Return to the City: The Strongest King

Shui Qinghe was still true to her word; this night, she was really proactive. She wasn't the reserved type of girl to begin with; she was always bold and daring, liking to do things and just going for them.

Yesterday when she was with Song Xiaodong, she genuinely had a mindset of just dealing with him. Although that feeling was quite enjoyable, it wasn't something she did willingly from the bottom of her heart, so naturally, it felt somewhat lacking.

Tonight was different. Once again, Shui Qinghe felt deeply the huge difference it makes whether she was emotionally invested or not, and it was the first time she truly felt that genuine joy of a romantic connection between lovers.

However, after tonight, Song Xiaodong had to return to Ming River, and this time Shui Qinghe felt a bit reluctant to part.

Song Xiaodong gently stroked Shui Qinghe's hair and softly said, "Silly girl, I'll be making regular trips to Beijing, so you can see me then. Besides, when you have some time off on the weekends, just come back to Ming River. It's just a bit farther away, it's not like you can't afford a plane ticket, right?"

Shui Qinghe pouted and said, "Alright, then I'll just go back more often when I'm free. At worst, I'll just let my cousin laugh at me for a bit."

"What's there to laugh at? When the time comes, you and your cousin can come together, then no one needs to make fun of anyone, otherwise it wouldn't be just you who's having a hard time, right?"

"You rascal!" Over the past two days, Shui Qinghe had truly experienced Song Xiaodong's prowess. Last night she took the initiative, and it took a Herculean effort to satisfy him; she wouldn't dare to try for a second time without help.

After sending Shui Qinghe to the company, Song Xiaodong then went to the airport and returned to Ming River in the afternoon.

Back home, Song Xiaodong spoke to Shui Qingyue about meeting Shui Qinghe, and Shui Qingyue smiled, "I knew she was there long ago, but she didn't want me to tell you, so I respected her wishes. But it seems you are fated, out of all the vastness of Beijing, you still managed to meet."

Song Xiaodong laughed, "Yes, we are indeed destined, it also means she can't escape from me in this lifetime."

Shui Qingyue said with a smile, "Which woman can escape once she's by your side? Even if you chase me away, I won't leave."

As they were talking, Lin Su'er hurriedly approached with a somewhat anxious expression.

"Su'er, what's wrong?" Song Xiaodong immediately stepped forward.

Lin Su'er hesitated for a moment, then Song Xiaodong immediately said, "Is there anything that you can't tell me?"

Lin Su'er sighed and said, "My dad was beaten up and he's in the hospital now."

"Oh?" Song Xiaodong furrowed his brow, "Did he cause trouble again?"

Lin Su'er said helplessly, "I'm not quite sure, the doctor at the hospital called me."

Song Xiaodong said, "Then I'll go check it out with you."

Lin Su'er quickly said, "No need, you're so busy, I can go back and have a look myself."

Song Xiaodong held Lin Su'er's hand and said, "Even if he's not great, he's still your dad. I might not go for other things, but now that he's hospitalized, if I don't visit, I'd be a pretty heartless son-in-law."

Lin Su'er's eyes suddenly reddened and her nose felt a bit sore. In this household, not to compare family backgrounds, people never used family background to outdo each other, but everyone else's fathers tended to dote on their daughters, whereas her father... whenever the topic came up, Lin Su'er always felt slightly inferior, which wasn't something others could easily comfort her about.

That night, Song Xiaodong and Lin Su'er went to Tiannan City together.

Previously, Lin Su'er's father was arranged by Song Xiaodong to be somewhere managed by some thuggish individuals, but later, Lin Su'er's father seemed to become much more honest. After numerous communications between Lin Su'er and him, Lin Su'er couldn't bear it any longer and let him return home.

Normally, Lin Su'er also provided him with some money to supplement his household expenses but never gave too much, just two thousand yuan a month.

It's not that Lin Su'er wasn't filial, but this father was really disappointing, she genuinely didn't dare give too much, afraid he'd do god knows what if he had money.

This time, the two returned still dressed normally, to avoid her father latching onto them.

Lin Su'er's father was at the city's central hospital; the two went directly to the ward, where they found him lying on the hospital bed with his head wrapped in a thick bandage, an oxygen tube in his nose, and both arms and legs in casts—he looked seriously injured.

Lin Su'er's eyes immediately reddened, no matter how awful this man might be, he was still her father, who had raised her, sharing a bond that couldn't be easily severed.

"Dad, how are you?" Lin Su'er approached the bedside and softly asked.

But Lin Su'er's father lay there unmoving, not even opening his eyes.

Song Xiaodong came over and felt his pulse, shortly after he frowned and said, "He's quite injured; the bones in his arms and legs are broken, and his head has suffered severe trauma."

"Then..." Lin Su'er immediately grew tense.

"It's okay; I'll treat him, he'll be conscious by tomorrow."

Lin Su'er breathed a sigh of relief; she might not believe others, but Song Xiaodong's words were something she believed unconditionally.

At this moment, a woman in her forties pushed open the ward door, saw Song Xiaodong and Lin Su'er, froze for a moment, and then said quickly, "You're Old Lin's daughter, Lin Su'er, right?"