"Miss Lu," Qin Lishuang said in an unfriendly tone, "when did you become so kind?"
Lu Jiayi frowned slightly. "This is the Qin family's banquet."
Qin Lishuang scoffed, "So you know this is the Qin family's banquet?"
In other words—what does this have to do with someone like you surnamed Lu?
Lu Jiayi naturally understood her implied meaning and said coldly, "Do you know what you're doing?"
“No need for Miss Lu to worry about that,” Qin Lishuang said. “Since you’re soaked, you should go and change your clothes. Don’t always worry about what other people should do.”
Lu Jiayi: "..."
"What you're doing will create a crisis for the Qin family," Lu Jiayi said sternly. "The Qin family is already hanging by a thread; do you really want to push them into the abyss?"
"What does it have to do with me?" Qin Lishuang glanced over dismissively. "Whatever the Qin family is like, that's all that matters."
“Your surname is also Qin,” Lu Jiayi said.
Qin Lishuang raised an eyebrow. "That's really funny."
As she spoke, she burst into unrestrained laughter. Only after she had finished laughing did she raise her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Miss Lu, this is the funniest joke I've ever heard in my thirty-plus years of life."
Lu Jiayi frowned deeply, her eyes growing increasingly sharp.
Qin Lishuang remained unmoved. "Fine, you're still just a kid, so I'll teach you a lesson."
"Don't advise others to be kind if you don't know their suffering. Just like the sordid things you encountered in the Lu family, who will know about them once you leave? But you still bear the surname Lu." Qin Lishuang scoffed: "But Qin Lishuang can have any surname, except Qin."
After saying that, he walked around Lu Jiayi and left.
Lu Jiayi stared at her retreating figure until she disappeared.
Qin Lishuang gave her the feeling that she wished the Qin family would disappear from the world.
Lu Jiayi returned to the rest room and was changing her clothes while thinking that if the Lu family and the Qin family hadn't been related by marriage, she wouldn't have bothered with this matter.
Everyone knows that in this circle, if a pillar falls and kills three people, two of them will inevitably be relatives by marriage.
Based on what just happened, those two people must not be nobodys.
Qin Lishuang's outburst is bound to lead to something big.
The Lu family still wants to leverage the Qin family's influence. If Qin Lishuang manages to tear the Qin family apart, the Lu family might have to divert some of their energy.
However, the Lu family is currently embroiled in internal strife and simply cannot spare the energy for such matters.
If you're going to distribute the spoils, it has to be yourself.
After all, she had been taken care of by her aunt since childhood, and she had to protect the Qin family.
Lu Jiayi changed her clothes and ran out without even drying her hair.
They should stop Qin Lishuang.
//
Liang Shi carried Xu Qingzhu to the rest room, where only the two of them remained.
Xu Qingzhu had fallen into the water once, which clearly squeezed out all the water from her abdominal cavity. Logically, she should be lively and energetic, but she seemed particularly listless.
Liang Shi asked her in a low voice, "Are you alright?"
Xu Qingzhu felt as if something was pressing down on her head as she spoke, and frowned, saying, "Not good."
"Should we go to the hospital?" Liang Shi asked. "Or should I ask Zhao Xuning to take a look?"
"Change your clothes first," Xu Qingzhu said weakly.
She licked her lips, propped her arms on the edge of the bed, and looked at Liang Shi, who was half-squatting in front of her with concern. She raised her hand and brushed her wet hair.
"Sister," Xu Qingzhu said in a low voice, "you've fallen into the water now."
Liang Shi was taken aback upon hearing this, then gave a helpless, bitter smile, "Yes, I fell into the water."
Seeing that Xu Qingzhu was in great pain, Liang Shi supported her upper body and said, "Don't talk, let me help you change your clothes."
Xu Qingzhu nodded.
The Qin family prepared two brand-new casual clothes for us, with the tags still on.
Such contingency plans are usually made at banquets to prevent this kind of situation from occurring.
Liang Shi picked up the clothes, cut off the price tag, and then looked at Xu Qingzhu.
It's probably because we haven't seen each other for too long, and we're not at home either.
I always felt strange when I reached out to take off Xu Qingzhu's clothes.
Liang Shi coughed softly, "Then I'll take it off."
Xu Qingzhu: "..."
She chuckled and weakly kicked Liang Shi's shin. "Stop bothering me."
