After hanging up the phone, Lu Mingcheng stared at the two transaction notifications from Jiang Qiuyi, lost in thought.

He realized that even though they had been married for over a year, he still didn’t truly understand his wife.

Why had someone who used to be so frugal and practical suddenly changed so drastically?

After pondering for a while, Lu Mingcheng picked up his phone and made a call.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qiuyi had just finished swiping her card.

“Ms. Jiang,” the manager asked with a warm smile, “would you like to drive the car home today, or shall we arrange delivery to your residence?”

Their dealership offered home delivery services.

Especially for VIP customers like Jiang Qiuyi.

Jiang Qiuyi thought for a moment, then turned to Sun Xi who had just returned. “Do you have a driver’s license?”

Sun Xi blinked as she replied. “Of course I do.”

Jiang Qiuyi asked. “Have you driven before?”

Sun Xi nodded again, eyeing her suspiciously. “What are you up to?”

Jiang Qiuyi responded with a soft “Hmm” and turned to the staff. “Please complete the paperwork. I’ll be driving it home today.”

“Of course,” the manager said politely. “Please wait in the lounge.”

Once inside the VIP lounge, Sun Xi suddenly realized what was going on. “Wait… you’re not planning to make me drive the car home, are you?”

Jiang Qiuyi sipped her tea calmly, her gaze lifting slightly. “Don’t want to?”

Sun Xi: “….”

Sun Xi was momentarily speechless as she glared at Jiang Qiuyi. “We’re not even close! Why should I help you?”

“Oh?” Jiang Qiuyi raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint smile. “If we’re not close, why were you tattling to your brother?”

“…”

Sun Xi froze, then looked down at her. “Were you eavesdropping on my call?”

Jiang Qiuyi lazily cast her a glance.

She didn’t have time to eavesdrop, but Sun Xi was just too transparent—she had a habit of wearing her thoughts on her face.

Seeing Jiang Qiuyi’s calm demeanor, Sun Xi grew even more frustrated.

Pouting, she reluctantly sat down on a nearby chair. “Are you in a bad mood lately?”

“No.”

“Really?” Sun Xi asked, her doubt evident.

Hearing this, Jiang Qiuyi found it amusing. “Do I look like I’m in a bad mood?”

Sun Xi answered honestly. “My brother said so.”

“…”

Jiang Qiuyi paused briefly, tugging at the corners of her lips. “Your brother is overthinking things.”

Sun Xi studied her for a moment before muttering. “I kind of thought so too.”

Sun Xi was about to say more when Jiang Qiuyi suddenly asked. “What do you think of this necklace?”

Looking down, Sun Xi asked. “What brand is this?”

“Vanjia.”

Sun Xi froze for a moment, her eyes widening. “From their haute couture collection?”

Jiang Qiuyi gave a soft “Hmm.”

Sun Xi took her phone, exited the enlarged image, and glanced at the price. Turning to Jiang Qiuyi, she asked. “You’re not actually thinking of buying it, are you?”

Jiang Qiuyi wasn’t offended by the question.

With a slight smile, she countered. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Sun Xi : “…”

After counting the zeros on the price tag, she asked quietly. “Are you just getting the necklace, or the whole set?”

The full set, including the necklace, ring, bracelet, and earrings, was worth tens of millions.

Jiang Qiuyi took her phone back and casually browsed through other jewelry designs. Without much thought, she said. “What’s the point of buying just one necklace?”

Her tone was light as if she were talking about buying a cabbage at the market. “Of course, I’ll get the whole set.”

Sun Xi: “…”

She turned to stare at Jiang Qiuyi for a long moment, questioning her own life choices.

Once all the paperwork was done, Lu Minghao glanced at Jiang Qiuyi. “Sister-in-law, are you sure you don’t need me to drive one of them back for you?”

He had just finished handling his own car purchase and learned that Jiang Qiuyi had bought two luxury cars.

Unlike Sun Xi, Lu Minghao wasn’t overly shocked. While Jiang Qiuyi had a reputation for being frugal, people changed.

And given the Lu family’s wealth, even if she bought dozens of luxury cars, it wouldn’t be a problem—just a bit surprising.

Jiang Qiuyi nodded and gestured. “Xiao Xi said she’s driven before, so I asked her to help.”

Lu Minghao froze for a moment and turned to Sun Xi. “You’re driving?”

Sun Xi nodded.

Thinking of the tempting offer Jiang Qiuyi had made, she obediently said. “My sister-in-law and I are heading to the mall. It wouldn’t be appropriate for you to tag along.”

Lu Minghao considered this for a moment and agreed.

“Alright, if anything comes up, give me a call.”

“Got it.”

The two got into the car.

Once seated, Sun Xi turned to Jiang Qiuyi and said. “Don’t forget what you promised.”

