After watching for a while, Song Qiaoyan asked curiously, “It’s so late, why is Auntie not sleeping yet? She looks very energetic.”
“When she gets sick, her daily routine is completely disrupted…” Ye Qing briefly described the symptoms of his mother’s illness, and finally added: “You don’t have to watch her, she won’t hurt anyone.”
“Oh…” Song Qiaoyan asked again: “How many years ago did the car accident happen?”
“Seven years ago. My father was driving the company’s minivan when a large truck hit him head-on…”
Just like that, Ye Qing’s life over the past seven years was gradually “squeezed out” like toothpaste by Song Qiaoyan’s interrogation.
Ye Qing didn’t need to complain to anyone, but Song Qiaoyan was too curious, and it took her half an hour to complete the “interrogation”.
“Okay, let’s not talk about this anymore. Look at you…” Ye Qing smiled helplessly, took out a tissue from under the coffee table, and handed it over.
“From the age of seventeen, you… At that time, I was still spoiled by my parents…” Song Qiaoyan burst into tears, overwhelmed with compassion. She took the tissue and wiped her tears, sobbing. “Ye Qing, you’ve been through such a hard time. I admire you so much… We’ve worked together for so long, why didn’t you tell me about your family situation earlier… Considering your circumstances, the company would definitely provide you with some help…”
“No need.” Ye Qing looked at his mother, his eyes filled with the doting that only a father would have on his children: “Just think of it as raising a child in advance. In ancient times, a seventeen-year-old man might have had two children already.”
Song Qiaoyan wiped away her tears and sighed silently. She couldn’t imagine how he had maintained such a positive, optimistic attitude towards life after seven years of hardship.
And after what she learned tonight, Song Qiaoyan finally understood why he had always been reluctant to work overtime and why he had never participated in company-organized holiday activities…
Originally, Song Qiaoyan’s evaluation of Ye Qing was really good, but her personal impression score accounted for a large percentage, and in terms of work, she could only give him 80 points. This was because: 1) -unwillingness to work overtime indicated he was not diligent enough and was too concerned about personal leisure time, so 10 points were deducted; and 2) -not wanting to participate in group activities suggested a lack of social abilities and emphasis on interpersonal relationship management, so another 10 points were deducted…
Now it seemed that she had wronged him. This was a good man who should score at least 95 points, which was rare, especially among young people.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? It seems that you still don’t consider me a good friend.” Song Qiaoyan condemned softly.
“I’ve told you everything now.” Ye Qing said with a smile, “We were friends before, but now we are truly good friends.”
“Okay, I’m willing to accept this explanation.” Song Qiaoyan held out her right hand: “From now on, we must be good friends who can talk about anything. Remember that.”
Ye Qing also extended his right hand, gently squeezed her soft, white hand, and said with a smile, “Is it necessary to be so formal? It’s like meeting a client.”
“Of course we have to do this!” Song Qiaoyan said seriously, “With your formal promise, if you keep something from me in the future, I will make things difficult for you in the company! If you wrong me first, then I can wrong you too.”
Ye Qing smiled and nodded, knowing that she was just joking.
At this time, the first piece of chocolate was finally completely melted in Ye’s mother’s mouth. She was still not completely satisfied, so she pointed to the other piece on the coffee table and whispered, “Baby, baby, I want more…”
“You can’t eat anymore now.” Ye Qing shook his head and handed the chocolate to her: “You can only eat this piece after lunch tomorrow. Find a place to hide it. Don’t let the cats and dogs steal it.”
“Oh.” Mother Ye grabbed the chocolate and jumped up lightly from the mat. Like a nimble cat, she hid in a corner of the living room to ‘stash her treasure’.
“Haha, auntie is so cute…”
Song Qiaoyan burst out laughing, then immediately realized that it was very rude to say that, and quickly corrected herself, “I mean, she listens to you very much.”
“It’s okay.” Ye Qing shook his head and said, “It’s late, you should go to bed. You don’t have to get up early tomorrow, I’ll call you when it’s lunch time.”
“Look at you, you think I’m a child too?” Song Qiaoyan glanced at him softly: “My biological clock is very regular. No matter how late I sleep, I always get up at 6:30 in the morning.”
“Okay, as you wish.” Ye Qing stood up, led her to the bathroom, and told her what could be used and what could not be used…
Song Qiaoyan changed into a very conservative set of pajamas, washed up, and asked before entering the bedroom: “Aren’t you going to sleep yet?”
Ye Qing pointed at his mother, who was doing yoga again, meaning: I still have to deal with her.
Song Qiaoyan couldn’t help but feel a pang in her heart. Although she felt sorry for him, she admired this man even more: such situations must happen frequently, but there was never any sign that he was lacking energy, sleepy, or tired, etc…
Ye Qing waved at her and told her to go to bed quickly.
Song Qiaoyan looked at him deeply and slowly closed the bedroom door.
After closing the door, she carefully crawled into Ye Qing’s bed with a slight shyness and a hint of excitement.
The single bed had a not-so-thick mattress that was a bit old. The springs were deformed, and it was not a very comfortable bed. There was indeed no odor in the quilt, but it had a particular scent…
The smell of a man, his scent.
Song Qiaoyan carefully inhaled the scent and couldn’t stop a moan. Then she closed her mouth tightly as if frightened, not daring to make any more “strange sounds”.
“This is his bed, his most private little space… I wonder what it feels like to be in his arms? Oh, Song Qiaoyan, you are really tempted this time… You are doomed. This is the first time you have fallen in love with a man five years younger than you. This is destined to be a tragedy…”
The bed was not comfortable, but Song Qiaoyan felt inexplicably at ease and warm. It was even more comfortable than the bed at home. It felt like a safe haven. She must have been very tired, for she soon fell asleep with a sweet smile.
Her sleep was deep and sound.
In the living room, Ye Qing sat on the sofa in a daze. He seemed to be staring at his mother doing yoga, but in fact, his mind was already immersed in the Heavenly Prison.
Let the interrogation begin!
Zou Mingqiang, the first prisoner in the Heavenly Prison, had already regained consciousness after the effect of the stun needle had worn off.
He had been groping around and shouting for a while on this strange, horrible, inexplicable island. However, no one answered him; there was only endless silence and oppression…
The island was not large, but the gray fog that permeated the surroundings could not be touched. A slight touch would cause someone to fall to the ground as if they were electrocuted, with their bodies twitching in pain. Even screams could only come out after the convulsions.
The feeling was so terrible that Zou Mingqiang only tried it twice and never dared to touch it again.
“Butler Wu, you interrogate him, and I will watch.” Ye Qing gave instructions to Butler Wu.
“Yes, Master.”
As soon as Butler Wu finished speaking, there was a crack. A golden lightning bolt struck down and hit Zou Mingqiang’s forehead accurately.
“Ah!”
Zou Mingqiang fell to the ground with a thud, his whole body twitching and shaking like a human-shaped vibrator.
Half a minute later, the shaking stopped, and he lay on the ground groaning with sweat all over his forehead.
Snap!
Another flash of lightning, more shaking and twitching!
This time it lasted for a minute, allowed him to catch his breath for a few seconds, then, ‘Crack!’- the third strike fell.
After the third time, Zou Mingqiang looked like he had been fished out of the water. His clothes were soaked with sweat, and he could only breathe heavily in hoarse gasps, with no strength left.
“Master, every prisoner who is first brought here must experience the lightning punishment three times.” Butler Wu explained, “This will make them much more compliant.”
“Very good. Very… violent.” Ye Qing nodded in his mind.
