Chapter 21: Do You Want to Be a Mistress?

When Old Master Xi said that, Xi Xingye laughed on the other end of the phone.

“She got bullied? Grandpa, are you even speaking Chinese?” Xi Xingye drawled sarcastically. “What kind of genius has that kind of skill?”

Old Master Xi had long known that Xi Xingye wouldn’t say anything decent, but he continued recounting today’s events. In the end, he said, “You’ve seen the files—how much she has suffered! Now at the company, even the security guards can’t help but spit when they see her. You should protect your wife a bit. If you’re working late today, remember to pick her up.”

There was a pause on the other end.

“I’m not picking her up! It’s not even dark yet, don’t dream!”

In the meeting room, the people were gradually leaving, leaving only Shen Lan, pinned down by Shen Qingci, unable to move.

“What’s the matter? Still want to protect your ‘good sister’?”

Shen Qingci said this as she tossed a wooden box onto the table.

“Kneel. Bow!”

With one swift kick, she sent the stool Shen Lan was sitting on flying.

Shen Lan dropped to his knees, staring at the wooden box in front of him, a chill running through him. “What is this?”

“My mother’s urn.”

“You’re crazy!” Shen Lan immediately struggled harder. “Shen Qingci, you’re insane! Who carries an urn around?”

Shen Qingci narrowed her eyes. “You still haven’t seen Shen Shirou’s true face today?”

Shen Lan wasn’t blind—he remembered all the kindness Shen Shirou had shown him over the years.

He shot back, “I still think Shirou isn’t like that! Do you have any proof?!”

“Want proof, huh?” Shen Qingci let go of her legs. “Tomorrow at this time, come to the office. I’ll give you proof.”

Shen Lan got up and ran, not looking back.

Night fell deeper.

Shen Qingci rubbed her slightly swollen wrists, closed the files, and went downstairs.

Outside, the city was lit up with countless lights. She paused, looking at the people passing through the square.

Couples, families, parents with children, and even elderly couples pushing wheelchairs…

She felt a bit dazed.

In that zombie-ridden world, even though she fought for her life every day, she had never felt lonely—thanks to friends like Song Qi.

Here, however, she felt a strange loneliness.

Shen Qingci tucked her slightly cold hands into her pockets and turned to get into her car.

But she noticed a familiar figure leaning by the glass door frame.

The man had his hands in his pockets, a brownish drink in his mouth, and the warm yellow light softened Xi Xingye’s usually unruly face.

“Xi Xingye?” Shen Qingci squinted. “What are you doing here? Stealing tires?”

Xi Xingye laughed angrily and tossed the herbal packet aside.

“Can you think about me for once! I could just be here to pick you up!”

Shen Qingci raised an eyebrow, scanning him up and down.

Xi Xingye quickly added, “Don’t get the wrong idea. Old Master insisted I pick you up—enough talk, let’s eat!”

He slammed the door shut.

Not a hint of opening it for her—he even leaned out the driver’s seat shouting, “Hurry up! It’s freezing!”

Shen Qingci paused for a few seconds before getting in.

The car’s air conditioning had already been on for a while; she quickly warmed up.

The flashy pink car sped off, carrying Shen Qingci to the Xunmi Forest Restaurant.

Since the incident at this restaurant, Xi Xingye rarely came here. Today’s meeting was mainly because it was closer to Shen Yuan.

The private room had been reserved in advance. Xu Zijie had already ordered the dishes, just waiting for Xi Xingye and Shen Qingci.

As they entered, Xi Xingye noticed a strange presence. “What’s going on?”

He pointed at Lou Xinyue, who was sitting nearby, and asked Xu Zijie.

Xu Zijie hurriedly explained, “When I went out to order the dishes, I happened to bump into Xinyue. Since we all know each other, I invited her to join us.”

Lou Xinyue looked slightly embarrassed. “Am I coming at a bad time? If I’m disturbing you, I can leave.”

She stood up, ready to leave.

Seeing that Xi Xingye didn’t stop her, Lou Xinyue lowered her gaze. “I promised Xingye I’d knit him a scarf but never had the chance. Now that he’s married, consider it a wedding gift.”

She handed over the beautifully wrapped gift. “I won’t disturb you anymore.”

“No, stay!” Xu Zijie quickly stopped her. “We’re all friends, just eat together. Right, Xi Ge?”

Fearing she might leave, Xu Zijie whispered to Xi Xingye, “You want Shen Qingci to give up on you, right? This is a good chance! Think about it—what woman would calmly watch her husband thinking about a past love?”

Despite that…

Xi Xingye’s gaze flicked to Shen Qingci, and he eventually nodded in agreement.

He needed Shen Qingci to understand her limits—what if she really clung to him and refused to divorce?

As they all sat down, Shen Qingci showed no interest in this suddenly appearing woman.

She rubbed her temples, slightly swollen from a day of work, and sipped the barley tea on the table.

Lou Xinyue smiled and picked up some crab, shelling it carefully and putting the meat into a bowl.

“Xingye, eat some crab.”

Her gentle voice sounded.

Lou Xinyue placed the crab meat on the rotating tray for Xi Xingye. “I know you like crab but hate shelling it, so I shelled it for you.”

Shen Qingci finally looked up.

Noticing her gaze, Xi Xingye remembered Xu Zijie’s words and forced a small smile, taking the food.

Lou Xinyue’s smile deepened. “Last time we came to this restaurant together… that was three years ago, right?”

Xi Xingye’s brows tensed. He wanted to curse but held back.

Three years ago, Lou Xinyue had rejected him at this very restaurant—how dare she bring that up now?

Lou Xinyue didn’t mind his silence and continued, “Time flies. When I came over, I saw our school. Remember back in November, you’d take me to see the ginkgo every night?”

Her tone became tinged with regret. “It’s a shame my family forced me to go abroad, otherwise…”

She sighed.

Then smiled again. “But that’s in the past. Seeing you guys this time brought back some memories.”

Shen Qingci suddenly set down her cup.

The room went quiet for a few seconds.

“What’s wrong, sister?” Lou Xinyue feigned innocence, smiling.

“Nothing, I just didn’t understand,” Shen Qingci asked bluntly. “Do you want to be a mistress? Or have you already been one?”

Lou Xinyue froze.

She… what did she just say?

“I-I haven’t…”

“So it’s just regret?” Shen Qingci nodded, her cold expression unreadable. “Regret that you two were a pair? That I got in the way?”

No one expected Shen Qingci to be so blunt. Everyone lowered their heads, pretending to eat frantically.

Lou Xinyue, initially shocked, quickly composed herself.

She frowned slightly, eyes brimming with tears. “Sister, you misunderstood me. I just suddenly remembered the past, that’s all…”

Before she could finish, Shen Qingci stood up.

Lou Xinyue, caught mid-performance, choked back tears—they hovered in her eyes, neither falling nor staying.

She stared blankly as Shen Qingci approached Xi Xingye, her slender white fingers tapping his table.

“You, come out.”