Chapter 37
After Li Xin found a suitable pastry chef, she returned to being a doctor. Later, she called Zuo Qinghuan, saying that her family had arranged for her to go to the U.S. for three months of advanced training, and she hurried off to America. Although she still called Zuo Qinghuan from time to time, the conversations were always brief, as she seemed very busy. Her tone even carried a hint of exhaustion, something uncommon for the usually energetic Li Xin. Zuo Qinghuan thought that things hadn't been easy for Li Xin after returning home. While Li Xin was indeed talented in medicine, she had wasted many years, so catching up now was no simple task. She was getting less than five hours of sleep a day, with her schedule packed to the brim. The only solace for Li Xin was that she was too busy to think about Yan Ruoshan.
Having grown accustomed to Li Xin's companionship, Zuo Qinghuan felt a bit down after her sudden departure. However, she quickly adapted, as Zuo Qinghuan had always been someone good at adjusting to her circumstances.
One evening, after finishing the day's accounts and seeing that there were no more customers, Zuo Qinghuan told the staff to prepare to close the shop early. Just as they were about to pull down the shutters, two or three women rushed in.
"We're closing," Zuo Qinghuan said coldly as she glanced at the three women, her expression changing slightly.
"Zuo Qinghuan, I finally found you. Sister Qi wants to see you," Du Xiaoli spoke first. She had spent more than a month tracking down Zuo Qinghuan.
It seemed they weren't going to leave peacefully. Zuo Qinghuan wasn't sure what Wang Qi wanted from her, and she had no desire to meet with people from her past.
"I'm stepping out for a bit. You can close the shop and head home afterward," Zuo Qinghuan told her staff. She didn't want any drama in the shop, so she followed Du Xiaoli out.
Du Xiaoli led Zuo Qinghuan to a nearby parking lot, where Wang Qi stepped out of her car.
Wang Qi sized up Zuo Qinghuan. Her makeup was light now, unlike before when she would wear heavy makeup to look more mature, with thick smoky eyes that almost hid her true appearance. Now, Zuo Qinghuan looked as pure as a fairy, and the contrast made Wang Qi feel that Zuo Qinghuan was almost unrecognizable.
Zuo Qinghuan glanced at her former "sister," Wang Qi, who used to block her on the street and cause trouble. Apart from her habit of cornering people, Wang Qi had changed a lot. In fact, it had been so many years that Zuo Qinghuan had nearly forgotten what Wang Qi looked like. She only remembered Wang Qi's habit of dressing overly cutesy in pink. Now, Wang Qi looked sharp and professional, with a piercing gaze and dressed all in black, leaving Zuo Qinghuan uncertain if this was really the same person.
"You've changed a lot," Wang Qi said thoughtfully as she approached Zuo Qinghuan.
"Haven't you changed too?" Zuo Qinghuan responded indifferently. Everyone changes—she couldn't let herself stay stuck in the past.
"You look so pure now, like a fairy…" Wang Qi reached out, hooking her finger under Zuo Qinghuan's chin to force her to meet her gaze.
Zuo Qinghuan, displeased, turned her face away, avoiding Wang Qi's touch with disgust. This version of Wang Qi was even more annoying than the clingy girl who used to follow her around.
"Was your kindness toward me back then fake?" Wang Qi asked.
"Whether it was fake or not doesn't matter. I just wanted to live better," Zuo Qinghuan said calmly. To her, Wang Qi had always been neurotic, causing endless trouble. Zuo Qinghuan had learned to go along with it, like others, and please her. Unexpectedly, Wang Qi had really bought into it and had tried to please Zuo Qinghuan in return.
"You're truly hateful, Zuo Qinghuan!" Wang Qi fumed. While Zuo Qinghuan had only feigned kindness, Wang Qi's feelings for her had been real. This realization made her furious.
"What do you want from me?" Zuo Qinghuan asked.
"I want you to come back with me," Wang Qi said. After finally finding Zuo Qinghuan, she naturally hoped to take her back.
"That's impossible. I've left that life behind and won't return," Zuo Qinghuan replied firmly.
"Do you really think dressing like this means you've transformed?" Wang Qi sneered, grabbing Zuo Qinghuan's hand.
Zuo Qinghuan tried to pull away, but Wang Qi tightened her grip, making Zuo Qinghuan angry.
"Let go! What I do is none of your business!" Zuo Qinghuan shouted.
"Heh, born from a wild chicken, and you still dream of becoming a phoenix?" Wang Qi taunted.
This remark struck a nerve deep within Zuo Qinghuan. Furious, she snapped, "Say that again if you dare!"
