Chapter 68: So eager to refuse—what, is something good about to happen between you and Attorney Wen?

The moment his eyes landed on the words “Liver Donation Agreement,” Wen Yanli’s gaze froze; he didn’t read any further. Very soon, he looked up at Lu Zhiyuan. “What is the meaning of this?”

Lu Zhiyuan regarded him with a complicated expression for a while before finally sighing. “My sister asked me to give this to you.”

“If necessary, she’s willing to donate part of her liver to your mother.”

This was not the agreement Song Mi had asked for! This document was indeed the one his foolish sister had signed with her own name and handed directly to him, asking him to pass it to the man before him.

Wen Yanli found it hard to find the right words to describe Lu Zhiyuan’s expression. His own feelings were no less tumultuous. Why would Lu Zhizhi do this?

Wen Yanli’s brows furrowed repeatedly, but he didn’t voice the question. The truth was, his mother might not need a second liver transplant. At least for now, it hadn’t come to that. Even if Lu Zhizhi was offering unconditionally, he wasn’t obliged to accept.

After a silence that was neither long nor short, Wen Yanli reached out and handed the agreement back. “If, unfortunately, the need truly arises, I’ll consider it.”

Lu Zhiyuan, however, didn’t take it. Instead, he said, “Your mother’s condition may not be as good as you think.”

Wen Yanli’s brow creased briefly at this, repeating, “What do you mean?”

Lu Zhiyuan then told him about the time Lu Zhizhi had taken his mother to the hospital in Vancouver. “...Perhaps she didn’t want you to worry and hid the true state of her health. It’s possible.”

Wen Yanli’s eyes grew colder, his thin lips pressed into a line, and a storm brewed in the depths of his long, dark eyes. Yet he was always adept at hiding his emotions, so it was hard for others to notice.

Lu Zhiyuan’s words had the immediate effect of making Wen Yanli reflect on how, staying at Song Mi’s apartment lately, he had neglected his mother. The Feng family had servants, Feng Jue and his aunt were always around, but who could truly fulfill his filial duty in his stead? It was his own failing.

“Yanli, must things between us really end with us never speaking again?” Lu Zhiyuan’s tone was fair and even. “All because of Song Mi?”

Wen Yanli’s expression didn’t change. If Feng Jue hadn’t found out who was pulling strings behind the scenes that night in the capital—when Wen Yanli, after beating up Huang Weiguo, was taken to the police station and detained—he might have felt some regret. But now, he felt nothing at all.

Some friendships are only meant to last a while. When you’re in harmony, you walk together; when not, you part ways. No feast lasts forever. One must follow the tides of fate, just as he’d once chosen to found this practice with Lu Zhiyuan.

But for reasons unknown, Lu Zhiyuan still seemed intent on salvaging something. “...My sister may be a bit extreme at times, but it’s understandable. She... she fell in love with you and couldn’t have you!”

“Or rather, love turned to hatred. Yes, she started things with Song Mi, but Song Mi retaliated...”

Wen Yanli abruptly raised his hand to interrupt. “Mr. Lu, there’s no need to say any more.”

“And please take this agreement back.” From the start, his refusal had been resolute, though his tone now softened just a touch. “I appreciate the gesture.”

With that, he pushed the agreement back to Lu Zhiyuan and rose from his seat. “I have another appointment. I’ll be going now.”

Only after Wen Yanli’s footsteps faded did Lu Zhiyuan, utterly exasperated, tug at his collar.

He’d already told his foolish sister that this man would never accept her kindness! Yet she was so set on it, she insisted he run this errand!

Thinking of how he’d humiliated himself, offering warmth to someone so cold, Lu Zhiyuan’s anger flared inside him. He must have been out of his mind to agree to this! Trade half a liver for a chance to spite Song Mi? And the man hadn’t even considered it—he’d refused outright!

In fact, even Lu Zhiyuan didn’t know why he’d agreed. It was such an undignified thing to get involved with! But once he’d decided, he wouldn’t keep banging his head against a wall he knew was impassable. Or perhaps he’d never supported his sister’s scheme to begin with.

He’d once had his doubts—after all, they’d been business partners for five years and college classmates; even if they were splitting up, there was no need to be so ruthless. But just now, Wen Yanli’s attitude had snapped the last thread of his goodwill. Since the other party was so resolute, why should he cling to a friendship that couldn’t withstand a single blow?

Of course, Wen Yanli was both capable and shrewd. If it came to open warfare, it was hard to say who would come out on top. So, he had to be ruthless—strike once, and strike to kill.

He’d not only prepared something vicious, he’d even found someone to take the fall. The Shen brothers, Shen Yanye and Shen Yanfeng, had dared to use Song Mi’s name to ruin his sister. If he’d remained in the dark, that would be one thing, but now that Song Mi had tipped him off and he’d confirmed it, how could he not strike back?

