obsessed with love

Chapter 175

When Du Ruo grew up to that age, she has suffered all the injuries she should have suffered and suffered all the hardships she should have suffered, except for the word "love", which she has never had a good time.In the past, she felt that the world was unfair, why she still couldn't get happiness after working so hard, but after a divorce, she suddenly understood that love or not, luck or happiness, is not given by others, but to be won by herself.

She didn't dare to say how "great" her feelings for Qiao Anming were, because it violated ethics after all, but so what, she just wanted to have a simple love, to accompany him for a ride, enjoy some scenery along the way, and finally leave quietly.

Gifting herself a shocking emptiness, and recalling it after the incident, she was not in vain, at least she could hide someone in her heart.

But that was just Du Ruo's own thoughts. Her original intention was not to hurt anyone, but in the end she was too simple. How could there be so many kind and tolerant people in this world.

On the second day, Qiao Anming made an appointment with a familiar real estate agent.

After last night, he became more and more determined to buy a house for Du Ruo, one house for one person, one lamp, and the person he cared about the most lived in it, this kind of scene makes him feel very happy.

Gu Lan received a call from Jiang Lei the day after Qiao Anming signed the house purchase contract.

"Sister, Mr. Qiao bought a house in Tongcheng, which is near Mount Wumu, with a private account..."

"Whose name is written on the house purchase contract?"

"Yes, Du Ruo..."

Gu Lan smiled and threw the paintbrush in his hand to the ground.

In fact, she had guessed it a long time ago, but just hearing it with her own ears, she still felt a dull pain in her heart.

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone, Jiang Lei sighed: "Sister, some things should be taken care of, you don't walk around outside, so I don't know that the men outside now, as long as they have money and status, they will be there. Woman, Mr. Qiao is good enough to you, besides, it’s nothing more than a house, you don’t care about it, right? Don’t suffocate your body because of this...it’s not worth it!”

"Yes, it's not worth it!" Gu Lan was still smiling, but her heart was extremely cold.

Not worth it!Qiao Anming, is it worth it for you to take such a big risk for a woman with half your heart and soul?
Because Gu Lan was ill during a previous business trip, he changed his itinerary and returned, so Qiao Anming's business trip arrangements were put on the agenda again, but he still squeezed out time before the business trip, and made an appointment with a well-known home decoration designer in China. They made an appointment in the conference room, and the people in Shengan thought that the boss was going to redecorate the office building.

Qiao Anming has the habit of checking the itinerary before boarding the plane. When he turns on the computer, the Outlook to-do list is full of red icons, and the first column is "Gu Lan's birthday".

He has been really busy recently, and with Du Ruo by his side, his mind is sometimes slack, and he almost forgot about Gu Lan's birthday.

Qiao Anming took out his mobile phone and called Gu Lan anyway.

Every birthday, no matter how busy he is, he will take a day to accompany Gu Lan to do what she wants to do. In fact, her interest is single, and what she wants is very simple. It is nothing more than having a meal with her, watching a musical, or going shopping. Visiting art exhibitions, this year is no exception.

"Gu Lan, I'm at the airport. I took the time to call you before takeoff. It happened to be your birthday when I came back from a business trip. My flight will arrive at Tongcheng Airport during the day, and I will rush back to Chongzhou to have dinner with you at night. Is this okay?"

"Is that so, wouldn't that be too rushed?" Gu Lan on the other end seemed to think about it, and said briskly: "How about this, on my birthday, it happened that the child with a heart attack in Tongcheng was discharged from the hospital, and a TV station would go there Hospital interview, invite me over, or you don’t go back to Chongzhou that day, we will meet in Tongcheng at night, let’s have a meal together.”

Qiao Anming was a little surprised: "The TV station wants to interview you? Didn't you dislike this kind of publicity before?"

"Well, I really don't like it." Gu Lan sighed: "But since I want to run this hospital well, I have to learn to accept these things in the future, An Ming, people always need to change."

At that time, there were not many people in the business class waiting room. Listening to Gu Lan's voice, Qiao Anming always felt that there was a hint of coldness in that flat tone.

"It's good that you have this kind of heart, so let's meet in Tongcheng on your birthday. I'll ask the secretary to book a restaurant."

"Farewell, you are so busy, I will let Yu Chu do these things."