Jiang Qiuyi raised an eyebrow.

Sun Xi reminded her. “I’ll drive for you, and you’ll buy me that necklace.”

While they were browsing jewelry in the lounge earlier, Sun Xi had spotted a piece she liked.

Sun Xi was currently a senior in college. Her mother was a daughter of the Lu family who had married out, and her father’s family background couldn’t compare to the Lu family’s wealth.

Because of this, luxury items she desired were usually rare treats, limited to holidays or birthdays.

Jiang Qiuyi chuckled lightly. “Got it. Let’s go.”

Sun Xi’s eyes lit up, and she was instantly energized.

The jewelry set Jiang Qiuyi wanted required a reservation.

She wasn’t in a rush, though. After paying the deposit, she bought herself another set of in-stock jewelry and, as promised, purchased the necklace Sun Xi had been eyeing.

Spending Lu Mingcheng’s money didn’t give her the slightest bit of guilt.

Once they arrived home, Jiang Qiuyi arranged for the family driver to take Sun Xi back. Then, she went upstairs.

The room was spacious and empty.

As she walked toward the walk-in closet, her gaze swept past her reflection in the mirror.

She stared at the pink diamond necklace hanging around her neck, momentarily lost in thought.

For some reason, Jiang Qiuyi’s mind drifted to Xu Wanbai, whom she had seen earlier today.

Dressed in a light white suit, Xu Wanbai looked clean, sharp, and sophisticated, with a touch of understated femininity.

She was exactly as described in the novel.

However, her personality was still up for debate.

Jiang Qiuyi wasn’t sure if she was overthinking it or if her preconceived notions were influencing her, but Xu Wanbai’s two remarks earlier seemed to carry a hidden meaning that made her uncomfortable.

She pondered it for a while but couldn’t make sense of it, so she let it go.

When the time came, things would sort themselves out.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

Glancing at the caller ID, Jiang Qiuyi raised an eyebrow and answered. “Hello?”

“I heard you’ve had a change of heart these past couple of days,” a cheerful female voice teased over the phone, laced with playful humor. “Is it true or not?”

Jiang Qiuyi listened, the corners of her lips curving slightly. “You’re well-informed. Even abroad, you still manage to find out.”

Li Miao snorted lightly. “That’s because you don’t pay attention to me. I’m back now.”

Surprised, Jiang Qiuyi asked. “When did you get back? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Li Miao protested. “I announced it to the whole world on my social media, but you didn’t even check.”

Jiang Qiuyi chuckled. “I’ve been busy these past couple of days and haven’t had time to scroll.”

She laughed softly, her mood lifting. “So, where are you now?”

“At home,” Li Miao replied. “But I’m planning to invite you to dinner. Do you think I’ll manage to book you?”

“Of course.”

Jiang Qiuyi said without hesitation. “Send me the address.”

Li Miao was surprised; she hadn’t expected Jiang Qiuyi to agree so readily.

In the past, whenever she invited Jiang Qiuyi to dinner, it was only possible when Lu Mingcheng wasn’t home.

Without thinking much, she asked. “Does President Lu have a business dinner tonight?”

Jiang Qiuyi: “I don’t think so, but I’m not sure.”

“Huh?”

Jiang Qiuyi smiled faintly, the corners of her lips curving. “Does he need to have a business dinner for me to eat alone?”

“…”

Li Miao was momentarily at a loss for words. Blinking, she finally said. “You make an excellent point.”

She laughed. “I’ll come pick you up now.”

“Alright.”

As soon as the call ended, Jiang Qiuyi received another message from Li Miao.

Li Miao: [Wear a dress, something pretty. After dinner, shall we go have some fun?]

Jiang Qiuyi: [Sure.]

Li Miao was the first true friend Jiang Qiuyi made in the social circle of high-society wives after marrying Lu Mingcheng.

Like her, Li Miao’s marriage was also a business arrangement, but theirs was different from Jiang Qiuyi and Lu Mingcheng’s. They were a match in terms of family status, while Jiang Qiuyi and Lu Mingcheng were an unmatched pair.

Thinking about it, Jiang Qiuyi couldn’t help but laugh.

Indeed, a marriage that doesn’t match in status was bound to collapse eventually.

When Li Miao arrived, Jiang Qiuyi had changed into a sparkling silver mini dress, a strappy design that exposed her long, graceful neck, slender shoulder blades, and two long, slim arms.

She had draped a coat over her arms, ready to throw it on before stepping out.

As she descended the stairs, both Li Miao and Uncle Xu praised her in unison.

“You look stunning, Xiao Qiuyi,” Li Miao exclaimed, turning to Uncle Xu. “Right, Uncle Xu?”

Uncle Xu nodded. “Yes, Madam, you look truly beautiful tonight.”

