Zhong Chu was terrified that He Yu’s next sentence would be a disparagement of An Yanqing; she knew An Yanqing’s petty and vengeful nature all too well. An Yanqing wouldn’t say anything to her face, but she’d likely turn around and trip He Yu up later.
“An Yanqing is right here next to me.”
He Yu fell silent for a moment. Even the noisy background chatter on her end seemed to go quiet for a second, followed by the sound of rustling movement, as if she were sitting up straight on the sofa.
When she spoke again, her drunkenness had dissipated, and her voice was slightly cold: “It’s just as well that she’s there. Sister Chu-chu, since you’ve already registered your marriage, why don’t you bring her out to meet us friends?”
The voices of others jeering rose from the other end. “Yeah, Chu-chu, we’ve known He Yu for so long, but we’ve only ever heard the famous star An’s name without seeing the person.”
“Since she’s already your wife, bring her out to have a meal and meet us. Let us get to know the Great Star An.”
“There’s no time like the present. We probably won’t make it for lunch, but we can do dinner. If you don’t think Nanzhou is suitable, we can go to a Zhong family property or a hotel under the He family’s banner.”
Without needing a reminder from An Yanqing, the three words “Hongmen Banquet” (a trap) flashed violently in Zhong Chu’s mind.
She peeked cautiously at An Yanqing’s expression. An Yanqing was methodically buttoning her collar, concealing her fair, smooth skin and exquisite collarbones.
An Yanqing’s smile held a hint of cold mockery as she calmly returned the gaze. “Go. Why wouldn’t we go?”
“They are right. They are your friends, and I am your wife. Since we’ve become family, it’s only natural that we should meet properly.”
She said the words, but as she rolled up her sleeves, her fair, slender, yet firm forearms were revealed inch by inch.
That thin layer of muscle didn’t look like much and didn’t detract from her graceful figure at all, but Zhong Chu knew exactly how much explosive power it contained.
An Yanqing appeared tall and elegant. Although her smile was aloof and her temperament as cold as winter snow possessing a sharp edge that warned people not to approach she did not lack the soft, multifaceted charm unique to women.
However, Zhong Chu had seen her fight many times. When she fought, she was fierce to a life-threatening degree, like a wolf cub with a mouthful of fangs. It was completely inconsistent with her seemingly indifferent, detached aura.
Zhong Chu stared blankly at those beautiful forearms, her gaze frozen.
An Yanqing didn’t look like she was going to have dinner with He Yu; she looked like she was ready to grab He Yu by the back of the neck the moment she saw her and slam her head into a bowl of scalding soup.
Imagining He Yu’s face becoming unrecognizable, Zhong Chu shuddered and suddenly snapped back to reality.
She hurriedly grabbed An Yanqing’s arm. “My parents are both busy people and won’t be home until tonight. Today is a special occasion, and Grandpa will definitely insist we stay for dinner. We really don’t have time; let’s make an appointment for another day.”
She was speaking to the person on the other end of the phone. An Yanqing’s gaze dropped. Her slender fingers resting on her forearm twitched imperceptibly, but she didn’t speak again.
On the other end of the line, He Yu’s suppressed anger was also provoked by the contempt hidden beneath An Yanqing’s cold attitude. But before she could speak, Zhong Chu diverted the topic with a few words.
Among the second-generation socialites in this circle, everyone knew how formidable Elder Zhong was. They respected and feared him, and they knew even better how much he cared for and constrained Zhong Chu.
Once the “Great Buddha” that was Elder Zhong was brought out, the group backed down and was forced to compromise.
Zhong Chu finally managed to brush them off. After hanging up the phone, she realized her hand was still resting on An Yanqing’s arm.
An Yanqing looked down slightly and didn’t look at her. Her brow was furrowed, and her smile was gone. This look was identical to the expression the younger An Yanqing used to have when she was sulking and didn’t want to talk to her.
So many years had passed in a flash, yet An Yanqing seemed to be the same person she had always known.
Zhong Chu couldn’t help but press her aching temples. The familiar appearance intertwined with childhood memories caused the frustration in her chest to vanish, and her heart softened into a puddle.
She hugged An Yanqing’s arm and shook it, her voice as soft as honey. Her coquettish tone carried a hook that tugged at An Yanqing’s heartstrings: “Don’t be angry anymore, Sister. I don’t have those kinds of thoughts at all. You’re my wife, after all~”
So spoiled.
How could she be so spoiled?
Or was it that Zhong Chu acted this way toward everyone, or just in front of her?
Thousands of speculations swirled in An Yanqing’s mind, but her emotional reaction was honest. The lines between her brows unconsciously relaxed, and her red lips pursed slightly.
Seeing An Yanqing’s expression soften, Zhong Chu struck while the iron was hot. “Sister, how about I don’t move out to live, okay?”
She was a year younger than An Yanqing, but the young heiress was habitually headstrong and had never been willing to bow her head just because of that one-year gap.
Only when An Yanqing was angry would she pull out the “Sister” trump card as a breakthrough point against An Yanqing’s fury.
An Yanqing knew perfectly well she wasn’t truly repentant. However, when the high-and-mighty, habitually forceful young miss suddenly transformed into a sweet, affectionate darling, the contrast was so strong that An Yanqing succumbed to the assault every time.
An Yanqing’s knuckles curled slightly. To hide it, she instinctively folded her arms, her eyes remaining cold. “You are a free individual. If you want to live somewhere, can I really keep you on a leash?”
Zhong Chu understood her so well that she naturally saw her wavering. The corners of her lips twitched downward silently; she thought to herself that this woman was still so stubborn clearly moved, yet insisting on being so sharp-tongued.
By now, she had also realized why An Yanqing was angry earlier. Although Zhong Chu didn’t understand An Yanqing’s strange possessiveness toward her, she could put herself in her shoes.
Even though she considered herself to dislike An Yanqing, if An Yanqing were to act flirtatiously with another woman after the two of them had registered their marriage, Zhong Chu would also have the urge to tear her apart.
The proud Miss Zhong could not tolerate her lawful wife having another lover outside.
Even if their relationship as wives was only in name.
“Sister, I…”
Moreover, that person was He Yu an enemy whom An Yanqing detested even more than Zhong Chu did. The double debuff was undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire.
Since Zhong Chu knew where the problem lay, she could prescribe the right medicine. However, just as she was about to speak, the door panel she was leaning against suddenly vibrated.
After a steady knock, the butler’s aging voice sounded: “Eldest Miss, Miss An, lunch is ready. The Old Master asked me to come and call you down to dine.”
Zhong Chu called out a response. When she turned back to look at An Yanqing, there was a smile on her face. Ignoring the other’s coldness, she proactively put her arm around An Yanqing’s shoulders. Like hugging a disappointed puppy, she rubbed her chin against An Yanqing’s cheek.
“An Yanqing, frigidity isn’t a terminal illness. You don’t have to be so self-conscious about it.”
The faint scent of rose hair lotion instantly enveloped An Yanqing. Zhong Chu’s actions were unexpected. As their delicate skin touched and warm breath brushed against her, An Yanqing’s body trembled, and she instinctively turned her head to dodge.
The coldness on her face was like ice meeting a raging fire, instantly melting into a pool of spring water.
She raised her hand, trying to push Zhong Chu away. “…Zhong Chu, don’t force a change of subject. Speak properly. What are you doing?”