**Chapter 12**
"Zuo Qinghuan, you're really interesting," Qin Wanshu said, suddenly smiling at her. But Zuo Qinghuan noticed that this smile was different from Qin Wanshu's usual one—it looked strange, somehow.
"Hehe..." Zuo Qinghuan awkwardly chuckled. It was the first time anyone had called her "interesting," and she only now realized it was also the first time Qin Wanshu had called her by her full name.
"What do you want to eat?" Qin Wanshu asked.
"Anything is fine, I'm not picky," Zuo Qinghuan thought that whatever Miss Qin liked to eat couldn't be that bad.
"How about that place?" Qin Wanshu pointed to the restaurant where she had just eaten.
Zuo Qinghuan felt a bit dizzy at the sight—it was a French restaurant with very complicated etiquette. She had never enjoyed French cuisine. In the past, Han Shibin had taken her to eat there once or twice, but she never wanted to go again.
"Don't like it?" Qin Wanshu asked, noticing Zuo Qinghuan's discomfort.
"It's not that I don't like it; it's just too much trouble," Zuo Qinghuan shuddered at the thought of the many rules of French dining. Fine, she admitted to herself, she was just not sophisticated enough for high-end French food.
"Then you decide," Qin Wanshu said. She didn't really want to eat another French meal anyway, and since her purpose wasn't truly to dine with Zuo Qinghuan, she didn't care what they ate.
"Have you ever eaten common food?" Zuo Qinghuan figured that Qin Wanshu had grown up on fine delicacies, like the pampered characters on TV who didn't recognize everyday ingredients.
"Of course," Qin Wanshu replied, thinking she wasn't that spoiled.
"Good, follow me." Zuo Qinghuan instinctively reached out and took Qin Wanshu's hand, leading her toward her car.
Qin Wanshu found this odd—this wasn't how a mistress and a wife were supposed to behave. Zuo Qinghuan didn't seem fake at all. What exactly was going on? Qin Wanshu was momentarily confused.
Zuo Qinghuan drove to a food street near a university and parked in front of a small malatang (spicy hot pot) shop.
Qin Wanshu looked at the worn-out sign that read "Malatang" and the shabby eating area. She was a little shocked. She had thought Zuo Qinghuan was the type to spend Han Shibin's money lavishly, not bring her to such a cheap place. Although, Zuo Qinghuan did, in fact, spend Han Shibin's money without hesitation. She figured it was her duty to be materialistic in her line of work, but deep down, she had saved up a lot of money, always feeling that one day she would return to a normal life.
"Never been here?" Zuo Qinghuan asked, noticing Qin Wanshu standing still. She realized that dragging the wealthy Miss Qin to such a place might not have been the nicest move. The stark contrast between a fancy French restaurant and this roadside food stall amused Zuo Qinghuan. She wondered if Qin Wanshu would remain as composed as she usually was. In truth, Zuo Qinghuan hated this contrast, too—the sense of eating at food stalls but feeling out of place in high-end restaurants was something ingrained in her. So, she wanted Qin Wanshu to experience this discomfort as well.
"Is it clean?" Qin Wanshu's first concern was hygiene.
"Don't worry, it's in a student district, and there are countless students here every day without issues—unless, of course, Miss Qin is too precious to handle simple food," Zuo Qinghuan teased, raising an eyebrow.
Qin Wanshu frowned slightly. She was used to being called "Miss Qin" at home, but something about how Zuo Qinghuan said it felt irritating.
"Never tried it before, but it seems interesting," Qin Wanshu replied, not disappointing Zuo Qinghuan. She quickly regained her composure—if she was here, she might as well enjoy it.
"Can you handle spicy food?"
"A little."
"Wait here, it'll be ready soon." Before long, Zuo Qinghuan returned with two steaming bowls of malatang.
Zuo Qinghuan placed the bowl in front of Qin Wanshu, indicating that she could start eating.
It smelled surprisingly good, Qin Wanshu thought. After a moment of hesitation, she picked up the disposable chopsticks and slowly began to eat.
Seeing Qin Wanshu start eating, Zuo Qinghuan picked up her own chopsticks and began eating too. However, she noticed that Qin Wanshu's refined table manners didn't quite fit with the casual environment of the shop. Zuo Qinghuan silently laughed to herself. Indeed, many people were staring at them. Neither of them looked like the local students, and both were beautiful—one exuding elegance and the other ethereal charm—so they naturally attracted attention. Fortunately, it wasn't peak dining time, and the shop wasn't crowded.
To her surprise, Qin Wanshu found the malatang quite delicious. Before she knew it, she had eaten half the bowl, forgetting that she had already eaten earlier. She even forgot, for a moment, the reason she was eating with Zuo Qinghuan. Realizing she was full, she put down her chopsticks and noticed Zuo Qinghuan had already finished, resting her chin in her hand, watching her.
"Why are you looking at me?" Qin Wanshu took a delicate tissue from her bag and gently wiped her mouth, her movements still elegant.
