**Chapter 11**
Qin Wanshu associating Zuo Qinghuan and Han Shibin together wasn't without reason. The first time Zuo Qinghuan saw her, there was a look of surprise in her eyes. During their brief interaction, Zuo Qinghuan didn't seem unfamiliar with her at all. Qin Wanshu had a vague feeling that Zuo Qinghuan had known her for a long time, even though she didn't know Zuo Qinghuan herself. This could only mean one thing: Zuo Qinghuan knew someone they both knew and had learned about her through that person. Moreover, Zuo Qinghuan had subtly implied her identity a few days ago, which made Qin Wanshu associate her with Han Shibin.
Qin Wanshu looked at the investigation report in her hand, unsure if she felt more disappointed or angry. Her hands tightly gripped the not-too-thick paper, crumpling it slightly. Qin Wanshu never considered herself a saint. The vows of lifelong loyalty made at her wedding were something she intended to keep forever. But Han Shibin had broken that vow. The man who usually treated her with utmost care had betrayed her, and this was hard for Qin Wanshu to accept. What made her even more uncomfortable was Zuo Qinghuan. Whenever she thought of Zuo Qinghuan, it felt like her heart twisted into a knot. It didn't exactly hurt, but it was tight and impossible to smooth out, stuck there like a fishbone in her throat—something she couldn't cough up. Never had anyone made Qin Wanshu feel such an intense, unpleasant emotion. She tightened her grip on the paper even more when she recalled Zuo Qinghuan repeatedly asking her if she was sexually frigid. It was obvious Zuo Qinghuan was mocking her. No one had ever dared treat her like that.
Qin Wanshu walked from the hall to her study, gently touching the cold stone beads in her hand, which helped calm her emotions. From a young age, her grandfather had taught her to cultivate inner peace, and it had clearly worked. Qin Wanshu hadn't always been like this. When others saw her as the epitome of elegance, they would never have imagined that, as a child, she was often punished by Qin Zheng with hours of meditation, forced to learn self-discipline. Even geniuses, if they didn't work hard, would ultimately end up in mediocrity. The Qin family imposed different expectations on their children depending on their abilities. The more talented the child, the stricter the demands. This rigorous family discipline was the reason the Qin family had remained prosperous for over a century.
Qin Wanshu had calmed down. So be it. Now wasn't the time to wallow in her own anger. The most important thing was deciding what to do next. For now, she didn't want to divorce Han Shibin, despite the disappointment he had caused. Qin Wanshu was certain that Han Shibin had merely lost control of his physical urges, not his heart. The smartest way for a woman to handle such situations was to quietly eliminate the mistress and maintain the seemingly perfect marriage. After all, she hadn't entered into this marriage with Han Shibin without careful consideration of various factors. At the time, she had married him because she was of marriageable age, and Han Shibin happened to be there—his family background matched hers, he was successful enough, and he treated her well. She liked him enough to marry him without feeling repulsed.
As for Zuo Qinghuan, this wicked woman hiding under an innocent facade—how should she be dealt with? Qin Wanshu's left hand lightly stroked the ancient jade bracelet on her right wrist, and her expression became inscrutable. Zuo Qinghuan, you are the first woman to make me think you deserve to die. I treated you sincerely, and yet you've set me up. The thought made Qin Wanshu furious.
Qin Wanshu wasn't the type of woman to blame the mistress for her husband's affair. She knew that flies don't land on uncracked eggs. What really angered her was how she hadn't been the least bit wary of Zuo Qinghuan, letting herself be repeatedly toyed with. The more she thought about it, the more Qin Wanshu found it laughable in her fury. The first encounter with Zuo Qinghuan might have been a coincidence, but what about the second or third time? Since there had been a second and third time, naturally there would be a fourth. If the fish kept swimming toward her, she wouldn't even need bait—it would bite the hook on its own. Qin Wanshu wanted to see what game Zuo Qinghuan was playing. When the time came, she would return everything tenfold. Qin Wanshu didn't believe Zuo Qinghuan could outplay her. Finally, a dangerous smile appeared on Qin Wanshu's face. It could be said that Zuo Qinghuan had awakened a fighting spirit deep within Qin Wanshu's heart.
After Qin Wanshu learned Zuo Qinghuan's identity, she didn't take immediate action. Instead, she patiently waited. Since Zuo Qinghuan knew where she lived and had her phone number, it was only natural that she would reach out to her again.
