**Chapter 13**
"May I take a look around?" Qin Wanshu asked Zuo Qinghuan after finishing her coffee.
Zuo Qinghuan thought to herself that this wasn't good. Qin Wanshu wasn't like her, a poor person who would want to tour a mansion. Although the house Han Shibin bought for her could be considered a mansion, to someone as wealthy as Qin Wanshu, it probably seemed very ordinary. More importantly, Zuo Qinghuan wasn't sure if there would be any clues she might give away. Qin Wanshu appeared to be a meticulous person. Zuo Qinghuan suddenly didn't want Qin Wanshu to discover her identity too soon. If Qin Wanshu found out who she really was, they might not be able to get along as easily and pleasantly anymore.
"My place is nothing compared to yours; there's really not much to see," Zuo Qinghuan replied modestly, but she realized that the last time, Qin Wanshu had generously allowed her to tour her own home, making Zuo Qinghuan seem stingy in comparison.
"What about this study? Can I go in?" Qin Wanshu asked, pointing to a nearby room.
"...Sure," Zuo Qinghuan agreed, feeling relieved that she and Han Shibin were careful enough to not leave any traces of themselves together. They hardly ever took pictures together. However, Qin Wanshu's curiosity about her home caught Zuo Qinghuan off guard.
"This study's layout is quite similar to my husband's. The way things are arranged and even the books on the shelves are very much alike," Qin Wanshu remarked as she picked up a book from the shelf. People's habits don't change easily; they tend to permeate every detail of their lives.
Zuo Qinghuan's heart skipped a beat. She had noticed this during her last visit to Qin Wanshu's home, and now, after hearing Qin Wanshu's comment, she realized that the layouts were indeed quite similar. Even the placement of objects was identical. Qin Wanshu was truly observant.
"I hadn't noticed until you mentioned it. Now that you say it, they really are quite alike. What a coincidence..." Zuo Qinghuan replied with a forced smile, trying to cover up her unease.
Qin Wanshu's eyes swept over the ashtray, lighter, and cigars on the table, and her emotions became mixed. She remembered that Han Shibin used to smoke, but because she didn't like the smell, he had supposedly quit. It turned out he hadn't quit smoking after all—he had just moved it elsewhere.
"Cuban cigars. My husband enjoys them too," Qin Wanshu's gaze lingered on the cigars. Premium Cuban cigars weren't something just anyone could afford. White-collar workers couldn't indulge in them; only people of high standing could.
"What a coincidence..." Zuo Qinghuan was no longer able to smile. It wasn't her imagination—ever since Qin Wanshu entered the house today, she had been mentioning Han Shibin repeatedly. She was doing it on purpose. Qin Wanshu wasn't the kind of person to talk about her husband all the time. Does she know my identity? Zuo Qinghuan wondered, now almost certain. If she knew, why not expose her directly? Why beat around the bush?
"Yes, what a coincidence. Even their workplaces are the same. Both work at the Hancheng International Group," Qin Wanshu's gaze shifted to a business proposal on the desk, then lightly flicked back to Zuo Qinghuan's face. That look made Zuo Qinghuan feel completely exposed under Qin Wanshu's scrutiny. It was an awful feeling.
"You know, don't you?" Zuo Qinghuan asked tentatively.
"Know what?" Qin Wanshu raised an eyebrow in response. Her expression remained calm and elegant, making it impossible for Zuo Qinghuan to read any emotions. But her eyes were cold and devoid of warmth. This kind of poised and unbothered wife could make any mistress feel pressured. At this moment, Zuo Qinghuan felt like a mouse being watched by a cat, unsure if the cat would eat her or toy with her before tearing her apart. It was a dreadful feeling.
"You know what I mean," Zuo Qinghuan said, now about seventy percent sure that Qin Wanshu knew her true identity. Since she had been found out, it was time to lay her cards on the table.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Being exposed by someone else and revealing yourself were two very different experiences. When someone else exposed you, it was easier to adopt a "dead pig doesn't fear boiling water" attitude, feeling that the other person couldn't do anything to you. But when you revealed yourself, it brought a sense of shame. Qin Wanshu had no intention of making things easy for Zuo Qinghuan.
Zuo Qinghuan looked at Qin Wanshu, whose expression hadn't changed, but there was a hint of mockery in her gaze, making Zuo Qinghuan uncomfortable.
"Qin Wanshu, do you despise people like me?" Zuo Qinghuan asked, feeling a subtle pain in her heart. She didn't care if everyone else looked down on her, but she didn't want Qin Wanshu to.
"What kind of people are you talking about?" Qin Wanshu raised an eyebrow, her eyes showing a hint of curiosity. She wanted to know how Zuo Qinghuan categorized herself.
