Chapter 6: Offering a Flower in Another’s Name

“Come on, just tell me! Or should I come find you now? Ah, I have a case in a bit and can’t leave. Qiqi, please, don’t keep me in suspense.” Bai Yu clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture.

Seeing Bai Yu so worked up, as if she wanted to reach through the screen to shake her by the shoulders, Lu Qiqi’s sorrow eased a little, and she couldn’t help but smile faintly.

“I saw him with Shen Manli on our wedding day—rolling around together, and it looked like it wasn’t just once or twice. I absolutely cannot tolerate betrayal.”

Lu Qiqi briefly recounted how she had caught Si Qinyu and Shen Manli together on her wedding night but concealed the part about how, by a twist of fate, she lost her innocence that night. She gave a bitter smile as she thought about it—no matter what, she and Si Qinyu were destined to divorce.

“Si Qinyu really dared to cheat? On the wedding night? He must be scum! I’m going to tear him apart!” Bai Yu could hardly believe her ears. She slammed the table in anger, wincing from the pain. No, this wasn’t a dream.

“Don’t get too worked up. You know I can’t tolerate betrayal, so I must divorce. Help me maximize my interests,” Lu Qiqi interrupted Bai Yu, who was about to explode, urging her to calm down.

Seeing Lu Qiqi’s expressionless face, as if she had accepted the truth, Bai Yu felt not only anger but also deep sympathy.

She knew just how strong the bond between Lu Qiqi and Si Qinyu had been. Although Lu Qiqi’s love wasn’t as overtly passionate as his, she had loved him wholeheartedly.

She had dreamed of the wedding, dreamed of the marriage, and now her heart must be breaking. Bai Yu felt a sting in her nose, nearly brought to tears, but quickly masked her emotions.

To prevent Lu Qiqi from dwelling on painful memories, Bai Yu switched to a professional tone. “Qiqi, from a personal standpoint, I support you leaving an unhappy marriage. But from a lawyer’s perspective, I don’t recommend a divorce right now.”

A divorce might feel liberating emotionally, but the financial entanglements between the Lu and Si families were far too complex. Prolonged litigation could erode the assets instead.

“Many wealthy couples marry to unite their companies but live separate lives behind closed doors. If you’ve given up, there’s no need to insist on divorce. Whether out of revenge or love, you could find a few handsome young men to date outside.”

In such a marriage tangled with interests, chasing true love was like chasing a dream. Now that her friend’s dream was shattered, Bai Yu was determined to protect her friend’s greatest interests.

Knowing Bai Yu’s advice came from genuine concern, Lu Qiqi felt touched but forced a bitter smile. “Xiaoyu, if it were just emotional betrayal, I wouldn’t be so resolute. We could have talked it out and parted amicably…”

Though time had passed, thinking of the conversation she overheard that day still left a dull ache in her chest. Her face paled, and she gripped the corner of the table until her knuckles turned red.

Seeing this, Bai Yu on the other end of the video call was deeply distressed. She was about to leave the law firm to find Lu Qiqi, but at the door, her assistant nodded subtly and gestured toward the conference room, signaling that a client had arrived and the meeting was about to begin.

No matter how important the client, Bai Yu’s loyalty to her friend came first. Frowning, she lowered her voice, “Tell them I’m suddenly ill. Postpone the meeting.”

“But…” the assistant hesitated, frozen in place.

“No buts. Do as I say, now.” Bai Yu snapped angrily. The assistant bit her lip and was about to comply when Lu Qiqi’s voice came through the phone.

“Xiaoyu, don’t come over just yet. I’m really fine. You start the meeting. Your work can’t suffer—you know that. You’re the only one I trust. I’ll need you to step in for me later.”

Hearing that Bai Yu was about to skip a big client for her, Lu Qiqi felt both grateful and anxious, quickly adding, “I’m about to head out now, and I’m busy too. Let’s finish talking soon and hang up.”

“Really?” Bai Yu didn’t quite believe it. She leaned closer to the screen, studying Lu Qiqi’s condition, and seeing she looked okay, returned to the office and gave the assistant a look signaling no need to delay the meeting.

The assistant breathed a sigh of relief.

Since Bai Yu still had a meeting, their conversation was brief and to the point as she helped Lu Qiqi organize her thoughts.

“First, you need to inventory your premarital assets. Starting today, no more mixing with the Si family’s property. Second, for what’s already entangled, find ways to legally separate it little by little. I’ll give you some suggestions…”

“Also, although Si Qinyu’s infidelity won’t legally force him to forfeit assets in divorce, you can gather more evidence through lawful means. This will help you claim a greater share, especially since the Si family prides themselves on their reputation. At key moments—like if the company goes public—this could be very useful.”

Mentioning their ‘reputation,’ Bai Yu felt nothing but bitter irony and disgust.

Her tone was rapid and clear, firing off advice like a warrior determined to protect her friend with all her might.

“Got it all,” Lu Qiqi said, noting everything carefully. Her heart, long chilled, began to thaw with a faint warmth. No matter what, she still had such a friend, standing resolutely by her side, offering unconditional help and support.

After hanging up, Lu Qiqi washed her face. The cold water cleared her mind. Looking into the mirror, she tugged at the corner of her mouth.

“Don’t cry, Lu Qiqi. Keep smiling. Smile as you watch the Si family fall. Smile all the way to the end!”

Seated at her dressing table, she patiently painted her eyebrows, her face beautiful and refined, her eyes curved with innocence and purity—a mask she wore for herself.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated.

She glanced and saw it was Fang Lehong. Casually, she put the call on speaker with no sign of respect on her face, yet her tone was soft and compliant. “Hello, Mom. What’s up?”

“Qiqi, I ran into Madam Chu after my beauty treatment. She twisted her ankle and just went to the hospital. Can you go see her? Also, please ask that friend of yours to help out.”

On the phone, Fang Lehong’s voice was kind and gentle but carried an unnoticeable air of command, as if Lu Qiqi were a subordinate to be dispatched at will.

Lu Qiqi knew the doctor at that hospital, and since Fang Lehong was too lazy to go herself, she called Lu Qiqi to manage the relationship between the Si and Chu families, hoping to curry favor for the Si family.