Jiang Qiuyi spent over two hours organizing her dressing room. After hanging up all her new purchases, she admired her work.

It looked great, but it only occupied a small portion of the space. There was still a long way to go before the dressing room could be filled.

She snapped a photo to commemorate her first indulgence.

After a moment of deliberation, she decided to post the photo on Weibo.

Jiang Qiuyi had a rarely used Weibo account where she occasionally shared pictures of flowers and plants. She had a few hundred followers—mostly a mix of mutual connections among society ladies, wealthy heiresses, and some relatives of Lu Mingcheng.

@JiangQiuyi: Today’s achievement. Will keep striving next time!

The moment she posted it, the likes and comments started pouring in.

— Simple Summer: Aaaaaah! Call me next time! I’ll happily be your shopping buddy again!

— Dear Friend: Please invite us on your next shopping trip! TvT

— Sun Xiaoxi: ???

— Lu Minghao: Impressive, sister-in-law.

…

Jiang Qiuyi replied to a few other comments, and as she scrolled further, she noticed Lu Minghao’s comment.

Her expression froze momentarily as she debated whether or not to respond.

Lu Minghao wasn’t just anyone—he was Lu Mingcheng’s somewhat distant cousin, someone who had grown up alongside him.

Among the Lu family relatives, he was one of the few who treated Jiang Qiuyi fairly well.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Jiang Qiuyi casually replied with a sticker.

No sooner had she replied than Lu Minghao responded again:
Sister-in-law, what about my brother? Let me see what you bought for him.

Maintaining a calm expression, Jiang Qiuyi typed honestly: Nothing.

Lu Minghao: ?

Ignoring his reply, Jiang Qiuyi responded to a few more comments before heading to the bathroom to take a relaxing bath.

She glanced at her phone and noticed several invitations on WeChat for shopping events and major brand activities.

Given her spending today, she could easily qualify as a VIP customer for several brands.

Jiang Qiuyi selectively replied to a few messages, confirmed the times, and then sank comfortably into the bathtub.

After finishing her bath, applying body lotion, and completing her skincare routine, she didn’t wait for Lu Mingcheng to return to the bedroom. Instead, she went to bed early.

…

At 11:30 p.m., Lu Mingcheng returned to the bedroom after wrapping up work.

As he approached the door, he noticed there was no light coming from inside.

Raising an eyebrow, he pushed the door open.

The room was pitch black besides the soft moonlight streaming in through the window, casting a faint glow on the floor.

Lu Mingcheng tilted his head slightly and caught sight of the woman asleep on the bed, her figure serene in the moonlight while he fell into quiet contemplation.

…

A few minutes later, Lu Mingcheng left the room and went downstairs.

Uncle Xu was just about to rest when he saw Lu Mingcheng coming downstairs, leaving him momentarily puzzled.

His brow furrowed slightly, and he asked in a low voice, “Sir, you’re not resting yet?”

Lu Mingcheng replied with a quiet “Hmm,” and said calmly, “There’s no water in the room.”

It turned out he had come downstairs for a drink of water.

Uncle Xu was momentarily taken aback before apologizing softly. “My apologies, Madam didn’t remind me, and I forgot about it.”

Normally, water was always prepared in Lu Mingcheng’s room.

It was changed daily, and the task was usually handled by Jiang Qiuyi herself.

However, since Jiang Qiuyi had spent the day out shopping and hadn’t reminded the staff, the water hadn’t been replaced, leading to the current situation.

Lu Mingcheng acknowledged this with a soft hum, took the glass of water handed to him by the butler, and took a sip.

Curious, Uncle Xu glanced toward the staircase and asked. “Madam went to bed this early?”

Lu Mingcheng paused briefly. “She’s probably tired.”

Uncle Xu observed his expression while silently speculating. Could it be that the two of them had a fight?

After all, Jiang Qiuyi never had the habit of going to bed early without waiting for Lu Mingcheng to return when he was at home.

Ignoring what Uncle Xu might be thinking, Lu Mingcheng finished his water and headed back upstairs.

Before sleeping, he habitually checked his phone for any missed messages.

As soon as he opened it, he saw a message from Lu Minghao.

Lu Minghao: [Bro, can you believe it? Sister-in-law actually went shopping today! So rare!]

Lu Mingcheng: [?]

Seeing the reply, Lu Minghao grew even more excited and quickly followed up.

Lu Minghao: [Sister-in-law said she didn’t buy anything for you during her shopping trip! Is that true?!]

Lu Mingcheng: [Why are you, a grown man, so nosy?]

Lu Minghao: [? I was just asking casually, out of surprise. In my memory, Sister-in-law isn’t usually like this.]

Lu Mingcheng glanced coldly at the message, his brow twitching slightly. Without replying, he shut off his phone.

Out of sight, out of mind.

This wasn’t something he needed anyone to remind him about.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qiuyi had a wonderfully restful sleep.