Qiao Anming thought for a while, answered "OK", and then added "Gu Lan's birthday, dinner" at the end of the "to-do list".

After hanging up the phone, he felt a little bit guilty. After acting in front of Gu Lan for so many years, he only felt guilty at this age. Is it because of Du Ruo's intervention, or his sobriety about the marriage?

Gu Lan hung up Qiao Anming's phone, and she spread out the piece of paper pinched in her hand, on which was Du Ruo's mobile phone number.

She called, but no one answered, and she called again, but was hung up.

Gu Lan simply stopped typing, just crumpled the piece of paper and stuffed it into the pocket of her pajamas.

Ever since meeting Du Ruo in Tongcheng, Gu Lan has often seen that face in his mind recently, with a big grin, full of vigor, and the corners of his mouth are curved upwards. The most serious thing is that his face is still very young. That's why Gu Lan has been waking up habitually until midnight recently, watching the color of the curtains change from dark to bright white, and what has been entangled in her mind is nothing more than Du Ruo's face, if Qiao Anming kisses it, it will start Is it the corner of the mouth, or between the eyebrows?

Du Ruo didn't think of the fact that her menstrual holiday was delayed until the day before Qiao Anming's business trip back to Tongcheng, but after thinking about it, she found it impossible. She took contraceptive pills on time, and most of the time he would try his best to take measures. She should not be so lucky to win the lottery, but the bad thing is that Du Ruo had a nightmare that night. In the dream, she was pressed on the operating table by Qiao Anming, and Leng Sensen's forceps were stirring in her body. Live in Qiao Anming.

"Why? This is your own child!"

"I told you many times, I don't want children, and we can't have children..."

When he woke up, his forehead was covered with cold sweat, and the cold eyes in the dream seemed to still be in front of his eyes.

Du Ruo dialed Qiao Anming's number with trembling fingers, and asked directly, "Are you sure you won't agree to have a child?"

Qiao Anming didn't understand why, and replied sporadically sleepily: "Well, no, I told you before."

"What about mine? I'm pregnant, and you don't want it?"

Qiao Anming could hear the trembling in her tone, half of her sleepiness was awakened, she sat up and asked, "What's the matter? Why do you ask this question again in the middle of the night?"

"Then you answer me, am I pregnant, and you don't want it?"

"You can't have kids and we've done a good job with the measures."

"Then what if there is? I mean if!"

Qiao Anming sighed and coaxed patiently: "Okay, we have already discussed this issue last time. I don't plan to have children, so go to bed. I have a lot of things to do tomorrow, so you should go to bed earlier, huh?"

Du Ruo didn't answer, just hung up the phone.

In fact, she was frightened by the scene in the dream. Even if she is awake at this moment, she can still feel the reality of the dream. Qiao Anming's heart-wrenching words, the tearing of those surgical forceps in her body, her hands being held down by him, her gaze Staring blankly at the surgical light above his head, his eyes blurred in the end, and he only remembered the voice next to his ear, repeating again and again: "There can be no children between us..."

……

Gu Lan rushed to Tongcheng Hospital early in the morning. The little guy was discharged today. She was interviewed by Tongcheng TV station in the ward, and it ended around noon.After sending the little guy away, Gu Lan walked downstairs slowly with his head down.

At the corner of the stairs, on the last flight of stairs, Gu Lan ran into someone, and a piece of paper floated in front of her, so she picked it up. It was a thin test sheet, and in the test result column, there were only two words: Positive.

Gu Lan looked up and saw a somewhat pale but extremely familiar face. This face had appeared in her dreams countless times, which made her sleepless all night.

"Thank you, my list." Du Ruo didn't look up at the person in front of him at all, just took his own test list, and walked upstairs numbly.

Gu Lan stood there, his mind went blank for a moment, his heart began to tighten, and his breathing gradually became short of breath.

People with a bad heart are actually good. When the mood fluctuates, the first reaction will be given physiologically, and then even if it hurts to death, it can be attributed to illness.

……

Gu Lan has been thinking about how to contact Du Ruo, or find an excuse to contact Du Ruo, but fate still helped her, let them meet at this time, and let her see the test report.

Terrible, the thick and wide web of fate.

"Miss, miss... just wait a moment." Gu Lan held back her aching heart and ran after her.

