Chapter 117: The Lotus Blooms

Liang Xiujin hurriedly chased after them upon seeing the situation.

When Qiao Jiu and Lu Fengzhou came out of the bar, the two men had already vanished without a trace.

Qiao Jiu clicked her tongue. "Really..."

Lu Fengzhou glanced at her.

Qiao Jiu continued, "...Really, those guys looked pretty good. If they’re actually part of her circle, I can come find them to have some fun when I visit."

Lu Fengzhou’s expression darkened. He raised his hand and grabbed the back of her neck, pulling her toward the car. Opening the door, he shoved her inside.

Qiao Jiu let out a couple of surprised sounds. "What’s this all of a sudden?"

Lu Fengzhou circled around to get in himself, fastening his seatbelt as he said, "Looking for some fun? Tonight, I’ll be the one to entertain you."

"No need," Qiao Jiu replied. "I’m already bored with your usual tricks."

Lu Fengzhou paused briefly, hand on the ignition. "Fine, then we’ll try something new tonight."

He sped the car out, pressing hard on the accelerator, the speed climbing rapidly.

Qiao Jiu quickly buckled her seatbelt, a little frightened. "Slow down. If something happens, there won’t be any more games to play."

The car raced all the way to Lu Fengzhou’s residence. From the underground garage to upstairs, the two began their endless tussle.

Midway, Qiao Jiu taunted, "There’s a pharmacy not far downstairs. Want to stop and buy some medicine?"

Lu Fengzhou ignored her. Once inside, he suddenly pinned Qiao Jiu against the door, his movements growing heavier and more forceful.

At this point, Qiao Jiu couldn’t laugh anymore. With this intensity, no games could withstand it.

...

Guan Wei sat in Liang Xiujin’s car, muttering curses under her breath.

She wanted to act on her anger, but with the car moving, she wasn’t willing to risk her life.

Liang Xiujin kept a cold expression. Guan Wei ground her teeth, "Cutting off someone’s income is like killing their parents. Liang Xiujin, I’ll never forgive you."

Liang Xiujin snorted through his nose, a response to her accusations.

Guan Wei continued, "If you have the guts to come block me every day, I’ll have them come tomorrow too. I have all their contacts."

Liang Xiujin’s voice turned icy. "You dare."

His teeth clenched tightly, clearly furious.

Guan Wei sneered, "What am I afraid of? If you hadn’t gone that day, I’d have definitely cooked that duck."

Liang Xiujin understood the implication but said nothing, pressing the accelerator harder.

The car drove to their shared residence, parking in the underground garage. Liang Xiujin grabbed Guan Wei’s hand and pulled her out, leading her into the elevator.

Guan Wei fought back with punches and kicks, but Liang Xiujin pressed the door close button.

Once the elevator doors shut, he spoke, "You knew I’d come after seeing that post. You posted it just waiting for me. Guan Wei, you think I don’t see through your little tricks?"

Guan Wei glared defiantly, "Waiting for you? I’m declaring war."

Liang Xiujin sneered coldly, "Fine, fine. Let’s see who laughs last."

The elevator dinged open. Liang Xiujin dragged Guan Wei out, but after a few steps, he stopped abruptly.

Guan Wei, who had been struggling fiercely, froze, following his gaze to the side.

A woman sat at the doorstep of Liang Xiujin’s house, hugging her knees, back against the door, head bowed as if asleep.

Guan Wei tried to pull her hand back, but Liang Xiujin held tight. "Don’t cause trouble."

At that, the woman suddenly stirred, lifting her head.

It was Xu Yi.

Xu Yi looked dazed. Seeing Liang Xiujin, she quickly propped herself against the door. "A-Jin, you’re back..."

She hadn’t finished her sentence before her eyes landed on Guan Wei, and she suddenly seemed alert.

Guan Wei stopped struggling and waved at Xu Yi. "Hello there. What a coincidence running into you here."

Xu Yi’s expression was awkward, tinged with a hint of grievance. "Hello, Miss Guan."

Liang Xiujin walked over, fiddled with the fingerprint lock, then turned to Guan Wei. "Register your fingerprint."

Guan Wei suddenly remembered she had deleted her fingerprint last time she left.

At any other time, she would have refused and mocked Liang Xiujin, but with Xu Yi standing there, she didn’t want to give her any satisfaction and obediently registered her fingerprint.

The door opened, and Liang Xiujin still didn’t loosen his grip, pulling Guan Wei inside.

Xu Yi followed in, explaining as she went, "I just had a fight with my family and ran out in anger. I left so quickly I didn’t bring my bag or phone. I had no choice but to come find you."

Guan Wei turned to look at Xu Yi. "The Xu family’s old residence is quite far, isn’t it? You ran all the way here?"

Xu Yi hesitated. "Well... I just happened to have some cash on me." Guan Wei snorted but didn’t argue, clearly not believing the excuse.

She turned and sat on the sofa. "I’m thirsty."

Liang Xiujin went to open the fridge, which was stocked with colorful drinks. "Which one?"

Guan Wei was surprised; Liang Xiujin had never been this patient with her before.

Xu Yi stood awkwardly by the door, twisting the hem of her clothes, clearly at a loss.

Liang Xiujin looked tired. After getting Guan Wei a drink, he turned to Xu Yi. "Sit down."

Xu Yi finally sat down properly.

Guan Wei twisted off the bottle cap and drank half the bottle in one gulp, but still felt restless, a fiery irritation burning inside her.

Liang Xiujin sat beside her. "So, what will you do tonight?"

Guan Wei said, "You should have a guest room. Miss Xu can stay there."

Liang Xiujin’s face darkened immediately. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Am I?" She glanced at Xu Yi. "Miss Xu came here empty-handed late at night. Isn’t she here to stay? Am I wrong?"

Xu Yi was no longer just embarrassed; she was on the verge of tears.

Guan Wei laughed and glanced at Liang Xiujin. "Look at you, asking what to do with her. How’s she supposed to answer? See? You’ve upset Miss Xu to tears."

Liang Xiujin looked at Guan Wei coldly.

Guan Wei raised her eyebrows, thoroughly irritating him.

After a moment, Liang Xiujin got up, took his wallet, and slapped a few bills onto the coffee table. "Stay at a hotel tonight. Come back tomorrow. No matter how bad the fight, if you’re not planning to cut ties, there’s no need to run out. You’ll end up coming back anyway."

Xu Yi glanced at the money on the table, disbelief filling her eyes, tears instantly welling up.

Guan Wei curled her lips in disdain; she hated people who cried so easily, finding it cheap.

Liang Xiujin looked somewhat helpless seeing Xu Yi like that. "Xu Yi, that’s all the help I can give you."

Xu Yi pouted, her voice weak and soft. "I know. I shouldn’t have come. I’m just causing you trouble."

She then looked at Guan Wei. "Miss Guan, please don’t misunderstand. There’s nothing between A-Jin and me. It was me who wronged him in the past. I’m already grateful he forgave me. I don’t dare hope for anything more."