novel
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Chapter 69
Hearing this, Qiao Zongmin seemed to cheer up a bit. He, more clearly than anyone else, saw the changes in Qiao Shao.
"Yes, he now has a much better appetite and he also sleep better."
It was only when Qiao Zongmin talked about his son that he can barely suppress the pain of bereavement.
Zhang Guanting listened patiently. Although Qiao Zongmin said almost the same things as Qiao Shao had, he still listened to it as if he were hearing it for the first time.
This was a great comfort for Qiao Zongmin. His son's recovery was the best medicine to treat his spirit.
In the middle of his narration, Qiao Zongmin paused.
Zhang Guanting accurately grasped what he was thinking."You want to meet his new friends, right?"
Qiao Zongmin sighed, "I will not interfere with his new environment."
He really wanted to meet these adorable teenagers. He wanted to sincerely thank them and he wanted to take a closer look at the environment that has improved his son's condition... But Qiao Zongmin knew that once he appeared, this new environment would collapse. Qiao Shao would once again become an isolated existence.
Even if his friends wouldn't do it intentionally, they will still draw a deep line between them because of the huge disparity between their families and because of Qiao Shao's tragic experience.
The Qiao Shao now, still can't bear this "quietness" of being left by himself.
Thinking of this, Qiao Zongmin couldn't help but worry and asked, "There will come a day when he won't be able hide it. When the lies are broken down, won't the situation just become worse?"
Zhang Guanting explained patiently, "As long as Qiao Shao has enough courage to face it, it won't."
This seemed to be a paradox. Qiao Shao concealed his identity and went to a new environment in order to find the courage to face life. But there was a huge hidden danger in this matter, because once exposed, he will lose his current life again.
Wouldn't this be another heavy blow to him?
Actually, it wasn't so.
The root of everything lies in Qiao Shao.
The Qiao Shao now, didn't have the courage and so he needed the concealment. But once he had the courage to face it, he wouldn't need to hide.
Alienation due to the disparity in family standing will not have much of a negative impact on a normal child. But for Qiao Shao as he was now, it may be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
It was impossible to keep it hidden forever. But he just needed that crucial opportunity —
When Qiao Shao is able to face his past, he will be able to face his new friends with his true identity.
Even if he will inevitably lose some of them, it will not be unbearable.
Not to mention......
Zhang Guanting told Qiao Zongmin, "Once Qiao Shao is allowed to heal, he won't be hurt anymore."
This statement dragged Qiao Zongmin out of the dead end.
He smiled and said to Zhang Guanting, "Thank you."
When Qiao Shao woke up, he was already in bed. He looked at the ceiling and sighed helplessly.
It was still impossible......
He still couldn't remember. No matter what, he still couldn't remember what happened that year. He just couldn't.
If the word "mother" so much as streaks across his heart, he will experience a cramp-like pain.
Qiao Shao didn't dare pressure himself to try to remember.
He stayed lying down for a while before slowly getting up.
Opposite the bedroom was his study. He kicked on his slippers and went in. He walked past the table full of books, and went to the bookcase at the very back.
There were many books neatly arranged there. Famous works from various countries, popular novels, and also many psychology books.
Qiao Shao opened the glass panel and took out the hardcover book with a sky blue cover.
"The Razor's Edge" by William Somerset Maugham.
This was his favorite book. He liked the protagonist, Larry. Every time he reads it, he's able to experience this comfortable sense of tranquility.
Not peacefulness, but tranquility.
It could calm his thoughts, dissipate the pain, and reconcile him with himself.
That's why he kept that newspaper clipping between this book's pages.
Qiao Shao took a deep breath, and when he opened the book, he saw that cut-out page.
The big headline at the top was bloody red and utterly shocking—
The Qiao family's only son returns after a yearlong disappearance!
There was an attached picture on the left. Qiao Zongmin's face was full of both sadness and joy. He held the child in his arms like he was holding fragile glassware.
It was an incomparably thin teenager. The only parts exposed were his long black hair and pale ankles.
He was curled up in Qiao Zongmin's arms. He didn't seem like a teenager, but like a motionless child.
Just glancing at it made Qiao Shao feel a freezing sensation in the pit of his stomach.
He breathed a sigh of relief and found that he could continue reading.
The article wasn't overdone, otherwise it wouldn't have been approved for publishing.
It wasn't uncommon for the only son of a tycoon to be abducted.
But Qiao Shao's abduction was bizarre. No one knew how the kidnappers took him away. What's more, the kidnappers never contacted the Qiao Family to ask for a ransom.
Qiao Zongmin, who had lost his only son, searched madly. At first, he was still keeping the press quiet, but then he couldn't keep it under control. He only wished he could turn the world upside down in his search.
But he couldn't find him. No one had seen the child. It was as if it he had disappeared into thin air.
Until a year later when Qiao Shao himself appeared in Shen Hai Building, the Qiao Clan headquarters.
No one knew what he had experienced during this year.
