Chapter 108: You're Welcome Bonus Chapter Added Upon Reaching 300 Diamonds

Lu Fengzhou wore a smile that was neither entirely genuine nor entirely false. Only after she got into the car did he ask, "Why didn’t you answer your phone?"

Qiao Jiu was straightforward. "I didn’t want to."

She explained, "Last night was an accident. I drank too much; don’t take it seriously."

Lu Fengzhou glanced at her, a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. "Not taking it seriously? We’ve done this before, haven’t we?"

He then asked, "What made you come here?"

Qiao Jiu replied, "Acheng told me that Zou Qingqing was hospitalized. I have my differences with her, so naturally, I came."

Lu Fengzhou’s expression shifted slightly, perhaps affected by the mention of Acheng.

Qiao Jiu shot back, "Did you find me in the ward just now?"

Lu Fengzhou chuckled lightly. "It was obvious. If I hadn’t deliberately blocked the view, the father and daughter from the Zou family could’ve seen you too."

After speaking, he took a deep drag from his cigarette, flicked the half-smoked butt away, and started the car. "Back to the company or straight to lunch?"

Qiao Jiu said, "Back to the company. I promised Acheng we’d have lunch together."

Lu Fengzhou pursed his lips but said nothing, driving off.

They rode in silence until the car stopped outside Liang’s company. When Qiao Jiu got out and closed the door, she politely thanked him.

Lu Fengzhou looked at her, his expression not exactly harsh but clearly displeased.

Qiao Jiu didn’t care much and turned to enter the company lobby.

Lu Fengzhou’s car remained parked there for a moment; whatever he thought about, he let out a soft laugh.

Qiao Jiu climbed the stairs, first greeting Liang Xiucheng, then returning to her office.

She glanced out the window and saw that Lu Fengzhou’s car had already left.

Unbothered, she sat down at her desk as if nothing had happened.

Patience and subtlety in dealing with people are crucial; impatience is the greatest enemy.

Soon enough, it was lunchtime. Liang Xiucheng came over, "Let’s eat together."

"Sure," Qiao Jiu replied. "I want to tell you about what I saw at the hospital."

They went downstairs together and saw Xu Yi outside the company entrance.

Liang Xiucheng stopped, furrowing his brow.

Xu Yi looked a bit guilty, smiling nervously before shifting her gaze away.

Before long, Liang Xiujin emerged from the company. Seeing Xu Yi, he was momentarily taken aback. "Why are you here again?"

Xu Yi pressed her lips together. "To have lunch with you."

Liang Xiucheng interjected timely, "If you don’t mind, join us. We already made plans."

Xu Yi blinked, clearly hesitant to meet Liang Xiucheng’s eyes.

But Liang Xiujin said nothing more, so she reluctantly agreed.

The four of them went to a nearby restaurant. Xu Yi sat beside Liang Xiujin; they shared a menu.

Qiao Jiu handed her own menu over. "Miss Xu, you order."

Xu Yi was taken aback but accepted the menu, sitting properly.

When ordering, she kept asking Liang Xiujin if certain dishes were okay.

Liang Xiucheng snapped, "Order whatever you want. Who’s stopping you?"

Liang Xiujin glanced at Liang Xiucheng but remained silent.

After they placed their orders and the waiter left, Liang Xiucheng looked at Xu Yi and suddenly asked, "We bump into each other often, but I never asked—why did you and your boyfriend break up? My mother said you two were deeply in love and secretly kept seeing each other. How come you parted ways so openly?"

Qiao Jiu, holding a teacup, nearly spat out her sip of tea.

She glanced at Liang Xiujin across the table, who sat with one leg crossed and hands folded on his lap, expression unchanged by Liang Xiucheng’s words.

Xu Yi’s face stiffened, unable to answer, shifting uncomfortably. "He and I, he and I..."

She stammered without getting anywhere.

Liang Xiucheng smiled. "I wasn’t in the country then, but family said it was a big scandal, known by everyone. Under those circumstances, not marrying was hard to explain—it’s a disgrace. If you want to find someone else later, most might hold a grudge."

Xu Yi’s eyes reddened.

Qiao Jiu frowned. People like her were the worst—when you reason with them, they just put on the victim act, whining and sniffling for no reason.

Before Qiao Jiu could respond, Liang Xiucheng said, "What are you doing? Acting like I bullied you? Isn’t what I said the truth?"

Liang Xiujin seemed unable to stand it and frowned at Liang Xiucheng. "Acheng."

Qiao Jiu was annoyed. "What’s wrong? Can’t handle hearing the truth, Mr. Liang? You can wear a green hat but can’t listen to honesty?"

Liang Xiucheng paused, likely surprised by Qiao Jiu’s cutting tone, and turned to look at her.

Qiao Jiu was already fed up. She hadn’t been this patient before. She said, "Guan Wei’s carefree, but not to the point of being bullied like this. If Mr. Liang can’t stand seeing his ex-girlfriend dumped, then cut ties with your current one and take your ex back. How can you keep both sides hanging? Thinking you’d get lucky? Dream on."

Liang Xiujin’s expression changed instantly. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"If it’s nonsense, everyone knows it," Qiao Jiu said coldly. "You’re my boss, but that doesn’t mean you can force me to lie."

Liang Xiucheng smirked. "With a personality like yours, no wonder my mother likes you."

Xu Yi finally burst into tears. Most people would have left, but she sat there, wiping her eyes.

In a weak voice, she said, "I know you blame me. I hate myself too. Since breaking up with him, I haven’t slept peacefully, living with regret every day."

She looked up at Liang Xiucheng. "I ended things with Yu Nan because I couldn’t forget Acheng. We were never really together; we never defined the relationship."

Qiao Jiu couldn’t help but laugh. "Never defined the relationship but still shared a bed? Miss Xu, did you fail moral character in school?"

Liang Xiucheng’s face darkened. "You ended it? Are you sure, Miss Xu?"

He sneered, "Yu Nan’s not dead yet. Some lies fall apart with one poke. Think carefully before you speak."

Xu Yi’s panic flashed across her face, looking helpless.

Liang Xiujin rubbed his forehead. "Alright, alright. We came out to eat; are we going to eat or not?"

"If Miss Xu can eat, why shouldn’t we?" Qiao Jiu said. "She’s shameless; why should it affect us?"

But she added, "Poor Guan Wei, drowning her sorrows in alcohol every day."

Liang Xiucheng glanced at him. "Drowning sorrows? I heard she went looking for a gigolo."

Qiao Jiu sighed. "Didn’t work out. Your brother intercepted her halfway."

She even mimicked, "I vaguely remember the gigolo looked handsome and even sang her a love song."

Their banter shifted the mood once again.