Du Ruo turned around and asked in a daze, "You called me?"

"That's right, I called you. You don't know me anymore? Last time you helped me get my bag back." Gu Lan's tone was well-chosen, and there was joy that couldn't be concealed in his expression and words.

If acting requires talent, then Gu Lan is definitely talented.

And what is Du Ruo? I remembered that time when I robbed someone else's bag halfway.

"You are……?"

"Remember? That rainy day..."

Du Ruo finally realized it, and forced a smile with the corners of his mouth pulled: "Well, I remembered, I didn't expect to meet you here."

"Yeah, I came to see a friend. I called you last night to say thank you, but you didn't answer. I didn't expect to meet you today." Gu Lan smiled all the time, with a soft and submissive appearance , Du Ruo put down his guard in an instant, and replied, "That's your call? I thought it was an unfamiliar number, so I didn't answer it."

"I met you if you didn't pick up, which means there is some fate." Gu Lan glanced at the test sheet in Du Ruo's hand, and quickly said, "Today is my birthday, and I would like to invite you to have dinner together." .”

"Dinner? No need, it's just a matter of time for me to grab your bag back for you." Du Ruo doesn't like getting too involved with people he doesn't know well, but Gu Lan is persistent: "Actually, it's not just for thanking you. It just happened to be my birthday, so we met again, it's fate, I want to make friends with you, that's all."

Gu Lan's smile was always gentle, Du Ruo stared at her for a few times, and gradually lost his defense.

Gu Lan scanned her test sheet again, and added: "That... When I picked up the sheet for you just now, I accidentally glanced at it, is there a baby?"

Du Ruo's mind tightened, and he unconsciously rubbed the list together with his palms. He just nodded and smiled bitterly: "He doesn't necessarily want it."

"Why not? Your husband doesn't want it?"

Du Ruo gave another wry smile, and she didn't want to say more when facing strangers, so she just nodded perfunctorily.

Gu Lan's heart began to ache, but she had to hold on, and she still smiled and said, "That's your private matter, so I won't ask if you don't want to talk about it. I have already booked the restaurants for dinner. I have your number. I'll text you later."

……

Gu Lan remembered that when she was a child, her father always had to go on business trips. He would go away for half a month, and there were only servants and Aunt Qin at home.The school held an art festival, and Gu Lan managed to win a role in a drama, not the protagonist, but the second female lead, but she was still very excited.It's just that her father's business trip was scheduled a month ago, so Gu Lan put on a sensible face.

"Father, you can go. Work is important. When the time comes, Aunt Qin will go to school to watch my performance..."

But three days before the performance, Gu Lan started to feel "chest discomfort". Gu Zhengmao came back that night, and the doctor also came to see him. He only said that it was because of the weather, and he couldn't find out what was wrong.

As for that drama performance, Gu Zhengmao was of course present in person.

So sometimes Gu Lan felt that his own body was also beneficial, and it could be used as the most effective prop at critical moments.

Du Ruo, how much you laughed and intervened in my family back then, I would let you leave crying. As for that child, I'm sorry, he couldn't have come into this world!
In fact, Du Ruo really didn't want to go to that meal, but in the afternoon Gu Lan made a few more phone calls to confirm, the hospitality was hard to turn down, so Du Ruo could only attend the appointment on time.

The restaurant that Peng Yuchu booked was very close to Qiao Anming's company. It still served Jiangsu and Zhejiang cuisine, and it was a very well-behaved private room.

Du Ruo was the first one to arrive, sitting alone in the box and waiting. Half an hour later, he heard footsteps in the corridor, and the waiter opened the door and walked in first.

"Mr. Qiao, Mrs. Qiao... This way please..." With a respectful voice, Du Ruo raised his head with a polite smile and met Qiao Anming's cold but still surprised face.

One pair is terrified, the other pair is flustered. Only Gu Lan is smiling, still soft and greasy, but the smile is really from the heart, because she feels that the pain she has endured alone during this period of time, after seeing the two people in front of her. When people have such horrified expressions, they are relieved all at once.This feeling is like holding a breath, and finally found an outlet at this moment, and let it all out, full of the comfort of letting go of hatred.

Du Ruo's footsteps began to be unsteady, but she had to hold on. In this case, she had to "obey the rules".