All anyone knew was that he came back emaciated and had serious mental problems.
He feared women, especially women in their forties. He almost lost his ability to speak, and he was extremely afraid of quiet surroundings. As long as there was no sound, he would fall into painful spasms.
Qiao Zongmin searched for famous doctors and it took him unimaginable energy and financial resources to gradually allow Qiao Shao to recover.
But Qiao Shao couldn't remember anything...
He remembered nothing at all from that year...
Qiao Shao saw the bottom of the newspaper, there was a small photo there.
The only son of Qiao Zongmin—Qiao Yi.
This was Qiao Shao's previous name. When he returned, Grandpa insisted on having his name changed. He even found a lot of famous masters to think of an appropriate name...
Qiao Shao smiled and looked at the photo.
He didn't recognize himself...
In the photo was a ten-year-old child with obvious baby fat on his round face. He had small facial features, and he smiled happily, as if the pain and sorrow of the whole world had nothing to do with him.
Who could have imagined?
They were the same person. But in such a short time, they had become different people.
Qiao Shao looked at his past self as if he were looking at a stranger.
He was nothing like him.
Qiao Shao was calm when he closed the book.
This was a huge improvement, for the first time he managed to read this article to the end.
"Huuuu......" Qiao Shao breathed a sigh of relief and felt the strength rising from the bottom of his heart.
He was slowly getting better. Qiao Shao thought he would definitely get better!
As soon as he returned to the bedroom, he heard a ringing sound from his mobile phone.
Qiao Shao's heart gave a jump. He hesitated for a while before getting his phone.
After talking with Dr. Zhang that morning, he was pretty sure he had fallen head first. There were so many girls, why couldn't he have fallen for them instead? Why'd it have to be...
... this kind of guy who was always going beyond what was proper!
Qiao Shao was having mixed emotions. He really didn't know if he had the qualifications to like someone.
But it was fine...
In any case, He Shen was a straight man. It was impossible for him to have that kind of feelings for him.
Then he saw the message sent by the straight man."You said you missed me so much, but you've been ignoring me all day ╭(╯^╰)╮."
Qiao Shao: "..."
Uncle Ab really hadn't lied. Straight men really were terrible!
Qiao Shao calmed down his rapidly beating heart and replied."Speak human!"
He Shen replied reasonably, "Did you have dinner yet? Should we eat together?"
Qiao Shao didn't have anything planned for the evening. As long as he tells Da Qiao, he could definitely go out, but...
He didn't want to see He Shen.
In particular, after finding out that he had these rotten thoughts about He Shen, he felt even more disinclined to see the other.
"No, I have something on tonight."
Qiao Shao made aborted motions with his fingers several times before he hardened his heart and sent this message.
After sending the message, he felt awfully disappointed. He actually... wanted to see He Shen.
After a while, He Shen replied, "Qiao Guai Guai, don't tell me you have someone else?"
Qiao Shao blushed, with a tip-tap tip-tap, he sent, "Don't say something misleading! What do you mean someone else? Besides, who are you to me anyway?
After sending it, Qiao Shao regretted it a lot.
Was this too obvious? Would He Shen find something out from this...
But it wouldn't do to recall the message. Wouldn't doing that, just prove that he had a guilty conscience?
Little wicked Qiao was very panicky.
He Shen quickly replied back."I thought I was special to you."
Qiao Shao: "!" This had just flashed through his mind when another message came through."Do you have any other seatmates aside from me?"
Qiao Shao: "..."
"Do you have any other tutors? Oh, you do. Chen Su, right?"
Qiao Shao: "........."
"But you certainly haven't shared a bed with anyone else, right?"
Qiao Shao: ".................."
Seeing Qiao Shao's delayed response, He Shen asked, "Don't tell me you have?"
Qiao Shao blushed and with his heart beating madly, answered him." 'I have' you big head ghost!"
He Shen replied back in seconds, "Right, it's enough that you have me."
Qiao Shao hesitated for a while before responding, "I'm scolding you!"
He Shen replied generously, "I don't mind being your big head ghost."
Qiao Shao put away his cell phone and sealed himself inside his quilt.
It's over! It's over! Qiao Shao felt like he was done for!
He always complained about He Shen spouting nonsense, but now he was taking these nonsense seriously!
What to do......
He always felt like He Shen was teasing him.
But......
Qiao Shao rested his chin on the pillow and thought long and hard.
What did he have that was worth He Shen liking him?
He was short and thin. He wasn't good at sports. He wasn't good at studying either and he was dead last in their exam.
The only advantage he had was that his family was loaded...
Now, let's take a look at He Shen...
Tall and handsome, good at every sport and all-powerful in competitions. He was also first in the entire school in their exam.
The only drawback was that his family was heavily in debt...
Could he use money to influence He Shen?
Impossible......
This guy completely looked down on money!
After this introspection...
Qiao Shao felt he was suffering from unrequited love.
The author has something to say: cough...
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