Chapter 15

◎Baby. Wife.◎

Maybe we should just divorce.

The thought flickered briefly through Liang Shi’s mind.

This job was impossible.

The mess the original owner had left behind was too much, like a tangled knot with no end to pull, impossible to cut through or sort out.

When she came out of Xu Qingzhu’s room, Bai Weiwei was still trying to convince Xu Qingzhu to divorce.

Xu Qingzhu, though, seemed unaffected. Her expression was flat. Her complexion wasn’t great, but she didn’t bring up divorce.

But Liang Shi had never been good at handling this sort of thing.

Relationships between people were so hard.

She’d almost lost it and started arguing with Bai Weiwei.

Even without an argument, she still left the ward in a foul mood.

What kind of garbage task was this damn system giving her?

The original owner was such scum. Couldn’t the system just kill her off directly?

Let Xu Qingzhu be a young widow with money and free time, let her live as an ordinary person. Would that be so bad?

It had to force her to romance Xu Qingzhu.

Liang Shi sat on a bench in the hospital for a while.

This was a little path where people used to come to cool off in the summer. In autumn, few people came by. Combined with the bad weather lately and the increasingly chilly autumn wind, the hospital was full of people in poor health, so this spot was quite secluded.

She gulped down a bellyful of ice water, letting the fire inside her cool down a bit.

Even a clay figure has a temper.

People used to say Liang Shi lived like an immortal.

Her assistant Jingjing often said, “Teacher Liang is a banished celestial. She never gets angry.”

When Jingjing teased her like that, Liang Shi would simply smile. “It’s not that extreme.”

She just felt there was no point.

But her current situation was wearing her down.

She could understand that the system had given her a second chance at life and therefore demanded she do certain things, in other words, pay a price.

But telling her nothing? How was she supposed to accomplish anything?

Was she seriously supposed to slay the dragon with a rotten wooden sword?

Too challenging.

Autumn weather changed in a heartbeat. The sun had been hanging in the sky just moments ago, but before long, thick banks of dark clouds rolled in, blanketing the heavens and making everything look gloomy and heavy, as though a storm were on its way.

The autumn wind swept up fallen leaves, twigs, and dead foliage spinning off into the distance.

Liang Shi sneezed. After a moment, she pulled out her phone and replied to Qiu Zimin: “Understood. I’ll be there on time.”

Keep living, then.

Take it one step at a time.

At this point, there was no better option.

Liang Shi had decided she wasn’t going to clean up the original owner’s messes.

Wasn’t it better to just be herself?

She might not live much longer anyway.

As for the system?

Let it do whatever it wanted.

What did it have to do with her?

Once she’d figured that out, Liang Shi’s mood cleared right up.

Even her speed at replying to Qiu Zimin picked up.

“That’s good.” Qiu Zimin’s voice message came back quickly. “You know the Zhou family’s influence. Your father has his eye on a plot of land in South City. Whether it gets approved depends on Zhou Liye. So take this opportunity and get along well with Yi’an.”

Liang Shi: “…?”

“Yi’an likes you. Everyone knows that.” Qiu Zimin sent another voice message, still lengthy. “Don’t take advantage of her feelings and act recklessly. Things are different now. You need to understand: the Zhou family isn’t what it used to be. They’ve connected with the Shen family and soared overnight. If you still want your father to finance the Xu family, then don’t mess this up. Talk properly with Yi’an.”

Liang Shi: “…”

She listened to the voice message twice, trying her best to do a reading comprehension exercise.

Then she converted it to text.

She got the gist.

But the first question that came to mind was: the original owner was such a piece of work, why would Zhou Yi’an like her?

Was she blind?

Through a screen, Liang Shi had never even met Qiu Zimin, so she simply replied: “Understood.”

A perfectly standard response.

She dimmed the screen and let out the faintest sigh.

“What are you thinking about?” A cool voice suddenly sounded right by her ear.

It startled Liang Shi.

Her eyelid twitched. She clutched her chest and leaned back, looking up to see the newcomer. It was Xu Qingzhu.

Liang Shi let out a breath. “You scared me.” Then she muttered, “Do you always walk without making a sound?”