"Because you're beautiful!" Zuo Qinghuan replied honestly.
Qin Wanshu knew she wasn't lacking in looks and had never felt she couldn't accept such a compliment, but hearing it from Zuo Qinghuan, a woman in the position of the other woman, made her feel uncomfortable.
Qin Wanshu found it incredible that after learning Zuo Qinghuan's identity, she could still get along with her. It was strange, considering how much she wanted to reprimand this woman.
"My place is nearby. Want to come over for a bit?" Zuo Qinghuan asked. She genuinely enjoyed Qin Wanshu's company; it felt better than hanging out with Li Xin. She wanted to continue this good mood and keep Qin Wanshu around longer. After all, she had plenty of time.
"Alright." Qin Wanshu nodded. She had been waiting for this invitation. Once she saw the house where Han Shibin kept his mistress, she could expose Zuo Qinghuan's true identity. She was curious how Zuo Qinghuan would respond.
This time, it was Zuo Qinghuan inviting the wolf into her den.
As Qin Wanshu entered Zuo Qinghuan's place again, she noticed details she hadn't before, like the large pair of men's slippers by the door. Knowing that all the men's things here belonged to Han Shibin gave her a sense of unease.
"You don't live alone, do you?" Qin Wanshu asked casually.
Zuo Qinghuan saw that Qin Wanshu noticed the men's slippers and nodded. "No, I live with my lover, though he's usually busy and doesn't come by often," Zuo Qinghuan said truthfully.
Qin Wanshu picked up on the wording. Zuo Qinghuan didn't say "husband" or "boyfriend"; she said "lover." Her choice of words was quite intriguing.
"What kind of man is he?" Qin Wanshu asked, curious. Zuo Qinghuan had once asked her the same question.
"He's rich, handsome, and successful—a pretty good lover," Zuo Qinghuan answered after a moment of thought.
"Do you love his money? Since you mentioned wealth first," Qin Wanshu probed further.
Zuo Qinghuan mentally noted how sharp Qin Wanshu was in catching such details.
"It's not love, just fondness," Zuo Qinghuan said. She didn't like using the word "love."
Qin Wanshu was a bit surprised. Looking at Zuo Qinghuan's indifferent expression, she couldn't detect any traces of love. Maybe Zuo Qinghuan liked Han Shibin's money the most. After all, Qin Wanshu had married Han Shibin because he was a good match for her. Suddenly, she felt a bit sorry for Han Shibin.
After changing into slippers, Qin Wanshu followed Zuo Qinghuan into the living room. There was a curved table with two high chairs beside it, a stylish yet cozy decoration, different from her own home's classical style.
"I rarely make tea. Do you drink coffee?" Zuo Qinghuan asked. Han Shibin loved coffee, so she had plenty of good coffee at home.
"Yes," Qin Wanshu nodded.
"My coffee-making skills are pretty good. I used to work at a café," Zuo Qinghuan mentioned. She had, after all, met Han Shibin at a café. Of course, she had used a few tricks to attract him.
Qin Wanshu knew her husband loved coffee and made excellent coffee himself, never needing her to lift a finger.
The coffee machine was set up on the curved table. As Zuo Qinghuan prepared the coffee with practiced ease, her focused expression was almost admirable. Being served so attentively felt unexpectedly pleasant to Qin Wanshu, though she couldn't help but feel conflicted. Maybe Han Shibin's affair wasn't just because of her coldness; perhaps he genuinely liked Zuo Qinghuan. Not only was she young and beautiful, but she also knew how to make a man happy, even if her efforts weren't entirely genuine. She certainly satisfied a man's vanity.
"My husband also loves coffee, but I've never made it for him. I think doing something yourself feels different from watching someone else do it for you," Qin Wanshu suddenly said.
Zuo Qinghuan was a little startled. Was it her imagination, or had Qin Wanshu been mentioning Han Shibin more frequently today?
"Maybe he doesn't want you to do something you don't like," Zuo Qinghuan replied. With a wife like Qin Wanshu, a husband wouldn't ask for much more. Otherwise, he'd be insatiable.
"You seem to know my husband better than I do," Qin Wanshu said with a half-smile, half-frown, staring at Zuo Qinghuan. The gaze made Zuo Qinghuan feel uneasy. Qin Wanshu seemed different today, but Zuo Qinghuan couldn't pinpoint exactly how.
"I'm just guessing. Anyway, the coffee's ready. Try it." The rich aroma of the coffee filled the living room, even making Qin Wanshu, who seldom drank coffee, find it appealing. The fragrance was strong and bold, unlike the subtle scent of tea.
Qin Wanshu took a cup of coffee, sipping it lightly. The deep, rich flavor spread across her tongue. She had to admit, Zuo Qinghuan's coffee was far better than Han Shibin's.
"It's really good," Qin Wanshu said sincerely.
Seeing Qin Wanshu's relaxed expression, Zuo Qinghuan smiled happily. She had made coffee for Han Shibin countless times, but she had never felt this genuinely pleased.
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