Chapter 119: Hopefully, No One Will Notice

Raising Children in the 1980s: The Elegant Beauty Cherished by the Top Scientist Orange Abao 2539 words 2026-04-01 06:39:57

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Shen Qingyi sat up straight in fright. Just now… she hoped she hadn’t been discovered.
“Qingyi!…”
He mumbled her name again.
Seeing his somewhat drowsy state, Shen Qingyi mustered her courage and replied, “I’m here!”
After that, silence fell once more.
After a while, Shen Qingyi cautiously reached out to check his forehead. He didn’t have a fever anymore, so she exhaled in relief. Her eyes grew heavy, and she eventually leaned against his bedside and fell asleep.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she vaguely heard An’an’s voice. Her eyelids were still heavy, and she mumbled, “Let Mommy sleep a little longer.”
An’an shook her gently. “Daddy said he’s hungry.”
Hearing that, Shen Qingyi’s senses sharpened halfway. When she opened her eyes, she found her cheek pressed against Lu Yan’s half-open chest. In a panic, she sat up, and as she raised her gaze, it met Lu Yan’s half-smiling, half-serious eyes.
“It’s… not what you think…” She clearly remembered she had been leaning against the bedside yesterday.
Lu Yan rose slowly, buttoning up his shirt one button at a time, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “It’s nothing.”
An’an stepped forward and held Lu Yan’s hand. “Someone already brought breakfast, Daddy. You said you were hungry. Brush your teeth, and then come eat.”
“All right!” After replying, Lu Yan turned to Shen Qingyi and said, “After breakfast, I’ll close the door. You should rest at home for a while.”
Shen Qingyi, who had been a little embarrassed, relaxed considerably when the topic changed. “Okay!”
After the three of them finished washing up, they sat together at the breakfast table. Once breakfast was cleared away, Dr. Zhao arrived. Shen Qingyi quickly told him about Lu Yan’s fever the previous night. Dr. Zhao examined him and asked, “Have you not been getting enough sleep and rest after taking your medication these past few days?”
Shen Qingyi nodded on his behalf.
Dr. Zhao advised, “Don’t dwell on work after you’re done. Excessive stress and anxiety can cause physical reactions.”
“Thank you, Dr. Zhao,” Shen Qingyi said politely.
“You’re welcome.” Dr. Zhao then turned to Lu Yan and continued, “You need to learn to regulate yourself for this kind of work, or your body won’t hold up.”
Lu Yan smiled. “I’ll remember that.”
Dr. Zhao, seeing his cooperation and good spirits, thought it didn’t seem like anxiety was the cause, but he couldn’t find any other physical reason either.
“Keep an eye on it. If it’s still like this tonight, go to the city hospital for a check-up.”

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“Got it,” Lu Yan said calmly.
After Dr. Zhao left, Lu Yan said to An’an, “Go sit in the living room for a bit. I need to talk to Mommy.”
“All right!” An’an answered obediently.
Shen Qingyi thought he was about to mention waking up with her sleeping on him that morning, so she hurriedly explained, “That wasn’t intentional.”
Lu Yan’s lips curved slightly. “Which thing?”
Shen Qingyi was momentarily stunned. It seemed he hadn’t taken it to heart—it was just her overthinking. “What did you want to say?”
“Hang this little bell and your underwear on the same hanger and dry them where they were originally. Then close the door.” Lu Yan took the bell from the drawer and placed it in front of her, speaking softly.
After he mentioned this yesterday, Shen Qingyi had already thought of a plan, so she bought this little bell at the department store.
“You want us to pretend we’re not home to lure out whoever’s stealing clothes. But if it’s someone who wouldn’t show up if we’re here, don’t we need someone to watch?” Shen Qingyi felt uneasy about making such a fuss over such personal items. What if it wasn’t a thief? That would be embarrassing.
Lu Yan looked at his conflicted wife and explained gently, “No need for someone to watch. Bring the two-way mirror you usually use. I’ll move the desk by the window later.”
Shen Qingyi was surprised he knew about her two-way mirror. Though unsure of his intent, she agreed.
Shen Qingyi fetched the two-way mirrors, and Lu Yan said, “Help me hold the IV stand.”
She obediently complied. Lu Yan placed the desk by the window and positioned one mirror angled against the wall beside the desk. The clothes hanging under the eaves were clearly reflected in it. Shen Qingyi wondered if they could see the mirror’s reflection without anyone close by.
Then Lu Yan pulled out the second mirror, stood on the bed, and affixed it diagonally opposite the wall mirror on the ceiling.
Lu Yan was tall, and Shen Qingyi’s arm holding the IV stand grew tired.
“Done?”
When Lu Yan jumped down from the bed, Shen Qingyi realized she only needed to stand where she was and look up to see, through the ceiling mirror, a clear reflection of what was in the wall mirror—especially that piece of underwear.
At that moment, she had to admire Lu Yan’s clever mind.
If the bell rings, they just need to glance at the mirror to see who it is.
After finishing, Lu Yan told her, “You go sleep on the sofa.”
“I’ll wait until your IV finishes.” Shen Qingyi still wanted to call Dr. Zhao to remove the needle.
“No need. I can take it out myself.”
Shen Qingyi looked at him in surprise, and Lu Yan assured her, “I’ve done it twice already. He only comes to remind me to take the medicine on time. I will.”
Shen Qingyi checked her watch and left the room.
Lu Yan moved the nearby cabinet next to the bed to use as a table and continued working.
He thought Shen Qingyi had fallen asleep and quietly worked in the room until he felt a prickling pain on the back of his hand. Blood had returned. Just as he was about to pull out the needle, Dr. Zhao arrived with his medical kit.
Seeing Lu Yan about to yank it out, he hurried over to stop him, then scolded Shen Qingyi, who was nearby, “Why didn’t you come earlier?”
“I accidentally kicked a stone on the way just now. I’ll be more careful next time,” Shen Qingyi apologized sincerely.
“I told her not to trouble you. No need to come tomorrow for needle removal,” Lu Yan said flatly.
Dr. Zhao was taken aback. “That won’t do. The way you pull it, if anything happens to your hand, who will I have left? I’m only a little late, and the bleeding stopped.”
Lu Yan responded calmly, “A little delay won’t matter.”
Then his gaze fell on Shen Qingyi. “Is your foot okay?”
“It’s fine.”
Dr. Zhao was speechless. That sudden coldness must have been him scolding his wife? It was hardly severe. Sigh…
He shook his head helplessly and checked Lu Yan’s body again.
After Dr. Zhao left, Shen Qingyi looked at the clock. No need to sleep now; someone would bring lunch soon.
After lunch, the door was closed again, and Shen Qingyi finally felt safe enough to nap.
Lu Yan sat in the room, working while listening for any noises outside.
When he finished, the outside was silent. He tidied up his materials and lay on the bed, staring at the mirror overhead, lost in thought.
He recalled her frightened expression the night before, not daring to make a sound. He couldn’t help but touch his lips, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
And the feeling of her sleeping so deeply on him—who could sleep so soundly? She probably wouldn’t even notice if someone carried her away.
Just as he thought this, the wind chime outside rang. A broad-shouldered man’s silhouette appeared in the mirror…

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