Qiao Anming managed to remain calm, standing at the door, neither advancing nor retreating, staring at Du Ruo in front of her, watching her panicked and pale.In fact, he had thought about many scenarios where Du Ruo and Gu Lan would meet, they might fight, they might be hysterical, but he really didn't expect that it would end up like this.

This is a game!Qiao Anming squeezed his palms tightly, and pursed his lips tightly without opening his mouth.

Gu Lan enjoyed the feeling of being on the sidelines, as if she was an outsider, watching the two people struggling and entangled in front of her, no matter how much her heart hurt, she still looked the same as before, wrapped her arms around Qiao Anming's arms, and introduced them generously. : "Miss Du, this is my husband, surnamed Qiao, An Ming, this is my friend, as I told you last time, she helped me get my handbag back..."

The waiter next to him asked politely: "Mr. Qiao, Mrs. Qiao, are all the guests here? Are you ready to sit down and start cooking?"

Mr. Joe, Mrs. Joe... Guests...

Yes, she is in this relationship, a guest, an outsider.

With a smile on the corner of Du Ruo's mouth, he grabbed the coat on the back of the chair and walked out.

"Sorry, I have something else to do, sorry..." She was incoherent, and quickly brushed past Qiao Anming with her head buried in her head.

Gu Lan smiled sinisterly at the corner of her mouth, turned her head and said to Qiao Anming: "Really, we agreed to have dinner together, it's fine if she doesn't eat, we will eat, but wait for me, I have to go to the bathroom first..."

……

Du Ruo supported the edge of the sink table, looked up just enough to see her pale face in the mirror, and sorted out the relationship from the beginning. Since she accidentally called Qiao Anming that night and Gu Lan answered the phone, she went to In Tongcheng, they met near their rented house, then met a thief... and finally met again in the hospital today... God... no matter how many coincidences, it is impossible to fit so precisely.

So if it wasn't a coincidence, it was her plan?
What came to Du Ruo's mind was Gu Lan's face, gentle and gentle, always smiling.

But when he looked up, another face appeared in the mirror. He changed his gentle smile before, his eyes were cold, and he folded his hands and said lightly, "Why are you leaving so soon, and you haven't eaten yet?"

Du Ruo's heart skipped a beat, and he turned to face Gu Lan hastily: "You did it on purpose? You asked me to have dinner on purpose?"

The corner of Gu Lan's mouth began to smile again, but his whole face became colder because of this smile, he still folded his hands, approached Du Ruo's face, and answered word by word: "Of course, otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence! I knew your name a long time ago, Du Ruo, right? But it’s a pity, An Ming didn’t know that we knew each other early on, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to direct this scene.”

After Gu Lan finished speaking, seeing that Du Ruo didn't answer, she stepped back a few steps, leaning her body half against the wall, and continued the neutral tone just now: "Are you surprised? But I was still a step late Allowing you to conceive his child! But it's a pity, An Ming doesn't like children, he can't let you give birth to the child!"

"Impossible, it's his own flesh and blood, no matter how cruel he is, it's impossible for him not to want his own flesh and blood." Du Ruo's voice was as low as a mosquito's fly, and she forced her lips, but she didn't have any confidence in her heart.

Qiao Anming has already expressed strongly in front of her twice that he does not want a child, even if it is the child she is pregnant with Du Ruo, he does not want it!

But women's minds are like this, "Don't cry when you don't see the coffin", probably refers to Du Ruo.

A group of guests came in from outside the bathroom door, passed by Du Ruo, and looked at her a few more times.

However, Gu Lan's face darkened, and she stepped forward, stood in front of Du Ruo and asked, "Flesh and blood? Do you know what you are talking about? What qualifications do you have to conceive Anming's flesh and blood? Apart from this face, what do you rely on?" Are you fighting with me? Don’t think that An Ming loves you because he slept with you, tell you, it’s impossible! He’s just trying to figure out your body!”

Gu Lan's voice was actually very soft, but his cold eyes were like sharp swords, with a cold light everywhere, Du Ruo subconsciously leaned his body on the pool platform, and the words echoed in his mind: "He just wanted your body. "

Du Ruo shook his head, as if he was talking to himself: "...I never thought of arguing with you, but I don't believe it, I don't believe he's just trying to plot my body..."

