Chapter 42: Not Interested

Qiao Jiu didn’t dare open the door recklessly. “Leave the thing at the door, I’ll fetch it in a bit.”

The other person thought for a moment, glanced around, and said, “Then please take it inside as soon as you can, lest someone else snatches it away.”

He bent down and placed something on the ground, then left.

Qiao Jiu waited quite a while before opening the door. There was an envelope on the floor. She picked it up, and with a slight squeeze, she immediately knew what was inside.

Once inside, she opened it. As she had guessed, it was a bank card.

She poured the contents into her palm; a slip with the password was stuck to the back of the card.

How amusing—he hadn’t been this generous even during their divorce.

With a cold smile, Qiao Jiu went straight into her room, took up the phone, removed Lu Fengzhou’s number from her blacklist, and dialed.

He answered rather quickly, and his voice was surprisingly gentle. “You’ve unblocked me?”

Qiao Jiu said, “I’ll block you again after this call.”

In the background, there were other voices; he was probably busy. Lu Fengzhou was clearly speaking to someone else: “Let’s go with that for now. If the results aren’t good, we can discuss changing the plan. You go ahead.”

After a brief pause, presumably after the others had left, he spoke again. “You received it? I have a property downtown. The door’s code is the same as the bank card’s password. I’ve already sent you the address. Check the intercepted messages.”

Qiao Jiu let out a soft laugh. “What’s this, payment for last night’s services?”

Lu Fengzhou clearly disliked her choice of words; his voice grew lower. “Can’t you talk properly?”

Qiao Jiu didn’t care whether he liked it or not, and pressed further, “Who’s more expensive, me or Song Wan?”

This time, Lu Fengzhou was truly displeased; his voice became stern. “Qiao Jiu.”

Weighing the bank card in her hand, Qiao Jiu replied with biting sarcasm, “Lu Fengzhou, life has been hard for me, but I really don’t care for these things of yours. Tonight I’ll give them to Guan Wei. Fetch them from her yourself.”

Without waiting for a response, she hung up.

She glanced down at the bank card, lips curling in a smile, but her eyes were icy.

When she’d lowered herself so much during the divorce, he hadn’t shown her a shred of pity—yet now, suddenly, he was soft-hearted.

Truly, those who grovel get nothing; only when you’re on a pedestal do people worship you.

She turned and sat by the sofa, then called Guan Wei.

It took a while for Guan Wei to answer, and her voice sounded tired. “What’s up?”

Qiao Jiu frowned. “Why do you sound like that, were you up all night?”

Guan Wei gave a feeble hum. “Pretty much, but not in my big bed at home—at the hospital.”

That reminded Qiao Jiu of what Liang Xiucheng had said about his mother being hospitalized. Since Guan Wei was with Liang Xiujin, it made sense she’d have to visit.

So she asked, “Is it serious?”

Guan Wei replied, “Not really. The injury isn’t bad…”

She lowered her voice, “But she’s milking it.”

Qiao Jiu couldn’t quite relate. Having lost her mother early and mostly dealing with people her own age, she had little idea of what those society ladies were like.

Guan Wei had no patience for small talk. “So why did you call?”

With that, Qiao Jiu explained about Lu Fengzhou giving her the card and the apartment. “I want to hand them off to you, let you give them back to him. I don’t want any of this—it just makes my skin crawl.”

This fired Guan Wei up as well. “He thinks this little bit will buy you off? Ask him how much he’s spent on Song Wan, then look at what he’s giving you—doesn’t he feel ashamed? I won’t do it. No way.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she added, “But I might not go to the bar tonight. I’ll probably be stuck at the hospital. If you’re in a hurry, maybe just bring them to me here. Jin is supposed to meet Lu Fengzhou later—I’ll get him to take it.”

Qiao Jiu considered it and agreed.

They settled on that, ended the call, and Qiao Jiu got ready to leave. She hadn’t even eaten breakfast, but headed straight to the hospital.

Having missed rush hour, the road was clear, and she arrived soon.

She’d just gotten out of her car at the entrance when someone called her name. “Qiao Jiu.”

She paused and looked over. Liang Xiucheng was standing not far away, holding a takeout breakfast—he’d just come back from buying food.

He looked surprised and hurried over. “What brings you to the hospital? Are you not feeling well?”

Qiao Jiu blinked. How was she supposed to explain?

Last night, Liang Xiucheng had mentioned his mother’s hospitalization, and if she admitted she’d only come to see Guan Wei, it would seem tactless.

So she hedged, “How’s your mother doing?”

Liang Xiucheng answered, “Not bad, nothing serious. But since she fractured a bone, it’s safer for her to stay in the hospital a few more days.”

Qiao Jiu gave a slightly embarrassed smile. “I happened to be passing by, so I thought I’d check in.”

Liang Xiucheng looked surprised, but soon smiled. “Thank you.”

Qiao Jiu felt a bit guilty. “It’s nothing.”

They walked together toward the inpatient wing. Qiao Jiu meant to ask politely about Mrs. Liang’s condition.

Unexpectedly, Liang Xiucheng hadn’t forgotten about last night. He suddenly turned to her. “By the way, you left in a rush yesterday, and I didn’t get to ask—why were you gone so long afterward? Was something up in the kitchen?”