Chapter 178 (2/2)

Qi Youxuan extended his pale and chubby arm towards Little Muran and walked downstairs together hand in hand.

Wei Ziqi’s face changed as he saw them. He moved his lips in annoyance and extended his arms towards Muran and said, “Muran, come to Dad.”

Muran’s face lit up when she saw her father. She ditched Qi Youxuan and ran straight into Wei Ziqi’s embrace.

Wei Ziqi knelt and looked at his daughter in his arms, glanced over at a disappointed Qi Youxuan who had just been ditched, and said, “Never simply hold hands with boys again. If someone touches you, tell daddy—even if it’s just hooking a finger.”

Little Muran nodded in seriousness and thought about how she was kissed on her cheek by Qi Youxuan just now. She was contemplating about telling her father about it, but after some thought, she figured he was speaking about the future, and not what had happened before. Muran thought the past did not count, and so she decided not to speak about it.

“What happened?” Wei Ziqi asked.

Little Muran shook her head decisively.

Today was Qi Youxuan’s sixth birthday. There were six candles on the cake—it was supposed to be one candle in the form of a number, but Qi Youxuan said he liked making the effort to blow many candles at once. Hence, normal, skinny candles were bought.

After lighting the candles, everyone became silent—Qi Youxuan’s chubby hands intertwined under his chin as he looked down and closed his eyes. He seemed very focused on making his wish before blowing the candles.

“Youxuan, what did you wish for?” Guan Liya tilted her head and asked. She thought if he wished for something, she could go buy it and make her grandson’s wish come true.

However, Qi Youxuan looked down in embarrassment and tugged his pants with his chubby little hand. He looked at Little Muran and said, “It’s a secret. I’ll reveal it when it comes true.”

After dinner and celebrating Qi Youxuan’s birthday, everyone sat and chatted for a while before leaving.

As she walked towards the door, Song Yu gave Qi Chengyue a worried look.

Qi Chengyue suddenly looked back at Song Yu—as if she realized her stare. She then looked back down and got in the car without interacting with Jian Yi at all.

Song Yu felt sorry for Qi Chengyue. Everything Jian Yi owned today was thanks to Qi Chengyue.

His car, his new house, his parents’ allowance, and his position in the company.

After giving him so much, he could not even reciprocate with love.

After getting into the car, Song Yu turned and looked at Qi Chengzhi in the driver’s seat, and leaned over suddenly. Her head rested on his shoulder, and her hands were wrapped around his arm.

As there was quite some space in between the seats, the position was not very comfortable—but she was still leaning on his shoulder and stayed there.

As they stopped at a traffic light, Qi Chengzhi turned and looked at Song Yu’s smooth forehead and her thick lashes that were facing down. He lowered his head a little and kissed her forehead asking, “What’s up?”

Song Yu shook her head and replied, “I just feel bad about Qi Chengyue. Even if Jian Yi did not cheat on her, he doesn’t love her. Jian Yi loves himself, and he does everything for himself. He never reciprocated Qi Chengyue’s love.”

Qi Chengzhi squeezed her hand, held it up and kissed it, saying, “The Qi family will never let one of its own be at a disadvantage.”

…

…

The next day, Song Yu came out at noon and found Qi Chengyue standing at the door. Song Yu saw Qi Chengyue and became stunned.

Ruan Danchen sighed next to Song Yu and tapped her shoulder saying, “Why is it so hard to have a meal with you!”.

Song Yu forced a smile. She was not ignoring Qi Chengyue, but ever since she had doubts about Jian Yi and Guan Xiaolin she felt more compassionate towards Qi Chengyue.

She took the initiative and walked towards Qi Chengyue. Qi Chengyue still looked a little awkward—but she was not pushing her away.

Before Qi Chengyue opened her mouth, Song Yu said, “Let’s find a place to talk. There’s a Japanese restaurant nearby that’s pretty decent, and it even has a two-person lounge. It’s quite nice for chatting.”

Qi Chengyue nodded silently. She glanced over at Song Yu and lowered her head again.

Song Yu greeted Ruan Danchen and walked ahead.

She brought Qi Chengyue to the Japanese restaurant near her office. Luckily, there was one lounge that had not been reserved.

The duo sat in the lounge and ordered two set meals.

After the waiter served food to both of them, Song Yu told him that he should not enter the lounge without their request.

The waiter left, and Qi Chengyue rested her left hand on the table while holding and turning the exquisite teacup unconsciously. Her fingertips turned white as she tightened her grip on the teacup.

