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Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Visiting to Apologize
Han Jiaojiao managed a strained smile.
Han Yi brought out the tea set and brewed a pot of Longjing Tea.
"Why did you come here, it’s so hot, and with your health, anything you needed could have just been conveyed to me."
"My health has improved a lot, when you get older, you always have this illness or that, nothing too serious," Duan Shuhua said with a smile, sitting in front of the coffee table with the affection of an elder on her face, "And I wanted to see where you live for myself."
Han Yi’s expression softened, "I haven’t finished setting everything up yet, it’s still messy everywhere."
"I think it’s quite nice here," Duan Shuhua said calmly, her speech neither hasty nor sluggish, "Ever since you were little, you have been a child who gives others peace of mind. Neither Han Rui nor Han Yi is as capable as you. Now seeing you taking good care of yourself and the people around you, I am also happy for you."
As Duan Shuhua talked with Han Yi, Han Jiaojiao sat by Han Yi’s side, silently sizing her up.
This was her first time meeting Qin Nanyi’s mother, perhaps she had seen her when she was a child, but she had long since forgotten.
It must be said, Qin Nanyi’s mother was beautiful. Not like those wealthy women who adorn themselves in rich, ostentatious makeup, Duan Shuhua’s makeup was refined and natural, carrying a unique charm of somebody in middle age, serene and gentle, detached and peaceful.
In fact, a large part of the reason why Qin Nanyi was so sought after was due to her well-known mother. Duan Shuhua was an outstanding domestic researcher, her academic papers had a far-reaching influence both at home and abroad, and intellectuals are always esteemed. If it was said Qin Nanyi was the daughter of a provincial governor, it might seem somewhat worldly, chasing after power, but to say Qin Nanyi was Professor Duan’s daughter added to her the purity of a scholar.
Qin Nanyi followed completely in her mother’s footsteps, the prestigious schools, overseas studies, and after returning home, entered the National Research Institute to become Director Du’s capable assistant.
Some joked that Qin Nanyi was the perfect combination of beauty and intelligence, a real-life Athena.
Han Jiaojiao lowered her gaze and stopped looking at the two people in front of her. Memories of her past life were still in her mind, and she wouldn’t naively think that Duan Shuhua’s kindness at this moment held much sincerity. Even if it did, it would vanish in the process of chasing profits in the future.
She hated Qin Nanyi. Along with Qin Nanyi’s mother, Duan Shuhua, she despised them both! If not for Duan Shuhua’s tacit consent, how would Qin Nanyi have administered the Alien Species virus injection to her? Ha... perhaps Duan Shuhua also knew about Qin Wenhao’s issue, but chose silence for self-protection.
They were all murderers!
It was just a pity that she could not find an opportunity to kill these people right now... The Research Institute was too well-guarded, she could only wait for Qin Nanyi to go out on a mission... she needed to be patient...
"...This time it’s mainly my fault, sigh... I thought Cao Qi was a therapist with professional integrity, I didn’t expect him to act so recklessly. It’s a relief that your sister is now alright, otherwise I would be restless," Duan Shuhua glanced at Qin Nanyi and said slowly, "Xiaoyi was also terrified then, you’ve known each other since you were kids, and you know how she gets flustered easily when anxious. She seems steady, but she’s actually quite hasty, don’t take it to heart...."
Qin Nanyi’s eyes reddened as she raised her head, "Jiaojiao... I’m sorry, I was just trying to help you..."
Though she was apologizing to Han Jiaojiao, her pleading gaze fell on Han Yi.
Han Jiaojiao pursed her lips, not joining in the conversation.
Han Yi’s brows furrowed slightly as he said to Han Jiaojiao, "You should go back to your room to rest."
He was worried that Qin Nanyi would once again upset Han Jiaojiao. Moreover, regarding the matter of the double personality, he did not want Han Jiaojiao to know, in case it would add psychological stress or burden to her.
