Chapter 61: Why Are You Treating Me This Way?

Qiao Jiu answered the phone. "Mr. Liang."

Before Liang Xiucheng could speak, the automated number call from the nearby outpatient room suddenly sounded.

Liang Xiucheng was surprised, "You went to the hospital?"

Qiao Jiu took a breath. "Yes, I’m at the hospital. I tweaked my waist a bit, nothing serious. It’s just that I happened to have a day off today, so I came to have it checked."

Liang Xiucheng immediately said, "No matter how minor, anything concerning your health is serious. You haven’t been called yet, right? Wait for me there. I know a doctor; I’ll have him take a thorough look at you."

Qiao Jiu was about to say it wasn’t necessary—her injury really wasn’t serious, and she could well have skipped the visit. She simply felt her shoulder might be slightly dislocated and wanted to see if it needed adjustment.

But Liang Xiucheng didn’t give her a chance to refuse. He said, "That’s settled," and hung up.

Qiao Jiu sighed, set her phone aside. Since knowing Liang Xiucheng, she had always been on the receiving end of his kindness. To tell the truth, it was a bit overwhelming.

She waited a while, then stood up and went downstairs, sitting in the outpatient lobby.

It was the same spot where she had run into Song Wan last time, naturally reminding her of Song Wan’s earlier hysterical state.

A woman like that, when obedient, must be truly caring; but when throwing a tantrum, she must be a headache.

Song Wan had said she and Lu Fengzhou had been arguing lately because of her—though that sounded dubious.

If Lu Fengzhou had even a shred of conscience, if he understood the word guilt, he wouldn’t have treated her so mercilessly back then.

Most likely, their problems lay elsewhere, and she was just an excuse.

With no one around, Qiao Jiu’s mind was a bit scattered, drifting to other matters.

She and Lu Fengzhou had been together a few times after that. Apart from the first time, when she was under the influence of drugs, the next two times were much more passionate than before.

Perhaps... she wasn’t being satisfied?

Discord in bed naturally leads to distance out of it. Whether as husband or lover, physical compatibility is important.

Even as Liang Xiucheng arrived, Qiao Jiu’s mind was still playing scenes not fit for children.

Suddenly her phone rang, shattering those embarrassing images.

Qiao Jiu took a deep breath and picked up her phone, but before she could answer, Liang Xiucheng had already walked up to her. "Is your injury serious?"

How could she answer? She couldn’t just lift her clothes and show him, so she replied vaguely, "No, it's just a bit uncomfortable."

Liang Xiucheng nodded. "Come on, I’ve already spoken to the doctor; we can go straight in."

He took Qiao Jiu up to the second floor to see an orthopedic specialist.

The elderly doctor, hair turned white, pressed gently on Qiao Jiu’s lower back. "Just a bruise, hurt the muscle a bit, but nothing serious. Take some blood-activating medicine and use a few medicated patches, and you'll be fine."

He then pinched Qiao Jiu’s shoulder. It hadn’t hurt much before, but his touch made her cry out uncontrollably.

Liang Xiucheng, anxious, said, "Please, be gentle!"

The old doctor glanced at him, then said to Qiao Jiu, "It’s dislocated. Did someone knock you into this?"

He could tell, which surprised Qiao Jiu. "I bumped into someone accidentally while walking."

The old doctor moved her shoulder a bit and then, with a touch more force, Qiao Jiu cried out again.

This time, Liang Xiucheng rushed over to steady her arm.

Qiao Jiu moved her shoulder; it felt a bit sore, but the dislocation seemed corrected.

The doctor prescribed some medicine, typing into the computer as he spoke to Liang Xiucheng. "This is the first time A Cheng has brought a young lady to see me. Is she your girlfriend?"

Qiao Jiu was startled, and before Liang Xiucheng could answer, she quickly waved her hand. "No, no, just a friend."

The old doctor glanced at her. "Why so eager to explain? I was only joking."

...

Lu Fengzhou left the study after finishing his call.

Song Wan stood at the door; in that short time, her eyes were already swollen from crying.

Lu Fengzhou walked past her to the sofa; Song Wan quickly turned and followed.

Once he sat down, she spoke first. "I went to see her, just to ask what she really wanted. I didn’t do anything to her, just tried to grab her phone and there was some physical contact. She wasn’t hurt—she even kicked me. Her foot landed on my stomach. If anything, I came off worse than she did."

Lu Fengzhou looked at her. His expression was no longer cold and angry, but distant and indifferent.

This made Song Wan even more anxious than before. She hurried to say, "If you don’t like it, I won’t go to her again, I promise."

She paused, then added, "Or I can go and apologize to her, whatever you want."

Lu Fengzhou spoke slowly, "Teacher Mu will come tomorrow to take you back. You have some business endorsements; I had them push those for you. You’ve been under too much pressure lately, thinking too much. Take a break."

Song Wan froze, her face instantly filled with panic. She rushed over, not daring to sit beside Lu Fengzhou, but crouched in front of him, clutching his hand, her voice trembling. "A Zhou, no, please don’t. I know I was wrong, I really do."

Lu Fengzhou lowered his gaze, looking at her hands grasping his own. After a while, he said, "What did you say to Qiao Jiu?"

Song Wan’s tears fell again, her lips trembling. "Nothing much, same as last time, just said I wanted to make it up to her."

Lu Fengzhou pulled his hand back. "What does compensating her have to do with you?"

Song Wan sobbed, "I don’t want you two to have any more ties. You’re divorced; you shouldn’t have any more contact."

Lu Fengzhou actually laughed. "You’re quite controlling."

Song Wan slowly lowered her head, resting her forehead on Lu Fengzhou’s knee, crying pitifully, her shoulders shaking. "I only did it for you."

Lu Fengzhou’s gaze remained unchanged as he looked at her. "Teacher Mu will come tomorrow, and take you away the day after. I’ll have your things packed, and the media will be informed to minimize the impact on you."

Song Wan shook her head. "No, I don’t want to go back."

Lu Fengzhou extended a finger and pressed her forehead, gently pushing her head away from his knee.

He said, "I warned you. You didn’t listen."

Song Wan’s tears flowed freely.

She had always known Lu Fengzhou had a bad temper. Even though they’d grown up together, even though he had spent so much money on her, even though he was mostly gentle with her.

But she knew, once this man was truly angry, he would show no mercy.

She simply couldn’t accept it—truly couldn’t.

Lu Fengzhou stood up, and as he did, Song Wan dropped heavily to the floor. Suddenly, her anger flared. "You’re divorced from her—why are you angry about me going to her? Why treat me like this for her sake?"

Unable to control herself, she turned to look at Lu Fengzhou. "Do you still love her?"