Chapter 1049 - 1014: Taking Responsibility

The driver delivered Zhao Xiaohui to a villa in Dongzhou’s Yue Mansion.

Opening the door and coming inside, Zhao Xiaohui was greeted with a smile by Sheng Chaohui: "Xiaohui, you came back without notifying me, I could have picked you up at the airport."

Zhao Xiaohui said: "Stop being so fake."

Sheng Chaohui asked: "Been drinking?"

Zhao Xiaohui removed her high heels and put on slippers: "Aren’t you going home? Aren’t you afraid that tigress at your place will eat you?"

Sheng Chaohui replied: "She went to Neon."

Zhao Xiaohui responded: "No wonder!"

Sheng Chaohui tried to give her a hug, Zhao Xiaohui said: "Get lost."

Sheng Chaohui said: "I missed you."

Zhao Xiaohui said: "Sheng Chaohui, we agreed that besides money, there won’t be any relationship. If you lay a finger on me, I’ll tell Xu Chunliang."

Hearing the name Xu Chunliang, Sheng Chaohui instantly backed down, obediently sat on the couch, lit a cigarette, and smoked gloomily.

Zhao Xiaohui frowned with some disgust: "Are you leaving or not?"

Sheng Chaohui said: "This house is mine, why should I leave?"

Zhao Xiaohui said: "You’re not leaving?" She reached for her phone.

Sheng Chaohui said: "I’ll leave, can I leave later? I just want to ask about my son, is that not okay?"

Zhao Xiaohui said: "He’s fine. If you truly care, fly over to be with him. I don’t mind."

Sheng Chaohui said: "Didn’t I already have my mom go there?"

Zhao Xiaohui said: "Don’t mention her." She took off her earrings and sat on the single sofa.

Sheng Chaohui looked at her, she glared at him, and after a long silence, Sheng Chaohui said: "Why did you come back? I don’t need your money."

Zhao Xiaohui said: "Just that little money, like giving money to a beggar?"

Sheng Chaohui looked at her, perplexed: "What do you mean by that?"

Zhao Xiaohui said: "Don’t worry, I’m not here for money. The money you give is rightful child support for your son. If you don’t trust me with him, send your mom over, fine, the child is yours, it’s appropriate that the Sheng Family takes care of him."

Sheng Chaohui said: "If you’re upset about this, I can have my mom come back."

Zhao Xiaohui said: "Sheng Chaohui, you’ve ruined me once, still planning to ruin me forever? Why should I stay abroad and obediently care for your child? Why should I give to the Sheng Family? I have hands and feet—I can take care of myself. Frankly, I’m planning to return to work at my old job."

Sheng Chaohui was stunned, thinking he heard wrong: "Dongzhou TV Station?"

After receiving confirmation, Sheng Chaohui’s mind buzzed. He asked, puzzled: "Why return to Dongzhou? I’m already stressed enough, don’t add to my troubles, okay?"

Zhao Xiaohui said: "I’m not adding to your troubles. My return to Dongzhou is my own business, unrelated to you. I’m just reclaiming what’s rightfully mine."

"Reclaim what? You know full well Liang Wenjing and I are getting divorced. Why come back now?"

Zhao Xiaohui said: "Your family’s little drama has nothing to do with me."

Sheng Chaohui said: "If she finds out you’re back, she won’t leave you alone."

Zhao Xiaohui sneered disdainfully: "Let her come; I want to see her tricks."

Sheng Chaohui shouted angrily: "You can’t beat her, you just can’t, don’t overestimate yourself."

Zhao Xiaohui said: "I’m not thinking of fighting her, but..." She glanced at Sheng Chaohui’s head: "You’re rather pathetic too, don’t you realize it’s green up there?"

Sheng Chaohui’s face turned a shade of purple.

Zhao Xiaohui said: "Angry? Feel like hitting me?"

Sheng Chaohui said nothing, taking two strong puffs from his cigarette.

Zhao Xiaohui took out her own cigarettes from her bag, lit one skillfully, and after a puff said: "My car accident wasn’t accidental, you should know that very well."

Sheng Chaohui remained silent, but his gaze no longer dared meet Zhao Xiaohui’s.

"If Xu Chunliang hadn’t helped me, I wouldn’t have escaped unharmed. Your son wouldn’t have been born safely either. Sheng Chaohui, be honest with me: Did you know who the culprit was all along?"

Sheng Chaohui said: "At first, you suspected me, didn’t you?"

Zhao Xiaohui said: "Don’t change the subject. You know exactly what’s going on. You’re playing dumb, right?"

Sheng Chaohui sighed: "Xiaohui, the past is the past—you and the child are both safe now. I know I’m indebted to you both. I’ll do my best to make it up to you, and I’ll definitely treat my son well. We’re in the crucial phase of divorce talks; could you not add to the chaos?"

Zhao Xiaohui said: "You’re overthinking. I’m not planning to add chaos. I’ll live my life, do my work, Sheng Chaohui; just pretend I don’t exist."

Sheng Chaohui nodded, stubbed out the cigarette, got up, and prepared to leave. As he reached the door, he paused: "Xiaohui, take my advice: don’t stay in Dongzhou."

