Chapter 5

Chapter 5

After that argument, Lu Huaixu bought me a pair of diamond earrings and sent two hundred thousand yuan to my parents back home in my name.

This was his style.

Whenever he spoke too harshly, he would compensate with material things.

“Zhining, I know my mother can be overbearing sometimes, but I’m the one spending the rest of my life with you. Just try to be more patient for my sake, okay?”

He kissed me tenderly, his voice lingering with affection.

When my mother called, she couldn’t hide her joy.

“My daughter is so lucky! Even I’m benefiting from your good fortune. You have to hold on tight to this son-in-law of mine. But then again, you’ve been obedient and well-behaved since you were a child, not like your useless brother. I’m not worried about you at all.”

When I took the baby downstairs to play, the other mothers expressed their envy as usual.

“Your husband has a respectable job, your in-laws help out with everything, and you have a nanny to serve you… You’re the gold standard for stay-at-home moms like us.”

I began to eat without restraint.

Sweet, salty, soft, hard-I shoved everything into my mouth indiscriminately. It wasn’t about whether I was full, but whether my stomach could physically hold one last bite.

While I was wearing loose loungewear and nursing my daughter, my sister-in-law glanced at me and clicked her tongue. She said to her boyfriend over the phone, “I’m never going to just let myself go like that. I refuse to be a useless parasite!”

I didn’t want to stay at home, and I didn’t want to see the mothers in the neighborhood, so I started taking my daughter to a nearby mall to get some air.

Unexpectedly, I ran into Lu Huaixu and Qin Shuang there.

They were promoting an upcoming photography exhibition and were in the middle of a media interview.

I pushed the stroller and stood at the edge of the crowd.

On the stage, the two of them sat side by side, their toes pointing toward each other.

Lu Huaixu was dressed in a sharp suit, looking every bit the refined gentleman.

Qin Shuang wore an off-the-shoulder black gown, looking elegant and poised.

“May I ask, what is the most memorable moment for both of you? No lying!”

Qin Shuang smiled.

“It would have to be when I went deep into a war zone to photograph orphans, disregarding my own safety. I suddenly received a message from someone. He told me to take care of myself. That day, because of those words, I managed to avoid an airstrike.”

Applause broke out from the audience.

When it was Lu Huaixu’s turn, he remained silent for a moment before speaking in a deep voice.

“The day before my wedding.”

The reporter laughed. “Was it because of nerves? It seems Director Lu’s marriage is very happy!”

The crowd laughed along in support.

Qin Shuang, however, turned her head and stared fixedly at Lu Huaixu.

Her chest rose and fell, and her eyes shimmered.

My gaze fell on her neck.

She was wearing a brilliant diamond necklace with a dazzling center stone. It was the exact same style as the diamond earrings Lu Huaixu had given me.

I suddenly felt short of breath. I turned abruptly and pushed the stroller straight toward the exit.

The stroller came to a halt.

Xue Feng stood in front of me, his head tilted in a rakish manner.

“Since you’re here, why not go over and say hello?”

I forced a smile. “The baby needs to go home and nap, so I won’t go over. Xue Feng, could you please step aside?”

Xue Feng didn’t move and let out a soft huff.

“It couldn’t be that you’re uncomfortable seeing Old Lu and Qin Shuang together, could it? Well, they do look like a perfect match. If you went over there now-”

He stopped mid-sentence, a look of surprise crossing his face.

“Why are you crying?”

“I… just let me through!” I said softly, lowering my eyes as I lightly wiped the corner of my eye.

“Sorry, a bug just flew into my eye. Goodbye.”

As I walked away, a gaze followed me from behind.

It watched me the entire way.