When Zuo Qinghuan was feeling bored, she thought of Qin Wanshu. She stared at Qin Wanshu's phone number, hesitating. Should she call her? And why would she call her, anyway? Zuo Qinghuan paced back and forth, unable to find a good excuse. After all, one woman inviting another woman out was a simple, straightforward thing, wasn't it? Like inviting Li Xin out—it should be just as easy. So why was she feeling so conflicted?
The moment Zuo Qinghuan dialed the number, her heart skipped a beat. Why was she even nervous? Being a mistress, there was no room for purity or sentimentality. Zuo Qinghuan inwardly scoffed at herself.
Qin Wanshu was dining alone in a high-end Western restaurant. She enjoyed her solitary time, sitting by the glass window, observing the bustling people outside, watching the various expressions on their faces. Sometimes, it was an amusing pastime. Her face showed no trace of the negative emotions that her husband's affair might have caused. She appeared just like her usual self: serene, calm, elegant, and charming.
Just then, her phone rang, displaying the name "Little Fairy." Qin Wanshu smiled slightly as she answered.
"Are you busy?" Zuo Qinghuan asked politely.
"No, I'm not busy." Qin Wanshu's voice remained soft and gentle, though the smile on her lips deepened. She still wore the same elegant smile, but only she knew that inside, she was as excited as a fisherman waiting for the fish to bite.
Hearing Qin Wanshu's voice, which seemed as lovely as ever and without a trace of disturbance, Zuo Qinghuan's nervousness eased. She had no idea that Qin Wanshu's voice was deceiving her.
"Have you eaten yet?" Zuo Qinghuan checked the time—it was the perfect moment to invite her for a meal.
"Not yet," Qin Wanshu lied without blinking, her expression unchanged. If Zuo Qinghuan had seen the nearly finished plate in front of her, she would've realized she had met a fellow expert in deception—perhaps one even more skilled than herself.
"Shall we have dinner together?" Zuo Qinghuan asked.
"Sure," Qin Wanshu didn't mind eating another meal.
"Where are you now?" Zuo Qinghuan's mood lifted slightly after Qin Wanshu agreed, even her tone sounded a bit more cheerful.
"At Central Square," Qin Wanshu said softly, gazing at the plaza outside.
"I'll come to pick you up. Wait for me for ten minutes," Zuo Qinghuan said as she pressed down on the gas and headed toward Central Square.
When Zuo Qinghuan arrived, she quickly spotted Qin Wanshu in the crowd. Qin Wanshu stood in the center of the plaza, stretching out her hand, and pigeons fluttered onto her palm. Zuo Qinghuan watched, inexplicably finding the scene before her incredibly beautiful.
She didn't call out to Qin Wanshu right away, instead quietly approaching her.
"Hey!" Zuo Qinghuan, like a mischievous child, shouted playfully. Surely, someone as composed as Qin Wanshu wouldn't be startled, Zuo Qinghuan thought.
Sure enough, Qin Wanshu merely turned her head in surprise to look at Zuo Qinghuan without losing her composure. However, the pigeon in her hand flew away, startled.
Qin Wanshu was greeted by Zuo Qinghuan's carefree and radiant smile. Inside, she had the urge to give her a good smack. If it weren't for all the emergency response training from her childhood, she might actually have been frightened. But Qin Wanshu said nothing, simply scattering the bird feed from her palm.
"You know, when I was little, I always wanted to catch one of these fat pigeons and roast it," Zuo Qinghuan said, eyeing the plump pigeons with greedy eyes. Even now, she still wanted to do it. But now that she was grown up, it wouldn't look good for someone with her ethereal appearance to do something so outrageous.
"I thought about it, but I never caught one," Zuo Qinghuan defended herself as she noticed the strange look Qin Wanshu was giving her. "It doesn't count! I never actually caught one," she added. In truth, it wasn't for lack of trying—every time she approached a pigeon, they would scatter. She had given up after a while, but she still felt like it was a missed opportunity.
While Zuo Qinghuan was carefree and cheerful, Qin Wanshu only smiled. Zuo Qinghuan had no idea that Qin Wanshu had already uncovered all her secrets. If she did, she'd realize how joy often precedes sorrow.