Addicted after marriage - CHAPTER 9:
At lunchtime, Ye Li slid her tray across the table and sat opposite Luo Shu.
Did you see the group chat? she asked, eyes sparkling.
No, too lazy to look, Luo Shu replied, her calm face making Ye Li almost jealous.
I wish I could be half as composed as you, Ye Li said between bites.
Anyway, rumor has it that the sketches on your desk were accidentally left there by
Yu Xi the new intern who was covering for you while you were on leave.
She probably just didn’t know where to put them.
Hmm.
Luo Shu gave only that one small sound, but she noticed that the
atmosphere around her had already changed.
Most of her coworkers no longer looked at her with suspicion.
Still, none dared get too close.
By the way, did President Yu scold you today?
You looked so out of it when you came out of his office,
Ye Li said, talking as fast as ever.
Being scolded by him? That’s normal. He’s basically made of ice, Luo Shu muttered.
Ye Li leaned forward, whispering. He never scolds anyone, though.
Oh really? Luo Shu lifted an eyebrow.
I think you’re just blinded by that handsome face.
Don’t be so shallow.
Ye Li laughed, but before she could answer, Luo Shu suddenly kicked her under the table.
President Yu had just walked in, carrying his lunch tray.
Luo Shu quickly forced a polite smile. Good afternoon, President Yu.
She looked as though nothing at all had happened that morning.
Ye Li froze, nearly dropping her chopsticks, and kept her head down.
Hmm.
That was all he said. He didn’t even glance their way,
sitting instead by the window with Shen Yan to discuss business.
Ye Li leaned over, whispering again. You think he heard us talking?
Not likely. Talking about your boss behind his back isn’t fatal, Luo Shu said with a shrug.
The moment work ended, Luo Shu changed into a red dress
that shimmered dangerously under the light.
Her lipstick was bold, her perfume sharper than usual.
She drove straight to Qin Heng’s workplace and parked her car right at
the entrance where everyone could see it.
As people began filing out after work, heads turned one after another.
A woman that stunning in that kind of red no one could ignore her.
Luo Shu smiled faintly. Exactly the reaction she wanted.
And right on cue, Qin Heng appeared.
He walked out cheerfully, totally unsuspecting, grinning like a fool.
He had no idea he was about to walk straight into a trap.
When he saw her, he froze. His eyes widened, then softened with desire.
He had never seen her like this hair loose, lips red, curves outlined by silk.
She looked like something out of a novel.
Qin Heng.
Her voice was sweet, almost tender, as she walked right up to
him and slid her arm around his waist.
He blinked, dazed. Was this the same Luo Shu who usually kept their flirtation subtle
who at most would hold his hand or kiss his forehead?
Now, in front of everyone, she was clinging to him.
Inside, Luo Shu wanted to gag.
Disgusting, she thought. Absolutely revolting.
But if she was going to punish a man with no shame, she’d have to be even more shameless.
Qin Heng looked down at her with what he probably thought was affection.
Around them, people stared openly.
Let’s go have dinner, she said with a sugary smile, tugging his hand.
Sure, he replied eagerly, opening the passenger door for her like a gentleman,
fastening her seat belt, then walking around to the driver’s side.
The moment his back was turned, she brushed her hand
where he’d touched her and wiped it with a tissue, her face cold again.
I booked us a table at Shi Fu, he said.
The name made her lift a brow. Shi Fu was one of the most expensive restaurants in the city
just one meal could cost tens of thousands.
Normally she would have refused. But not tonight.
Tonight she was going to eat, drink, and make every yuan of his money scream.
Perfect, she said sweetly.
At Shi Fu, she ordered like a queen.
Hollington steak, French escargot, truffle risotto, and a bottle of 1982 Lafite.
The most expensive of everything.
She was determined to leave the place needing a wall to lean on.
Qin Heng didn’t mind. He looked at her like she was the only woman in the world.
Maybe he really did love her but that only made her feel more disgusted.
The more tender he acted, the more ridiculous it all became.
Before their food even arrived, his phone rang.
Shu’er, give me a sec. It’s my dad.
He turned away quickly, hiding the screen so she couldn’t see.
Sure, she said, smiling in that way that made men’s hearts melt.
He flushed and hurried off to take the call.
The instant he was gone, her smile vanished.
And then she froze.
Across the restaurant, seated near the window, was Yu Zhan.
Her pulse stuttered.
He was here.
She turned away fast, grabbed her glass, and took a nervous sip.
What was she even nervous about? She’d done nothing wrong.
But when she dared to look again, his eyes were still on her.
And across from him sat a woman a beautiful one.
Luo Shu blinked in surprise. So the ice-cold president did
dine with women after all. How rare.
The woman, noticing Yu Zhan’s gaze fixed elsewhere,
turned to see what had caught his attention. Luo Shu instantly ducked her head.
Oh, fantastic. Social death.
I didn’t even do anything, she muttered to herself.
Yu Zhan, what are you looking at? The woman’s voice was soft and sultry,
and even from across the room Luo Shu caught every word.
Nothing, he said lightly, clinking his glass with hers.
The phone call was probably from Qin Heng’s father.
After the little performance at the office entrance earlier,
it wouldn’t surprise her if Liao’s family had already started pressuring him.
Luo Shu propped her chin on her hand, watching the glittering city lights outside the window.
The night was beautiful.
Then her phone buzzed.
It was a message from Liao Xian.
A photo of a medical report.
Ultrasound Result: I’m pregnant.
The phone nearly slipped from her hand.
Her fingers trembled. Her eyes burned red.
Pregnant.
So fast.
No wonder Qin Heng had been nervous about that call.
He hadn’t been talking to his father. He’d been talking to her.
Luo Shu stood abruptly and walked toward the restroom.
She had already prepared herself for betrayal a thousand times in her mind.
But the pain that ripped through her chest still felt fresh
so raw it nearly knocked the breath out of her.
Bitter heat flooded her mouth. Her nails dug into her palms until she almost broke skin.
What a perfect pair of dogs, she thought.
When she finally stepped out of the restroom, her expression was calm again.
Hey.
The voice came from the shadows near the corner.
Yu Zhan was standing there, head slightly lowered,
his dark eyes catching the light. For a second,
he almost looked like he’d been waiting for her.
She jumped. His tall figure against the dim hallway looked dangerously calm.
So you’re still alive, he said, his tone low and laced with alcohol.
Need help finishing him off?
No. The last breath he takes I’ll take it myself.
Good.
He pushed off the wall and walked away, a little unsteady,
the scent of whiskey trailing after him.
She let out a shaky breath.
Later, Shen Yan would admit that he and the boss had seen the whole thing.
It had even become part of their after-dinner gossip routine.
She had never imagined that the ever-disciplined President Yu could gossip about employees.
Now she felt like a walking punchline watched by two men,
dissected and discussed, powerless to do a thing about it.
Sometimes she really wanted to tear Shen Yan’s mouth right off his face.