CHAPTER 87: CHAPTER 87: NEGLIGENCE

Next morning, after Gu Ningyue and Ji Qianqian had breakfast, Lu Qingqing called, saying she would come by around five in the afternoon to take Ji Qianqian back.

Ling Tianyou hung up the phone. At first, Ji Qianqian was all smiles, then she looked at Gu Ningyue with a hint of sadness.

Gu Ningyue noticed this and asked, "Qianqian, what’s wrong? You’re going home soon, aren’t you happy?"

Ji Qianqian blinked her bright, watery eyes, the bright red mole under the sunlight seemed particularly alluring: "I can’t bear to leave Sister. Can Sister come home with Qianqian?"

Gu Ningyue said, "No way! Uncle doesn’t agree; why don’t you ask Uncle?"

Ling Tianyou paused as he was putting on his suit jacket, "Can we talk without blaming?"

Gu Ningyue laughed, "Are you leaving?"

Ling Tianyou nodded, "I haven’t been to the company much lately; there’s a lot going on at work."

Gu Ningyue said, "Will you be back for lunch? If not, I’ll take Qianqian out to eat."

Ling Tianyou said, "I won’t be back. You guys be safe, call me if anything happens."

Gu Ningyue acknowledged with a word and watched Ling Tianyou leave.

Once Ling Tianyou’s car left the villa, Gu Ningyue immediately had the maid change Ji Qianqian’s clothes and took her hand, also heading to the car.

"Hello? Chi Xingtong? Want to hang out?"

"Where are you? I’m at the SAP."

"I’m near the villa, Qianqian will be picked up this afternoon. I want to take her for a stroll."

"Then come find me! I still have to wait a bit here!"

"Alright! Send the address."

Looking at the address on her phone, Gu Ningyue was surprised by Chi Xingtong’s taste; upon returning to A City, she had precisely chosen the best SAP center in town.

With Ji Qianqian, they arrived at the place, and the lady at the reception greeted them: "Hello, do you have an appointment?"

Gu Ningyue shook her head, "We’re here to find someone. Which room is Chi Xingtong in?"

The receptionist’s smile became even sweeter upon hearing Chi Xingtong’s name, "Oh, so you’re a friend of Miss Chi, please this way."

Gu Ningyue was a bit surprised; what kind of charm does Chi Xingtong have?

The staff here usually carry noble, polite smiles; meeting ordinary people they might not smile at all.

Why did seeing Chi Xingtong change that immediately?

Upon reaching the suite where Chi Xingtong was, Gu Ningyue understood why the receptionist’s smile was sweetened.

Chi Xingtong had booked a VIP suite by herself, with the level of decoration almost on par with a presidential suite.

She lay on the bed, surrounded by drapes, from afar could be mistaken for some country’s princess lounging within.

"Miss Chi, your friends have arrived."

Chi Xingtong opened her eyes, and upon seeing Gu Ningyue and Ji Qianqian, she waved them over, calling two more masseurs while getting a massage.

"The massages here are quite good. Don’t just wait for me, try them out too."

Gu Ningyue looked around, noticing the crystal lamp not far away, "Luxurious!"

Chi Xingtong chuckled, "Soon you’ll understand why it’s worth the price!"

Soon, two more people came in through the door, carrying two round pink columns.

Gu Ningyue, holding Ji Qianqian’s hand, felt curious, "What’s that?"

Chi Xingtong glanced and answered for them, "Foldaway bed, haven’t seen one?"

Gu Ningyue shook her head, "Never seen it!"

As soon as the words fell, the two pressed a switch, and the round column transformed, turning into a full-length bed on the ground.

"Can it do that?" Gu Ningyue was shocked, is this high-tech?

The two masseurs smiled, "This is our store’s specialty, all imported equipment is the most advanced in A Country. This way, ladies."

Ji Qianqian clung fearfully to Gu Ningyue’s arm, refusing to move: "Sister, I don’t want to, I don’t want to!"

The two masseurs exchanged glances, their gaze towards Ji Qianqian became different immediately, "Miss, it’s harmless."

Gu Ningyue tried comforting her for a while, seeing Ji Qianqian’s strong resistance, decided not to push, "How about you sit on the bed and chat with Sister?"

Ji Qianqian suddenly shook her head in fear, "Don’t go, Sister! She’ll tie you up! Sister, don’t do it!"

Gu Ningyue was stunned, "Tie me up? Has someone tied you up, Qianqian?"

Ji Qianqian suddenly widened her eyes, clutching her head in agony, "Ah—"

This time it was the masseurs who were scared, "Miss, this..."

Gu Ningyue wrapped Ji Qianqian in her arms and pointed randomly at her head.

The masseur understood, looked at each other with difficulty, "Miss, should we proceed?"

Chi Xingtong glanced at them, "You guys go out first and come back later."

The two masseurs replied and turned to leave, closing the door behind them.

"Qianqian, don’t be afraid. Sister’s here; no one will tie Qianqian up again, Qianqian, be good!" Gu Ningyue gently patted her back, "Sister’s here, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. If Qianqian doesn’t want to do it, then we won’t. No one will force Qianqian."

She hadn’t expected that just an ordinary bed would scare Ji Qianqian to this extent.

Ji Qianqian whimpered, trembling and soon soaking her clothes with tears.

"Please don’t cry, alright? Sister will take Qianqian to the amusement park; doesn’t Qianqian want to ride the merry-go-round? Sister will accompany Qianqian, alright?"

After unknowingly comforting for a long time, Ji Qianqian finally managed a full sentence: "Sister, I’m so scared, I want to go home."

Gu Ningyue sighed and wiped away the tears rolling down her cheeks: "You’ll be home soon, okay? Don’t cry anymore, Qianqian! If you cry, you won’t be pretty!"

Jaggedly returning home means that the protection Lu Qingqing provided before was real.

If it was fake, she wouldn’t miss Lu Qingqing.

But why was she scared of that bed? Why say those things?

Was it those people in the hospital who once bound Ji Qianqian this way, or is it a shadow left from before?

"Alright, that’s enough for today!" Chi Xingtong sat up and had the masseurs leave.

After the masseurs left, only the three of them remained in the room.

Chi Xingtong looked at Gu Ningyue, "I heard about it. Ji Qianqian’s parents didn’t get along when she was young and were very strict with her. They wouldn’t let her go out to play, and would lock her up tightly."

Gu Ningyue said, "Is there such a thing? How do you know?"

Chi Xingtong sat on the bed, shrugged, "That day when I saw Ji Qianqian at the hospital, I mentioned it at home to my parents. They told me! Said that Ji Qianqian’s childhood was unfortunate!"

Gu Ningyue was stunned because Ji Qianqian’s parents are deceased; she never thought to investigate this relationship.

It seems I’ve overlooked this.