Both of their cars were parked by the roadside. Yan Xia reached out to pull open the passenger - side door to carry Lan Mengfan into the car. But as soon as the door was opened, Lu Qianzhou pushed it shut with one hand.
“We need to get things straight,” Lu Qianzhou said, showing that he wouldn't let them go until they had a clear talk.
“She likes to stay with me. It's her freedom to choose to go with me. You have no right to interfere.”
He grasped every opportunity around her tightly, and now he wouldn't even let go of a child.
Since he had said so, Yan Xia simply followed his words and looked down at Lan Mengfan. “If he comes to pick you up and wants to take you away in the future, will you still go with him?”
Lan Mengfan timidly glanced at Lu Qianzhou. Thinking that it was more important to stay with her mother, she shook her head. “I won't go with Uncle anymore. Mom, don't be angry.”
Getting a definite answer, Yan Xia didn't even bother to look at Lu Qianzhou again. She took Lan Mengfan's hand and got into the car.
Even before she came back, she had mentally prepared herself, knowing that it was impossible to completely cut off all ties with Lu Qianzhou. They would surely run into each other.
In the low - key Audi not far away, the rear window was half - lowered. A slender and fair hand rested on the window. The owner of the hand was looking in Lu Qianzhou's direction, her eyes cold.
Over the years, the Lu Qianzhou she knew had always been proud. This was the first time she had seen Lu Qianzhou so humble, persistent, and even willing to please the child he disliked the most for someone.
Cheng Yanxia really had some skills. She, Jiang Yue, had waited for so many years, exhausted all her efforts and tricks but still couldn't get what Cheng Yanxia easily obtained.
If she didn't want to be with Lu Qianzhou, then why did she come back and get involved in all these things?
Jiang Yue bit her thumb and stared blankly at Lu Qianzhou's back. It wasn't until Lu Qianzhou's car drove away that the driver softly reminded her.
“Miss Jiang, Mr. Lu's car has left.”
Jiang Yue withdrew her hand. “Let's go. Head to Yase.”
Yase was a newly - opened beauty salon. Jiang Yue was a VVIP customer there. Another important reason she often came here was that there was someone who shared her hatred and could discuss strategies with her.
As soon as Jiang Yue stepped into the salon, the staff and the owner of the store greeted her.
“I said our salon suddenly looks so much more glorious. It's truly an honor for Miss Jiang to grace us with her presence,” the owner said.
Jiang Yue took off her sunglasses and showed a somewhat tired smile. “Sister Ping, you're just teasing me. We're so familiar with each other. Why do all these formalities?”
The Sister Ping she mentioned was Yuan Qiuping. Before Wang Keding was imprisoned, she had heard the news in advance and secretly transferred a portion of the ill - gotten gains from Wang Keding's account. Although she no longer had Wang Keding as her backer, she had enough funds and means to continue to have a foothold in the circle of the capital city.
When this beauty salon opened, a large number of internet celebrities and stars came to show their support. Many rich wives, rich kids, and second - generation officials also came. Jiang Yue was one of them.
Perhaps during their conversations, they found that they both disliked Cheng Yanxia. Women could quickly become friends when they had a common enemy and common topics.
During those days, Yuan Qiuping frequently invited Jiang Yue to dinners and gatherings and even offered her free beauty treatments. But she didn't flatter Jiang Yue like others did, so Jiang Yue got along well with her.
Jiang Yue regarded Yuan Qiuping as a friend without reservation, but Yuan Qiuping had more experience and a broader vision than Jiang Yue, so she still held back to some extent. With the help of this young lady, many things were much easier for her.
“What services would you like today?” Yuan Qiuping asked with a smile as she walked in, affectionately holding Jiang Yue's hand.
Jiang Yue followed her inside. “I'm really tired today. It's been a long time since I last came here. Do all the basic services for me.”
The two entered the private room. While Jiang Yue was lying on the small bed for facial cleansing, Yuan Qiuping stayed in the room with her and chatted.
“What's wrong? You look so tired.”
Jiang Yue closed her eyes during the cleansing and replied, “I'm not physically tired. I'm just mentally exhausted.”
Hearing this, Yuan Qiuping immediately guessed the root cause. “Is it still because of President Lu? Since Cheng Yanxia came back, she's caused a lot of trouble, hasn't she? Did she charm President Lu and Fang Jiangyi again?”
Jiang Yue recalled the scene of Lu Qianzhou chasing out of the hamburger restaurant today. Her heart was filled with sourness and jealousy.
“She's really capable. Men just fall for that kind of act.”
Yuan Qiuping lay on another small bed. “The unattainable is always the best. She knows how to play hard - to - get, and she's not like you, who only has eyes for President Lu. Sometimes men just like that kind of coy act. I thought she wouldn't come back after leaving for so many years.”
Maybe it had touched on Jiang Yue's sore spot, so she didn't want to talk much.
Yuan Qiuping couldn't help but think of Fang Jiangyi. She hadn't seen him for a long time. It seemed that since he found out that she had advised Peng Shiyi to deal with Cheng Yanxia, he had been cold to her.
But he had forgotten that it was he himself who had initially wanted to destroy the Cheng family and take back what belonged to him the most. It was only after he fell in love with Cheng Yanxia that he instinctively protected her and treated Yuan Qiuping like an enemy.
She had received favors from Fang Jiangyi's father, so she had always repaid him. But she didn't want to follow a man who was trapped by love and indecisive.
It was impossible for her to get rid of the thorn in her side by herself. But now that she had an ally, perhaps she could use someone else's hand to do it.
“Xiaoyue, are you just going to let her go like this and let Lu Qianzhou keep revolving around her?”
Jiang Yue said, “I can't do anything to her now. Qianzhou will surely find out it was me. If he discovers it, he may never see me again in this lifetime. I've been waiting for a good opportunity.”
Yuan Qiuping understood. She knew Jiang Yue wouldn't give up so easily.
She deliberately dropped a hint. “I don't know if you've heard the news in the circle today. The Peng family's daughter used to be a proud young lady. Such an arrogant person actually tried to commit suicide by jumping off a building because of Cheng Yanxia. Fortunately, she was rescued in time.”
Jiang Yue suddenly opened her eyes and looked sideways.
“Are you talking about Peng Shiyi?”
“Yes, it's her,” Yuan Qiuping said firmly. “It's said that since Peng Shiyi came back, Fang Jiangyi has ignored her. Her mental state has been getting worse. She had tried to commit suicide once before jumping off the building and was also sent to the hospital. She called Fang Jiangyi in the hospital and pleaded with him, but Fang Jiangyi remained unmoved. Finally, she jumped off the building.”
Jiang Yue was quite shaken. Although she loved Lu Qianzhou deeply, she had never thought of committing suicide for love.
How desperate must Peng Shiyi have been to jump off the building...
Thinking of Cheng Yanxia's tricks, Fang Jiangyi's cold - heartedness, and Peng Shiyi's despair.
It was truly terrifying.
She sighed. “Peng Shiyi offended Qianzhou back then. The decline of the Peng family was only a matter of time. Now that they have no money or influence, it will be difficult for them to stage a comeback and take revenge.”