“What do you know about Jian Yi and Guan Xiaolin?” Qi Chengyue’s voice sounded stiff and unnatural.

She used to hate Song Yu. Even if she was disappointed towards Jian Yi, found out the truth about his character, and unconsciously let go of her grudges against Song Yu, the history between the duo made Qi Chengyue spending time with Song Yu unnatural..

She even felt embarrassed by what she had said and done in the past after coming to terms about many things following her disappointment towards Jian Yi.

“I know they were together in university. Jian Yi’s expenses in university were all paid by Guan Xiaolin. Remember that time you came to see me at Shengyue?” Song Yu asked.

Qi Chengyue became embarrassed and set her sight on the teacup while nodding stiffly. “Yeah.”

“I went to Jian Yi’s to ask for details. Who knew the moment I walked out of the lift, I overheard his conversation with Guan Xiaolin. That was when I knew he had hidden things from me for years. He obviously broke up with Guan Xiaolin after meeting you.”

Song Yu told Qi Chengyue every detail of the conversation between Jian Yi and Guan Xiaolin.

Qi Chengyue could not help but become distracted. She knew a little later that Song Yu merely ran into Qi Chengzhi.

She had thought more than once—how could there be so many coincidences?

She knew Song Yu existed because an anonymous source gave her those photos.

She went to Shengyue that night because of a call from Qi Chengzhi.

After she left, Song Yu met Qi Chengzhi, went to see Jian Yi, and overheard the conversation between him and Guan Xiaolin—and that was when Song Yu learned of Jian Yi’s true colors.

Qi Chengzhi had, directly and indirectly, participated in all of this. Qi Chengyue remembered the warning he gave her before this—she had finally realized that all of this was coordinated by Qi Chengzhi to steal Song Yu from Jian Yi!

Even if Jian Yi was a decent person, he would not have been Qi Chengzhi’s match.

She was envious of Song Yu for having a man like Qi Chengzhi—for her, he made move after move to marry her.

Qi Chengzhi may be full of ideas with others, but he was loyal to Song Yu.

If there was a man who treated her this way, even if he was not as brilliant as Qi Chengzhi, as long as he was loyal to her, she would be content.

“When Chengshi and Guanyu were fighting for the design contract for Qilin Hotel, Guan Xiaolin had planned to seduce Chengzhi. I don’t know how he solved it, but Guan Xiaolin never went near him again.” Qi Chengyue heard Song Yu say.

“To me, if Jian Yi wanted to, he would not let Guan Xiaolin win the heart of Zhou Mingyan. Even if he was not with Guan Xiaolin, he was closing an eye to what was happening. He wanted to lead Guan Xiaolin on to gain advantages from her. As for Guan Xiaolin, if she knew her efforts would amount to nothing, she would not try to impress Zhou Mingyan. This is why I am suspecting the both of them,” Song Yu said as her thumb traced the sakura pattern on the teacup.

Song Yu lifted her head and looked at Qi Chengyue intensely, saying, “If I were you, I would pretend to not know anything. I know Chenglin is investigating now. Before anything comes up, don’t let Jian Yi know anything. If he is innocent, there will be one less argument between you two. If he really cheated on you, he would hide the evidence from you once he knows you’re suspecting him. This would cause trouble to Chenglin’s investigation.”

“I know, not long after getting married I knew he did not love me. I gradually saw his true colors,” Qi Chengyue said softy. Her elbow was rested on the table, and her palm was supporting her forehead and pushing her hair to the back of her head.

“But I love him, I really loved him. If I didn’t, I would not have married him—I ignored his status, and how he had nothing, and married him anyway. I gave him whatever he wanted. But I don’t want to be an idiot and still give him everything when I know he doesn’t love me. Eventually, he could kick me out after owning everything.”

” I even thought if he could eventually love me, I would wait for him. I would forget the past. But I know this isn’t possible. He will never love anyone.” Qi Chengyue shut her eyes to hide her tears. Her hands covered her eyes.

“To be honest, Song Yu, I envy you a lot. My big brother loves you so much and puts you before anything else. The things I want are simple—really simple. I’m not demanding my partner to have a high social standing or strong financial abilities. I don’t even mind it if he’s from the working class, as long as he treats me well with all his heart and doesn’t betray the love that I give to him.” Qi Chengyue nearly choked while she spoke. Her shoulders were trembling continuously.