Did they all think the Lu family was a paper tiger? The men who’d committed those acts—every last one of them had been ruined. Each would spend the rest of his days crippled and bedridden.

As for the two Shen brothers who had hidden behind the scenes, how could he possibly let them go?

Clearing his thoughts, Lu Zhiyuan let out a cold, sinister chuckle, pulled out his phone, and sent a message to his contact. The reply came swiftly: “Foolproof!”

Putting his phone away, he sat for a while longer. He wondered how Song Mi would react when it was all over.

Thinking of Song Mi, he recalled seeing her at the hotel that day. She must have been in great pain then—her face as pale as snow on moss, not just white, but carrying a fragile quality, as if she might dissolve at any moment.

A fleeting touch, impossible to hold onto.

It left a strange sense of unease, the fear of losing something ephemeral.

But what was there for him to hold onto? He and Song Mi, if not sworn enemies, were certainly people who would go out of their way to avoid each other.

Strangely, since that day, Song Mi’s porcelain-doll face had haunted him, lingering in his mind like a persistent ghost.

At this thought, Lu Zhiyuan frowned subconsciously, his eyes narrowing, a shadow between his brows deepening.

Song Mi.

...

On Song Mi’s side, after Qiao Yudong spoke words tantamount to a confession, she didn’t bother to hide her mocking smile, the corners of her mouth curving up. “Well, I must thank you for your affection, Young Master Qiao, but...”

Her long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings as she withdrew her smile, her tone distant and dismissive. “Thank you, but no thank you.”

Qiao Yudong stared at her without blinking, not missing a single nuance of her expression. To say he wasn’t hurt would be a lie, but he’d also expected it.

She and that Wen fellow were inseparable at the moment. If saying “I’m getting a divorce to pursue you” would make her look at him differently, he wouldn’t even care.

Thus, Qiao Yudong didn’t let his smile falter, nor did the interest in his phoenix-shaped eyes diminish. “Rejecting me so quickly—what, is your affair with Lawyer Wen nearly official?”

Song Mi saw through his words but didn’t rush to respond, simply waiting for him to continue.

Sure enough, Qiao Yudong’s lips quirked as he went on, “By rights, the Wen family’s threshold isn’t any easier to cross than ours.”

“But if you like to aim high, then starting today, maybe I should climb a few ranks myself, take over my old man’s business early, and raise the Qiao family’s standing to match yours.” He grinned, his eyes bright and lively, but with an undercurrent of determination. “That way, I’d be worthy of you!”

Unexpectedly, Song Mi responded with only the faintest interest, “Then I’ll just take that as a compliment—I’m a phoenix in your eyes, Young Master Qiao.”

She picked up the invitation at her side, opened it at a normal speed, glanced through it, then closed and set it down. “The Qiao family’s gates are surely coveted by many.”

“But I’m not one to play by the rules, so I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you, Young Master Qiao.”

Lifting her gaze, a cold glimmer flashed in her amber eyes, though the smile on her lips never faded. “I’ll send my gift to Qiao Weiwei ahead of time.”

With that, she leaned back, arms folded, watching him with leisurely composure.

The meaning was clear: time to leave.

Qiao Yudong sat there a moment, then shrugged and nodded helplessly as he stood. “Take care and recover well. Until we meet again.”

Song Mi gave a perfunctory smile. “Take care.”

He had only taken a few steps toward the door when he suddenly turned around. “Oh right, I just ran into an acquaintance in the elevator.”

At this, Song Mi’s gaze returned to his face.

“Did Lawyer Wen introduce Rong Xinan to Sihai Group?” Qiao Yudong’s lips curled in a knowing, playful smile. “You’re really generous, helping your boyfriend’s first love find work!”

Song Mi’s brows twitched.

“Or maybe it’s just confidence.” From a few meters away, Qiao Yudong exaggeratedly lifted his brow, as if winking flirtatiously. “Confident women are the most alluring!”

“No wonder you’re the one I set my sights on!”

With those words, Qiao Yudong turned with a flourish and strode toward the door. As he left, he raised his hand and waved to her, never turning back.

He didn’t turn around, nor did he stop. He just walked away, waving above his head as he went.

Did he know she’d be watching?

For a moment, Song Mi felt a wave of impatience she couldn’t suppress. After sitting a while longer, she left her office.

...

Elsewhere, at the Time Café next to Wen Yuan Law Firm.

Seated in a private booth on the second floor, Wen Yanli had just returned from a call and sat down. The woman opposite smiled and offered him a drink. “Lawyer Wen, have something to drink first!”

“Your coffee was cold, so I had the waiter bring a fresh cup.”

“Thank you.” He took a couple of sips, set the cup down, dabbed his lips with a napkin, and, after a brief pause, brought the conversation back to their earlier topic. “So, let’s continue. Just now, you said you suspect your husband has been keeping a hotel room long-term for his affairs, correct?”