Jiang Qiuyi chuckled. “Thank you.”

She glanced at Li Miao’s dress and jokingly said, “I guess I can’t compete with Miss Li’s style.”

Li Miao playfully shot her a look.

As they were about to leave, Jiang Qiuyi gave Uncle Xu a quick word.

Seeing her, Uncle Xu asked another question. “Will Madam and Miss Li be attending a banquet tonight?”

Just as Jiang Qiuyi was about to speak, Li Miao quickly answered, “No, no, we’re just having a little girls’ night out, going to have some fun.”

Hearing this, Uncle Xu nodded. “Understood.”

He looked at Jiang Qiuyi and softly asked, “Would Madam like a driver?”

“No need.”

Jiang Qiuyi smiled and declined, “I’ll have Li Miao’s driver take me home later.”

Uncle Xu responded, “…Alright.”

The two got into the car.

Li Miao couldn’t help but chuckle as she pinched Jiang Qiuyi’s slender arm and asked, “Was Uncle Xu trying to send a driver with you just now?”

Jiang Qiuyi gave her a sidelong glance. “Probably.”

Li Miao laughed, “Uncle Xu really is the model of a diligent and responsible butler for the Lu family.”

“…”

Jiang Qiuyi was speechless. She turned to look at her. “Didn’t you just land this morning? And now you’ve got the energy to go clubbing?”

Li Miao shot her a quick glance. “Of course.”

She gritted her teeth and said, “Right now, I’m not just ready to go clubbing—I could sing ten songs, too.”

Jiang Qiuyi: “?”

Jiang Qiuyi paused for a moment before asking suspiciously, “Did you have a fight with your husband?”

“No.”

Jiang Qiuyi raised an eyebrow, about to speak, when Li Miao suddenly gritted her teeth and said, “What’s there to argue about? He’s a closed-off, silent person.”

Most of the time, Li Miao would be the one blowing up while her husband, the silent type, wouldn’t respond.

Jiang Qiuyi: “…”

She looked at Li Miao’s expression and gave her a sympathetic glance.

Li Miao huffed, then hugged her, mumbling, “Sisters are the best.”

“Exactly,” Jiang Qiuyi agreed. “Men are all like big, clumsy pigs. It’s better to do without them.”

Li Miao: “…”

She fell silent for a moment, then eyed her curiously. “I haven’t asked you yet—why the sudden change of heart?”

“Yeah.”

Jiang Qiuyi looked at her. “I’ve just figured things out.”

Li Miao raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Why would I lie to you?” Jiang Qiuyi smiled. “If I hadn’t figured things out, would I be out here with you?”

Li Miao thought for a moment and nodded. It seemed that way.

She and Jiang Qiuyi had known each other for quite some time, and whenever Li Miao invited her out, Jiang Qiuyi always seemed to have a curfew, never agreeing to go out at night.

Thinking about it, Li Miao clapped her hands. “Alright, after dinner, I’ll take you to a livelier spot.”

Jiang Qiuyi chuckled, softly agreeing, “Sounds good.”

…

At the same time, Lu Mingcheng received a call from Huo Xun.

“What’s going on?”

Huo Xun could tell from the cold tone in Lu Mingcheng’s voice that he was busy.

“Do you have a dinner appointment tonight?”

“No,” Lu Mingcheng replied, signing some papers on his desk, his voice calm. “Why?”

Huo Xun hummed in response. “Want to have dinner together?”

Lu Mingcheng raised an eyebrow. “No need.”

Huo Xun asked, “Oh, are you going home for dinner?”

“Yeah.”

Huo Xun paused for a moment before asking, “Going to the old house?”

“No,” Lu Mingcheng said with a neutral expression. “Do you need something urgent?”

“No.”

Huo Xun paused for a moment before suddenly saying, “But my wife is out clubbing with your wife. Are you really planning to have dinner alone at home, or do you have another little wife hiding at home?”

Lu Mingcheng: “?”

“What’s this about clubbing?”

Huo Xun raised an eyebrow, amused. “Oh, really? Mrs. Lu didn’t tell you?”

Lu Mingcheng: “…”

Sensing Lu Mingcheng’s silence, Huo Xun didn’t keep him in suspense. He went on, “Li Miao called your wife before she left, inviting her to dinner. I even heard her tell Qiuyi to dress up nicely—said they were going out for dinner, then take her somewhere to broaden her horizons. You didn’t know about this?”

Lu Mingcheng fell silent.

He took out his phone and checked his messages, only finding her spending receipts.

It was still from the bank, not from Jiang Qiuyi herself.

=^_^=

Author has something to say: Lu Mingcheng: The weather’s cold, and my heart’s cold too. I guess I don’t deserve it.

Jiang Qiuyi: Mhm, mhm, mhm. It’s good that you know