"Don't you believe it?" Gu Lan started laughing again, then lowered his head and asked in a low voice: "Okay, don't you believe me, right? Then I'll show you the answer, but let me tell you, I have a congenital heart disease and have stopped. I took the medicine for two days, and my chest has been hurting since this morning..."

……

Qiao Anming was waiting for Gu Lan in the box. Although his face was expressionless, his heart was very gloomy and his mind was a little messy, but he sorted it out quickly... First, Du Ruo "accidentally" called him and was picked up by Gu Lan. , and then Du Ruo "accidentally" snatched back the bag for Gu Lan, and then "accidentally" met and made an appointment for dinner together, so many "accidentally", how could he believe that she was not acting?

A waiter ran across the corridor, holding the walkie-talkie and yelling: "Manager, a customer fainted in the bathroom of the box on the second floor. It looks like he has a history of heart disease. He has already called 120..."

Qiao Anming quickly opened the door and went out. There was already a circle of people around the door of the women's washroom at the end of the corridor. Covered in cold sweat, one hand covered his chest in pain, and the other hand couldn't lift it up, but his fingers poked Du Ruo's face directly opposite him.

"...Impossible, I don't believe...I don't believe that An Ming is such a person...We have been married for 20 years, it is impossible for him to not want me for you!"

Du Ruo used to think that acting was a very difficult thing, because the lines, expressions, and scenes had to be matched one by one without any mistakes, but the woman in front of her only needed to look down, her hands and feet softened, and then burst into tears To perform this bitter drama.

The acting is so resembling, Du Ruo almost felt that her illness was due to herself.

The curses from the surrounding crowd gradually spread, "Little San, vixen...shameless..."

Du Ruo just looked at Qiao Anming with determined eyes...

It doesn't matter, the world insults her, it doesn't matter how wronged she is, as long as her unrivaled hero is willing to believe her.

But would Qiao Anming believe it?A few days ago, he hugged himself and said such heart-breaking love words, so Du Ruo was confident that her unrivaled hero would not brutally push herself out at the most critical moment.

But in the next second, Qiao Anming rushed out from the crowd, and Senhan glanced at Du Ruo with his eyes. After just one glance, Du Ruo felt that he was too confident.

Qiao Anming quickly squatted in front of Gu Lan, held her hand, and shouted anxiously: "Gu Lan, Gu Lan... I'm here, the ambulance is already on the way, now you follow my voice to breathe, inhale... OK, breathe out again...very good, go on..."

Du Ruo stayed where she was, the gossip and gossip of the crowd at the door could no longer reach her ears, and her eyes were full of Qiao Anming's anxious profile.

In the past, she always thought that she was tough enough to survive the economic crisis of her younger brother's surgery, and Jiang Hao's betrayal and marriage. She also thought about what kind of humiliation she should bear when facing Gu Lan countless times. She has already experienced all these pains Make enough preparations, because it was a mistake for her to fall in love with Qiao Anming. Since it was a mistake, she was prepared to pay for her mistake.

But at this moment, Du Ruo realized that in this emotional scene, everyone's gossip was nothing at all, what was terrible was Qiao Anming's gaze, just looking at her, she felt cold all over her body, and all her courage collapsed in an instant.

The sound of an ambulance sounded at the entrance of the restaurant. Qiao Anming picked up the weak Gu Lan and walked towards the entrance. When she passed in front of Du Ruo, she chased forward a few steps, but Qiao Anming's tall back quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Du Ruo stood where he was, his footsteps were stiff, and he didn't dare to move a step.

Her unrivaled hero really came on the colorful clouds, but it was another woman who was carried away.

It's too bad, she told Qiao Anming very early on that she is stupid and can't learn to act, so our poor fool Du is no match for Gu Lan.

The crowd around gradually dispersed, Du Ruo still leaned on the pool platform as before, gradually raised his palm, and pressed it on his lower abdomen.

That's right, Gu Lan has a fragile heart, she can fall to the ground at any time, and she can win sympathy at any time. More importantly, she and Qiao Anming have been married for 20 years, so she can completely win his full trust.But what does she have?Apart from sleeping with him for a few nights, nothing else?
Du Ruo laughed and laughed away her tears, damn it, it was okay to have nothing at first, but now she is pregnant with his child, isn't this the worst, at least she still has a child.

