Chapter 99: Who Can Say for Certain Whose Schemes Are at Work

Qiao Jiu stood to the side, and if it weren’t for the inappropriate occasion, she would have almost applauded. Zhang Shuo was a bastard who never did anything proper, but for once, he was actually speaking sense.

Lu Fengzhou moved around to stand beside him. “You’ve got a sharp tongue.”

Zhao Shuo probably wanted to laugh, but didn’t manage to; he just coughed twice, his throat making a gurgling sound. “I’m just telling the truth. You can’t deny it.”

Qiao Jiu walked over as well. “What did Zou Qingqing say to you?”

Zhao Shuo didn’t have much of a relationship with Zou Qingqing, and at a moment like this, he didn’t intend to protect her. “I don’t know you well; I didn’t even recognize you that day. Everything I know about you, she told me.”

He tugged at the corner of his mouth, as if he’d figured out some of the trickery. “You two have a grudge, don’t you?”

Qiao Jiu let out a short laugh. “You figured that out, and yet you let her use you as a pawn.”

Zhao Shuo seemed indifferent. “I just wanted a taste of you; whether or not I was being used depends on how you look at it.”

The man seemed foolish, but sometimes he was unexpectedly perceptive.

After rattling on for so long, Zhao Shuo was already exhausted. He soon closed his eyes, and even his breathing gradually weakened.

Lu Fengzhou looked at Qiao Jiu. “Any thoughts?”

Qiao Jiu shook her head. “None.”

She’d come with a fierce resolve, certain she would rough him up once they met. But seeing him like this, she really couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Just as Lu Fengzhou had said to Guan Wei, Zhao Shuo was already half-dead. If she laid a hand on him, she might very well finish him off—and then she’d really be in trouble.

Lu Fengzhou nodded. “Leave the rest to me.”

Qiao Jiu hesitated. “What about the Zhao family?”

“They only asked that he be left alive. Everything else, they don’t care about.” Lu Fengzhou’s voice was calm.

Zhao Shuo must have heard Lu Fengzhou’s words; his chest heaved noticeably.

With the Zhao family’s stance so clear, Qiao Jiu had no further opinion. “Do as you like.”

Lu Fengzhou wouldn’t do anything in front of her, so he led Qiao Jiu out of the warehouse.

There were people guarding the place, but Lu Fengzhou still drove Qiao Jiu home first. Neither spoke a word on the way.

When they reached the entrance of her building, Qiao Jiu paused before getting out of the car. She turned back to Lu Fengzhou. “There are some things you probably can’t handle yourself. Let me take care of the Zou family.”

Lu Fengzhou looked at her. “You? Who among them do you think you can deal with?”

Qiao Jiu replied, “Someone will help me.”

Lu Fengzhou let out a short, derisive laugh. “Liang Xiucheng?”

Qiao Jiu took a breath. “Neither the Zou family nor the Zhao family wants to cross the Liangs. Madam Liang also thinks highly of me. After everything I’ve suffered, if Liang Xiucheng helps me, the Liang family won’t stand in the way.”

Lu Fengzhou’s gaze carried a hint of mockery. “Liang Xiucheng’s been going on blind dates lately—did you know?”

Qiao Jiu curled her lips. “He won’t succeed. I know that much.”

Lu Fengzhou stared at her for a few seconds, obviously displeased. “Close the door.”

Qiao Jiu took two steps back and shut the car door. Lu Fengzhou must have floored the gas, because the car shot off at high speed.

Only when the car had disappeared into the distance did Qiao Jiu let a smile curl her lips.

She turned and walked into the complex, feeling at ease—so much so that she even began humming a tune.

…

That evening, Guan Wei came by, knowing Qiao Jiu had moved and wanting to see her new place. She also brought news: the engagement between the Zou and Zhao families had been called off, and Zou Qingqing was now under house arrest, reportedly after a beating.

The two families had issued a joint statement, claiming the split was due to “incompatible personalities” and that it was an amicable breakup.

But everyone knew what it meant to break off an engagement right after the banquet.

Guan Wei crossed her legs on the sofa and glanced at Qiao Jiu. “But I have to admit, I was surprised by Lu Fengzhou’s reaction. He’s ruthless. I saw Zhao Shuo the other day—I was so scared I didn’t even dare touch him, afraid I’d get in trouble.”

Qiao Jiu poured her some herbal tea. “I went to see him too. He really is in bad shape.”

Guan Wei couldn’t quite figure it out. “What’s Lu Fengzhou up to? I thought he didn’t care about you—maybe even wished you were dead. But when something happened to you, he seemed more anxious than anyone.”

A faint smile played on Qiao Jiu’s lips. “You noticed too, didn’t you?”

Guan Wei didn’t dwell on it, just smacked her lips. “He’s such a contradiction. Who knows what new schemes he’s cooking up?”

Qiao Jiu lounged lazily against the arm of the sofa. After a long pause, she said, “We’ll see. Who’s really scheming against whom is anyone’s guess.”

Guan Wei frowned and glanced at her, hesitated, but said nothing more.

She didn’t stay long before her phone rang—it was her father, calling her home for something important.

Stretching languidly, Guan Wei made her way out. “Oh, by the way, I heard that Huo Ting has gotten engaged too. No word yet on to whom, but that’s the rumor.”

Qiao Jiu didn’t care much, only murmured a brief assent.

Not long after Guan Wei left, the phone rang again.

Qiao Jiu was a little surprised. She picked up. “What’s up? Did you leave something behind?”

“No,” said Guan Wei. “Guess who I just saw downstairs at your building?”

Qiao Jiu was putting away her cup as she asked, “Who?”

Even with her voice lowered, a hint of excitement came through as Guan Wei replied, “Lu Fengzhou! He’s standing down there. Oh my god, scared me half to death.”

Qiao Jiu’s response was calm. “Did he see you?”

“No,” Guan Wei said. “When I came out the entrance, he was under a streetlight, talking on the phone. When I heard his voice and looked back, I got such a fright I ran off.”

Qiao Jiu chuckled softly. “What’s there to run from? Even if you two bumped into each other, the awkward one wouldn’t be you.”

She put the cup in the kitchen sink and sauntered over to the window to look down.

But the twelfth floor was too high. Even with the streetlights, it was hard to see anything clearly.

Qiao Jiu didn’t say much else to Guan Wei. After a moment’s hesitation, she went to her room, changed into comfortable clothes, and headed downstairs.

Feigning nonchalance, she left the building and strolled outside.

Lu Fengzhou was still standing beneath the streetlamp.

As she passed by, Qiao Jiu seemed to spot him only out of the corner of her eye, and stopped suddenly. “Lu Fengzhou?”

Her face was full of surprise. “What are you doing here?”

Lu Fengzhou didn’t show the slightest hint of embarrassment; he replied calmly, “I have property in this area.”

Qiao Jiu nodded. It was a wealthy neighborhood, where property values only ever rose. Most rich people owned a place here.

Lu Fengzhou gave her a once-over. “Where are you headed?”

“I’m hungry,” Qiao Jiu replied. “Going out to buy some food. Just moved in—nothing stocked at home.”

Lu Fengzhou said nothing, so Qiao Jiu turned and left.

There was a chain supermarket nearby. Since she planned to stay here for a while, she bought everything she needed, lugging bags back home.

Lu Fengzhou was still standing under that streetlamp.

Qiao Jiu walked over. “Why are you still here?”

He stared at her, the glow of the streetlamp behind him, his face partly in shadow, making his features seem even more enigmatic.