Without needing to cater to anyone’s emotions, she woke up naturally.

When she opened her eyes, sunlight poured brightly through the windows.

The spot beside her on the bed was already empty, with not even a trace of warmth remaining.

She glanced at it briefly, unbothered, and got up to walk toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Their bedroom featured an expansive window, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding scenery.

She stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the scenery. In the distance, she could vaguely see the housekeepers cleaning in the yard.

Jiang Qiuyi raised an eyebrow, her gaze drifting to the withered leaves on the ground as she became lost in thought, pondering what to do with her day.

Just as she was thinking, the shrill ring of her phone broke the silence.

She glanced at the caller ID—it was Lu Minghao.

“Hello?”

“Sister-in-law!” Lu Minghao’s excited voice came through. “Are you free today?”

Jiang Qiuyi asked calmly, “Why?”

After a brief pause, Lu Minghao lowered his voice. “If you’re free, could you help me out as an advisor?”

Jiang Qiuyi was momentarily taken aback. “An advisor for what?”

“Shopping.”

Lu Minghao said, “I’m starting work soon and thought I’d get some new outfits.”

Without a second thought, Jiang Qiuyi replied, “Not going.”

Lu Minghao: “???”

He froze, raising his voice in disbelief. “Huh?”

Jiang Qiuyi repeated, “Not going. It’s not interesting.”

She added, “I don’t know much about men’s fashion. You should ask someone else.”

Lu Minghao was momentarily speechless. He rubbed his temples, starting to doubt whether the person on the other end of the line was really the sister-in-law he knew.

Was Jiang Qiuyi really this blunt? Could it be that his brother had done something to upset her, and this was her way of retaliating?

Lu Minghao’s mind swirled with question marks.

As he was still pondering, Jiang Qiuyi asked, “Anything else?”

Lu Minghao: “No… that’s all…”

Jiang Qiuyi responded with a calm “Hmm,” then added, “I’m hanging up.”

Before Lu Minghao could react, she ended the call.

After getting ready, she went downstairs. Uncle Xu, after consulting her preferences, arranged for the chef to prepare a breakfast she liked.

Once she finished eating, Jiang Qiuyi returned to her room to rest.

The long shopping trip yesterday had left her legs and lower back feeling sore. She debated whether to visit a hot spring or call a masseuse to come over, deciding which would be more relaxing.

Just as she was mulling it over, her phone rang again—it was Lu Minghao.

“Hello?”

“Sister-in-law,” Lu Minghao greeted warmly. “Are you interested in buying a car?”

Jiang Qiuyi paused, feeling a headache coming on. “Are you buying a car?”

Lu Minghao: “Yeah. Starting work means I need a new car.”

Jiang Qiuyi was silent for a moment before asking in a low voice, “If I remember correctly, don’t you already have plenty of cars in your garage?”

At that, Lu Minghao confidently replied, “Sister-in-law, a man can never have too many cars. It’s the same logic as women buying bags—you get that, right?”

Lu Minghao, being two years younger than Jiang Qiuyi, had always spoken to her casually without much formality.

Listening to his explanation, Jiang Qiuyi couldn’t help but think he had a point.

She suddenly realized that buying bags and clothes hardly put a dent in Lu Mingcheng’s finances—but cars? That was a different story.

With this thought, her eyes sparkled. “If you want me to help you choose a car, I can.”

Lu Minghao was thrilled. “What’s the condition?”

“Hmm,” Jiang Qiuyi said casually. “I’m still tired from shopping yesterday, so I don’t feel like walking today.”

Before she could say more, Lu Minghao immediately interjected. “Sister-in-law, one of Lu Corporation’s hot spring resorts recently opened. They offer massages and other services. Want to give it a try?”

Jiang Qiuyi paused for a moment, immediately retracting what she had almost said—“I was planning to get a massage at home before heading over.”

“Hot spring resort?”

“Yeah.” Lu Minghao hesitated briefly before asking, “Sister-in-law, you didn’t know about it?”

Jiang Qiuyi didn’t respond.

She truly had no idea. She rarely asked about Lu Mingcheng’s work.

The only things she knew were the general directions of Lu Corporation’s investments and that Lu Mingcheng was often busy, traveling for work.

As for the hot spring resort, it was never mentioned by Lu Mingcheng, so naturally, she had no clue.

Sensing her silence, Lu Minghao scratched his nose, unsure if he had said something wrong.

After a moment of quiet, he cautiously asked. “So, sister-in-law, do you want to go?”

Jiang Qiuyi raised an eyebrow and replied, “Yes.”

She smiled slightly. “But I’ll go to the hot springs and get a massage first before I help you pick out a car. Will that take up too much of your time?”

“No, no,” Lu Minghao replied eagerly. “Buying a car is nothing compared to your rest, sister-in-law.”

Jiang Qiuyi laughed lightly. “Alright, then come pick me up.”

“Got it!”

