Chapter 75: Deliberate Bonus update for reaching 200 diamonds
Qiao Jiu watched Lu Fengzhou’s retreating figure for a long while before she finally spoke. “How did I ever fall for you in the first place? What a mistake.”
Lu Fengzhou let out a soft laugh. “Indeed, a mistake.”
He took out his cigarette case, but since smoking wasn’t allowed here, he simply picked out a cigarette and twirled it between his fingers, holding it up to his nose.
Qiao Jiu wanted to say something more, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized there was nothing left worth saying. She’d already voiced every complaint and accusation when he first brought up divorce. At this point, anything she added would sound hollow and tiresome.
Her shoulders relaxed. “Since—”
She’d barely spoken two words when her phone rang suddenly from her pocket.
Lu Fengzhou glanced over at the sound, a half-smile on his lips. “It’s Liang Xiucheng.”
Qiao Jiu fished out her phone, and indeed, he’d guessed right.
She didn’t answer, merely said to Lu Fengzhou, “Let’s leave it at that.”
Then she turned and walked away toward the fire exit.
She hadn’t gone far when she looked back. “You still have business here.”
“Since I’m already here, I might as well go in and have a look.” Lu Fengzhou strode past her, leading the way.
Qiao Jiu was surprised. “Didn’t you say you weren’t close with him?”
“I’m not,” Lu Fengzhou replied, “but I am with the two brothers in the ward. I should at least say hello.”
Qiao Jiu let out a cold laugh. “You’re getting more and more hypocritical.”
Lu Fengzhou said nothing. The two walked, one after the other, to the end of the corridor, just as Liang Xiucheng came around the corner, phone pressed to his ear, presumably looking for her.
Noticing them, Liang Xiucheng paused, lowering his phone. “Mr. Lu.”
Lu Fengzhou said, “Just came to check in.”
Liang Xiucheng wasn’t sure if Lu Fengzhou had business dealings with Zhu Shengren, so he simply reminded, “The doctor’s inside right now. Things aren’t looking too good. Best to wait a bit before going in.”
Qiao Jiu hurried over. “What happened?”
Liang Xiucheng sighed. “Nothing too serious. He got a bit too worked up just now, playing the innocent too intensely and opened up his wound.”
Qiao Jiu’s expression faltered, then she suddenly burst out laughing. “Truly impressive.”
The three of them stopped outside the ward. The soundproofing was decent; little could be heard from within. But with Liang Xiujin inside, Zhu Shengren probably wouldn’t dare make too much noise, no matter how much it hurt.
A few minutes later, the door opened—not the doctor, but Zhu Shengren’s wife emerged.
Her expression remained impassive as she glanced at the three of them outside. Without a word, she turned and walked away.
Liang Xiucheng waited for her to disappear around the corridor corner before he spoke. “To see a marriage come to this is really something.”
Qiao Jiu replied bluntly, “Some marriages end even worse than this.”
Lu Fengzhou turned and glanced at her, letting out a short, sardonic laugh—quiet, but clear to everyone.
The barbs between them were mutual and understood.
After a short wait, the doctor emerged, with Liang Xiujin following behind.
Seeing Lu Fengzhou, Liang Xiujin wasn’t surprised. “Mr. Lu, you came.”
Lu Fengzhou glanced toward the ward. “How’s Mr. Zhu doing?”
Liang Xiujin hesitated before responding, “As well as can be expected.”
With injuries like this, it was hard to define. Not life-threatening, but as for his masculine dignity—well, that was gone for good.
The doctor advised them not to agitate the patient, to try and counsel him, and mentioned the hospital would arrange for a psychologist.
Really, this was something to be discussed with the wife, but as she’d already left, Liang Xiujin could only nod. “Got it, thank you.”
Once the doctor left, Liang Xiujin looked at Lu Fengzhou. “Mr. Zhu isn’t asleep yet. Would you like to go in?”
Lu Fengzhou replied, “The doctor said not to agitate him, so I’ll stay out.”
He asked, “Was that his wife who just left?”
Liang Xiujin confirmed, “She said she’s busy at home and can’t stay, so she’s arranging for a caregiver.”
Anyone could hear that was just an excuse. It was impossible that Zhu Shengren’s household didn’t have a housekeeper, and their children were all grown. There was nothing at home that could really tie her down.
Qiao Jiu curled her lips. Ruthless in action, but without tearing up the pretense—just like her and Lu Fengzhou now.
They lingered a while longer by the door until the caregiver arrived. Liang Xiujin went in to bid farewell to Zhu Shengren.
Afterward, the group headed toward the elevators. Liang Xiujin said, “I wonder how the police investigation is going—whether they’ve caught the three who kidnapped him.”
Qiao Jiu glanced at Lu Fengzhou, whose expression was mild as he analyzed, “If the surveillance footage is thorough, it shouldn’t be too difficult. Or they could start with people close to Mr. Zhu. Anyone capable of this likely has some history with him.”
Liang Xiucheng added, “Judging by the way he is, he must have made plenty of enemies.”
Liang Xiujin exhaled. “The police have already started looking into people around him, but it’s not an easy case.”
Zhu Shengren had made enemies not just with his behavior, but also at work, where he was arrogant and dismissive of everyone. Plenty of people disliked him. It would be tough to investigate.
Leaving the inpatient wing, they walked to the parking lot. Lu Fengzhou’s car was parked a bit farther away, so they parted ways at the entrance.
Qiao Jiu turned to follow Liang Xiucheng in another direction. After only a few steps, Lu Fengzhou suddenly called her name.
She turned, a little impatient, but restrained herself for the sake of the others. “What is it?”
Lu Fengzhou said, “I left something at your place last time. I’ll come by to pick it up tonight.”
Qiao Jiu was caught off guard. “What did you leave?”
Lu Fengzhou smiled, heading toward his car and waving. “It’s on your shoe cabinet. I left in a hurry last time and forgot it. Check when you get home.”
Both Liang Xiujin and Liang Xiucheng turned to look at her. After a moment, Qiao Jiu realized Lu Fengzhou was doing this on purpose.
That scoundrel—there was nothing he’d left at her place. He just wanted to let those two know he’d been to her home.
Shameless.
No matter how much she fumed inside, she kept her composure, turning away and saying as she walked, “Song Wan came to see me recently. She made a scene at my place, and Mr. Lu came to take her away. He must have accidentally left something then.”
Liang Xiucheng’s frown slowly faded. “Song Wan? She went to see you?”
His voice was somber. “What did she want?”
Qiao Jiu took a breath, improvising, “Maybe she had a falling out with Mr. Lu. My father was having a memorial service at Taiping Temple, and she thought I still had ties with him. She wasn’t happy about it.”
The excuse was plausible, and Liang Xiucheng believed her. “That woman…”
Liang Xiujin spoke after a pause. “I met Miss Song recently. She seemed reasonable enough.”
Qiao Jiu snorted. “Anyone can put on a good face.”
She glanced at Liang Xiujin, recalling what she’d seen that morning. Nothing had happened, but she still felt uneasy for Guan Wei’s sake.
Once in the car, as they left the hospital and drove a short distance, Qiao Jiu’s phone rang again.
This time it was Guan Wei.
Qiao Jiu considered for a moment before answering on speaker. “Boss Guan?”
From the rearview mirror, Liang Xiujin glanced at her, his expression unconsciously tensing.