Chapter Eighty-Five: Qin Mengxue Had Forgotten Something

Evening had quietly fallen over the northern metropolis of Beiyang in the Central Plains. The sun was already half-hidden behind the clouds, doing its best to release the day’s last light and warmth, leaving behind one final blush of red at the seam where day met night. At the opposite edge of the sky, a moon as translucent as white jade had already slipped into view, waiting for the sun to finish its turn.

It was Friday, the last working day of the week, and the weekend’s brief holiday was just around the corner. So although the pedestrians on the road had already been worn down by a full day of toil, their faces still wore contented, peaceful smiles.

After all, in just a few hours it would be the weekend. Who didn’t love a day of rest?

Among them, behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Phaeton, Xue Tianai also wore a pleased smile. He was in an excellent mood.

His good spirits were not simply because tomorrow would be a day off, though if one insisted, that could count as part of it.

The main reason he was practically glowing with satisfaction was Su Jiaqi’s expression that afternoon after hearing what he had said—the look of utter defeat on her face, and the resentment burning in her eyes.

Not only had Xue Tianai successfully sidestepped the three women’s relentless questioning about how he bargained, he had also managed to get a little revenge on Su Jiaqi, who was always snapping back at him. Although this had been a wager he was certain to win from the start, the satisfaction of imagining her expression had been nothing compared to seeing it with his own eyes.

In the end, Su Jiaqi really did not press him further. She had also agreed to treat him to dinner. Since Qin Mengxue and Gan Bingning were there as well, she used the excuse of celebrating the win to invite both of them too. The date was set for some day next week, and Xue Tianai could choose the place.

“Wife, which restaurant in Beiyang has the most expensive dishes?” Xue Tianai asked, both hands on the steering wheel, glancing at Qin Mengxue in the passenger seat.

“What are you asking that for?” Qin Mengxue blinked, puzzled.

“Think about it, wife. Someone’s treating us to dinner, and we can pick the place ourselves. In a situation like this, of course we should choose the most expensive place possible. That way it’s worth it!” Xue Tianai pressed the horn, though there were hardly any cars on the road.

“What little ambition you have. Since when does the young master of the Xue family lack money for a meal? And you’re that excited just because Su Jiaqi is treating you?” Qin Mengxue asked sourly.

She knew Su Jiaqi and Xue Tianai had been at odds over certain things before, but even so, when she heard Su Jiaqi say she wanted to treat him to dinner, she still felt a faint discomfort. After all, it would mean the two of them were alone together.

Still, when Su Jiaqi added that Qin Mengxue and Gan Bingning would also be included, she felt a little better. At the very least, it prevented Xue Tianai and Su Jiaqi from being alone together.

“Being well-off and taking advantage of a bargain are two entirely different things! This chance is rare. If I don’t fleece Su Jiaqi properly now, what if I never get another chance?” Xue Tianai said honestly.

That was truly what he thought. If there was a bargain to be had and he did not take it, he was a fool; if he took it but did not take full advantage, he was still a fool. So whenever a righteous opportunity to profit presented itself, he would never let himself suffer a loss. That had always been his creed.

“Ah? What, you’re still thinking you’ll get another chance to eat with Su Jiaqi after this?” Qin Mengxue said unhappily.

“Huh? Wife, are you jealous? Why does this car suddenly smell like aged vinegar?” Xue Tianai turned to look at her with a teasing smile.

“W-what? Who’d be jealous of you? I’m not jealous!” Qin Mengxue stammered, clearly lacking confidence.

“Oh? Really? Then why is your face red, wife?” Xue Tianai said with a sly grin, though he had already turned his attention back to the road.

“I-it’s not red!” Startled by his words, Qin Mengxue’s face really did flush. Even so, she struggled to defend herself. “It’s the sunset outside, that’s all. Yes, it’s just the color of the sunset.”

“That so? Actually, I don’t even know whether your face turned red—I was just saying things.” Xue Tianai smiled lightly.

“Aah! Xue Tianai, you’re bullying me again!” Qin Mengxue’s face burned bright red at once, shame and indignation surging through her. This bastard was teasing her for his own amusement again!

After saying that, Qin Mengxue opened her mouth and lunged toward Xue Tianai, who was driving.

“Ah, that hurts, hurts, wife, I’m driving!” Xue Tianai immediately felt the familiar sting on his shoulder and cried out in pain.

A while later, after another twenty or thirty minutes, Xue Tianai finally managed to drive safely to the gate of the Hongyang Villa District, all while Qin Mengxue pinched and bit him throughout the ride. Just as he was about to drive straight in, Qin Mengxue suddenly spoke.