Wang Lisha quickly looked away from his fair, slender hand, suppressing her guilt. “Yes!”

“The hotel is nearby,” she said, leaning in and lowering her voice. “Lawyer Wen, I’ve already managed to get his room card. Could you come with me to check it out?”

“We might not catch him in the act, but there should be plenty of evidence in the room, right?”

“If we find his clothes or shoes, he won’t be able to lie his way out!”

Wen Yanli frowned slightly. It wasn’t a wholly unreasonable approach, but it would be best to have a third party present. “Let me arrange for a colleague to join us—”

“No, no, no need for all that...” She interrupted, and Wen Yanli opted to let her finish.

“Just come with me, Lawyer Wen. I just want to take a few photos.” She seemed very resistant to involving others. Given it was a matter of her husband’s infidelity and the possibility of catching him in the act, her attitude wasn’t surprising. He stayed silent, letting her continue. “After all, what if I’m wrong? Right?”

She added, “This isn’t illegal, is it? I found the card in my husband’s suit pocket yesterday.”

“See?” Wang Lisha pulled a key card from her bag. “It’s nearby. I checked, it’s a five-star hotel.”

“He’s got money now, always keeps a luxury suite, supports a mistress, and has long forgotten how my elder sister struggled with him, how they suffered, and my father too. If it weren’t for...”

“When my sister died, she entrusted me to him herself, and I married him properly. But in just a few years, he...”

Seeing her agitation, Wen Yanli made a quick decision. “All right, I’ll go with you.”

“But whatever happens, whatever you see, please remain calm and keep your emotions in check. If there’s a problem, we’ll handle it through the proper legal channels. All right?”

“Yes, yes, no problem, Lawyer Wen. I’ll do whatever you say!” Wang Lisha quickly stood up.

That last “all right” from the man was like a gentle hammer tapping Wang Lisha’s heart, making her go weak with excitement.

She hadn’t expected such good fortune in her life! To receive a large sum of money just to sleep with such a handsome, extraordinary man—what blessing from a past life! And just watching him speak or sip coffee was a pleasure in itself!

This man was just too attractive, too charming! If only he would keep her, support her entire needy family, she’d gladly return the money and stay by his side forever!

But she knew very well—such an outstanding man would never care for a woman like her, mired in the gutter.

So, sorry, handsome—it won’t be long before your life is ruined by me!

Walking beside him, Wang Lisha was filled with a mix of excitement, nervousness, and guilt. But she would never regret it—she needed the money!

She didn’t care about her reputation, about being gossiped about, or even about going to hell in the future!

...

It wasn’t until Wen Yanli neared the hotel room door that he sensed something was wrong with himself.

He was never much of a drinker; he could count on one hand the times he’d been drunk. The burning sensation was unfamiliar at first, but soon, he understood. After all, a man’s body reacts directly.

By then, they were already inside the room, and the woman was searching through drawers and closets. He instinctively went to open the window, letting the air in, struggling to control his body while his mind raced.

If he’d been drugged, when had it happened? As soon as he thought of the coffee, someone approached from behind. “Lawyer Wen!”

The woman’s arms snaked tightly around his waist, her body pressing and grinding against him.

A wicked thought flashed through him, but Wen Yanli violently threw off the woman entwined around him and turned to leave. “Who are you?”

The woman quickly scrambled from the floor and rushed to block the door. “I’m here to join you in pleasure, of course!”

“Lawyer Wen, stop resisting. No man could withstand this. Do you know how many pills I put in your coffee?” She held up three fingers. “Three whole pills!”

“If you walk out now, and something happens to you on the street...” She even started giggling behind her hand. “You’re a famous lawyer! Imagine if something happened out there... what would people think?”

“There’s a bed, a sofa, a bathtub, even a pool outside!” Wang Lisha said, stripping off her own clothes as she spoke. She didn’t believe he could resist now.

“What are you doing?” Wen Yanli immediately turned his back. “Put your clothes on and get out! Now!”

“Don’t, Lawyer Wen. If I go, who will be your antidote?” In no time, Wang Lisha was completely naked, inching closer to the man who was desperately fighting the drug’s effects with his back turned.

“I know you have a girlfriend as beautiful as a fairy—she’s even a CEO!” As he moved away, Wang Lisha pressed in, “But this will just be between us. You don’t say, I don’t say—who will ever...”

“Ah!” Wang Lisha never expected the man to suddenly turn, his stare cold as death itself. Worse, he seized her, dragged her to the door, yanked it open, and shoved her out. “Ah... no... my clothes, my clothes...”

When Song Mi arrived, this was exactly what she saw: a woman, stark naked, being shoved out of a room.

She didn’t see who did it, but the woman herself was calling out, “...Hey... Lawyer Wen...”