Pats Little Shrike's Tail - Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Shen Hongjun said, “Yiyi’s condition, the doctor said it is gradually improving. She has changed the environment for treatment, and the effect is quite good.”

“Is it really improving?” Tao Wanyue looked at her husband and said, “Didn’t Doctor Zhou report to you last week that her condition was getting worse?”

“Yuanyue,” Shen Hongjun pinched the bridge of his nose and said helplessly, “Why are you always targeting Yiyi?”

“Am I targeting her?” Tao Wanyue looked at him unhappily. “Which time has Shen Qingyi come home for dinner that I haven’t waited on her perfectly? As long as she comes, I cancel even the most important work, clear my entire day, and work with Aunt Jiang to make all her favorite dishes.”

Shen Hongjun became displeased, looking at his younger wife: “You are her elder. Is there anything wrong with you doing that?”

“I didn’t say there was anything wrong with it. I always treat her well when she comes home. If Shen Qingyi wants to stay overnight, I can tidy up the guest room for her. But she cannot be around my daughter,” Tao Wanyue said. “Shen Hon gjun, have you forgotten how your ex-wife died?”

Shen Hongjun flinched, then said angrily, “Why bring her up out of nowhere?”

“I have to bring her up, because only by bringing up your ex-wife can you understand how scared I am,” Tao Wanyue told Shen Hongjun. “I truly sympathize with Shen Qingyi’s situation, and I feel sorry for her. I can find her the best psychiatrist, and I can send her abroad for treatment. But I am also a mother, and I really don’t want a potential schizophrenic patient to interact with my daughter.”

“Yiyi and Jiaojiao are both my daughters. What’s the point of telling me this?”

“The point is, I hope Shen Qingyi won’t contact Jiaojiao so frequently. Wouldn’t it be better if we just saw each other like normal relatives during holidays? Why does she insist on taking Jiaojiao out to play?”

Tao Wanyue said, “Do you know how terrified I am every time I see Shen Qingyi driving Jiaojiao away? Shen Qingyi is not a normal person. She might suddenly have an episode. She needs treatment every week. I really don’t want to see my daughter spending time with a patient who has schizophrenia.”

“That’s enough!”

Shen Hongjun said furiously, “Shen Qingyi is my daughter. Even though her mother suffered from schizophrenia, she is a normal person! Don’t talk about her like that again. I don’t want to argue with you about this.”

“Do you think I want to argue?” Tao Wanyue looked at him, shocked. “Do you want me to remind you that your ex-wife ran out of the psychiatric hospital, went around hacking people with a kitchen knife in the street, and finally slit her own throat and committed suicide in front of her daughter?”

Shen Hongjun’s eyes widened: “You… how do you know about that?”

Shen Hongjun had suppressed that incident back then. Moreover, so many years had passed, so logically, no one should know the details so clearly.

He thought Tao Wanyue only knew Shen Qingyi had some hereditary psychological issues, but he didn’t realize she knew the full, clear details.

More than ten years ago, Shen Qingyi’s mother was triggered and had an episode. Initially, she had periods of lucidity, but later her condition worsened. Shen Hongjun was busy with work at the time and couldn’t care for her every day. The nannies and helpers he hired were unwilling to stay once they heard they were caring for a person with schizophrenia. Left with no choice, Shen Hongjun sent her to a psychiatric hospital for recuperation. He would take Shen Qingyi to visit her two or three times a week.

One day, Shen Hongjun took Shen Qingyi to see her mother, then spoke privately with the attending physician about her condition. But before long, he heard people shouting that the woman had run out of her room.

Shen Hongjun rushed out to look. He found that not only was his wife gone, but his daughter was also missing. He later learned that the woman had taken Shen Qingyi and slipped out through the back door.

The woman somehow found a sharp kitchen knife outside. Disheveled, she began hacking at anyone she saw on the street. Fortunately, the back alley was sparsely populated and open. Plus, the woman had been injected with sedatives daily, and her muscle and mental state were already poor, so she didn’t actually injure anyone.

When Shen Hongjun, the doctors, and nurses found her, the woman was already lying in a pool of blood.

She had killed herself, slitting her throat right on the pedestrian crossing.

Perhaps, in that moment of action, she knew what she was doing. Living was too painful for the woman, so she chose to leave in that dramatic way.

The blood-soaked crosswalk was blinding. When Shen Hongjun picked up his daughter, the first thing he did was cover her eyes.

He was afraid Shen Qingyi would be traumatized and end up like her mother.

Shen Hongjun had already lost his wife; he couldn’t lose his daughter too.

The entire matter was originally kept secret. Shen Hongjun spent a great deal of time and effort handling it, not just for himself, but also to prevent Shen Qingyi from ever remembering that terrifying event. In the years that followed, Shen Hongjun focused on his work until he met Tao Wanyue and started a family with her.

“Don’t ever speak of this matter,” Shen Hongjun said to Tao Wanyue, his face grim. “If you still want this family, you will swallow this matter and keep it to yourself.”

Tao Wanyue’s expression was also terrible, but she simply turned her head, saying nothing more.

Seeing his young wife upset, Shen Hongjun felt conflicted. He held his wife’s hand to comfort her: “Yiyi is fine. She just has a slightly fragile mental state, like how you get stress headaches when you’re busy. Doctor Zhou is very professional and understands her well. You don’t need to worry.”

Tao Wanyue still remained silent.

Shen Hongjun was about to try coaxing her again when he saw Shen Jiaojiao, wearing a white princess dress, come down the stairs and immediately rush into Tao Wanyue’s arms.

