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Song Qingyu fled from the hotel as if escaping for her life.
Just as she got into a taxi, Sheng Xingnai called.
“Qingqing, are you home yet? Why didn’t you sleep in the room I booked for you last night? It was a presidential suite—so expensive!”
“You really booked a presidential suite for me? And that boy toy…” She glanced at the driver and lowered her voice. “Did you arrange one too?”
“What boy toy or wolf dog? You’re still drunk, aren’t you? I was just joking!”
Song Qingyu rubbed her throbbing temples. She had really drunk too much last night, to the point where she couldn’t distinguish between a joke and reality—and had even ended up provoking Li Huaidong. What a disaster.
“Baby, if you really need one, I can set you up another time.”
“No need, thanks.”
After this humiliating experience, she wouldn’t dare to let loose again for the rest of her life.
Back home, Song Qingyu took a shower and went straight to sleep.
She slept until evening, waking up to a sky darkening into twilight.
Her phone showed several missed calls, all from the police station.
Song Qingyu’s heart skipped a beat. What had she done wrong?
Just as she was about to call back, her phone rang again.
“Hello, is this Ms. Song Qingyu?”
“Speaking.”
“Your mother, Qiu Yuexian, has been arrested by the Jin City Public Security Bureau on suspicion of selling toxic food. Please come over immediately.”
Song Qingyu’s heart clenched. “Alright, I’ll be there right away.”
She hung up and rushed to the police station.
There, she saw her mother, Qiu Yuexian.
Qiu Yuexian was handcuffed and looked exhausted. The moment she saw Song Qingyu, she didn’t even ask what had happened to her. Instead, she asked, “Qingqing, did you divorce Yanchuan?”
“Yes.”
“But you two were fine. Why did you suddenly get divorced?”
For the three years Song Qingyu had lived with the Lu family, she had always shielded her mother from bad news. Other than the fact that she hadn’t had children, her mother had always believed she was living well in the Lu household.
“Was it because Yanchuan thought you couldn’t have children? Is that why—”
“No.”
“Then what happened?”
Song Qingyu exhaled slowly, deciding there was no point in hiding it anymore. “Lu Yanchuan cheated. I caught him in bed with another woman.”
Qiu Yuexian was stunned, unable to react for a long while.
“Who was the mistress? Was it Xie Wan’ning? I heard she just returned from studying abroad.” Qiu Yuexian became agitated. “The moment I heard about it, I knew she’d be up to no good—”
“Mom, now’s not the time for this. The police said you’re suspected of selling toxic food. What’s going on?” Song Qingyu was more concerned about this.
“I don’t know the exact details! But now that I think about it, it must have something to do with your divorce.”
“My divorce?”
“Yes. My restaurant is renting a property from the Lu family. This morning, someone from their side suddenly called, demanding that I vacate immediately. But moving a restaurant isn’t that simple! I refused, and this afternoon, someone reported me for using poppy shells to enhance flavor and attract customers.”
“Poppy shells? Did you use them?”
“Of course not! I’ve always used the finest ingredients and run my business with integrity! But the police found poppy shells in my kitchen.”
“Someone set you up?”
“It has to be the Lu family’s doing to force me out! Your mother-in-law, Li Xianglan, has always despised me. Before, Old Master Lu kept her in check, but now that he’s gone and you’re divorced, why would she still let me rent their property?” Qiu Yuexian’s face was filled with worry.
“Qingqing, whether or not the restaurant stays open doesn’t matter, but the biggest problem is that I just signed a deal with Huajing Foods and launched a batch of braised products online, which have already gone viral. If this toxic food scandal blows up, customers will demand refunds, and Huajing will hold me accountable. I can’t afford the damages.”
Qiu Yuexian had never received much education, but she was a formidable businesswoman. After Song Qingyu’s father died saving Old Master Lu, the Lu family gave them a sum for funeral expenses.
Qiu Yuexian used that money to start a restaurant—”Yuexian Restaurant”—which had grown larger over the years. She had also expanded into new ventures, with e-commerce being her latest pursuit.
“What do we do now?”
“The Lu family won’t leave any loose ends. They won’t let the police find evidence against them. And with their power in Jin City, even if there were evidence, the police wouldn’t dare touch them. Qingqing, the only way now is for you to ask Yanchuan for help—to have the Lu family show mercy and let us, a helpless mother and daughter, go.
“I know this is hard for you, but I have no other options. You and Yanchuan grew up together, and you were married for three years. I believe if you plead with him, he won’t be ruthless enough to destroy us completely!”