Damn, Zuo Qinghuan suddenly realized what Qin Wanshu was up to—this woman wanted to humiliate her, and she was using Zuo Qinghuan's own words to do it. Zuo Qinghuan was sensitive; the moment she felt someone's ill will toward her, she would go on full alert, ready to retaliate. She usually struck first, biting back before anyone else had the chance.
"Aren't we just sharing the same man? If something is good, it's only natural that more people want to use it," Zuo Qinghuan responded confidently. She had never felt that being a mistress was something to be ashamed of. After all, the saying goes, "Flies don't land on a seamless egg." These things happened because both parties were willing. Zuo Qinghuan lifted her chin slightly, her sharp jawline showing defiance, and her straightened posture seemed ready to fight back. She refused to feel ashamed in front of Qin Wanshu. Her pride was in looking down on her enemy. Although deep inside, she had always harbored a sense of self-loathing, she forced it down for now.
Qin Wanshu hadn't expected Zuo Qinghuan to admit her identity so quickly, and the self-righteous arrogance on her face was deeply ironic for a mistress.
Qin Wanshu's lips curled into a slight smirk, a cold, mocking smile that pricked Zuo Qinghuan's pride. She had thought Qin Wanshu might be different, but now it seemed she had been foolish to think so.
"Your affair with Han Shibin is hardly worth mentioning. If I wanted you gone, it would be easier than squashing an ant. But what I want to know is, why did you approach me?" Qin Wanshu wasn't fazed by Zuo Qinghuan's bravado. She moved closer, and Zuo Qinghuan involuntarily took a step back.
Qin Wanshu's voice was so soft, her expression so graceful, yet her words were venomous. Zuo Qinghuan, wide-eyed, realized that Qin Wanshu wasn't as harmless as she seemed. There was an air of danger about her now, and Zuo Qinghuan felt a flicker of fear. If Qin Wanshu truly wanted her to disappear, it might indeed be easier than squashing an ant.
"You're so smart. Why don't you figure it out yourself?" Zuo Qinghuan continued to put up a front, though in truth, she wasn't even sure why she had gotten close to Qin Wanshu in the first place. If she had encountered this side of Qin Wanshu from the start, Zuo Qinghuan was certain she would never have dared to provoke her. This woman was clearly not someone to mess with.
"Do you know what your biggest mistake is, Zuo Qinghuan?" Qin Wanshu asked softly, moving so close that it felt like she was whispering in Zuo Qinghuan's ear. The proximity made Zuo Qinghuan's skin crawl.
Zuo Qinghuan was the type who refused to admit defeat until the very end. Even though she was terrified inside, her mouth still refused to back down.
"My biggest mistake? I'm not the one with frigidity—you are!" Zuo Qinghuan snapped back, instantly regretting it. She saw the anger flare in Qin Wanshu's eyes. Zuo Qinghuan wasn't someone who couldn't read a room—on the contrary, she was very good at it. But for some reason, her temper had flared, and she had spoken without thinking. Provoking Qin Wanshu had no benefit for her. For the first time, Zuo Qinghuan wished he could control his own mouth. Deep down, perhaps she still hoped Qin Wanshu was the person she had initially seen.
Qin Wanshu narrowed her eyes, clearly furious. She had treated Zuo Qinghuan with sincerity, yet this woman had the nerve to mock and ridicule her. It was infuriating.
Qin Wanshu had backed Zuo Qinghuan into a corner. There was no way out. Zuo Qinghuan wasn't sure if Qin Wanshu was about to slap her—the classic scene where the wife hits the mistress—or if…
"Do you really want to know if I'm frigid?" Qin Wanshu asked, her tone chilling as she glared at Zuo Qinghuan.
"Actually, whether you're frigid or not isn't the point. Frigidity isn't your fault. It's me and Han Shibin who are… despicable…" Zuo Qinghuan quickly tried to appease her, flashing an awkward smile. She thought her attitude was perfectly apologetic, but little did she know that every mention of "frigidity" only fueled Qin Wanshu's anger. In a moment of blind rage, Qin Wanshu kissed Zuo Qinghuan, as if to prove that she wasn't frigid.
Zuo Qinghuan was completely caught off guard by Qin Wanshu's kiss. She froze for a moment but quickly realized what was happening. She figured Qin Wanshu must have truly lost her mind, because why else would she willingly give herself to her? To be honest, Zuo Qinghuan didn't mind being kissed by Qin Wanshu—in fact, she rather liked it.
Before long, Zuo Qinghuan let her body take over, shifting from passive to active as she kissed Qin Wanshu back. Her kiss was far more sensual and provocative than Qin Wanshu's stiff, confrontational one. Her tongue skillfully teased Qin Wanshu's lips, playfully coaxing her.
Qin Wanshu abruptly shoved Zuo Qinghuan away. She felt as though she had gone mad for doing such a thing. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to tear Zuo Qinghuan apart. It was all Zuo Qinghuan's fault!
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