Chapter 114: I Gently Coaxed Him, and He Told Me Everything

A tea shop had opened across from Tianxi Club, simply named “Tea House.” It catered exclusively to the VIP members of the club and shared its grand, luxurious parking lot.

Qin Mohuai was the first to step out of the car, his polished leather shoes tapping the ground as he walked around to the other side and opened the door.

“Stop drinking that, hmm?” His deep, magnetic voice carried a hint of helplessness.

Xia Yuan sat in the car, clutching her large cup of milk tea, sipping away.

She wouldn’t be able to enjoy this taste for a long time in the future, so she had to drink as much as she could now.

Qin Mohuai leaned down and took a couple of sips from her straw, elegantly stealing the drink from her. His tongue casually swept over the tea stain on his lips afterward.

It was an effortless kind of sensuality.

“Drinking too much isn’t good for your health. The lyricists have already arrived; we should go in now.”

“… Oh.”

Xia Yuan glanced at his lips again, feeling oddly warm, remembering how helpless she had been yesterday when he teased her with his nose and mouth at Qingshan Temple.

Qin Mohuai held her hand, slowing his pace. His deep gaze locked onto her tenderly, “Your face is red. What are you thinking about, baby?”

“Nothing!”

Xia Yuan quickly adjusted her mood and hurried into the elevator.

As the elevator doors closed, Ouyang Jing stepped out from behind a pillar, her dazed gaze unfocused.

Three years ago, when she heard the news of Xia Yuan’s death, she had felt a slight sense of happiness in her heart.

She knew it was wrong, but she couldn’t control her feelings. She didn’t want to be a mere baby-making tool for the Qin family, but it wasn’t true that she didn’t like Qin Mohuai.

Such a noble, handsome, and caring man—what woman wouldn’t be moved by him?

Countless nights, she regretted that if she had just been willing to compromise back then, with Old Master Qin’s support, would the woman standing next to Qin Mohuai today be her?

Now Xia Yuan had died, then come back to life. Ouyang Jing’s hopes were crushed again. She knew her chances were even slimmer now…

—

As they entered the private room, the invited lyricists stood up and respectfully greeted, “Mr. Qin.” Then they noticed the woman beside him, Mrs. Qin.

Their eyes lit up.

With those looks, she could outshine the most beautiful women in the entertainment industry.

Xia Yuan wore a delicate blush-pink silk cheongsam, embroidered with roses, the exquisite tailoring perfectly outlining her elegant and graceful figure.

Standing beside Qin Mohuai, her aura didn’t falter in the least. Her fair, jade-like skin drew everyone’s gaze like a magnet.

However, there was a slight sickly look to her, giving her a fragile appearance.

But that impression was quickly shattered.

The tea house didn’t prohibit smoking. Someone opened a box of Maya Sicars cigars and handed one to Qin Mohuai.

Although he had arranged this gathering, everyone knew how esteemed he was, so they treated him with great reverence.

Qin Mohuai accepted the cigar. He hadn’t lied to Xia Yuan—he had indeed picked up a smoking habit over the last three years. It was better to smoke and drink than to endure the loneliness.

Xia Yuan looked at him with a sweet smile, her eyes soft and delicate. She didn’t seem threatening at all, but in reality, she was furiously pinching Qin Mohuai’s thigh under the table.

Smoking with late-stage lung cancer?

He wasn’t someone without boundaries, but something about this didn’t feel right.

Qin Mohuai’s handsome face remained silent as his long fingers held the Maya Sicar cigar. He sniffed it before handing it back to the person who offered it.

“My wife is strict. Let’s just say I already smoked it.”

His gesture of obediently returning the cigar made everyone see him as helpless and vulnerable.

Wait, what?

Who would’ve thought Mr. Qin was so henpecked by his wife!

Since Qin Mohuai didn’t smoke, the others refrained as well, making a few more polite remarks before getting to the main topic.