Han Jiaojiao looked up at him, her eyes clear and bright, "Brother, what is she talking about?"
She couldn’t remember. Her memory stopped when she woke up, she had asked her brother to go home to feed the Space-Time Beast. What happened after that? She had no recollection at all.
Her brother said that she had been in a coma for many days due to a brain injury, but who was this Cao Qi that Duan Shuhua mentioned? And what does this have to do with Qin Nanyi? They came over today... Is this to apologize to her? Why apologize? What happened?
Han Yi gently patted her back and said softly, "Go back to your room and rest for a while. After brother and Auntie Duan finish discussing things, I’ll tell you all about it, okay?"
Duan Shuhua and Qin Nanyi both felt a touch of surprise in their hearts. When had they ever seen Han Yi so amiable and pleasant? So he could be gentle too, it just depended on who the person was...
Han Jiaojiao obediently stood up, turned around, and left the main room.
This was extremely impolite behavior; with Han Jiaojiao’s upbringing, she would never normally act so discourteously, because not only did she fail to greet the guests, she didn’t even glance at them.
Han Jiaojiao did it on purpose; she didn’t want to see these people at all, not even willing to put on a semblance of civility. Because she loathed them.
Duan Shuhua intentionally observed Han Yi, only to find that for such a breach of etiquette by Han Jiaojiao, Han Yi seemed very calm—or rather, it could be said that Han Yi completely ignored Han Jiaojiao’s improper manners. His gaze towards Han Jiaojiao was full of concern, and when Han Jiaojiao turned the corner of the stairs, his eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly, as though he was worried her injured arm might touch the handrail.
Duan Shuhua felt a slight sinking in her heart, a sense of foreboding rising unconsciously.
She hoped... it wasn’t what she thought it was...
—After Han Jiaojiao returned to her room, she saw Xiaogua and Xiaodou rolling around on her bed. She strode over, grabbed one with each hand and tossed them to the floor, hands on her hips as she scolded, "How many times have I told you?! No playing on the bed! You two have dirtied the sheets!"
"Gugu gugu... Gugu..." Xiaogua and Xiaodou raised their vines in protest.
Han Jiaojiao ignored their protests. She picked up the sheets and shook them out, and a layer of dirt fell from them along with some black and grey hairs. Han Jiaojiao became even angrier, waving the sheets and shooing Xiaogua and Xiaodou out, "Both of you, go upstairs! Don’t you dare come into my room until you’re clean!"
Mutant Rat fur covering the sheets—it was disgusting, wasn’t it?! Even if they were cleaned, she didn’t want to lie on them anymore!
Han Jiaojiao immediately stripped off the dirty sheets and pillowcases. Fortunately, the blanket she used at night was stored in the wardrobe and hadn’t been spoiled by them.
After replacing all the bedding with a new set, Han Jiaojiao picked up the two culprits and scurried up to the third floor.
The storage room on the third floor had become the "doghouse" for the Space-Time Beasts. It had cages for Mutant Beasts, a tub of water for them to clean themselves, and Xiaogua and Xiaodou would take a bath in it whenever they wanted.
Once Han Jiaojiao entered, she saw to her dismay a layer of rat fur floating on the surface of the water...
It seemed she had wronged them; it wasn’t that they hadn’t washed, but rather the more they washed, the dirtier it became.
Han Jiaojiao held her forehead. "It wasn’t this dirty before..."
Before...
Recalling her past life, when she had lived in the desert Gobi, Xiaogua and Xiaodou would roll around in the sand after each "meal." Perhaps that was related? 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
Maybe it really was. Some birds take dust baths, using the fine sand to clean themselves through rubbing, and perhaps the Space-Time Beasts also preferred sand?
The more Han Jiaojiao thought about it, the more she believed this to be possible, given that their vine surfaces were not smooth but covered with tiny, cat-tongue-like barbs. The barbs would catch prey’s hairs, making them difficult to clean with just water.
