Chapter 5 Could It Be Because of You?

Qiao Jiu glanced at Lu Fengzhou, neither lightly nor heavily, her expression indifferent as she walked toward the taxi parked nearby.

The taxi pulled out before Lu Fengzhou’s car, and only after a short distance did she see his car start up in the rearview mirror.

Qiao Jiu leaned back against the seat and let out a long breath.

She felt uncomfortable all over. The sofa earlier had been much too small, leaving her no room at all, while Lu Fengzhou, completely oblivious, had kept pressing her into endless poses.

He’d never been so enthusiastic even during the two years they’d been married. Ruyue had said the drug’s effect was mild, but given how things turned out, she could only blame herself.

The car stopped in front of an old residential building in the suburbs. Qiao Jiu paid, got out, and hurried home under her umbrella.

She lived on the sixth floor with no elevator. The stairwell was cluttered with random things, and the air was thick with a musty smell.

No one would have imagined that the once untouchable heiress of the Qiao family would end up like this after her failed marriage.

She hurried to take a shower as soon as she got home. Unable to resist, she glanced at herself in the mirror while drying off—better not to look, really.

She curled up on her bed, exhausted. The ordeal had worn her out more than a night’s work at the bar ever did.

Countless memories and images clamored in her mind, but none could resist the drowsiness that quickly pulled her under.

She was awakened by the shrill ring of her phone. Rolling over, she grabbed it, glanced at the screen, and answered, “Speak.”

There was a noisy background on Guan Wei’s end. “You’re not up yet?”

Qiao Jiu replied with self-mockery, “Last night wore me out.”

Guan Wei sighed and offered, “I’m at the hospital.”

She explained, “Ruyue’s been hospitalized. I came to check on her.”

Lu Fengzhou had called a few men over yesterday, and from the look of things, he had no intention of letting Ruyue off easily. That she ended up in the hospital was no surprise to Qiao Jiu.

Qiao Jiu gave a mock sigh. “What a pity, she won’t be making you any money for a while.”

Guan Wei snorted. “Spare me the sarcasm.”

Then she changed the subject. “Did you see the video I sent you?”

Qiao Jiu quickly checked her phone. There was indeed a message from Guan Wei on WeChat. “Not yet. What’s up?”

Guan Wei said, “Watch it first. We’ll talk after.”

With that, she hung up.

Qiao Jiu propped herself up and opened the video.

It was surveillance footage from outside the bar. Two men were dragging someone out, limp as a dead dog, and shoved him into a battered van parked by the curb. Then the van drove off.

Qiao Jiu watched it twice but still didn’t know why Guan Wei had sent it. She called her back. “Was there trouble at the bar last night?”

Guan Wei asked, “Didn’t you recognize the one being dragged off?”

Qiao Jiu went back and watched again. “No, I didn’t.”

“That’s the guy who picked a fight with you in the private room last night. The other two are Lu Fengzhou’s men. I just asked around—he was beaten half to death last night, lost the use of a hand, and was dumped at the hospital entrance.”

Qiao Jiu blinked. “So you’re saying Lu Fengzhou did this?”

They’d all been drinking in the same room, so even if they weren’t friends, they must have been business partners. Why would he suddenly go after the man like that?

Guan Wei hesitated. “Do you think he did it for you?”

Qiao Jiu laughed outright. “Not a chance.”

When they were married, Lu Fengzhou never cared when she was in trouble. Now that they had nothing to do with each other, why would he go to such lengths for her?

Just then, Qiao Jiu distinctly heard a knock at the door.

The apartment across the hall was empty, so there was only one possibility—the visitor was here for her.

She paused. “Let’s talk later, I think property management is here.”

She hung up, slid her feet into slippers, and hurried out. It was about time to pay the building fees. Without checking who it was, she opened the door.

But it wasn’t anyone from property management standing there.

Qiao Jiu froze, her tone turning sharp. “What are you doing here?”

Lu Fengzhou’s gaze drifted past her, into the apartment. “Guan Wei really doesn’t know how to finish what she starts. Couldn’t she have found you a better place to live?”