“I do make sound.” Xu Qingzhu sat down on the bench, not far from her. The buttons of her white knit cardigan were undone, swaying gently in the breeze. The whole picture was ethereal and dreamlike, even her voice carrying a cool, otherworldly quality. “You were just too lost in thought to hear.”

“All right.” Liang Shi took another swig of ice water and asked casually, “What can I do for you?”

“Can’t I come find you if there’s nothing?” Xu Qingzhu countered.

“…Sure.” Liang Shi pressed her fingers to her temple and gave her a brief once-over from the side.

Hm. Quite pretty.

She looked away.

After a moment, Xu Qingzhu said softly, “Thank you.”

Liang Shi was startled. “Huh?”

Thank her for what?

“For bringing me back to the hospital yesterday,” Xu Qingzhu said. “And for the thing with Yaya.”

“Those were small things.” Liang Shi said. “I just did what was natural. Besides, you’re my wife.”

She’d said it casually, but the words were out before she realized how awkward they were.

Did that sound like sexual harassment?!

Having lived in that world for so long, Liang Shi was a little on edge.

But fortunately, Xu Qingzhu didn’t react. She simply repeated those two words softly to herself: “Wife.”

Liang Shi’s ears flushed hot, and even the gland behind her ear started to itch.

She rubbed her ear. “Was there anything else? If not, I’ll head out.”

She desperately wanted some time to cool down.

Only after fully calming down could she figure out how to romance Xu Qingzhu and complete the system mission.

“Liang Shi.” Xu Qingzhu called out to her.

“What is it?” Liang Shi asked.

Xu Qingzhu paused. “Is the Liang family in trouble?”

Liang Shi: “?”

“No idea.” Liang Shi answered matter-of-factly. “I never really pay attention to the company’s operations.”

With Liang Xinzhou and Liang Xinhe around, she didn’t even go to the company.

The original owner was a good-for-nothing prodigal scion of a wealthy family.

“Did you hear something?” Liang Shi asked.

Xu Qingzhu pressed her lips together and looked up at her. Their eyes met.

After a moment, she asked: “Then why are you going to see Zhou Yi’an?”

Liang Shi hadn’t expected Xu Qingzhu to ask so directly, and with such a straightforward attitude.

But after asking, she added: “If you don’t want to say, that’s fine.”

Liang Shi had the absurd feeling of being caught cheating by her wife.

She thought about it. “Then I choose not to say.”

Xu Qingzhu nodded. “All right.”

Xu Qingzhu stood and pulled her knit cardigan tighter around herself. “I’m heading back.”

She turned and walked toward the inpatient building without looking back.

Liang Shi quickened her pace, closing the gap to about a foot from Xu Qingzhu’s shoulder.

Close enough that her long hair could brush lightly against Liang Shi’s face.

Even the ends of her hair carried a rich, sweet strawberry scent.

“I haven’t figured things out yet,” Liang Shi added. “Everything depends on meeting her first. That’s why I can’t tell you right now. Saying anything now would be irresponsible.”

Xu Qingzhu stopped and turned to look at her.

After a moment, she suddenly smiled. She asked: “Liang Shi, will you always be like this?”

Liang Shi was caught off guard. “Hm?”

She felt she couldn’t read Xu Qingzhu.

There had been a fleeting instant when Xu Qingzhu’s clear, bright eyes seemed to see right through her, leaving her nowhere to hide.

She had the illusion that she could be completely herself in front of Xu Qingzhu without restraint.

But it was only an illusion.

As she was now, she definitely wouldn’t do that.

“This is nice.” Xu Qingzhu said.

Liang Shi: “…”

She deflected. “It’s okay, I guess.”

“By the way.” Xu Qingzhu pulled a folded paper star from the pocket of her cardigan and handed it to Liang Shi. “You left this in the ward.”

Liang Shi took it. “Thanks.”

Liang Shi had a habit of folding paper stars.

Whenever she was frustrated, she’d fold one on impulse.

The returned star still held a trace of warmth.

As if reminding Liang Shi that the person who’d held it before wasn’t cold-blooded at all.

Liang Shi arrived at Cangyue Restaurant at seven twenty.

Qiu Zimin had already reserved a private room. When she went in, Zhou Yi’an hadn’t arrived yet.

