Chapter 126: Even If It Were a Ploy, His Heart Would Still Ache

Qiao Jiu couldn’t fall asleep. After a moment’s thought, she sat up, leaning against the headboard just like Lu Fengzhou.

She asked, “Did you have something to do with Zhu Shengren?”

Lu Fengzhou was momentarily surprised. The matter with Zhu Shengren had happened some time ago; he had almost forgotten about it.

He turned to look at Qiao Jiu. She leaned toward him, resting her head on his shoulder. “It was you, wasn’t it? You were the one who had Zhu Shengren abducted and contacted that girl’s family.”

Lu Fengzhou paused for two seconds before answering, “That girl underwent a psychiatric evaluation. There were issues, so even if she was sentenced, it wouldn’t be severe. Considering her physical condition, she likely won’t serve time in prison.”

Qiao Jiu’s lips twitched slightly. Lu Fengzhou was actually referring to a different matter, but it still answered her question.

She turned her head. “Why? Do you have a grudge against Zhu Shengren?”

“No,” Lu Fengzhou replied, taking her hand and holding it in his palm. “There’s no why.”

Qiao Jiu pressed on, “What about Zhu Shengren’s outcome? The verdict hasn’t come down yet, right?”

“No, but he’s got quite a few issues,” Lu Fengzhou said. “He’s likely to spend the next decade or so behind bars.”

Mainly because his wife was formidable—quiet and unassuming normally, but deadly when it mattered.

She possessed a trove of evidence against Zhu Shengren, enough to bring the old man down with just one piece.

Qiao Jiu exhaled slowly. She didn’t believe Lu Fengzhou had no grudge against Zhu Shengren. He wasn’t some righteous man with a heart to deliver justice.

He was a businessman—never waking up early without profit.

He just didn’t want to say it, so she didn’t ask further.

After a moment, Qiao Jiu said, “What about Huo Ting and Hu Ming? Were you the one mediating between them?”

Lu Fengzhou was straightforward. “Hu Ming had feelings for Huo Ting to begin with. I just went along with it. Huo Ting wasn’t willing, but Hu Ming was happy. It wasn’t forcing anyone.”

A man like Hu Ming probably had his eyes on every beautiful woman. After marriage, he wouldn’t restrain himself. Whoever he married was the same; picking someone he once fancied naturally pleased him.

Qiao Jiu smiled. “You’re heartless too.”

Huo Ting had genuine feelings for him, no less than what Qiao Jiu once felt for Lu Fengzhou.

Lu Fengzhou interlaced their fingers. “How is that heartless? You make mistakes, you pay the price. I’ve been lenient enough with her.”

They said no more after that, until Qiao Jiu began to yawn.

Lack of sleep had taken its toll, and the energy sparked by gossip had faded.

Lu Fengzhou turned, helping her lie down. “What did you do last night? You’re still not awake at this hour.”

Qiao Jiu rolled over, still clutching his waist. “Last night? Found a handsome guy. Got tired.”

Knowing she was joking, Lu Fengzhou didn’t mind. He pulled the blanket over her. “Alright, sleep.”

Qiao Jiu didn’t let go. “Sleep with me.”

Lu Fengzhou hesitated. “If I sleep with you, neither of us will get any rest.”

Qiao Jiu’s eyes were already closed. “Lately, you’ve got the energy of someone on drugs. You never had this stamina before.”

Even when Lu Fengzhou had no interest in her, he still did his duty in bed.

It was mostly her initiative; he was just going through the motions as if submitting homework.

Lu Fengzhou bent down to kiss her. “Back then…”

He hesitated, the words lost in the kiss.

With nothing pressing to say, they indulged in each other as if making up for all the half-hearted efforts of the past.

When the storm finally passed, they were both exhausted. Lu Fengzhou held Qiao Jiu close as they drifted into a deep sleep.

But soon after, Qiao Jiu opened her eyes again.

She was tired but pushed herself up.

Lu Fengzhou’s phone lay on the bedside table. She reached for it and carefully unlocked it with his fingerprint.

She had been clinging to him endlessly just for this moment.

Once unlocked, she quickly scanned the phone.

It was quite clean—no dubious apps.

She logged into Lu Fengzhou’s messaging app. Recent conversations were empty; he apparently habitually deleted chats afterward.

She checked the inbox as well—equally clean.

Qiao Jiu pursed her lips, then tried the contacts list. To her surprise, it was password-protected and inaccessible.

Of course, someone as meticulous as Lu Fengzhou would lock away all the useful information.

After this search, she found almost nothing useful—her efforts had been in vain.

Feeling a bit defeated, she put the phone back and lay down.

Like with Liu Changyong, she was hesitant to have anyone investigate Lu Fengzhou. Men in business like him were no strangers to being investigated; their counter-surveillance skills were formidable.

Having come this far with Lu Fengzhou, even if he didn’t trust her completely, he wouldn’t give her any leverage to doubt him.

Lu Fengzhou slept soundly. Qiao Jiu waited a moment, then curled up in his embrace.

...

Guan Wei made another trip to the hospital, not out of concern.

When she arrived, Madam Xu was in the ward, peeling fruit and feeding it to Xu Yi piece by piece.

Xu Yi looked pale, weak and delicate at a glance.

Guan Wei entered without hesitation. Xu Yi glanced at her, startled. Madam Xu immediately stood up sharply. “What are you doing here?”

“Mom,” Xu Yi said, “don’t be like that. Miss Guan is probably here to visit me.”

She was good at giving Guan Wei an out. Guan Wei arrived empty-handed; no one visits patients like this.

Madam Xu put down the fruit, muttering, “What good is she pretending to do?”

Xu Yi smiled at Guan Wei. “Please, have a seat.”

Guan Wei took the sofa without ceremony.

Xu Yi looked at Madam Xu, who said nothing but made her feelings clear.

Madam Xu snorted and turned to leave the ward.

Once the door closed, Xu Yi spoke, “Miss Guan came to see me. Ah Jin doesn’t know, does he?”

“No,” Guan Wei said. “But there’s no need to hide it from him. Whether he knows or not doesn’t matter. You can call him now if you want.”

Xu Yi leaned back. “What good would it do to tell him? It’s nothing serious.”

After a pause, she said, “Does Miss Guan think my behavior last night was ridiculous?”

She laughed softly. “I think it’s ridiculous too, but in Ah Jin’s eyes, it’s not ridiculous; it’s heartbreaking.”

Guan Wei said nothing. After a few seconds, Xu Yi continued, “I’ve been with Ah Jin for three years. I know him well. Even if anyone with eyes can see this is a ploy, look at this.”

She raised her hand to her bandaged forehead. “I’m hurt this badly. Even if it’s a ploy, he’ll soften.”

Her smile was radiant and bright, completely different from the usual appearance everyone saw.