“Mommy, Mommy.” Shen Jiaojiao looked up at her, puzzled. “Mommy, did you and Daddy argue? You look unhappy.”

Tao Wanyue squatted down, touched her daughter’s face, and said, “Yes, we argued a little. Can Jiaojiao help Mommy punish your Daddy?”

Shen Jiaojiao looked at Shen Hongjun, then at Tao Wanyue, and said very seriously, “When a couple argues, they always make up in bed. I’m an outsider, so it’s not good for me to interfere in your marital affairs.”

“However,” Shen Jiaojiao still said proudly, “If Daddy makes Mommy unhappy, he has to apologize, and then buy Mommy jewelry and handbags. After all, bags cure all ills~”

“Who taught this little girl that?” Shen Hongjun rubbed his daughter’s small head, laughing despite himself. “Bags cure all ills.”

Shen Jiaojiao smiled, her eyes curved: “They all say that on TV dramas.”

Tao Wanyue was no longer so angry. She patted Shen Jiaojiao’s hand and said, “Watch less of those kinds of TV shows in the future.”

“Then Mommy is not mad at Daddy anymore?” Shen Jiaojiao asked her.

Tao Wanyue sighed and said, “Go play with your sister. I’ll make your dad buy me a bag.”

Shen Hongjun was quietly relieved to see his wife wasn’t angry anymore.

Regarding his ex-wife, Shen Hongjun felt mostly responsibility and guilt, but for Tao Wanyue, he genuinely loved her.

He could understand Tao Wanyue’s concerns as a mother, but he also hoped she could understand him, as both Shen Qingyi and Shen Jiaojiao were his daughters.

Ten minutes later, Shen Qingyi drove up to the gate. Shen Jiaojiao, wearing her little black leather shoes, ran over immediately.

“Sister~”

Shen Qingyi got out of the car, glanced at Shen Jiaojiao, and then looked up at Shen Hongjun and Tao Wanyue standing at the door, nodding in greeting: “Dad, Aunt Tao, I’m taking Jiaojiao out.”

“Alright,” Shen Hongjun stood next to his wife and asked Shen Qingyi, “Are you coming home for dinner tonight?”

Shen Qingyi hadn’t spoken, but Shen Jiaojiao answered for her: “We’re not coming back for dinner tonight. Sister and I are going to eat out with Sister Ling.”

“Sister Ling?” Shen Hongjun was puzzled. “Who is that?”

“Sister Ling is Sister’s friend. She works at the amusement park. Her voice is gentle and sweet, like a little bird,” Shen Jiaojiao clung to Shen Qingyi, sticking to her, saying, “Sister likes her very much~”

Shen Qingyi was a bit embarrassed. While she certainly had feelings for Shan Ling, and was taking Shen Jiaojiao to the amusement park every few days precisely to spend more time with Shan Ling,

Shen Jiaojiao seemed much more astute than she thought, having instantly seen through her intentions.

“She’s a friend of mine,” Shen Qingyi pressed down on Shen Jiaojiao’s shoulders to keep her from shaking, and explained to Shen Hongjun, “I just met her recently, and we get along quite well, so we often go out together.”

“Is that so,” Shen Hongjun blinked, and told his daughters, “Then you two go have fun. Come back early tonight.”

“Okay~” Shen Jiaojiao replied clearly and sweetly.

Shen Qingyi also nodded, and then left with Shen Jiaojiao.

Shen Hongjun glanced at Tao Wanyue, then coaxed, “See? Jiaojiao likes her sister, and there’s a third person there, so nothing will happen.”

Tao Wanyue was still worried: “Next time they go out, you go with them.”

“Why do I have to go? Why can’t you go?”

“I have things to do.”

“Well, my company also has a lot of work.”

“So what if you, a big boss, skip work? I’ll have my salary deducted if I take time off.”

After saying that, Tao Wanyue glared at Shen Hongjun and added, “Perfect timing, a new shipment of bags just arrived today. Come with me and pay for them.”

Shen Hongjun nodded, not daring to say another word.

Because it was Saturday, there were many children at the amusement park. Xu Wentao and the others were busy off their feet, and Shan Ling was also extremely busy.

When Shen Jiaojiao arrived, Shan Ling hadn’t registered it until she looked up and realized it was little Shen Jiaojiao.

“Hello, Sister Ling~” Shen Jiaojiao lifted her small skirt and curtsied very politely, then stood properly and said, “Sister and I came to see you~”

Only then did Shan Ling see Shen Qingyi arriving, carrying two cups of milk tea.

“Yiyi~”

Shan Ling was very happy to see Shen Qingyi. Although they chatted on the phone frequently, seeing her in person was the most enjoyable, and most importantly, she could snag some free ‘good karma,’ which made her even happier.

Shen Qingyi smiled at her and placed the milk tea in her hand in front of her, saying, “I bought this for you.”

“Two cups?”

“The other one is coffee from the milk tea shop, it’s mine.”

Shan Ling nodded, poked a hole in the milk tea with a straw, bent down, and said to Shen Jiaojiao, “You get the first sip~”

Shen Jiaojiao was delighted and took a generous sip. In a sweet, milky voice, she said, “Thank you, Sister Ling. The milk tea is super sweet!”

Shen Qingyi glanced at the little girl, then patted her head and said, “Go play by yourself.”

Shen Jiaojiao looked up at her: “Sister, how many hours do I get to play this time?”

Shen Qingyi said, “The longer, the better.”

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