The family doctor was hastily called over to check on Ji Zimo, making sure she was fine, casually gave a few instructions, and then said they could continue attending the party.
It happened that Lu's mother also didn't want to waste this time, as the party was specially prepared for Ji Zimo, of course it would be proper for Ji Zimo to make more of an appearance.
When the three of them returned to the party, Lu Jincheng just happened to see Ji Yao standing by a table holding a glass of red wine, chatting and laughing with Qi Huai'an.
Qi Huai'an also seemed to be having a great time talking to Ji Yao, unaware of what exactly they were discussing.
The fire that had just died down suddenly flared up again, it was a discomfort that comes from seeing something that belongs to you coveted by someone else.
Following Lu Jincheng's gaze, Lu's mother saw Ji Yao, as Lu's wife, chatting so happily with another man and immediately showed displeasure on her face.
"How improper!" After saying that, Lu's mother prepared to go over and lecture the two.
Ji Zimo had a thought and suddenly spoke up, "Let it be, Mom, maybe my sister has her own unspeakable difficulties?"
Upon hearing this, Lu's mother became even more infuriated, she simply couldn't stand Ji Yao.
"What difficulties could she have? Could it be that being Mrs. Lu is too hard for her? She's truly disgraced this status!"
Ji Zimo stayed where she was, not wanting to join them, lest she becomes a target of Qi Huai'an's attacks again.
Moreover, having been blackmailed by Ji Yao twice before, she now wanted to avoid Ji Yao as much as possible.
Lu Jincheng didn't stop his mother, but followed behind the furious Lu's mother to where the two were standing.
Ji Yao naturally noticed their approach and when she raised her head, her expression had become indifferent, no longer as happy as before.
This change of expression made Lu Jincheng even more unhappy—did she not like seeing him?
"Ji Yao, Ji Yao, you're already Mrs. Lu, but you haven't prepared yourself to be a good wife!"
Ji Yao found it funny and spread her hands.
"Is that so? I haven't even enjoyed the rights of Mrs. Lu; how much more prepared do you expect me to be?"
After speaking, Ji Yao turned and walked away, too lazy to continue arguing with them.
Lu's mother was infuriated by Ji Yao's attitude; previously Ji Yao had been nice to her, but now she was like a fireworks keg, even daring to openly defy her.
This made Lu's mother even more dissatisfied with Ji Yao.
She turned her head, her eyebrows tightly furrowed, even forming the character for "chuan."
"Jincheng, you should have divorced her long ago. What's the point of keeping such a woman around? Besides, now that Zimo has returned, she should be your rightful wife!"
Lu Jincheng let his mother's words go in one ear and out the other, his mind preoccupied with the thought of Ji Yao and Qi Huai'an's cheerful conversation and their playful looks.
With a gruff hum, Lu Jincheng didn't continue to address the matter, acting very perfunctory.
Later that evening, after eleven, Lu Jincheng returned to the villa but found that Ji Yao still hadn't gone back, which made his anger rise again.
Had she just talked about staying out all night, or was she seriously planning on not returning tonight?
Picking up his phone, Lu Jincheng called Ji Yao; it connected after just two rings.
"Hello?"
Ji Yao's voice came through from the other end, and Lu Jincheng could vaguely hear a lot of noise.
Lu Jincheng suddenly remembered the incident a while back when he encountered Ji Yao at the bar, and spoke with displeasure, "You haven't gone to the bar again, have you?"
Ji Yao certainly hadn't forgotten that Lu Jincheng had specifically paid her to refrain from hanging around in places like bars, she still had her basic professional ethics—take money for a job!
Now, she was just skewering at a roadside stall with Qi Huai'an.
After leaving the banquet, she felt suffocated, so Qi Huai'an suggested they go to a roadside stall for some drinks.
Ji Yao just wanted to clear her head and agreed, but she hadn't touched either the skewers or the drinks they ordered.
"No."
"If not, then where are you? Why haven't you come back yet? Or do you not want to come back to this house either?!"
Ji Yao was bewildered by the word "home" in his sentence.
Home?
Did that really count as a home to her?
No, it felt more like just a place to live in.
With that thought, Ji Yao's eyelids drooped slightly.
A long silence made Lu Jincheng inexplicably anxious.
"Ji Yao? Who are you on the phone with? Come and drink!"
The voice of Qi Huai'an came from the other end, causing Lu Jincheng's fingers gripping the phone to tighten suddenly.
The next second, Lu Jincheng hung up the phone on his own initiative.
Ji Yao listened to the busy tone on the other end of the phone and felt a sudden lack of interest in anything.
Qi Huai'an noticed Ji Yao's lack of enthusiasm and pointed at the food on the table: "Don't worry, I'm paying for this meal, so it's on me!"
Ji Yao gave Qi Huai'an a helpless glance.
Not to mention, he made it sound as though he was being generous when in fact he had ordered the food for himself to enjoy; she hadn't touched any of it!
"Alright, Qi Er Shao, remember to be careful on your way back. I'm heading home now."
After saying that, Ji Yao waved her hand, unconcerned about Qi Huai'an being abducted in the middle of the night.
When she arrived home, the villa was pitch-dark.
As she walked through the courtyard, a cold breeze made Ji Yao shiver involuntarily.
It was nearly midnight, could Lu Jincheng already be asleep?
With that thought, Ji Yao shook her head and stopped thinking about it.
In front of the second-floor French window, the distinguished man slightly squinted his eyes, a dangerous glint flickering within them.
Expertly opening the villa's main gate, Ji Yao initially wanted to turn on the lights, but worried that doing so might disturb Lu Jincheng, she ultimately refrained.
Always so exhausted, still, she went to take a shower. The sound of rushing water in the bathroom made Lu Jincheng in the next room swallow hard.
Recalling how friendly Ji Yao had been with Qi Huai'an that day, he felt increasingly irate.
The sound of water ceased, and the moment the door opened, Lu Jincheng also stood up.
The two of them naturally did not sleep in the same room; Ji Yao's bedroom was next to Lu Jincheng's.
Ji Yao wiped her half-dry hair, wrapped in a bathrobe, exhaustion unmistakable beneath her eyes.
All she wanted now was to get some sleep, then go to Ji Zimo to get the money he had promised her today.
Everything was false; only what she held in her hand was true.
As she lay down on the bed, Ji Yao closed her eyes. Today's weariness quickly led her thoughts to become hazy, but before she could drift off to sleep, she heard a click from the door.
Ji Yao instantly became alert and looked toward the doorway, where a person stood against the light, the outline of firm muscles barely discernible.
Without even thinking, she knew it was Lu Jincheng, but what was he doing here?
"I see you were getting quite close to Qi Huai'an today—planning on becoming Mrs. Qi after the contract ends?"
The sarcasm in that sentence could not be more evident.
A foreboding feeling suddenly rose in the pit of Ji Yao's stomach.
Regardless of Ji Yao's reaction, Lu Jincheng took big strides forward. Just as Ji Yao attempted to get up, she was pushed back down onto the bed by Lu Jincheng's strong grasp.
Moonlight poured down, illuminating half of Ji Yao's face, her pale complexion visibly tense.
"Lu Jincheng, calm down!"