When Lu Minghao arrived, Jiang Qiuyi hadn’t finished her makeup yet.

Uncle Xu looked at him, surprised. “Young Master Minghao, what brings you here?”

“Uncle Xu.”

Uncle Xu had been a servant at the old Lu family estate. After Lu Mingcheng and Jiang Qiuyi married, he was arranged to work as their housekeeper.

He had essentially watched both Lu Mingcheng and Lu Minghao grow up, making him much closer to them than the other servants.

Lu Minghao smiled and said, “I’m here to pick up sister-in-law.”

Uncle Xu paused for a moment, glancing upstairs. “Madam?”

Lu Minghao nodded. “Yes.”

Uncle Xu studied him for a moment, then pondered before asking. “Why didn’t Madam mention she was going out today?”

Lu Minghao, not thinking much of it, simply replied. “Sister-in-law said she was tired from shopping yesterday and wanted to go to the hot springs for a massage.”

Uncle Xu’s brow twitched, then nodded in understanding.

“Would Young Master Minghao like anything to eat?”

Lu Minghao waved his hand, distracted as he played a mobile game. “No need, we’ll leave as soon as sister-in-law is ready.”

Uncle Xu smiled softly and instructed a servant to keep an eye on things, then quietly exited the living room.

After hesitating for a few seconds, he went to the backyard and called Lu Mingcheng.

“Sir?”

“What’s the matter?” Lu Mingcheng had just answered the call when his assistant knocked on the door, reminding him. “Mr. Lu, it’s time.”

Uncle Xu paused, then asked. “Do you have something urgent to attend to?”

“A meeting,” Lu Mingcheng replied casually. “Is there something at home?”

Uncle Xu hesitated for a moment before speaking quietly. “Sir, Minghao is at the house.”

Lu Mingcheng responded with a brief “Hmm,” not paying much attention. “What’s he doing at home?”

Uncle Xu nervously reported. “He said he’s here to pick up Madam to go to the hot spring.”

Lu Mingcheng: “?”

“Pick Madam up to do what?” He questioned, wondering if he had heard correctly.

Uncle Xu, also feeling somewhat bewildered, explained hesitantly. “He said he’s picking her up to go to the hot spring, and also get a massage.”

“…”

Sensing Lu Mingcheng’s silence, Uncle Xu added. “Minghao is quite playful.”

In reality, there was nothing going on between Lu Minghao and Jiang Qiuyi, and nothing untoward was likely to happen. However, the problem was that Lu Minghao was always out having fun, and the people he associated with were the type who liked to cause a stir.

Uncle Xu’s concern was that he might lead Jiang Qiuyi down the wrong path.

After a pause, Uncle Xu still hadn’t heard a response from Lu Mingcheng.

He cleared his throat and gently reminded, “Sir.”

Lu Mingcheng snapped back to attention and replied calmly, “Hmm.”

He instructed. “Tell Minghao not to take Qiuyi to any chaotic places.”

Uncle Xu: “Understood.”

Staring at the darkened screen, Lu Mingcheng thought for a few seconds before ultimately dialing Jiang Qiuyi’s number.

When Lu Mingcheng called, Jiang Qiuyi had just finished her makeup and was selecting an outfit in the walk-in closet.

“Hello?”

Her tone was flat, devoid of any emotion.

Lu Mingcheng paused briefly, then asked in a low voice. “Are you going out today?”

Jiang Qiuyi glanced at her phone and saw that it was Lu Mingcheng calling.

That was a bit unusual.

She responded with a simple “Hmm,” then added, “Yes, what’s up?”

Hearing her clearly indifferent tone, Lu Mingcheng replied calmly, “Nothing, but what did Minghao want with you?”

Jiang Qiuyi couldn’t help but laugh.

She could probably guess the reason behind this call from Lu Mingcheng.

Smiling, she answered honestly. “He wants to buy a car, but I’m a bit tired from shopping yesterday, so I wanted to go to the hot springs for a massage first. I asked him to pick me up. Why?”

“…” Lu Mingcheng paused for a moment, puzzled. “A car?”

Jiang Qiuyi replied, “Yes, he said he wants me to help him choose one.”

Lu Mingcheng responded with a quiet “Hmm,” then after a brief thought, added. “If you find something you like, buy one too.”

Jiang Qiuyi had a driver’s license but didn’t own a car herself.

The garage at home was filled with luxury cars, all belonging to Lu Mingcheng.

He was steady but had a clear passion for cars. It was probably just a man’s nature.

“One?”

Unable to hold back, Jiang Qiuyi asked in return.

Lu Mingcheng replied. “If you find one you like, buy it. Don’t worry about saving for me.”

Listening to him, Jiang Qiuyi couldn’t help but smile slightly. “Oh, alright.”

She was determined not to disappoint his expectations and would buy the car properly.

=^_^=

Author has something to say: Mr. Lu: Did my wife treat me like a husband today?

–Not yet. You’re still just an ATM.