Chapter 47: You Investigated Me?

In the evening, Qiao Jiu arrived at the bar. She was a bit early, and there were hardly any customers yet.

She strolled leisurely toward the kitchen, and just a few steps in, she saw the elevator doors open not far ahead, and someone stepped out, bundled up tightly. Qiao Jiu had become sensitive to people dressed like this lately and couldn't help but spare a second glance.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, the person looked up after a few steps as well.

Qiao Jiu didn't recognize her and paid no mind, withdrawing her gaze and continuing toward the kitchen.

But then, unexpectedly, the person called out, "Qiao Jiu."

Qiao Jiu paused and turned around.

The woman took off her mask. "It's me."

How coincidental—she’d just asked Guan Wei about her that day, and now they met at night.

Ruyue walked over to Qiao Jiu, her voice low. "I'd like to talk with you for a moment. Is this a good time?"

Qiao Jiu looked her up and down. It had only been a few days, yet she seemed much thinner, her eyes deeply sunken.

Seeing that Qiao Jiu didn't answer right away, Ruyue thought she was reluctant and quickly added, "It won't take long, just a few words. I'll leave right after."

Since it was still early, Qiao Jiu considered and then turned to follow her to the bar entrance.

Ruyue found a quiet spot and got straight to the point. "I've been unwell and hospitalized for a while, so I didn't have a chance to apologize. I really didn't expect you'd get caught up in what happened that day. I'm sorry you suffered for no reason."

Qiao Jiu regarded her silently.

After a few seconds, Ruyue started to explain, "Honestly, drugging someone isn't uncommon in this circle. We're all in this business, and everyone has their tricks. If it hadn't been you, it would have been someone else that night."

She gave a sigh, as if genuinely remorseful. "I paid a heavy price, too. I've been in the hospital and it's been rough."

Qiao Jiu frowned slightly, uncertain why Ruyue was telling her all this.

After a pause, Ruyue spoke again, clearly watching Qiao Jiu's expression. "I still have to make my way in this industry. As for Mr. Lu, I don’t know what he’s thinking. I wanted Boss Guan to help smooth things over, but she's been busy and I can't keep waiting..."

She looked at Qiao Jiu, hesitant, leaving the rest unsaid—but Qiao Jiu understood well enough.

Qiao Jiu found it amusing. "So, you want me to help you?"

Ruyue immediately replied, "Mr. Lu was drugged that night. I know exactly how strong that was. He held out and didn't touch me, and when Boss Guan tried to get him someone else, he refused. I heard it was Mr. Lu’s people who brought you to him, so you must be different to him."

Her voice became urgent, and she suddenly grabbed Qiao Jiu’s hand. “Miss Qiao, I’m begging you, please put in a good word for me with Mr. Lu. I won’t let you help me for nothing—whatever you want, just say the word, as long as I can manage it.”

Qiao Jiu lowered her gaze to the hand gripping hers and said nothing.

After a few seconds, Ruyue seemed to realize her overstep, quickly letting go. “Sorry, I got a bit worked up. Miss Qiao, I’m begging you—whatever you want, I won’t shortchange you.”

Qiao Jiu shook her hand free. “Who told you I was implicated because of you?”

Ruyue froze, her mouth opening and closing.

Qiao Jiu let out a short laugh. "Did you check up on me?"

“No, no!” Ruyue quickly replied. “Boss Guan told me.”

Qiao Jiu curled her lips. “Think carefully before you speak.”

Guan Wei could be loose-tongued, but she wouldn’t go so far as to volunteer something that would embarrass her.

Ruyue stammered, “Really, it’s true.”

Qiao Jiu looked at her. “Fine, let’s say you’re telling the truth. But, Ruyue, do you remember I was right next to you when everything happened? Or have you forgotten?”

Hearing this, Ruyue’s expression changed. Not exactly embarrassed, not exactly furious—just complicated.

Qiao Jiu gave a soft, indifferent laugh, cast her a glance, and turned back inside the bar, her voice raised, “I didn’t ask for your help back then—what makes you think I’d help you now?”

She didn’t bother to check Ruyue’s reaction and headed straight to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, people were busy prepping, slicing fruit and arranging it on trays.

Qiao Jiu didn’t join in, just pulled out a chair and sat to the side.

She ran over Ruyue’s words in her mind, then took out her phone and called Guan Wei.

Guan Wei answered quickly, speaking first. “Hey, perfect timing, I was just about to call you.”

Qiao Jiu replied with a hum, “Did you return the bank card?”

“Yeah, I did,” Guan Wei said. “A Jin told me Lu Fengzhou wasn’t surprised, almost as if he expected it. I gave him the card and he just took it.”

Qiao Jiu exhaled, “That’s just how he is—never shows his feelings, even when he’s unhappy.”

Guan Wei snorted, “Who knows what goes on in that man’s mind. Thinks he can send you off with an apartment and a card—does he think you’ve never seen the world?”

Qiao Jiu gave a cold laugh. The apartment and the card probably weren’t even given willingly. Most likely, some little homewrecker played the victim, and he just handed over something symbolic to appease her.

After a pause, Guan Wei asked, “So, why’d you call—something up?”

Qiao Jiu said, “Ruyue just showed up at the bar.”

“She did?” Guan Wei was clearly surprised. “Wasn’t she afraid of Lu Fengzhou? Not anymore?”

Qiao Jiu exhaled. “That day, when she drugged Lu Fengzhou—did you tell her anything about what happened to me?”

At first, Guan Wei didn’t understand. “About what part of you?”

Qiao Jiu said nothing, and Guan Wei thought for a moment. “You mean you and Lu Fengzhou? Why would I tell her that? It’s not exactly a good thing. Why do you ask?”

Qiao Jiu gave a silent laugh. “No reason, just curious.”

She figured it must have been that day when Guan Wei called her over—Ruyue got suspicious and then had someone look into her.

There were plenty of sycophants around the bar. They all knew the sort of things she did weren’t exactly respectable, but that didn’t stop them from secretly yearning for her.

That day, she’d been brought to the suite by Lu Fengzhou’s men, and afterward, she and Lu Fengzhou changed clothes and left separately. They hadn’t exactly tried to keep things discreet, so someone must have seen and told Ruyue.

She exhaled and changed the subject, asking about Mrs. Liang.

At the mention, Guan Wei sounded irritated. “That woman is too much—she’s like an old princess.”

But then she suddenly said, “But she actually seems to like you. Asked me all about you this afternoon.”

“She likes me?” Qiao Jiu laughed. “No way. You know my reputation—no elders would like the way I am.”

Guan Wei smacked her lips. “Well, she asked about you and seemed friendly—friendlier than she is to me, at least.”

Suddenly reminded of something Liang Xiucheng once said, she quickly asked, “Qiao Jiu, did you already know the Liang family before?”