Chapter 19
"It's time to get up." Zuo Qinghuan climbed out of bed, avoiding Qin Wanshu's cat-like gaze.
Zuo Qinghuan got up, found a new toothbrush and towel, and handed them to Qin Wanshu before retreating into the bathroom.
"What do you want to eat?" Zuo Qinghuan's voice came from the bathroom.
"Anything," Qin Wanshu replied, unsure if it was breakfast or lunch. She rarely woke up this late, so she was indifferent about the meal. As Zuo Qinghuan went into the bathroom, Qin Wanshu changed out of Zuo Qinghuan's pajamas and prepared to put on her own clothes.
Just then, Zuo Qinghuan's head peeked out from the bathroom. She swore she wasn't intentionally spying; she just wanted to ask Qin Wanshu if it was breakfast or lunch. However, the sight before her was quite stimulating: Qin Wanshu was facing away, undressing. True to her nature, even the act of taking off her clothes was graceful. The perfect curve of her back was almost enough to make one bleed from the nose. Her skin was as smooth as mutton fat, and her flawless back was something Zuo Qinghuan couldn't help but envy. It turned out that a perfect woman could evoke feelings that transcended gender. However, she wasn't entirely accurate; she had seen the fiery figure of Li Xin, but looking at Li Xin's body hadn't stirred a single wave of emotion. Now, seeing Qin Wanshu felt entirely different.
Once Qin Wanshu finished changing, Zuo Qinghuan withdrew her head, squeezed out some toothpaste, and began to brush her teeth. Honestly, Qin Wanshu's figure was better than her own. Zuo Qinghuan glanced at her reflection in the mirror. With a face like a fairy and a body that was decidedly not as impressive, she found herself regretting her A-cup size. By Zuo Qinghuan's estimation, Qin Wanshu must at least be a B-cup. Externally, Qin Wanshu could score a perfect ten, Zuo Qinghuan thought.
Unbeknownst to Qin Wanshu, she had been watched while changing clothes.
Qin Wanshu waited for quite a while, and only then did Zuo Qinghuan finally emerge slowly. She noticed Zuo Qinghuan had tied her long, straight hair into a small ponytail, giving her a very youthful look, much like a neighborly little sister.
"Go get ready; I'll make us something to eat." Zuo Qinghuan was quite skilled in the kitchen. Coming from a poor family, she had learned to take charge early. Zuo Qinghuan could whip up a delicious homemade meal from very simple ingredients. However, Li Xin was the real chef; she could cook anything and did so at a professional level, unlike Zuo Qinghuan, who was more of an amateur. So Zuo Qinghuan had always thought of Li Xin as a genuinely virtuous woman, which contrasted sharply with her appearance.
Qin Wanshu was a typical rich girl, someone who had never lifted a finger in the kitchen.
After Qin Wanshu finished getting ready, Zuo Qinghuan emerged from the kitchen with a simple three-dish-and-soup meal. Zuo Qinghuan looked quite professional and like a good housewife, which surprised Qin Wanshu; it seemed there were quite a few skills one had to possess as a mistress.
"Do you often cook for him?" Qin Wanshu asked, noting that she never cooked. Han Shibin was lucky to have a mistress who complemented him in this way. Qin Wanshu realized that she didn't mind discussing the man they both knew with Zuo Qinghuan at all.
"Of course not! I'm his mistress, not his housewife." Zuo Qinghuan had never cooked for Han Shibin; generally, she only cooked for herself.
Qin Wanshu looked at the appetizing lunch on the table and began to eat. For the first time, she thought that being friends with Zuo Qinghuan wouldn't be so bad, putting aside their connection through Han Shibin.
Zuo Qinghuan only started eating after seeing Qin Wanshu take a bite of the meal she prepared.
"Not bad," Qin Wanshu said sincerely.
Upon hearing this, Zuo Qinghuan couldn't help but smile, feeling quite pleased.
"I'll cook for you again sometime," Zuo Qinghuan said, licking the sauce off her lips with a smile.
Qin Wanshu merely smiled in return, not rejecting the idea, although she didn't voice her thoughts.
At that moment, Han Shibin's call came through.
When Qin Wanshu saw it was Han Shibin, she pressed the answer button without caring that Zuo Qinghuan was present.
"Wife, why was your phone off this morning?" Han Shibin asked anxiously. He had called several times, but each time it had been off, and he couldn't reach Zuo Qinghuan either, leaving him in a bad mood.
