Chapter 18: Turning the Tables

"Ah, Manli, when did I accidentally dial your number? I am so sorry, it was a mistake," Lu Qiqi said, regaining her composure as she spoke to Shen Manli on the other end of the line. "Did I interrupt anything?"

Shen Manli let out a cold snort but quickly feigned a gentle tone, pitching her voice delicately. "How could you ever interrupt, Qiqi? I always have time for your calls."

"Though, you and your husband really are quite affectionate—so lovey-dovey. Truly, the bliss of newlyweds," Shen Manli added, her words laced with mockery. "I suppose I shouldn't have answered; I've ruined your fun with Young Master Si."

Compared to her earlier anger and anxiety, Shen Manli now felt a surge of secret joy and sweetness. She was convinced that Si Qinyu must have heard her voice and stopped because he didn't want to hurt her.

Qinyu’s promise to her was true after all; he really hadn't touched Lu Qiqi. Today, it must have been Lu Qiqi who tried to seduce him!

"You didn't mean to," Lu Qiqi said, her voice cool. She then added with a light, feigned complaint, "It’s all Qinyu’s fault—he accidentally hit the button while we were playing around. He must have been embarrassed, so he used work as an excuse to leave. I’ll go find him in a bit, hehe."

Upon hearing this, Shen Manli gripped her phone tightly. In a bit? If Lu Qiqi tried to seduce him shamelessly again later, wouldn't they end up consummating their marriage?

"Heh, well, I won't answer the phone so carelessly at night from now on. I'm a bit sleepy, so I’m hanging up now, Qiqi." Shen Manli gritted her teeth, the fires of jealousy burning through her reason.

She hung up, rose from her bed, changed into a sexy lace nightgown, and placed a video call to Si Qinyu.

Lu Qiqi snapped back to reality. Looking at her disheveled state, she quickly put her clothes back on and sighed. Living under the same roof as Si Qinyu was a reality she would have to face eventually; she needed to find a way to deal with it immediately.

Just as Lu Qiqi was lost in thought, a message popped up on her phone. She looked closely and saw an email from Bai Yu.

"Check out the ironclad proof I got for you, girl. Make sure you have some eye wash ready before you look!"

Bai Yu's message followed shortly after, accompanied by an emoji of a cute teddy bear dancing.

Lu Qiqi opened the email with curiosity. However, when she clicked on the files, even though she had anticipated what might be inside, her heart still trembled at the sight of the photos and hotel records.

Twenty gigabytes of photos—all evidence of Si Qinyu and Shen Manli’s intimacy.

In the images, they were inseparable, clinging to each other. Even though she had seen it with her own eyes before, the sheer volume of photos tore open the scars in her heart once more.

Lu Qiqi felt a stinging sensation in her nose, and a dense wave of bitterness welled up, making her burst into tears right there.

After all, he was someone she had once loved. Even though she had tried to convince herself to let go countless times, the human heart is made of flesh and blood; cutting ties with such deep-seated emotions was never easy.

Lu Qiqi sniffled, fighting back the tears, but the pain and grievances in her heart were ultimately too much to contain.

The thought that the "bright moonlight" she had loved for so many years was actually rotten, decaying, and foul beneath the surface made her feel as though her heart had been riddled with holes.

Years of love, all gone to waste.

Lu Qiqi blinked frantically, but her tears gathered into little streams at the corners of her eyes, soon dripping onto her pillowcase.

She gritted her teeth and scrolled further with her fingertip.

She saw a list of hotel records. Tracing the timeline back to the very beginning, she discovered that they had been messing around together almost from the moment they first met.

Back then, in front of her, Si Qinyu was still that pure boy who would blush just from holding hands.

Lu Qiqi smiled bitterly, feeling ridiculous for her own stupidity.

Just then, another message from Bai Yu popped up: "Babe, you aren't crying over that piece of human trash, are you? A scumbag like that isn't worth it. Save your tears for when you're tangled up in the sheets with your next top-tier boyfriend. You know what I mean."

It was accompanied by a racy emoji.

Lu Qiqi was instantly amused by her words. Her translucent fingernails tapped against the keyboard.

"I’m not sad for the scumbag. I’m just feeling that my years of devotion weren't worth it, and I’m hurt by my own stupidity."

Bai Yu replied immediately: "Who hasn't taken a wrong turn in life? At least you saw through it early. We’re only in our twenties; there’s plenty of time to turn the tables!"

Lu Qiqi nodded. A warm current seemed to flow through her heart; no matter what, she still had a good friend.

Having seen through so many things, she felt a wave of exhaustion. Lu Qiqi hurried to the bathroom to wash up, changed into pajamas, and finally climbed back into bed.

Early the next morning, Lu Qiqi rose at dawn. She changed into a champagne-colored cinched-waist shirt paired with a black pencil skirt and nude high heels—the very image of a capable urban professional—ready to head to the office.

To her surprise, as soon as she went downstairs, Fang Lehong blocked her path.

"Qiqi, it’s so early, where are you going?"

Lu Qiqi waved her Chanel bag at her. "Mom, I’m going to the office."

Fang Lehong snorted softly, then put on a facade of well-meaning advice. "Qiqi, you’re married now. Once a woman settles down, it’s best not to be too ambitious. A family is harmonious only when the man handles the outside world and the woman handles the inside. Don't you agree?"

Lu Qiqi smiled at her without responding.

Seeing that Lu Qiqi remained silent, Fang Lehong assumed her words had struck a chord and pressed on. "Why don't you just hand Lingwei over to Qinyu? He’ll manage it perfectly for you."

Lu Qiqi let out a cold laugh. Fang Lehong’s schemes were so transparent they were practically written on her face. Did she really think she was a fool?

"Oh, Mom, to be honest, I would love to hand it all over to Si Qinyu to handle, but Qinyu is just too busy. You saw that he slept in the study last night; he simply doesn't have the energy to spare to handle Lingwei's affairs."

"However, I don't think Qinyu is the kind of small-minded man who can't bear to see his wife succeed. Anyway, Mom, I have a partnership proposal today and it wouldn't be right to keep the client waiting. I have to get going."

With that, Lu Qiqi strode away in her high heels.

Hearing the rhythmic *clack-clack-clack* of the heels, Fang Lehong felt incredibly agitated, but she couldn't bear to let so much money go down the drain. She could only grit her teeth and glare at Lu Qiqi’s retreating back.

"Qiqi," Fang Lehong called out to her, "make sure you come home early after you finish your business! I'll teach you how to cook a few of Qinyu’s favorite dishes. A woman’s priority should always be her family!"