“Xue Tianai, stop here for a moment. I want to go to the supermarket. You can go home first.”

“Do you want me to wait for you?” Xue Tianai looked at her in mild confusion. Was something missing at home? Was that why she needed the supermarket?

“No, n-no need. You just go home. Don’t mind me!” Qin Mengxue suddenly seemed a little embarrassed, and after opening the car door, she got out immediately.

“Really don’t need me to wait?” Xue Tianai asked again through the rolled-down window.

“I said no means no! Hurry up and go home!” Qin Mengxue replied in a slightly unnatural tone.

“Okay, okay. Call me if you need anything.” Since she insisted, Xue Tianai did not ask further. He stepped on the accelerator and drove into the villa district.

Watching the Volkswagen disappear into the distance, Qin Mengxue let out a small sigh of relief and turned toward the large supermarket belonging to the Hongyang Villas. Her monthly visitor was due any day now, and she needed to buy some sanitary pads. She did not want Xue Tianai to know that was the real reason.

Xue Tianai, for his part, gave it no further thought. After driving back to Villa No. 3 and parking in the courtyard, he got out and walked toward the house.

But the moment he opened the door and stepped into the living room, he froze.

The tidy, orderly sofa was strewn with all kinds of women’s clothes—there even seemed to be a pair of women’s panties among them. On the coffee table sat a slim laptop and a stack of thick books.

Seeing this bizarre scene, Xue Tianai could not help rubbing his eyes. Was this really his home? He distinctly remembered that the living room had not been this chaotic that morning.

Could it be that Qin Mengxue had been busy with work in the morning and forgotten to tidy up? No, that did not make sense. Qin Mengxue had left first this morning, and she had not been working before she went!

Had he come to the wrong house? That did not fit either. These were electronic password locks, one lock per house. And there were those unique paintings hanging on the walls inside. Without question, this was definitely his home.

Then what in the world was going on? Was it possible that it had looked like this all along when he left in the morning, and his memory had simply failed him? That should not be right.

As Xue Tianai stared at the disorderly living room, his mind in a whirl of confusion, a silver bell-like voice suddenly rang out from the stairway.

“Is sis back? Sis, did your chest get bigger again? Your panties are so much larger now! Huh? You are... who?”

Xue Tianai hastily looked up.

At the stairway stood a girl holding a sexy black bra in her hand, gazing down at him in open astonishment.

She was very young, with shoulder-length black hair and a flawless oval face. At that moment, her bright, watery eyes were filled with surprise, and her lovely little mouth was slightly parted.

More importantly, she was almost completely naked. She wore only a pure white bra and matching panties, leaving large swaths of snow-white, luminous skin exposed to the air—and to Xue Tianai’s eyes.

Her already scant attire, combined with the black bra in her hand, struck his vision with overwhelming force.

What... what was this situation? Why had such an utterly gorgeous girl suddenly appeared in the house?!!

Xue Tianai stared at the girl on the stairs, and the girl was clearly just as stunned, the two of them locked in a dazed stare.

“Aaah! Pervert! Thief!” After a moment, the girl finally came to her senses. She hurriedly covered her chest and let out a piercing scream.

“Pervert? Thief?” Xue Tianai was also taken aback, but being mistaken for a pervert and a thief in his own home left him far from pleased.

“Hey, I haven’t even called you a thief yet. How are you going to cry thief first? Are you being reasonable or not? This is my house! Girl, you’ve got some nerve!”

“You... you’re talking nonsense! This is clearly my sister’s house! Get out at once, or I’ll call the police!” the girl said angrily.

She had never imagined this thief and pervert would be like this—having broken into someone else’s home, he still had the nerve to bite back so brazenly.

“Your sister’s house?” Xue Tianai was bewildered once again. What kind of situation was this?

Meanwhile, Qin Mengxue had already picked out the sanitary pads she wanted. She was now selecting some groceries, planning to go back and have Xue Tianai cook for her, since she had grown fond of the taste of his dishes.

Still, she seemed to need to buy a little extra food today, since An’an had come as well. What was An’an doing at home right now?

Ah, An’an had really grown up. Qin Mengxue had wanted to go to the airport to pick her up this afternoon, but An’an had refused, saying Qin Mengxue should focus on her work and that she could just go home first.

...Hm? Wait... An’an, go home... Xue Tianai...!!

Qin Mengxue suddenly remembered something very important, and it seemed she had forgotten to tell Xue Tianai about it. Her expression changed at once. She quickly grabbed the items she had chosen, paid, and ran home.