Liang Shi found a seat. Soon, the door swung open.

Only Zhou Yi’an walked in.

She wore a bespoke suit: the white trousers cuffed just a touch, black leather shoes polished to a mirror shine, a white blazer paired with a black necktie, pure ascetic style.

Liang Shi stood and nodded. “Hello.”

The corner of Zhou Yi’an’s mouth curved into a roguish smile. “Hello, baby. Long time no see.”

Liang Shi: “…”

She felt something indescribable.

But it was only a feeling. Nothing she could confirm.

Liang Shi didn’t care for that kind of address. It was sleazy.

Especially coming from a stranger.

But since she currently knew nothing about the situation, she could only endure it. Even so, she couldn’t help furrowing her brow.

“Baby, did you miss me?” Zhou Yi’an walked toward her with a coquettish smile, then without warning lifted her chin. “All those days without seeing you, I’ve missed you so much I…”

Liang Shi dodged immediately, cutting her off. “Show some respect.”

“Huh?” Zhou Yi’an laughed. “Aren’t you here to discuss our marriage?”

“I’m already married,” Liang Shi said. “Whatever my mother told you, it doesn’t count.”

“Is that so?” Zhou Yi’an raised an eyebrow. “Then the Liang family doesn’t want that plot of land in South City anymore?”

Liang Shi: “…”

She said coldly: “That land is what Liang Zu wants. You can negotiate with him. No need to come to me.”

Liang Zu was the original owner’s father.

“But baby, what can I do? I only want you.” Zhou Yi’an moved closer again. Liang Shi’s temples throbbed. Almost on instinct, she threw a punch straight at Zhou Yi’an’s face.

“What the fuck,” Liang Shi cursed in fury. “Get lost.”

She grabbed her phone off the table and headed for the door, but Zhou Yi’an seized her wrist.

But Liang Shi wasn’t one to be pushed around. She twisted Zhou Yi’an’s arm behind her back.

The phone suddenly rang. The contact name showed “A-Zhu.”

Liang Shi answered one-handed. “Hello?”

Xu Qingzhu asked: “Are you done?”

“Who’s that?” Zhou Yi’an suddenly spoke up. Liang Shi twisted her arm harder, and Zhou Yi’an grunted in pain. “Damn, I like it rough.”

Liang Shi: “…”

This person had Stockholm syndrome.

What an idiot.

She cursed inwardly.

“Check WeChat,” Xu Qingzhu said. “I sent you a message.”

Liang Shi replied: “Okay.”

“This your little side piece?” Zhou Yi’an taunted.

Liang Shi snapped: “Shut up.”

Her finger accidentally brushed the speakerphone button. Zhou Yi’an’s words reached Xu Qingzhu’s ears.

Zhou Yi’an chuckled. “Baby, just how many little side pieces do you have? Not that I care.”

“Baby.” Xu Qingzhu’s cool, detached voice came through the phone, carrying an aloof yet flirtatious edge. “Why do you keep letting other people call you baby? I’m getting jealous.”

Liang Shi’s throat tickled.

Her face suddenly felt warm.

“I didn’t.” Liang Shi explained on reflex.

“Baby, wife, I miss you.” Xu Qingzhu spoke in a soft voice that set one’s nerves on edge. “When are you coming home?”

Liang Shi swallowed hard. Even her ears were burning. “I’ll be home soon.”

“Then I’ll hang up,” Xu Qingzhu said. “Be careful on the way back. I’ll be waiting for you. Mwah~”

Liang Shi gently pressed her lips together. Her heart was pounding.

After hanging up, she released Zhou Yi’an. “Get lost.”

“Baby, sooner or later you’ll come begging for me,” Zhou Yi’an called after her.

Liang Shi was already out the door.

Her ears were filled with Xu Qingzhu’s voice.

She pinched her earlobe. It was burning hot.

Stepping outside the restaurant, the cold wind hit her and she finally came to her senses. She pulled out her phone to check her WeChat messages.

Xu Qingzhu had sent her two messages ten minutes ago.

“Zhou Yi’an is an Alpha.”

“If you don’t mind, pretend I never said anything.”

Liang Shi now understood what that uneasy feeling had been.

In that instant, it felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head.