Campus Ace Girl

Zhang Sister’s gaze was doubtful, and she sized up the pretty boy outside the door. Then she said, "There are no ladies here, only a madam! Sir, you’ve got the wrong person."

The person outside was He Qi.

As Zhang Sister was about to close the door, he held the door panel with one hand, smiling faintly, "Then I’m looking for Mrs. Wang."

Zhang Sister was both angry and anxious, struggling to close the door while saying, "Why must you be so shameless! Why do you keep thinking about someone else’s wife all day long? I’ve said there isn’t anyone like that here!"

Just when the situation was at an impasse, Lin Hua’s voice came through, "Zhang Sister, he’s a friend of mine. Let him in."

Zhang Sister was momentarily stunned, her grip relaxing, and He Qi had already entered the room. He adjusted his clothes elegantly and walked to sit in front of the sofa, "I’ve been wanting to visit you, but it’s inconvenient at the hospital."

When he said that, Lin Hua naturally understood why it was inconvenient. It was because King Jingyao had surrounded the hospital ward with layers inside and out, making it nearly impossible for anyone outside of the Wang Family and Bo Family to see her.

She didn’t explain but simply watched the young man in front of her quietly.

He appeared younger than her, handsome in looks, about 35 years old. She thought, as long as he wanted, he could attract any young and pretty girl, but he was... perhaps obsessed, unwilling to let go of what was lost.

Lin Hua remained silent for a long time before softly asking, "Mr. He, are you here to settle accounts?"

He Qi straightforwardly said, "Mr. Wang is wealthy, he’s already settled it. Even if all tickets were refunded, he wouldn’t fall short on any amount."

"That’s good." Lin Hua smiled faintly, slowly leaning back on the sofa. After a while, she looked up at Zhang Sister, "Please serve the guest some tea."

Zhang Sister had been glaring at He Qi’s pretty boy face, thinking him to be the bad guy trying to trick her mistress. Hearing Lin Hua’s words, she replied unwillingly, "All matters have been discussed... no need for tea."

She looked at He Qi, "Right, Mr. He?"

He didn’t get angry, maintaining his elegant demeanor, "Sorry, but there’s some personal business I need to discuss with Ms. Lin. Please, a cup of tea."

Zhang Sister had no choice but to serve the tea, though she returned and placed it on the table unceremoniously, muttering afterward, "Some people just refuse to accept reality... calling her ’lady’ when she’s clearly a madam. The son is already several years old, and still treating her like his own."

After she spoke, she snorted lightly and took out yarn to knit a sweater, speaking to herself as she knitted, "Knitting a sweater for our adorable Xiao Yue, who has been allergic to wool since childhood, has worn only what I’ve knitted with my own hands. This little guy is precious, always cuddling with his parents every day... Oh, how lovely. He’s the madam’s treasure that even the gentleman can’t compare to, let alone others dreaming of rivalling."

Her words carried implications that the two present couldn’t miss.

Lin Hua was both amused and exasperated, "Zhang Sister, please focus on knitting."

"Alright." Zhang Sister responded quickly, "I’ll knit and listen to your conversation."

Lin Hua:...

Beside her, He Qi was quite agreeable, "She’s rather humorous."

Lin Hua, talking to him again, was less congenial, with a faint smile, "Since the accounts are settled, and Mr. He has visited the patient, I won’t see you out."

He Qi stared at her for a moment, then softly said, "Meeting an old acquaintance must be this distant?"

With those words, Zhang Sister’s knitting needle nearly broke in two—

Well, indeed there to seduce!

Old acquaintance? What old acquaintance?

Speaking so lightly, during the time of death how did the family of this old acquaintance shame the madam? How did the madam find ways to avenge him?

Yes, the madam liked the gentleman before, and later being happy together after the incident was natural, and now after years the old acquaintance suddenly returns, in her view, it’s true that the gentleman was wrong, but if it weren’t for this old acquaintance’s self-indulgence, the lady wouldn’t have lost the child so easily.

Zhang Sister hated it thoroughly, glaring at He Qi.

Lin Hua looked at her gently, then turned back to He Qi to say, "Past matters are past, better not mentioned. You’ve returned, it’s nice, your family probably thinks of you."

