The man was stunned, not breathing for a good long while, almost suffocating himself.
The auntie in the distance really could not hold back. "Pfft, hahaha, this young girl is just too amusing!" She was right, which family with any brains would go rob a hotel? And at the height of the evening rush at that!
Her laughter shook the man out of his despair over his fate of only being able to do hard labor jobs.
Unfortunately, it was already too late. The hotel owner's husband had arrived, and police sirens could be heard in the distance.
Jian Xi's heart thudded.
It was over!
He really wanted to slap himself, he was truly stupid beyond measure, how could he chat with the person who had just apprehended him instead of running away!
As Jian Xi was escorted onto the police car, he glared fiercely at Jian Xi.
Jian Xi frowned. She had kindly offered to read his fortune and light his path forward, so why was he looking at her as if he wanted to eat her alive!
Humph! This was the thanks she gets for trying to help!
Naturally, Jian Xi was then brought to the police station to give her statement after this. Coincidentally, the station was not far, in a direct southwest line from the hotel.
Jian Xi looked at the faces of the hotel's boss and his wife who were also giving their statements. She knew where she would be spending the night.
She consoled herself that it was not a big deal to spend one night at the police station. With so many uncle policemen around, she would feel very safe!
*
At a manor in City B late at night.
The room on the second floor was filled with people, both men and women, and everyone was staring intently at a refined looking man with gold rimmed glasses and a white coat. He was currently examining an elderly man.
If Jian Xi was here she would definitely recognize this doctor in the white coat. He was the man on the plane who had saved someone, Shen Xiaoheng!
The person standing closest to him was an exceptionally handsome man, leaning against a table behind him, looking at the elderly man lying in bed who had wasted away to skin and bones. A trace of indiscernible emotion flashed across his sharp eyes.
But that only lasted a fleeting instant, before he resumed his nonchalant and indifferent demeanor.
He looked away from the old man, and stroked something hanging around his collarbone.
A while later Shen Xiaoheng finished his examination, and everyone looked to him the moment he stopped moving.
Shen Xiaoheng glanced around at everyone before finally resting his gaze on He Qingrou's somewhat reddened eyes. Unable to bear looking any further, he shifted his sight to the closest person, He Qingchen, and shook his head.
He Qingchen did not speak, only nodded to indicate he understood.
A slightly overweight woman dripping in gold and jewellery squeezed her way to the front from the back, impatiently asking, "How much longer does the old master have?"
"Ow ow ow! You stepped on my foot!" the young man behind her that she had trodden on complained.
Yu Xue was a little impatient, but still restrained herself. "Jiaxu, I'm so sorry, I was just anxious when I heard the old master was unwell."
Having said that, Yu Xue immediately asked Shen Xiaoheng again, "Doctor Shen, please tell us the truth, how much longer does the old master have? It would be good for us to have some time to prepare!" As she spoke, she even squeezed out some crocodile tears. She looked truly heartbroken!
Behind her, He Jiaxu was vigorously rolling his eyes. He was standing right behind Yu Xue, and had a perfect view of her pinching her own thigh the entire time.
Tsk! She was really going at it fiercely! He would have to keep away from Second Aunt in future, this woman was vicious enough to even harm herself!
Next to He Jiaxu stood his mother, Gu Jiaying. She similarly rolled her eyes hugely at Yu Xue, then bent down next to her son's ear and whispered, "Son, give your Second Aunt a wide berth in future. With her build, you can't beat her!"
"Great minds think alike," He Jiaxu had not expected to be on the exact same wavelength as his mother!
In response to Yu Xue's question, Shen Xiaoheng gave a direct reply, "I can't give a specific timeframe, but it definitely won't exceed half a month, unless a miracle happens."
Upon hearing Shen Xiaoheng's words, the atmosphere in the room grew even more mournful.
Having received this reply, Yu Xue was very satisfied. As for that miracle, she did not have it in mind at all. This matter was handled by that person, there was absolutely no chance of failure!
All she needed to do now was await her appointment as the He family matriarch. Of course these were just her private thoughts, outwardly she still kept up the appearance of being unable to accept the news.
After an appropriate amount of playacting, Yu Xue and He Bohuai left. Ever since he entered this room, He Bohuai had not uttered a single word. Even when Shen Xiaoheng said his father only had half a month left, his expression did not change at all. If an observant person examined his face carefully, they would discover that he actually looked a little happy!
He Jiaxu rolled his eyes yet again at his Second Uncle and Second Aunt's retreating backs. "Tsk, such great pretenders!"
After the couple left, only six people remained in the room.
He Qingchen still had not moved, leaning against the table with arms crossed. He Qingrou sat down on the chair by the bedside, wiping down the old man's hands and feet without letting the servants help.
Gu Jiaying walked over and patted He Qingrou's shoulder comfortingly. He Qingrou looked back at Gu Jiaying, but in the end could not hold back. "Auntie, grandfather is so unwell. I don't understand why he suddenly became like this. Just a few months ago grandfather was still hale and hearty, how could he suddenly collapse! Wuwuwu...everything was perfectly fine!"
Shen Xiaoheng who was packing up his things nearby halted his actions. He looked to He Qingchen.
He Qingchen imperceptibly shook his head.
Shen Xiaoheng shifted his gaze to the extremely distraught He Qingrou. His grip on the stethoscope tightened unnoticeably. He knew this room was not an appropriate place for this conversation!
Gu Jiaying looked at He Qingrou, whose looks were almost identical to her cousin's, feeling extreme heartache. She opened her arms to hug He Qingrou, her eyes brimming as she said: "Don't be like this my dear, grandfather would not want to see you in this state!"
He Jiaxu also did not know how to comfort his cousin, and could only stand quietly by the side.
Just then, He Bocheng who had gone to the bathroom returned. The moment he entered the room and saw his daughter-in-law cradling his weeping niece, his heart lurched. He hurried to his son's side and anxiously asked, "Has your grandfather's condition deteriorated?"
He Jiaxu looked at his dad and nodded. "Brother Shen said grandfather has at most half a month left."
"What? Half a month?" He Bocheng's eyes instantly widened in shock.
He looked to Shen Xiaoheng. "Little Shen, is there really no other way?"
Shen Xiaoheng was silent. He Bocheng closed his eyes briefly. "I will move back to the family home starting today until..." He did not finish his sentence, but everyone understood his meaning.
As He Qingchen walked past He Bocheng to exit the room, he calmly said: "Uncle, my condolences."
