Volume One, Chapter 93: Fatherly

Xie Liuzheng was finally discharged from the hospital. For once, she had a rare vacation and had no desire to rush back to the grind of filming—she wanted to spend some quality time with Song Qingyu.

“Xiaoyu, I heard the maple leaves on Jiuhuang Mountain have turned red. Why don’t we go soak in the hot springs?”

“You just got out of the hospital. Can you even go to a hot spring?”

“I can! I specifically asked the doctor. He said there are several herbal pools there, and soaking in them is good for recovery—as long as I don’t overdo it.”

“All right then.”

“Great, I’ll book the hotel.”

Not long after, Song Qingyu received a call from Xie Liuzheng. “Hey, Xiaoyu, can you believe it? I was just about to book the hotel when President Fu called me out of the blue. He said he had two tickets to Jiuhuang Mountain and told me to take a friend to the hot springs for some rest and relaxation.”

Song Qingyu was astonished. “What are the odds?”

“I know, right? It honestly startled me. Do you think President Fu’s bugged me or something?”

Song Qingyu couldn’t help but laugh. “Why would he do that?”

“Hmm—could it be he has a secret crush on me?”

“He only likes married women, and you’re not one.”

Xie Liuzheng chuckled. “You’ve got a point. Anyway, never mind. That means we don’t have to buy tickets or book a hotel—we can just enjoy ourselves.”

After hanging up, Song Qingyu thought for a moment. Aside from the last trip to the aquarium, it had been ages since she’d gone anywhere with Pei Jingmo. She’d heard the autumn maples on Jiuhuang Mountain were breathtaking, and she instinctively wanted to invite him along.

That evening, when Pei Jingmo returned home, Song Qingyu asked him.

Pei Jingmo’s eyes flickered. “Sorry, Qingqing. The big boss wants me to accompany him on a business trip out of town this Saturday. I’m afraid I can’t go with you.”

“Oh, okay. That’s all right, work comes first.”

She said it lightly, but for some reason, a faint disappointment lingered in her heart.

Planning to stay overnight at Jiuhuang Mountain, Song Qingyu decided to bring a small suitcase.

On Saturday morning, Pei Jingmo carried the suitcase and walked her downstairs. Xie Liuzheng, wearing sunglasses and a hat, waved at them with a grin, teasing, “Do you two have to be this sweet? Escorting her all the way down the stairs?”

The driver, sensing the mood, had already placed the luggage in the trunk.

Pei Jingmo turned to Song Qingyu, reminding her, “If you feel cold, take out the down jacket and put it on. Don’t be lazy—your health comes first.”

“...Got it.”

“Remember your vitamins. Don’t skip a day.”

“Okay.”

“At night, check the doors and windows, and lock up. If anything happens, call me immediately.”

“Hey, hey, hey—”

Xie Liuzheng knocked on the car, exclaiming, “Enough, you two! You’re only gone one night, not a whole year like those star-crossed lovers. I’m choking on all this lovey-dovey talk.”

Blushing, Song Qingyu climbed into the car. “I’m leaving now. You should hurry to work, too.”

As the car pulled away, both Xie Liuzheng and Song Qingyu saw Pei Jingmo still standing at the door, watching them go.

Xie Liuzheng clicked her tongue. “He’s about to turn into one of those legendary waiting stones. I never really understood the whole ‘dad-husband’ type until I met your neat-freak.”

It wasn’t until they rounded the corner and Pei Jingmo disappeared from view that Song Qingyu looked away. “He really is attentive and thoughtful.”

“He practically treats you like his daughter. By the way, why didn’t you ask him to come along? Even though President Fu only gave us two tickets, we could’ve just bought another.”

“I did ask. He said he had to go on a business trip with his boss today.”

Xie Liuzheng stroked her chin thoughtfully. “When you left, did your neat-freak give you any money?”

Song Qingyu nodded. “He gave me a bank card.”

She recalled how, that morning before she left, Pei Jingmo had slipped the card into her hand. “Buy whatever you want, do whatever you want. Just have fun—don’t worry about saving money.”

Pei Jingmo already took such good care of the household; how could Song Qingyu possibly need his money?

“No need, I have money of my own.”

She tried to return the card, but met his somber, deep gaze. “Aren’t we husband and wife? Why act like strangers?”

“I—”

“So all that talk was just politeness, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“You always say we’re family, that if I need anything I should tell you and you’ll help. But you won’t let me do anything nice for you in return.”

Song Qingyu felt accused, almost wronged by his words. It wasn’t that she didn’t accept his care—she’d accepted so much, she could hardly bear it. But seeing how much it would hurt him if she refused the card, she really couldn’t say no and had to take it. She told herself it didn’t matter as long as she didn’t spend any of it.

“He gave you his savings card?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Oh wow, your neat-freak is something else. One trip out, and he hands over his entire fortune for you to play with. Do you even know how much he’s got saved on that card?”

Song Qingyu shook her head. “It’s not easy for him to save money. I’m not planning to spend any.”

Xie Liuzheng gave a sigh and burst out laughing. “The heavens truly are fair. Chu Xingzhi betrayed you, but then sent you someone as wonderful as Pei Jingmo.”

Pei Jingmo really was wonderful—so much so that Song Qingyu thought, if they ever divorced, she’d never find anyone better.

“By the way, I got bored the other day and had my fortune told by a master. He said my soulmate is just around the corner.”

Song Qingyu didn’t really believe in such things, but seeing Xie Liuzheng so happy, she smiled and said, “Maybe your true love is already waiting for you up on Jiuhuang Mountain.”

Xie Liuzheng began to daydream. She used to think making money was better than falling in love, but every time she saw how good Pei Jingmo was to Song Qingyu, she couldn’t help but long for romance herself.

Meanwhile—

Lu Rongrong stood at the door waiting for what felt like ages. She was dressed lightly despite the cold, stamping her feet as the chill wind whipped by.

Where on earth was Gu Yuantong? He was late.

She reached for her phone, just as a Maybach pulled up beside her. Guo Rang got out and loaded her suitcase into the trunk.

Lu Rongrong waited for Gu Yuantong to get out and open the car door for her, but he didn’t budge.

Sure enough, after the suitcase was stowed, Guo Rang opened the front passenger door. “Miss Lu, please get in.”

Lu Rongrong shot him a look—did this man have no sense? She absolutely wanted to sit with Gu Yuantong.

“I want to sit in the back.”

“I’m afraid there’s no room in the back.”

“What?”

Just then, the window slid down, and Fu Linhan’s handsome face appeared.

He waved at Lu Rongrong with a dazzling smile. “Good morning, Miss Lu.”

Lu Rongrong’s face flushed with anger.

“Surely President Fu knows this was supposed to be a date between me and Yuantong?”

“Of course!” Fu Linhan’s face was all innocence, his smile radiant. “There’s no law saying a guy can’t bring his buddy along on a date, is there?”

Lu Rongrong was speechless.

“Technically, I should give you the back seat, but I get carsick easily. Dongzi will have to hand me water and pat my back, so I’m afraid you’ll have to take the front.”

As he spoke, he made an exaggerated shivering gesture. “Dongzi, it’s so cold today.”

“Then close the window.”

A long, elegant hand reached across Fu Linhan to roll up the window.

Through the glass, Lu Rongrong saw Fu Linhan link his arm through Gu Yuantong’s. “If you hold me, I won’t be cold anymore~”