He Qi’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, not responding directly, instead saying, "You’re not doing well."

Zhang Sister was about to explode: Not doing well your sister!

Lin Hua looked at her reassuringly, faintly smiling, "Whether good or bad is known only to oneself, not decided by partial views."

She spoke calmly, "Between Jingyao and me there are indeed conflicts, but I must say that these years have been very good, he’s treated me very well..."

He Qi clenched his fingers, "If things were good, how did it end up messy because of an irrelevant person or matter?"

Lin Hua remained calm, "Mr. He also said, it’s irrelevant people or matters."

Her voice was slightly tired, "It’s a matter between my husband and me; it really doesn’t relate to others, whether we’re good or bad. Do you understand what I mean?"

He Qi’s pupils twitched, and then he spoke hoarsely, "I understand and don’t understand... Aren’t you leaving him?"

Lin Hua didn’t avoid the topic, slightly smiling, a little bittersweet, "That too is between him and me, unrelated to others, right Mr. He?"

"I was presumptuous." He Qi regained his elegant demeanor again, surprisingly.

Besides, Zhang Sister kept knitting, murmuring, "Such thick skin, I’m afraid the knitting needle couldn’t pierce it."

Lin Hua:...

She looked at He Qi with a faint smile again, "I’m a little tired, not seeing Mr. He off."

He Qi knowingly got up to bid farewell, "Alright, next time I’ll visit Ms. Lin again."

"No need to come." Lin Hua quickly replied, "We are merely acquaintances, truly no need for excessive entanglement."

She spoke a little bit bitterly again, "Too much entanglement, more is lost."

In that instant, He Qi’s body shook, realizing her meaning.

She implied that his presence had caused her trouble, even making her lose the child... In that moment, he didn’t know what to say, standing there for a long while.

Lin Hua smiled slightly, "I thought a few years ago Mr. He had restarted a new life."

His voice was raspy unbearably, "Lin Hua, I can’t do it."

When he called her Lin Hua, all pretense collapsed... complete defeat.

Lin Hua remained calm, quietly gazing at the man in front of her, and after a while, she softly said, "Look, you’re still young and haven’t been married, there are plenty of young and lovely girls for you to choose from, why tie yourself to the past? The past is gone, it might have existed once but it doesn’t exist now."

He Qi shook his head, "No."

He continued, "That’s not how it works, Lin Hua! If you really think it’s in the past, then why do you lose your composure because of me? You say that what happens between you and your husband is unrelated to others, but is it really unrelated? If it’s unrelated, would King Jingyao suspect you and be furious?"

Lin Hua lowered her eyes, "Did he come to find you?"

He Qi trembled slightly.

"If he didn’t come looking for you, then it’s something between us." Lin Hua said lightly, "To me, Mr. He is just a business partner. I don’t have Jingyao’s background and confidence nor do I want to fully rely on him, so I’m going to proceed with this recital, and it has nothing to do with who Mr. He is. That WeChat message was just because..."

She calmed herself, "Just old friends, there’s no need to be so distant as if a thousand miles away, does Mr. He think that deleting you would make me appear straightforward? No need for that!"

He Qi let out a long sigh.

Aunt Zhang had been listening secretly the whole time, feeling quite pleased––

Haha, bumped into a hard wall, didn’t you? You playboy, trying to woo someone else’s wife!

She knew who Mr. He was originally, knew he had a past with the lady, but the past is past, the lady and the gentleman are husband and wife now, you could come openly, why do these sneaky things... it’s quite despicable.

Thus, when He Qi was leaving, Aunt Zhang said in a lukewarm tone, "Actually after many years, many things change, you’re still you, but other people are no longer who they were in your heart."

He Qi smiled, "Really?"

Aunt Zhang raised the sweater in her hand, "Just like this sweater, Xiao Yue can wear it now, but in five or six years, can you say it’ll still fit him? However much you like it, you’ll have to discard it, right?"

After speaking, she closed the door with a bang.

He was too cheerful!

Aunt Zhang hummed to herself and returned to the hall.

She just went through when she heard Lin Hua say, "Why speak so harshly, just an unrelated person, it’s fine to make things clear."