Gu Lan was pushed into the emergency room that night, and came out in the early morning. Before dawn, Chongzhou had already sent Dr. Qin over.

A group of cardiology experts went to the intensive care unit under the leadership of Dr. Qin.

Qiao Anming sat on the bench at the door of the ward, with his head down, looking tired. When he saw Dr. Qin approaching, he quickly stood up and said hello: "I'm sorry, I asked you to rush over from Chongzhou late at night."

"It doesn't matter if I chase him away, but what's the matter with Gu Lan? He hasn't been sick for two years, why did he suddenly enter the emergency room?"

Qiao Anming lowered his head again, speechless.

Seeing his expression, Doctor Qin could only sigh helplessly: "Okay, Mr. Qiao, you don't have to worry too much, maybe this time it's not the worst, I'll go and see it first..."

Du Ruo couldn't sleep at all that night, too many thoughts in her mind, Gu Lan's acting, the meaning of Qiao Anming's last glance, and the child in her belly, too many things were mixed together, no one could tell her what to do next.

I thought that Qiao Anming would call her, but Baba waited all night holding the phone, but there was no message!

Gu Lan was transferred from the intensive care unit to the general ward in the morning of the second day. She tossed all night and woke up in a daze once, and saw Qiao Anming next to her. She was too weak to make a sound, but shed tears silently.

Qiao Anming didn't speak, and took out a tissue to help her wipe, but the more tears he wiped, he could only give up, holding her hand and secretly feeling guilty.

He didn't know what Du Ruo said to Gu Lan, but based on what he knew about Du Ruo, once his temper came up, he couldn't tell the difference. .

So you see, weakness is a woman's best weapon.Gu Lan made full use of this point, and took advantage of the man's desire to protect, and successfully directed and acted out a bitter trick.

Fool Du, with your single-minded brain, you have no chance of winning in front of Gu Lan.

Ren Peiyin arrived at the hospital at noon on the second day, along with Aunt Qin.

Two elderly people opened the door and came in. Gu Lan was already awake, and there was a nurse serving porridge beside him.

Aunt Qin couldn't hold back the most. When she saw Gu Lan, she rushed to wipe her tears: "Miss, I watched you come to Tongcheng well the day before yesterday. Why did you go to the hospital after not seeing you for a day?"

Gu Lan didn't answer, but just followed Aunt Qin's tears, with sad eyes, shook her head, bit her lips and didn't speak.

Ren Peiyin knew about Du Ruo's existence early in the morning. Judging from Gu Lan's reaction, it is estimated that something happened. However, as a mother-in-law, it is not convenient for her to ask directly. It's a lot of trouble, take care of it, I called Dr. Qin on the way, and she said that you are fine..."

"How can there be no serious problems? Look at her face is blue. What happened? A well-behaved person entered the emergency room out of thin air?" Aunt Qin started screaming again, holding Gu Lan's hand distressedly.

Ren Peiyin complained a lot to Aunt Qin. Seeing her yelling indiscriminately now, she didn't bother to respond, so she asked Gu Lan softly, "Where's An Ming? Why isn't he in the ward?"

Gu Lan tilted her head and didn't answer at all, her calm black face seemed to have been greatly wronged.

On the other hand, the nurse next to him was dexterous and politely accepted Pai Yin's words: "Are you asking Boss Qiao? He has been staying with his wife in the ward, but the doctor asked him for something just now."

……

Qiao Anming came out of the doctor's office, and as soon as he walked to the ward area, he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Qiao Anming..."

When he turned his head, Du Ruo stood straight in front of him.

She knew that it was inappropriate to come to see him at this time, and she also understood how "unruly" she was to appear so hastily, but there was no way, he had to give her a chance to explain.

Qiao Anming didn't seem surprised that Du Ruo suddenly appeared, but frowned, and said coldly, "What's the matter?"

She once hated his indifferent tone, and had been poured from head to toe by his sneering words too many times, but at that time they hadn't been together, like a little beast that was always in the cold winter, hadn't experienced In warm spring, the thick fur is still on his back, so he can still survive by gritting his teeth, but it is different now. He has hugged himself so tenderly a few days ago, talking sweetly and tenderly, but in a blink of an eye, he is Return to the present face.

Qiao Anming... What kind of rock-solid heart do you have to turn this cold face so familiar?
(End of this chapter)