Chapter 92: Whose Brain Has a Problem?

Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Whose Brain Has a Problem?

Shen Songyao: "..."

’Aiyo, did I really fluster him that much?’

He pulled her along, and she stumbled for a couple of steps to keep up.

But just as they reached the hospital entrance...

"Why did we come to the hospital?"

"Honey, are you not feeling well?"

Li Hanchen didn’t answer, merely urging in a low voice.

"Hurry, get out of the car!"

Shen Songyao hopped out obediently without another word.

It wasn’t until he was staring at the registration window that he spoke, his words crystal clear.

"An appointment for Psychiatry."

’Wait a minute...’

’Who’s the one with the mental problem?’

"To get me checked out?"

Shen Songyao pointed at herself, her eyes sparkling.

Li Hanchen’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly dodged the truth.

"Let’s just go have a look, see what’s what!"

She was about to ask what he meant by "have a look," when the registration nurse spoke up.

"The doctor’s on lunch break. He’s back on duty at two. Do you still want to make an appointment for the afternoon?"

Before Li Hanchen could even open his mouth, Shen Songyao raised her hand, her voice bright and clear.

"I’m hungry!"

The nurse glanced at her, then over at Li Hanchen, and prompted them briskly.

"Sir, so are you making the appointment or not?"

Li Hanchen glanced down at the little one beside him who was in desperate need of feeding, then gave the nurse an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, we won’t be making one today after all."

With that, he took her by the wrist and headed outside.

The moment they stepped out of the hospital, he crouched down slightly and asked in a placating tone.

"We’re going to eat now. Promise me you’ll watch what you say and not just blurt things out, alright?"

’Honestly, taking her home would be the safest bet.’

’But the drive home was nearly an hour. By the time he washed the rice and cooked, it would be far too late to eat.’

So he had to scrap that idea.

’But if they ate out, he’d have to keep a close watch on that mouth of hers.’

Shen Songyao tilted her head and blinked.

"Honey, what do you mean by ’blurt things out’?"

’Great, now my face is getting hot again.’

Li Hanchen hemmed and hawed for a long time, completely unable to come up with a proper answer.

Shen Songyao tucked her chin slightly, folded her hands in front of her, and squared her shoulders.

"Does it mean I can’t call you Honey?"

"Ahem, you can! Of course you can!"

The tips of his ears were beet red.

Now she was even more confused, her brow furrowing slightly.

"Then why can’t I say it, Honey?"

He mulled it over and chose the safest possible explanation.

"You can’t say anything... related to body parts!"

"Related to body parts?"

She mumbled the words, and her eyes involuntarily drifted downward.

’What the hell is wrong with her?’

’Why do her eyes always drift... *there*?’

He didn’t have time to dwell on it. Li Hanchen raised a hand and covered her mouth again, his voice a hushed, urgent whisper.

"Shh! Not another word!"

Shen Songyao immediately gave a docile nod.

Just as he let go, he remembered something else and quickly added.

"And another thing—no kissing me when we’re outside!"

Shen Songyao tilted her head, a smile playing on her lips.

"If we weren’t on a public street right now, you think I wouldn’t stand on my tiptoes and kiss you?"

"Oh, you’re asking for it again, are you?"

But they were, after all, out in public with cars and people passing by, so she still nodded obediently.

Seeing her looking so docile, Li Hanchen’s heart melted into a soft puddle.

He truly, deeply cherished the way Shen Songyao was now.

She wasn’t causing trouble or throwing petty tantrums, and she was always looking at him with those sparkling eyes.

’Too bad she’s sick...’

The thought had barely formed when his hand moved on its own, gently ruffling her hair.

"Come on, let’s go eat!"

Shen Songyao immediately fell into step, chattering away nonstop.

Inside the restaurant, Li Hanchen chose a quiet corner by the wall. As soon as they sat, he turned and called for a server.

"An order of the braised pork ribs, and please make it extra sweet. She likes them that way."

Shen Songyao was so hungry she felt hollow. The moment her chopsticks were in her hand, she was already gnawing on the bones, making loud CRUNCHING sounds.

Li Hanchen couldn’t help but ask.

"Is it enough? Should we order a couple more dishes?"

Her cheeks puffed out, she nodded rapidly.

"Ish ’nuff, ’nuff! I’m shtuffed!"