Aunt Zhang seized the opportunity to ask, "Do you and the Mister... still have a chance?"

Lin Hua smiled faintly, "You’re speaking for him too? Weren’t you scolding him quite fiercely before?"

Aunt Zhang touched her ear, "Scolding is scolding, but after all, they’re husband and wife. And these days, the Mister is quite pitiful, not eating or sleeping well, looking much more haggard and thin. Hearts are made of flesh, the Mister is someone we watched growing up, how can we not feel sorry?"

Lin Hua paused for a moment and didn’t say anything more, just went to rest.

After several days of rest, Gu Anxi and Chu Yan came to see her, staying for about an hour before leaving.

At the door, Gu Anxi said to Aunt Zhang, "Looking not too well, people unrelated shouldn’t be coming over."

Aunt Zhang quite trusted her, thus relayed He Qi’s matter. Gu Anxi and Chu Yan exchanged a glance, and then spoke, "He really came?"

She then said to Chu Yan, "Now that they’re separated, he probably has even more hope rising in his heart."

Chu Yan nodded.

Aunt Zhang was anxious, rubbing her hands together, "What should we do! That pretty boy is charming and has money, if the Madam is heartbroken and he takes advantage of the situation, what then? Miss Anxi, you’re Mr. Wang’s own sister, you must come up with a good plan!"

Gu Anxi found it funny, comforting, "Do you think big brother is a pushover? Don’t worry!"

Aunt Zhang was uneasy, "The Mister hasn’t come these past two days? Will he... also give up?"

Gu Anxi patted her, "Aunt Zhang, stop overthinking, even if everyone else gives up, that old bastard wouldn’t!"

Aunt Zhang’s face stiffened, mumbling, "Calling the Mister an old bastard isn’t nice, is it?"

"Didn’t he call me a little bastard? Aunt Zhang, you’re taking sides!" Gu Anxi sneered lightly.

Aunt Zhang was promptly won over, alright, old bastard it is, as long as it helps, call them whatever you want!

With Gu Anxi’s words, Aunt Zhang felt reassured, meanwhile, Gu Anxi and Chu Yan went downstairs to the car, Chu Yan turned to ask, "Do you want to find He Qi?"

"Finding him won’t help." Gu Anxi adjusted the mirror and said softly, "These two are separated... what a great opportunity, regardless of who the man is, he wouldn’t miss such a chance."

In this regard, Chu Yan agreed.

Gu Anxi turned again, "Their matter isn’t urgent, leave it to time, what about you? Is Bai Xun coming back? Any plans afterwards?"

Chu Yan made a sound, "In a few days he’ll be back."

"Planning to get married?" Gu Anxi asked her.

Chu Yan didn’t hide it, speaking softly, "Thinking of getting married abroad, after all, he..."

"True, marrying abroad is better." Gu Anxi propped her chin, "Going to have kids?"

Chu Yan paused for a moment, smiled gently, "Let it be natural."

She wasn’t young anymore, another year or two and she’d be thirty, it really should be time for children.

Though Bai Xun was still quite young.

Yet, he didn’t seem to have plans to play around for two more years, marriage had always been his idea, she felt they could take it slow...

The two chatted casually for a few more minutes and then left, Gu Anxi dropped Chu Yan at the company and drove back to Cloud He Group. As soon as she entered the office, Secretary Tang came over, "Mr. Zhou called this morning."

Gu Anxi settled into the soft sofa, "Why did he call?"

"To scold you." Secretary Tang smiled, "Scolding for a full five minutes before hanging up, clearly he went mad with anger."

Gu Anxi scratched her nose, "Wasn’t it just taking his son to the women’s bathhouse for a wash! Why be so angry?"

Secretary Tang momentarily petrified, "Is Little Gu talking about Zhou Mu?"

"Who else would it be?" Gu Anxi nonchalantly rested her chin on her slender finger, imitating a peculiar, mocking tone, "You wouldn’t know, he got drunk before, babbling about Shen Congwen’s parents being superstitious and all that, as for him... what’s so good? Even Congwen couldn’t stop him, I don’t know whether he actually believes it or it’s just some sick humour, anyway, I just wanted to take Zhou Mu to the girls’ bathhouse to wake him up."