Xia Yuan had hit a creative block while writing songs. It wasn’t a big issue, as the lyricists present had all been through it before. They shared their experiences and tips on overcoming such obstacles.

Xia Yuan listened attentively.

Qin Mohuai had once complained about why she wrote so many songs for others but never for him.

At that time, Xia Yuan had replied, “You’re not a singer, so even if I wrote one, you wouldn’t be able to perform it.”

Looking back now, her answer had been heartless. Thankfully, Qin Mohuai wasn’t a petty person.

Today, she drank that cup of milk tea that symbolized freedom. Perhaps it was time to give Qin Mohuai a song full of love in return.

As the conversation was flowing smoothly, there was a rhythmic knock on the door, and someone entered.

Someone said, “It must be Old Liu. He lives far away and got stuck in traffic. Please don’t mind, Mr. Qin.”

Old Liu walked in and clasped his hands together apologetically. “Sorry, everyone, I’m late.”

“This is my young apprentice, Ouyang Jing. She’s both an actress and a singer, with a real talent for writing lyrics.”

Xia Yuan was pinching Qin Mohuai’s thigh, demanding more than the two slices of matcha cake he allowed her to eat. But when she heard Ouyang Jing’s name, she quickly looked back.

It really was Ouyang Jing.

In the novel story, there was no mention of Ouyang Jing being able to write lyrics. By the end of the story, she had only starred in one movie and had no other accomplishments.

Xia Yuan’s eyelid twitched. Ouyang Jing’s appearance here wasn’t a coincidence. If she wasn’t here for her, then she must be after Qin Mohuai.

During Xia Yuan’s quest to win over Qin Mohuai, the novel had mentioned that despite Old Master Qin disliking Ouyang Jing, he had surprisingly named her as Qin Mohuai’s fiancée. Ouyang Jing had even developed some “easy conception” skills that didn’t exist in the original novel.

After all, Ouyang Jing was the original female lead of the novel world. Xia Yuan had never underestimated her.

Ouyang Jing, dressed in a sleek black dress, greeted everyone gracefully, “Hello, Mr. Qin, Mrs. Qin, and esteemed seniors. I’m Ouyang Jing.”

Someone gave Old Liu a disapproving glance and whispered, “Ouyang Jing used to be Mr. Qin’s fiancée. How could you bring her here? This is just making things awkward for Mrs. Qin!”

Old Liu responded, “Little Jing told me she never got engaged to Mr. Qin. It was all just rumors.”

He said this intentionally, aiming it at Xia Yuan, but with unclear motives.

Xia Yuan, however, showed no reaction, her eyes focused on the matcha cake in front of her.

Qin Mohuai was in the late stages of lung cancer, with only two or three months left to live. If he died, she certainly wouldn’t be able to survive without him.

So if they were both going to die anyway, why bother with a healthy diet? Why couldn’t she just eat two plates of matcha cake? quq

Qin Mohuai’s jaw tightened as the pain in his thigh coursed through his body, sending tingling sensations all over. He still maintained his refined, handsome appearance as he grasped Xia Yuan’s hand and moved it higher up his leg.

Don’t just pinch one spot.

Xia Yuan blushed and stood up, “I’m going to the restroom!”

Qin Mohuai chuckled softly. Yuan, you only have this much courage, yet you dare to tease me in public?

—

In the Restroom

Xia Yuan stood at the sink, drying her hands with a tissue.

Her skin was smooth and glowing, even with a hint of weakness between her brows, she still exuded an air of elegance.

Ouyang Jing suddenly appeared in the mirror, startling Xia Yuan, who patted her chest. “Why are you so silent? You scared me!”

Ouyang Jing stood beside her, washing her hands. Years of pride had slowly turned into jealousy because of her unwillingness to accept the situation.

“Xia Yuan, if you hadn’t appeared, the person by Qin Mohuai’s side would’ve been me. What gives you the right to enjoy the wealth and love he gives so easily?”

“Uh, just because Qin Mohuai is a hopeless romantic. I barely have to coax him, and he tells me everything.”

“…”