"I forgot to turn it on," Qin Wanshu replied, still calm while lying.
"What are you doing now?" Han Shibin asked as a matter of habit.
"Having lunch." Qin Wanshu glanced at Zuo Qinghuan, who seemed indifferent, enjoying her meal.
Zuo Qinghuan quickly guessed it was Han Shibin on the phone. Although she appeared unconcerned, she was straining to listen to Qin Wanshu's conversation.
"Seems like you're eating a bit early today." Han Shibin checked his watch; he knew Qin Wanshu's habits well. She usually had lunch between 11:30 and 12:00, rarely eating outside that time frame.
"I was hungry, so I started early," Qin Wanshu said lightly.
"I'll be back this Saturday." Han Shibin thought about how he would be home in a few days and felt somewhat better.
"That's great," Qin Wanshu said with a faint smile. Today was Tuesday; there were only four days left.
"What gift do you want?" Han Shibin asked. Although he could sense Qin Wanshu's smile, it still felt cool, never reaching the warmth of a hundred degrees.
"I'll like whatever you buy," Qin Wanshu replied, still smiling while saying something insincere. She didn't lack for anything, so it didn't matter what Han Shibin bought.
Han Shibin fell silent for a moment, always receiving this same answer. Looking at the watch he had already bought for her, he wondered if she would like it.
"Okay, I won't keep you from eating. I'll call you tonight," Han Shibin said. Although he wanted to say more, he thought better of it since Qin Wanshu was eating.
"Alright." Qin Wanshu had actually wanted to hang up long ago; it was impolite to stay on the phone for so long at the dining table, but with Han Shibin in a good mood, she didn't want to dampen his spirits.
"Sorry." Qin Wanshu hung up and apologized to Zuo Qinghuan for her earlier impolite behavior.
Before Zuo Qinghuan could respond, her phone rang as well. She thought to herself, "Could Han Shibin have just called his wife and now be calling me?"
"I'll take this call," Zuo Qinghuan said, smiling at Qin Wanshu.
"Darling, what made you suddenly think to call me? When will you come? I miss you so much…" Zuo Qinghuan said sweetly, though her expression remained casual.
Qin Wanshu observed this scene, thinking it was indeed quite strange: her husband's mistress was dismissing him in front of her. She wasn't sure whether to be relieved or to feel sorry for Han Shibin.
"Why was your phone off this morning?" Han Shibin asked.
"I was out shopping this morning, and my phone ran out of battery," Zuo Qinghuan replied, expressionless as she told a trivial lie.
"I hope you keep your phone charged at all times from now on. I don't want to encounter this kind of situation again," Han Shibin said, displeased. It was one thing not to find his wife; it was quite another not to be able to reach the mistress who existed for his sake. He felt she was neglecting her duty.
"Okay," Zuo Qinghuan replied nonchalantly.
Han Shibin frowned. Zuo Qinghuan had never spoken to him in such a dismissive manner; it felt like a once obedient cat suddenly swiping its paw at him, making Han Shibin extremely uncomfortable.
"You need to understand something: I can easily find someone to replace you," Han Shibin warned Zuo Qinghuan, reminding her of her place.
"Do as you please." Zuo Qinghuan hung up the phone and thought about how Han Shibin on the other end would probably be furious, which made her feel great. Han Shibin could easily find someone to replace her, and she could easily find someone to replace him; with her looks and skills, it wouldn't be hard to attract a high-quality sugar daddy. Did Han Shibin really think he was in love with her?
"With an attitude like that, he won't be happy." Qin Wanshu remembered that in the morning, Zuo Qinghuan wasn't willing to leave Han Shibin.
"Were you eavesdropping on my conversation?" Zuo Qinghuan pretended to be surprised as she looked at Qin Wanshu.
Qin Wanshu was momentarily at a loss for words. Listening to someone else's phone call wasn't right, but she hadn't avoided her own call, so it was natural to overhear.
"Didn't you want me to leave him?" Zuo Qinghuan asked Qin Wanshu. She was willing to do this for Qin Wanshu; she preferred to get along with Qin Wanshu because being with her was much more enjoyable than being with Han Shibin.
"Aren't you the one who didn't want to this morning?" Qin Wanshu was surprised by Zuo Qinghuan's response.
"I just didn't want you to make a deal, not that I didn't want to leave him." Zuo Qinghuan shrugged and said dismissively.
Qin Wanshu was momentarily taken aback. Did she matter more to her than Han Shibin? Or was Han Shibin just not significant enough in her heart?
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