"You were born from a wild chicken. Dragons give birth to dragons, phoenixes give birth to phoenixes, but a wild chicken's offspring will always be a wild chicken…" Wang Qi continued to provoke, relishing in Zuo Qinghuan's growing fury.
Slap! Zuo Qinghuan, enraged, slapped Wang Qi. However, Wang Qi was no longer the same as before. Now used to fights, she reflexively slapped Zuo Qinghuan back. Unlike Zuo Qinghuan's slap, which only left a handprint on Wang Qi's face, Wang Qi's slap caused Zuo Qinghuan's face to swell and bleed slightly at the corner of her mouth.
Seeing the blood on Zuo Qinghuan's face, Wang Qi felt a pang of regret. She hadn't meant to hit her, but her body had reacted on its own.
Wang Qi's companions, seeing her get slapped, grabbed Zuo Qinghuan by the hair, intent on teaching her a lesson. But Zuo Qinghuan wasn't one to go down easily. She grabbed Wang Qi's hair in return. In the past, when ganged up on, she had always targeted Wang Qi, thinking it was worth getting hurt as long as she could injure the leader. But now, Wang Qi easily gripped Zuo Qinghuan's wrist, forcing her to let go.
Wang Qi smiled as she watched Zuo Qinghuan struggle helplessly, filled with anger yet powerless. This was the Zuo Qinghuan she was familiar with.
"Look at you now. Do you really think you're different from before? How are you any different from me?" Wang Qi taunted.
"Let's get a cup of coffee before heading back," Shi Yanyang suggested. She had been craving the coffee and desserts from the last time, and she was curious to see Li Xin, that alluring woman. Since the café was nearby, she thought it would be fun to tease her a bit and unwind after a busy day.
Qin Wan Shu, preoccupied with other projects, had recently been working on a collaboration between the Shi and Qian families, often with Qin Wan Shu handling negotiations. As a result, Shi Yanyang had become a regular at the Qin family's company. Since they both finished work late tonight, it seemed like a good idea to stop by the café.
"Sure," Qin Wan Shu agreed. She had been so busy that she had declined several of Zuo Qinghuan's invitations. Eventually, Zuo Qinghuan had stopped calling altogether, seemingly out of spite. So when Shi Yanyang suggested going to her café, Qin Wan Shu readily agreed.
They parked near Zuo Qinghuan's café.
"Hey, isn't that the little lily from the café? It looks like she's in an argument," Shi Yanyang noticed Zuo Qinghuan and Wang Qi from a distance and curiously walked closer.
Qin Wan Shu also noticed Zuo Qinghuan. As they got closer, they could overhear the heated conversation. Neither Zuo Qinghuan nor Wang Qi noticed them approaching, too engrossed in their argument.
Shi Yanyang was surprised by Qin Wan Shu's interest. Usually indifferent to other people's business, Qin Wan Shu would often walk away and leave Shi Yanyang to observe such scenes alone. Today, however, she seemed intrigued.
Qin Wan Shu stood expressionless, listening to the conversation. It was clear that Wang Qi had an intense possessiveness toward Zuo Qinghuan.
"Who would've thought the little lily was born of a wild chicken? Seems like she's a lotus flower rising unstained from the mud," Shi Yanyang commented mockingly, with a hint of disdain.
Qin Wan Shu's heart tightened slightly, feeling discomfort as she saw Zuo Qinghuan's eyes redden upon hearing the cruel words.
Then, with a loud slap, Zuo Qinghuan was hit. Qin Wan Shu had initially thought Wang Qi wouldn't hurt her, but seeing the blood at the corner of Zuo Qinghuan's mouth made Qin Wan Shu narrow her eyes.
"Didn't expect the little lily to be so feisty, but against four people, she's bound to lose," Shi Yanyang said, showing no intention of stepping in, content to watch the drama unfold.
But Qin Wan Shu stepped forward. Shi Yanyang, surprised, wondered why. Qin Wan Shu usually stayed out of such conflicts. Her behavior was out of character.
"Let her go," Qin Wan Shu's voice was cold.
Upon hearing Qin Wan Shu's voice, Zuo Qinghuan froze, lowering the hand she had raised to fight back. It was as if all her energy had drained away, and she lost the will to continue. No matter how many times Zuo Qinghuan had faced humiliation before, nothing compared to how she felt in that moment. She didn't dare look at Qin Wan Shu, fearing the disdain she might see in her eyes. All of her pride collapsed in an instant. In her most vulnerable, embarrassing state, the last thing she wanted was for Qin Wan Shu to see her like this.
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