please...wait a moment," Mrs. Qiu suddenly called out.

"Auntie, is there something else?" Lin Fan asked curiously.

"You've been busy for my life all morning, and it's getting late. Let Han take you to have something to eat," Mrs. Qiu said with a smile, nudging Qiu Ruohan gently.

"Yes, yes! Big Brother Lin, you helped me so much last time, and I haven't thanked you yet. Give me a chance to treat you to lunch," Qiu Ruohan quickly said, her beautiful eyes filled with anticipation.

"Alright then! Let's go grab a meal together, and we can also bring some food back for your mom."

Lin Fan always felt that rejecting a beauty's invitation was a shameful thing, so he agreed.

Qiu Ruohan's beautiful eyes immediately curved into little crescents, looking blissfully happy.

Just as Lin Fan and Qiu Ruohan were about to leave, Mrs. Qiu called out again, "Mr. Lin, please wait, I have something to say to you."

Seeing her mother wanting to speak, Qiu Ruohan suddenly looked flustered and awkwardly declined, "Mom, Brother Lin is already hungry. Can't it wait until we get back?"

"Silly girl, mommy has something important to say, you go out first, let me have a chat with Mr. Lin," Mrs. Qiu lovingly waved her off with a smile.

Qiu Ruohan seemed to know what Mrs. Qiu wanted to say, her pretty face immediately blushing like meeting a first love, shy and charming.

Lin Fan was a bit confused, thinking how mysterious these mother and daughter appeared to be.

He then smiled and said, "Sister Qiu, you go out first, I'll chat with Auntie for a while."

"Big Brother Lin..."

Qiu Ruohan wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Mrs. Qiu who complained, "He doesn't mind it, why are you still arguing? Go out quickly."

Qiu Ruohan bit her lip, showing a bit of inexplicable relief on her face, an understanding look, "Alright! Mom, make it quick, I still have to treat Brother Lin to lunch."

"Okay, okay, you go out now," Mrs. Qiu said with a smile.

After hesitating for a moment, Qiu Ruohan walked out of the ward, turning her head every few steps. At the door, she paused for a second and secretly glanced at Lin Fan, her eyes showing a hint of shyness!

After Qiu Ruohan left, Mrs. Qiu immediately invited Lin Fan to sit down.

As soon as Lin Fan sat down, unexpectedly, Mrs. Qiu grabbed Lin Fan's hand, lightly patting it, looking at Lin Fan with a face full of gratification, almost like a mother-in-law examining her son-in-law!

"Could it be she mistook me for Qiu Ruohan's boyfriend?" Lin Fan thought awkwardly.

Sure enough, Mrs. Qiu said with a smile, "Mr. Lin, I won't be formal, I'll just call you Lin. Lin ah, how long have you been dating Han?"

Hearing this, Lin Fan really wanted to slap himself on the left cheek, cursing himself for speaking things into existence!

Lin Fan awkwardly said, "Auntie, actually, Qiu Ruohan and I are just friends. I've always treated her as a sister."

After saying this, Lin Fan wanted to slap himself on the right cheek, wondering when he became so hypocritical?

A woman like Qiu Ruohan, not just Lin Fan, any man seeing her would be moved!

"Lin ah, although I'm not that educated, just a rural woman, I've been around long enough, even if you try to hide it well, you can't fool my eyes. I'm not an old-fashioned person, and I won't oppose young people freely falling in love."

Mrs. Qiu sighed softly, blaming herself, "Actually, Han is a very pitiful child. Her father owed a huge loan due to gambling when he was young and was beaten to death, leaving us with a pile of debt."

"For more than ten years, all the money I earned went to paying debts. Other girls had happy childhoods, but I never let Han enjoy any of it."

"Because we were poor, Han was looked down upon since she was little. She's very solitary, has no friends. Don't look at how strong Han seems every day, she hides her pain inside. I know how much she suffers, she'd rather wear clothes bought two years ago, patching them when torn, never worrying me, even handing over her earnings to me."

"She's my pride and my greatest sorrow, it's my failing that I never let her enjoy being a girl, instead letting her endure hardships with me for over ten years."

"Actually, I'm not telling you this to complain, just hoping if you and Han really get together, you can treat her well and take care of her, as she's really been through too much."

As she spoke, tears of guilt fell from Mrs. Qiu's wrinkled eyes.

Lin Fan sighed silently. He thought not knowing his parents was pathetic enough, but compared to Qiu Ruohan's situation, it was nothing.

After all, he never worried about life, he had mentors, uncles, and brothers accompanying him since childhood!

Lin Fan couldn't bear to disappoint Mrs. Qiu and smiled, "Don't worry, Auntie, I'll take good care of Han."

"Thank you, with you around, even if I die, this old woman would be at ease."

Mrs. Qiu tightly held Lin Fan's hand, tears flowing, but she smiled gratefully.

...

After leaving Mrs. Qiu's ward, Qiu Ruohan was pacing back and forth in the corridor.

Looking at her graceful figure, Lin Fan suddenly recalled another youthful silhouette in his mind.

He remembered when he came down the mountain, his little junior sister was only fifteen, and now five years have passed. He wondered how she's doing now. She should be as tall as Qiu Ruohan by now!

Lin Fan smiled bitterly and shook his head, composed himself, and walked over with a smile, "What are you thinking about?"

"Ah!"

Qiu Ruohan was lost in thought, startled by Lin Fan's words, letting out a scream!

"Big Brother Lin, you scared me," Qiu Ruohan patted her small chest, looking a bit frightened, but nervously with a bit of anticipation she asked, "Big Brother Lin, what did my mom say to you?"

"Guess?" Lin Fan teased, speaking in riddles with a smile.

"Ugh! How would I guess? My mom didn't say anything excessive, right?" Qiu Ruohan nervously asked.

"Oh, uh...your mom~ forced me to marry you, does that count as excessive?" Lin Fan blinked, teasingly smiling.

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