Chapter 84: Let Go of the Past

Liang Xiujin arrived quickly. When he entered, Qiao Jiu was still pointing at Lu Fengzhou and cursing, but the only name she shouted was Liang Xiujin's.

He glanced around and saw Guan Wei curled up on the sofa, fast asleep.

Lu Fengzhou lounged in a chair, legs crossed, his expression indifferent. “She’s had too much. Take her home.”

Liang Xiujin didn’t rush to take Guan Wei away. Instead, he walked over and looked at Qiao Jiu. “Mr. Lu, what are you doing here?”

Lu Fengzhou gestured toward the shoe cabinet with his chin. “Left something behind, came to pick it up.”

Qiao Jiu turned to Liang Xiujin. “And who are you? Where did you pop up from?”

Clearly, she was drunk. Liang Xiujin glanced around—empty bottles littered the table and floor.

He spoke to Lu Fengzhou. “Miss Qiao’s had a lot to drink. Can you handle her?”

Lu Fengzhou gave a soft affirmative. “She’ll probably fall asleep soon enough. No need to worry.”

That was enough to set Liang Xiujin at ease. He went over and tried to help Guan Wei up.

Guan Wei, drunk but not rowdy, merely whimpered and didn’t cooperate.

With no other choice, Liang Xiujin bent down and picked her up.

Qiao Jiu’s energy returned at the sight. “Hey, hey, what are you doing? Who are you? You’re just going to carry someone away?”

Lu Fengzhou stood up, grabbed her shoulders, and pulled her back. He said to Liang Xiujin, “You should go.”

Holding Guan Wei, Liang Xiujin left directly. Qiao Jiu howled after them, trying to chase, but Lu Fengzhou stepped ahead and kicked the door shut. “Enough, Guan Wei’s left with Liang Xiujin. Let them work out their own business.”

Qiao Jiu narrowed her eyes and frowned. “Liang Xiujin? Then who are you?”

Lu Fengzhou steered her toward the bathroom, turned on the tap, soaked a towel, and wiped her face. “Wake up. Take a good look—who am I?”

Qiao Jiu whimpered. The water was cold, and with a few swipes, she really did become more alert.

She turned to Lu Fengzhou, frowning, and after a long moment finally recognized him. Her expression fell. “Lu Fengzhou?”

Then her temper flared for real. “Why the hell are you here again? Haven’t you had enough?”

Even with the alcohol clouding her brain and her gaze unfocused, the resistance and loathing in her manner were unmistakable.

Lu Fengzhou tossed the towel in the sink. “Came for something I left. I’ll be gone as soon as I get it.”

He stepped back, saw that Qiao Jiu was indeed much more sober, and turned to leave. “Don’t worry, I won’t be coming back.”

After collecting his cufflinks, he looked back into the room. “Teacher Mu was right. I’ve already finished what I set out to do. Our entanglement should end with our divorce. Whatever happens from now on is up to you; I shouldn’t interfere any further.”

Qiao Jiu leaned against the bathroom doorframe, unable to quite grasp his meaning, but that didn’t stop her from shooing him out. “Go, just go.”

Lu Fengzhou gave her a long, heavy look before leaving and quietly closing the door from the outside.

Qiao Jiu stood there, catching her breath, inexplicably agitated. She went to her room to change and then threw herself onto the bed.

Her tolerance was usually better than this; she didn’t know why she’d gotten so drunk.

Meanwhile, Lu Fengzhou headed downstairs and found Liang Xiujin and Guan Wei still there, tangled up by Liang Xiujin’s car.

Guan Wei braced herself against the car door, refusing to get in.

Her voice, always loud when drunk, echoed in the lot. “Men are all the same. I’m not getting in your car.”

Lu Fengzhou glanced over, then went to his own car, tossing the cufflinks onto the passenger seat.

As he drove past Liang Xiujin’s car, he saw Liang Xiujin standing aside, looking helpless while Guan Wei caught her breath beside the car.

She seemed to tire quickly, and after a couple of deep breaths, suddenly turned and headed for her own car.

Lu Fengzhou looked away. Qiao Jiu could be difficult, but she was always obedient in front of him.

Such was fate, perhaps. Old Master Qiao always said Qiao Jiu was unruly and fearless, but in front of Lu Fengzhou, she never showed a temper.

…

Qiao Jiu slept straight through to the next morning, waking with a splitting headache, her temples throbbing.

Her bedroom door was open. She sat up and glanced outside, taking a while to recall the events of the previous night.

Not even bothering to put on shoes, she hurried to the living room. The dining table was a mess, and empty beer cans littered the floor.

She quickly grabbed her phone off the sofa and called Guan Wei.

She’d blacked out more than once the night before and had no recollection of how Guan Wei had left.

The call rang for ages, and just as she thought no one would answer, a man picked up.

Qiao Jiu blurted out, “How did you get home last night? I had no idea—weren’t you supposed to stay over?”

There was a brief pause before a man’s voice answered, “I took her home.”

Qiao Jiu froze, finally managing, “Mr. Liang?”

Liang Xiujin confirmed, “Yes, it’s me.”

Qiao Jiu drew a sharp breath. “You came last night?”

She was confused. “Did I call you?”

Or had Guan Wei, too drunk, called him herself?

Liang Xiujin replied, “No, Mr. Lu called me after he stopped by.”

Lu Fengzhou?

Qiao Jiu rubbed her forehead, trying to recall if it was real or just a dream. She seemed to remember Lu Fengzhou’s presence.

But in front of Liang Xiujin, she couldn’t curse Lu Fengzhou out loud. Instead, she just murmured, “Why did he come?”

Liang Xiujin said, “He said he’d left something there and came to pick it up.”

At that, Qiao Jiu walked straight to the shoe cabinet. The cufflinks were gone.

She nodded to herself; as long as he’d taken them and wouldn’t bother her again, that was fine.

She then asked, “How is Guan Wei? Still not awake?”

Liang Xiujin confirmed she wasn’t, then hesitated. “What did she tell you last night?”

Look at that—Guan Wei was right beside him, yet he had to come to her for answers. Men, honestly, they’re all the same.

She tried to recall the conversation, but her mind was still foggy, and all she remembered were insults—none of which she could repeat.

So she simply replied, “Not much. She was feeling down and kept drinking in silence.”

Liang Xiujin sighed and said, “Alright.”

He didn’t say more and hung up.

Qiao Jiu tossed her phone aside, went to wash up, and then, not in the mood to clean, curled up on the sofa again.

After a while, her phone rang. She picked it up and answered, “What is it?”

On the other end was Zou Qingqing. Their last argument had ended inconclusively, leaving her unsettled.

She was calling mainly to remind Qiao Jiu not to say anything at the engagement party.

She’d already confessed to Zhao Shuo about the college incident, and he apparently didn’t care. If Qiao Jiu wanted to embarrass her by bringing it up at the party, she wasn’t afraid.

If you’re not afraid, why call me? Qiao Jiu snorted. “Zhao Shuo’s hardly innocent himself. I’m not so kind as to break you two up. I hope you’re together forever—locked in for life.”