“You just said you left something at my wife’s place?”
“A bracelet, left to me by my grandmother. It’s not expensive, but it holds great sentimental value and is very important to me.”
Yu Xiangqiao let out a “huh” and was about to ask Xu Lianghan what surprise he had for her when she heard a familiar voice on the other end.
She made a surprised sound. Why was Bing Qingxue with her husband? Were they planning to surprise her together?
Then, she heard Xu Lianghan say, “Really? Something so important, and you lost it—and it ended up in my wife’s bag? What a coincidence. And you specifically came looking for it while my wife is in confinement. What exactly are you looking for—the bracelet, or… me?”
Yu Xiangqiao thought: Is her husband being too narcissistic? Would Bing Qingxue even be interested in him? If she were, she wouldn’t have kept bad-mouthing Xu Lianghan in front of her, teaching her how to prevent him from cheating and breaking her heart.
Bing Qingxue was startled. She smoothed the stray hair by her ear, turning her prettiest face toward him in an attempt to hide her unease. “Why… why would you think that? I really am here for the bracelet. The reason I came now is that I only just remembered. I hadn’t noticed it before… and I also wanted to see you.”
“You forgot about such an important bracelet? Then it doesn’t seem all that important. Since it fell into my wife’s bag, why not ask her directly instead of coming to me? What, do you think a man like me would know how many bracelets my wife has?”
Yu Xiangqiao thought: Exactly, if you lost something, you should ask me. Why ask my husband?
It was only then that Yu Xiangqiao became alert, sensing something was off.
Could it be that Bing Qingxue was trying to “test” her husband on her behalf, deliberately choosing the time when she was pregnant and in confinement to do so?
“Xiangqiao is in confinement right now. There’s no need to bother her with such trivial matters. Even I know how to care for your wife—don’t you?”
Xu Lianghan laughed. He tugged at the tie around his neck, lazily leaning back into the chair behind his desk. Slowly, he said, “Then I really should thank you. My wife went through so much during her pregnancy, and you’ve been so thoughtful, caring for me on her behalf—sending good mornings and good nights, reminding me to add or remove clothes when the weather changes… I thought you might have some ulterior motives, but it seems I misunderstood.”
His smile was playful, his tone growing casual. “In that case, forget it. You should leave. I wouldn’t want my wife to find you here alone with me and get the wrong idea.”
A mature man is incredibly charming, especially one as wealthy and handsome as this.
Xu Lianghan was strikingly handsome, resembling his mother by eighty percent. It was no wonder his mother had caught the eye of Mr. Xu back then, who sweet-talked her into intimacy and fathered Xu Lianghan.
Unfortunately, beauty is often short-lived. After learning she had been deceived by Mr. Xu, she fell into depression and passed away at a young age.
With his neatly trimmed short hair, sharp eyebrows, and phoenix-like eyes, when he smiled, the corners of his eyes lifted slightly, exuding a captivating charm.
And when he deliberately teased with that flirtatious gaze, it truly stirred one’s heart.
Bing Qingxue already had a guilty conscience, and seeing him like this made her heart flutter even more, her face growing warm, even her voice turning soft and delicate: “Didn’t I already say? Xiang Qiao is in her postpartum confinement, how could we trouble her with this? Just come with me to her room and help me look, won’t that do? If you really can find it, I’ll definitely thank you properly. I’ll thank you however you want, it’s just…”
At this point, Bing Qingxue paused, as if finding it difficult to speak: “No matter what, Xiang Qiao and I are best friends. I don’t want to hurt her. So even though I know I have feelings for you, I haven’t dared to show it. I’ve been saying bad things about you in front of her, afraid she’d discover my feelings for you.”
Yu Xiang Qiao was stunned.
What did that mean?!
Bing Qingxue deliberately said bad things about her husband in front of her because she had her eyes on him?!
Yu Xiang Qiao was completely shaken.
“You really are… cunning, aren’t you?” Xu Liang Han laughed, believing his wife had already heard.
He just didn’t know what she would think after hearing it.
Xu Liang Han said, “No wonder my wife always thought we didn’t get along, always saying nice things about you in front of me, talking about how good you are, how gentle and considerate, how virtuous and kind, that you’re her best friend in the world. So this is what ‘best friend’ means—stealing someone else’s husband?”
Bing Qingxue’s eyes instantly reddened: “How can you say that about me? When have I ever stolen someone else’s husband? I just… fell for you, it’s not like… I can’t help my feelings. I fell for you, but haven’t I always kept my distance? When have I ever flirted with you behind her back? I’ve never done that. I just like you, it’s not like I’m born shameless. I’ve tried so hard to control myself, and you still say such things to me, it hurts my heart so much…”
A beauty’s tears were still a beautiful sight.
And Bing Qingxue had practiced specifically, knowing which angle looked best, how to cry in the most delicate, pitiful way.
So when she faced Xu Liang Han, she turned her face at just the right angle to appear as vulnerable and pitiful as possible.
She showed Xu Liang Han her fragility and struggle, but most importantly, this sense of betrayal and guilt that deeply pained her heart, leaving her tossing and turning countless nights, yearning but unable to have.
She only regretted not meeting him before he was married. If only she had met him earlier, how wonderful that would have been.
She would have competed fairly with Yu Xiang Qiao.
“It’s just a pity I met you too late.”
“It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have let myself feel this way. Don’t worry, I won’t let her know. Knowing you love her, I’ll love her too for your sake, help you make her happy, treat her well…”
“I ask for nothing else, just that you occasionally glance my way, let me know you understand my feelings, let me watch you silently from the corner, accompany you from afar. That’s enough for me.”
…
Her appearance of unwavering devotion infuriated Yu Xiang Qiao, who was listening on the other end of the phone.
She shouted: “Bing Qingxue, you bitch, how dare you steal my husband?!”
“After all the kindness I’ve shown you. How could you do this to me?”
“Bing Qingxue, how could you do this to me?”
…
Overwhelmed by intense emotions, Yu Xiangqiao felt a surge of blood rushing to her head. Unable to hold on, she collapsed in a faint.
As a result, she missed the latter half of the scene.
Xu Lianghan clicked his tongue several times, clapping sarcastically for Bing Qingxue and raising his chin mockingly. “Brilliant! Truly brilliant. But… what do you think would happen if my wife heard all this?”
Bing Qingxue froze, not understanding what Xu Lianghan meant.
Xu Lianghan smirked mischievously as he picked up his phone from the table. “Well, this is quite awkward. I just called my wife earlier, intending to ask if she had found something you lost. But it seems… she heard everything. What should we do now?”
Bing Qingxue’s eyes widened, her face instantly turning pale. “How… how could you do this?!”
She then frantically shouted into the phone, “Xiangqiao, don’t misunderstand. I may have fallen for your husband, but there’s really nothing between us. We’re both innocent—nothing has happened.
Really, Xiangqiao, say something. You still believe me, don’t you? We’ve known each other for so many years—when have I ever lied to you?
Xiangqiao, say something…”