Chapter 69: Standing Up

Qiao Jiu hadn’t spoken much with Liang Xiucheng before she heard Liang Xiujin’s voice over the phone. He was calling Liang Xiucheng downstairs, seemingly to discuss matters of matchmaking.

Liang Xiucheng’s voice grew more distant from the phone, a hint of helplessness in his tone. “I’m not going, I’m not going. Stop wasting your efforts. I’ll handle my own affairs.”

There were a few seconds of silence, then Liang Xiujin asked, “Who are you talking to?”

Liang Xiucheng didn’t hide it. “Qiao Jiu, we’re talking about Zhu Shengren.”

Liang Xiujin fell quiet.

Qiao Jiu thought for a moment. “If you’ve got things to do, go ahead. We can talk again tomorrow when we meet at the office.”

Liang Xiucheng agreed. “Alright, let’s leave it at that then.”

The call ended.

Qiao Jiu, holding her phone, walked over to the sofa and let out a long breath. Quite a lot had happened today, but all considered, it was mostly good.

It was late now. After waiting a while, she got up, changed clothes, and went downstairs.

There was a chain supermarket nearby. Qiao Jiu pushed a cart to the fresh produce section.

She’d been a pampered young lady once, untouched by household chores. After marrying, to win her husband’s favor, she learned to cook, washing her hands and preparing meals. Countless oil splatters, a few cuts from chopping, and only then did she acquire some skill in the kitchen.

She never won her husband’s favor, but laid the groundwork for her own survival.

Looking back, it was bittersweet.

She wandered through the supermarket, bought a large bag of goods, and walked out. She’d barely taken a few steps from the exit when she heard someone call her name. “Hey, it really is you, Qiao Jiu.”

Startled, she turned to see a private luxury car idling by the roadside, the window lowered, revealing Huo Ting’s irritating face.

Huo Ting smiled brightly. “I thought it looked like you, so I waited here for quite a while.”

Qiao Jiu was hungry. She’d spent lunchtime drinking, barely eating, and after her nap, her stomach was empty.

She wasn’t a pampered lady anymore, but some of that temperament remained—when hungry, she grew irritable.

Her face darkened. “How unlucky, to run into you again.”

This time, Huo Ting’s attitude was surprisingly pleasant. She didn’t snap back, just said, “Did you know, Zou Qingqing is getting engaged next week, inviting lots of people.”

Qiao Jiu frowned slightly. Zou Qingqing had once been in their circle, closer to Huo Ting, naturally someone Qiao Jiu didn’t get along with.

Her tone was impatient. “What does her engagement have to do with me? Are you seriously waiting all this time just to tell me that?”

Huo Ting chuckled. “You haven’t forgotten your bet with her, have you? You said you’d definitely marry better than she would. Then you got married, she stayed single, and the result of the bet was left hanging. Now she’s getting engaged, and unless something unexpected happens, it’ll go through. So the outcome is finally revealed, isn’t it?”

No wonder—no wonder Huo Ting was so pleasant today. She’d been waiting to see Qiao Jiu’s embarrassment.

Qiao Jiu replied calmly, “I got married and divorced; an engagement isn’t much to brag about.”

Huo Ting nodded. “That’s true. I’m just mentioning it casually, not insisting you two settle the bet now. It was just youthful bravado, hardly anything anyone takes seriously. She’s been thinking of you lately, wants to invite you to her celebration.”

She flashed a harmless smile. “Go on, lots of friends will be there. We haven’t seen you in ages; everyone misses you.”

The meaning behind her words was obvious. Qiao Jiu understood perfectly.

She wasn’t intimidated. “I could go, but if she wants to invite me to her engagement party, at least show some sincerity. Zou Qingqing is getting engaged, and you’re relaying the invitation? That’s nothing. Tell her to come herself, and hand me the invitation personally.”

Huo Ting’s lips curled, half a smile lingering. “Qingqing can’t reach you. After your divorce, you vanished, and no one knows where you are.”

“But you’re still here,” Qiao Jiu said. “You’re quite the gossip, incapable of keeping secrets. I don’t believe you haven’t gone back and blabbed to everyone. Stop wasting time—go tell her, and let her come in person.”

With that, Qiao Jiu strode toward her building. “Tell her I’ll be waiting.”

She thought the conversation was over and Huo Ting would leave.

But unexpectedly, Huo Ting drove after her, still smiling. “By the way, I saw Lu Fengzhou a few days ago. We chatted, and he seemed much brighter than before. I remember when he was still married, he was gloomy. Maybe his mood improved after the divorce—his aura has changed.”

Qiao Jiu paused, her stomach growling, hunger making her irritable.

She suddenly turned. “Huo Ting, why do you always…”

Her words trailed off as a familiar car flashed in her peripheral vision.

She stopped, quickly looking over.

Not far away, a car approached. Despite the years, it was still worth it—even after nearly two years, there hadn’t been another like it in Yuncheng.

Lu Fengzhou’s car pulled up, and he stepped out. “Why are you standing here?”

His gaze shifted, landing on Huo Ting.

Huo Ting was flustered. She really did like Lu Fengzhou; her tongue tangled. “Lu—Lu Fengzhou.”

Lu Fengzhou frowned, took the shopping bag from Qiao Jiu’s hand, and addressed Huo Ting. “Do you need something?”

Huo Ting, who had been lounging by the car window, quickly straightened and parked properly, stepping out. “I just happened to run into her and we chatted a bit.”

Lu Fengzhou knew about Qiao Jiu’s rocky relationship with Huo Ting. When they were married, Qiao Jiu used to vent to him about everything, including who she disliked and who she’d argued with that day. After he got home, she’d recount it all.

Seeing them standing together now, he could pretty much guess what had happened.

He turned to Qiao Jiu. “What were you talking about?”

Huo Ting hurried to explain. “Nothing much, just that Miss Zou is getting engaged next week. She’s mentioned Qiao Jiu, wants to invite her to the engagement party. I happened to run into her, so I mentioned it.”

Zou Qingqing—Lu Fengzhou knew her, too. Qiao Jiu had complained about her plenty in private.

He nodded. “Getting engaged? To the second son of the Zhao family?”

Huo Ting blinked. “I think so.”

Lu Fengzhou chuckled. “A fitting match.”

Qiao Jiu looked at Lu Fengzhou, sensing he was backing her up. Though she didn’t care for him, she knew how to cooperate at times like this.

Her tone softened. “What brings you here? No evening engagements?”

Lu Fengzhou replied, “I had something, but I pushed it aside. Wanted to see you.”

The words sounded false, but only they knew the truth.

Huo Ting’s expression froze, her eyes wide as she stared at Lu Fengzhou.

Chapter 69: Backing Up