He smiled and placed a piece of meat in her bowl.

She didn’t miss a beat, immediately putting a large piece back into his bowl.

"Honey, open up! You need to replenish your strength!"

His smile stretched from ear to ear.

"Mm!"

...

When Li Hanchen walked in, Shen Songyao was already sitting under the lamp, busy at work.

He didn’t think much of it and pulled up a stool to sit beside her.

’I need to take her to the hospital for a check-up soon,’ he thought. ’Can’t put it off for too long.’

His butt had barely touched the stool when Shen Songyao looked up.

"Do you know how to sew on a button?"

"Huh? I do."

He was taken aback for a second but answered anyway.

Before the words were even out of his mouth, she had stuffed a piece of cloth, a needle, and a spool of thread into his hands.

"Here, watch closely. Fold the fabric in half, sew along one edge. Turn it inside out, thread the elastic through, leave it this long. Snip off the extra, seal it up, and finally, hide the opening. Ta-da! One little flower hair tie, ready for its grand debut!"

"Hurry up, I want to get to bed early tonight."

"Do a good job, and I’ll give you a reward!"

Li Hanchen followed her instructions and got to work.

Before long, a small pile of colorful hair ties had accumulated on the table.

Shen Songyao glanced over and gave him a thumbs-up.

"A natural!"

He asked as he threaded a needle.

"What made you decide to make these?"

"Oh, you know, I was out the other day and saw all the headbands and clips the girls were wearing. They all looked pretty enough to have stepped out of a magazine. So I figured, why not try making some ourselves? And what do you know, it actually worked."

"I’ve always been good with my hands. Back home, I could sew, mend, and embroider without anyone having to teach me."

"Then what about with Mom and the others..."

"That’s enough."

Shen Songyao cut him off, her tone suddenly turning grim.

"Don’t even bring it up. There’s no going back."

"They never treated me like family, so as far as I’m concerned, they don’t exist."

"If I want to eat meat, I’ll eat meat. If I want to spend money, I’ll spend money."

With that said, she pushed two more pieces of pre-cut fabric toward him.

Li Hanchen could only lower his head and continue threading the needle.

By the time the sun had set, he had counted them up. A grand total of one hundred and ninety-seven.

Shen Songyao stood up, threw her arms around his neck, and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"You’re amazing, Honey! That’s your reward!"

Li Hanchen’s face immediately flushed hot, the tips of his ears turning beet red. He stammered.

"What... what do you want to eat?"

Shen Songyao had already lowered her head to thread another needle. Hearing his question, she answered offhandedly.

"Whatever you make, Honey. I’ll eat whatever you put in front of me!"

The words had barely registered before Li Hanchen shot to his feet.

Shen Songyao’s hand slipped, and a bead went rolling onto the floor.

She froze for a second, then glanced up at Li Hanchen.

Li Hanchen immediately dove under the table.

"I’ll get it! I’ll get it right now!"

Shen Songyao opened her mouth to say, "You don’t have to," but he had already disappeared from view.

Thankfully, he straightened up less than ten seconds later, holding the bead out to her, steady in his palm.

Shen Songyao remained seated. She tilted her head, leaving the bead hovering in mid-air.

She didn’t reach for it, just kept her eyes fixed on him.

Li Hanchen blinked, then followed her gaze downward.

CLACK.

He set the bead on the table with a crisp sound.

He turned, his shoulders ramrod straight, and walked out.

Shen Songyao lifted a hand to wipe her mouth with her sleeve, muttering under her breath.

"Fine, don’t let me have a bite. But you’re over there striking poses every day, getting addicted to the act? You big, calculating dog. Hmph!"

She might have been angry, but she didn’t let her work slide. She ended up weaving an extra foot and a half of fabric that day.

But by evening, she couldn’t hold it in any longer. Leaning against the doorframe, she looked up at Li Hanchen, who was standing just outside.

"Sleeping next door again?"

"The bed’s too small. We wouldn’t both fit."

It was Li Hanchen’s standard excuse.

Shen Songyao rolled her eyes.

"Oh, really? So the bed finds one man and one woman too ’uncomfortable,’ but it has no problem with you and your army buddy, two grown men, lying on it? It’s not afraid you’ll break its back?"

Before the words were even out of her mouth, she lunged forward!