Xu Chunliang got out of the car and let the driver leave.

Su Qing said: "Not going back with him?"

Xu Chunliang said: "I’m already downstairs at your place; at least I should have a cup of tea first."

"Did I say I’d serve you tea?"

Xu Chunliang said, "You, who are knowledgeable and courteous, will surely be polite with me."

Su Qing said, "You’re overthinking it, it’s too late today."

Xu Chunliang said, "It’s not late, come on, let’s go up for a cup of tea." He set off toward the unit door before Su Qing could agree, knowing the way without hesitation.

Su Qing looked at his back, a shy smile appearing at the corner of her lips.

Upon arriving at Su Qing’s home, Xu Chunliang wanted to change his shoes.

Su Qing said, "No need, I haven’t had time to tidy up yet."

Xu Chunliang said, "It’s quite clean." Yet he insisted on changing his shoes.

Su Qing said, "Does Rain Flower tea work for you? I brought you two boxes but haven’t had the chance to give them to you."

Xu Chunliang said, "Sure." He wasn’t here just for tea in the first place.

Su Qing boiled some water and brewed two cups of tea using glass cups, placing one in front of him.

Their eyes met, and they both laughed.

Su Qing said, "Once you’ve finished your tea, you’d better head out. It’s still quite a distance to your place."

Xu Chunliang said, "I’m on administrative duty tonight."

Su Qing said, "And yet you came out for a drink."

Xu Chunliang said, "I swapped shifts."

Su Qing bit her cherry lips and looked away, realizing his intentions weren’t pure. Her heart felt a tad uneasy.

Xu Chunliang took a sip of tea and said, "Living alone, aren’t you scared?"

Su Qing said, "I’m used to it." Feeling her fingers touched, Su Qing knew there was no one else; she pulled her hand back. The shameless guy reached out again, his finger brushing hers. Su Qing withdrew, softly saying, "Drink your tea."

Xu Chunliang grabbed her hand, and Su Qing said, "What are you doing?"

Xu Chunliang said, "I noticed you look unwell, wanted to feel your pulse."

Su Qing thought to herself, this sly guy has many tricks. Feel the pulse? Who knows how many women’s hands he’s touched with such an excuse. This thought made her feel uneasy; she withdrew her hand, saying, "I’m perfectly fine, no need for you to feel my pulse."

Xu Chunliang said, "Did you have something you wanted to ask me earlier on the way here?"

Su Qing said, "Do I have the right to ask?"

Xu Chunliang nodded.

Su Qing said, "What’s your relationship with Xiahou Mulan? Why are you so devoted to her matters?"

Xu Chunliang laughed. No wonder he felt something was off with Su Qing’s mood today; it seemed she heard some rumors.

"I’m a member of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s special working group. Regardless if it’s Mulan Group or not, I must seek justice for them. Have you been listening to gossip about me again?"

Su Qing said, "I couldn’t care less about what you do, and you can associate with whomever. I know who you really are."

Xu Chunliang said, "Who am I? Even I don’t know."

"Observers see more clearly."

Xu Chunliang once again held her hand, Su Qing gently struggled, but Xu Chunliang was reaching for the teacup with his other hand. Trouble brewed — the hot tea spilled onto his lap.

Xu Chunliang let out a scream, and seeing the situation, Su Qing panicked and worriedly said, "Did it scald you? Quick, take them off."

Xu Chunliang seemed quite burned, swiftly removing his trousers,

Su Qing hadn’t considered much because of her anxiety, but when he took off his pants, she suddenly realized the inappropriateness of the situation and let out a cute cry, covering her eyes with both hands. If she saw Xu Chunliang’s mischievous grin now, she’d surely leap at him and bite his ear off.

Xu Chunliang said, "Even my underwear is wet."

Su Qing felt both concerned and shy, certainly not wanting to let him remove his underwear too. Not daring to look at Xu Chunliang, she pointed toward the bathroom: "Quick, go rinse with cold water."

Xu Chunliang said, "There’s no time."

"Then I’ll take you to the hospital."

Su Qing couldn’t help but glance slightly, seeing he wasn’t entirely undressed, but the exaggerated tent was about to burst through. Turning away, she said, "I’ll... go find you some clothes."

Xu Chunliang reached out and turned off the light.

Su Qing said, "Why did you... turn off the light?"

Xu Chunliang said, "I don’t want you to see me in this sorry state. Ouch, it’s bad, possibly burned."

Su Qing said, "Wait, I’ll find you some clothes." She felt her way inside the dark, only to bump right into Xu Chunliang blocking her path.

Xu Chunliang let out a cry, and Su Qing anxiously said, "Are you okay?" She reached out to support Xu Chunliang, but touched somewhere she shouldn’t have.

Su Qing quickly withdrew her hand as if bitten by a snake, but Xu Chunliang was faster, immediately grasping her hand, and with another hand hooking her slender waist, he pulled her delicate body into his arms, whispering by her ear, "With your touch, I feel much better."

Su Qing now fully understood, this rascal was simply playing her. She symbolically struggled a bit, tenderly saying, "You wicked man, deliberately fooling me."

Xu Chunliang said, "You’ve scalded me like this, don’t you want to take responsibility?"