Chapter 16: Lingering Regrets in the Heart

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Lu Qiqi arrived at the hospital carrying a bag of supplements, intending to visit Madam Chu. Madam Chu had sprained her ankle. Though the injury was not particularly serious, it still made getting around inconvenient, so she had remained in the hospital.

Just as Lu Qiqi was about to go upstairs, she spotted an unmistakably familiar figure in the gynecology department on the third floor. She quickened her pace and caught up from behind.

“Manli, what are you doing here? Weren’t you on a business trip with Qinyu?”

Yes, the woman in the ultra-short pencil skirt and head-to-toe designer labels who had appeared in the hospital’s gynecology department was none other than Shen Manli, who was supposed to be away on business.

Shen Manli frowned and turned around irritably. When she saw Lu Qiqi, the color drained from her face. She instinctively staggered backward several steps, nearly snapping the heel of her shoe.

“Lu… Qiqi, what are you doing here?”

Whenever Shen Manli saw Lu Qiqi, she was reminded of the Chinese medicine she had been forced to drink. Her stomach churned violently at the memory, and she felt sick to her core, terrified that Lu Qiqi might make her drink something strange again.

After Lu Qiqi had left last time, Shen Manli had specifically searched the internet. That so-called nocturnal glow sand was actually animal feces. If she had not been certain that she had revealed nothing, and if she had not believed that Lu Qiqi was incapable of discovering the truth, she would have assumed Lu Qiqi had deliberately set out to torment her.

Seeing Shen Manli looking like a mouse that had just spotted a cat, Lu Qiqi felt a surge of satisfaction.

Already frightened? That had only been an appetizer.

Still, she pretended not to notice and asked again, “Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Do you want me to brew you some more Chinese medicine? Oh, by the way, where’s Qinyu?”

At the mention of Chinese medicine, Shen Manli’s face turned green. She hurriedly interrupted Lu Qiqi and answered on her own, “We’re already back from the business trip. Young Master Si went back to the company first. What? Didn’t he tell you?”

There was still a trace of mockery in her final sentence.

Lu Qiqi sneered inwardly.

So this was her husband?

When he left and when he returned, she, his wife, knew nothing at all and had to hear it from someone else.

But she pretended not to understand Shen Manli’s provocation. Right in front of her, Lu Qiqi called Si Qinyu.

“Hello, darling, where are you? I miss you so much.” Her fingers stroked the handle of the shopping bag, while her expression was filled with girlish adoration.

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“Wife, I’m away on business, but I’ll be back soon. You just behave yourself at home.”

When he received Lu Qiqi’s call, Si Qinyu instinctively lied. After all, many things were far more convenient when Lu Qiqi was not around.

But he regretted the lie the very next second, because Lu Qiqi immediately said, “Really? Then why did Manli say you’re already back? Is it because you don’t want to see me?”

Her voice was full of grievance and accusation.

“I’m coming to find you right now. Where are you exactly? Are you in some disreputable place?”

Caught off guard and slapped in the face by his own lie so quickly, Si Qinyu panicked. He hurriedly came up with an excuse to patch things up.

“Wife, I’m really innocent! All right, all right, I’ll tell you the truth. I wanted to surprise you. I’ve already booked a restaurant and bought a present, but now I have to tell you ahead of time.”

“Really? Is it that diamond necklace I like?” Lu Qiqi cried out in delight. Then, realizing she was in a hospital, she covered her mouth and lowered her voice. “The really expensive one? Darling, you’re so good to me. Love you!”

Lu Qiqi never let go of an opportunity to get money out of Si Qinyu. Jewelry like this would not be included among the marital assets divided in a divorce.

Si Qinyu had not expected one offhand lie to cost him several million. He felt both heartbroken and irritated, but he had no choice except to call his assistant and order him to buy the necklace.

He had just finished making the arrangements when an email suddenly arrived.

The moment he opened it, a series of photographs appeared on the screen. His pupils contracted sharply, and he flew into a rage, hurling the cup from his desk onto the floor.

The cup shattered, sending shards of glass spraying across the ground with a tremendous crash. Hearing the commotion outside, his assistant immediately knocked on the door.

“Boss, what happened?”

“Get out! All of you!”

Si Qinyu’s furious voice thundered from inside. The assistant outside hurriedly retreated. He had no intention of provoking his boss at a time like this.

After ending the call, Lu Qiqi happily took Shen Manli’s hand and began coquettishly showing off her husband’s affection.

“Manli, honestly, you’re too much. Why keep me in suspense? But then again, you’re still single. You wouldn’t understand this kind of romantic little game.”

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“Ah, Qinyu is really wonderful to me. You know, the necklace I like is incredibly expensive—almost as much as ten years of your salary. To be honest, even I couldn’t bring myself to buy it.”

Those few sentences made Shen Manli’s expression grow darker and darker. She was nearly grinding her back teeth to dust. If she had had a sharp knife in her hand, she would have loved nothing more than to plunge it straight into Lu Qiqi’s heart.

Yet she had to endure it again and again, maintaining an expression of envy and sincere happiness for Lu Qiqi.

Seeing that Shen Manli was almost at her limit, Lu Qiqi finally took her leave and went to attend to her own business. She was still very busy, after all. She did not have that much time to amuse herself by teasing a dog.

In the hospital room, Madam Chu’s face lit up with delight when she saw the steaming sweet soup. Her gaze toward Lu Qiqi was filled with appreciation.

“Qiqi, you’ve gone to so much trouble. I only mentioned it casually, and you came all the way here so early in the morning. I’m truly embarrassed.”

“Auntie, there’s no need to be so polite. I enjoy eating this myself, so I simply cooked an extra portion while I was at it. I’ll be happy as long as you like it.”

Lu Qiqi looked so sweet, obedient, and considerate that Madam Chu adored her instantly.

After tasting the soup, Madam Chu showered it with praise. Though it was merely seven-tenths delicious, she praised it as though it were perfect. Lu Qiqi blushed and waved her hands repeatedly.

The young woman before her was lovely and lively, yet carried herself with poise. She was thoughtful and capable in her dealings with others, and always wore a smile, no matter the circumstances. Just looking at her lifted one’s spirits.

She was the complete opposite of Madam Chu’s son, who wore an icy expression at all times and kept everyone at arm’s length.

The regret in Madam Chu’s heart grew even stronger. If the two of them became a couple, their personalities would truly complement each other. Perhaps they really could build a life together.

“What a pity, dear. You married far too young. If you had become my daughter-in-law, I would have been overjoyed. You have no idea how peculiar my son’s temper is. I don’t even know when I’ll finally get to hold a grandchild.”

“Auntie, you think far too highly of me. President Chu is an exceptional man, and naturally his wife must be the finest woman in the world. I simply don’t have that kind of good fortune.”

Lu Qiqi comforted her, “As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait. I’m sure your wish will come true.”

Although she said this aloud, she secretly grumbled to herself.

Madam Chu had been right about one thing: getting Chu Linchen to fall for someone and willingly marry her would probably be more difficult than reaching the heavens.