Liang Shi reached behind her, his hand trembling slightly as he pulled the zipper, "I'm afraid you'll be shy."
"Hurry up," Xu Qingzhu urged her.
As Liang Shi's hand fell, Xu Qingzhu's skirt fell off.
The Qin family was very thoughtful; even their underwear was a complete set, brand new.
Xu Qingzhu was really weak. Even if she forced herself to support her upper body with her arms by her sides, she couldn't do it and had to lie down again.
Her long, wet hair was spread out on the white pillow, and sinking into the soft bed made her extremely sleepy.
The unusual sensations coming from my body were so obvious.
While Liang Shi was helping her change her clothes, she suddenly said, "There's something in the wine that Qin Lishuang gave me."
Liang Shi paused, "But you took it from a passing waiter."
At the time, Liang Shi thought to himself, "As expected of Xu Qingzhu, she has seen the world."
Whether going to a bar or attending a dinner party, it's assumed that once you leave your original seat and return, you won't drink the beverage from the seat you were previously seated at.
What I fear most is being poisoned.
Therefore, Xu Qingzhu's approach at that time was the most appropriate.
“But you forgot.” Xu Qingzhu gripped the bedsheet, trying to regain some strength, but she couldn’t even manage to speak. “This is the Qin family home.”
Liang Shi: "..."
"So you think Qin Lishuang bribed the waiter?" Liang Shi asked.
“Perhaps there’s no need to bribe them at all,” Xu Qingzhu said. “Also, I felt like that little girl pushed me.”
Because she was a little girl about the same age as Sheng Yu, Xu Qingzhu was completely unprepared.
But I did feel a force at that time.
“But that’s Qin Liushuang’s daughter,” Liang Shi said. “Qin Liushuang and Qin Lishuang have always been at odds.”
Just then, Liang Shi finished dressing Xu Qingzhu.
Just as she was about to help Xu Qingzhu blow-dry her hair, Xu Qingzhu looked at her and said, "You should change your clothes first."
"Let me blow-dry your hair," Liang Shi said. "That way you can sleep when you're tired, and I'll carry you away then."
"Change your clothes," Xu Qingzhu insisted.
Liang Shi paused for a moment, then said, "Then you're not allowed to sleep."
Xu Qingzhu chuckled upon hearing this, "Yeah."
It was a soft, sweet voice that came from her breath, so gentle and endearing that it could melt anyone's heart.
Liang Shi ruffled her hair. "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Xu Qingzhu nodded slightly, "Yes, I can't let you see me and then I can't even see you."
It takes some effort to say such a long sentence, and Xu Qingzhu would pause at times.
Therefore, it appears even more beautiful.
Just after she finished speaking, Liang Shi's skirt hit the ground.
The light shone on her skin, making it so white it seemed to reflect light.
Liang Shi's ears suddenly turned bright red. She rubbed her ears and said, "Stop fooling around."
Xu Qingzhu smiled, her eyes crinkling, "Is this considered making a fuss?"
Liang Shi: "..."
It was much faster for Liang Shi to change his own clothes than for Xu Qingzhu's; he was quick and efficient, and finished changing in no time.
After changing her eyes, Liang Shi noticed that Xu Qingzhu was staring at her intently, so she reached out and covered her eyes with her hand.
Suddenly, I felt a dampness on the back of my hand.
Liang Shi was startled and immediately withdrew his gaze. Then he and Xu Qingzhu locked eyes.
"What?" Liang Shi asked, feigning composure.
Xu Qingzhu's eyes were moist and full of laughter. "Let's see if my tongue is long enough."
Liang Shi: "..."
It's long enough.
Liang Shi reached out and wiped away the water stains she had left behind. "Let's go home."
These words were spoken gently and tenderly.
Xu Qingzhu nodded.
"You two are so lovey-dovey, I'm almost embarrassed to come in." With the sound of the lock turning, the door opened, and Qin Lishuang walked in, twirling the key in her hand. "I deliberately gave you time to change your clothes, wasn't that thoughtful of me?"
"What are you doing?" Liang Shi asked.
Qin Lishuang leaned against the door with her arms crossed. "Little Ashi, it's been a long time."
Liang Shi frowned: "It's better not to see him."
“You’re all far too vigilant,” Qin Lishuang said. “But what can we do? I’m a little worse than you think.”