Luo Qianqian threw down the cab fare with a sharp motion and stormed off.
Her mind was in turmoil; she hadn't anticipated that Gao Fuqiang was such a person—someone who lived off women and was timid and cowardly.
She pushed open the door and entered the house. The lights were brightly lit, and as she walked in, she saw Luo Jianguo sitting at the dining table, propping his chin with his hand.
Hearing the door open, Luo Jianguo looked up and said flatly, "You're back. Did you have fun?"
Luo Qianqian glanced at him with a sour expression. "Mm," she replied coldly.
Luo Jianguo walked up to her and pointed to the dining table. "I made you longevity noodles with eggs. You should eat something."
He laughed awkwardly, trying to hide his discomfort.
Luo Qianqian shifted her gaze to the table. She walked over and saw that the noodles in the bowl had congealed and become mushy from sitting too long. Beside them were two perfectly round eggs.
She looked away with disdain and said coolly, "I'm not hungry."
The thought of spending her birthday getting caught in a compromising situation, coupled with the plain and tasteless noodles, inexplicably fueled her anger. Why did she have to endure such a miserable birthday while Luo Wei received a villa and Mo Huai’s love? She had nothing.
As these thoughts crossed her mind, her hands clenched into fists, and small flames of rage flickered in her eyes. She bit her lip, her gaze icy.
Noticing her foul mood, Luo Jianguo tried to comfort her. "Qianqian, are you upset? Did something happen? No matter what it is, as long as you're healthy, everything will be fine. You still have me."
Luo Qianqian let out a cold laugh and looked at him with a piercing gaze. "When is Mom coming back? I can't live like this anymore. Tell her to ask her family for help. We can get back to the way things were."
Luo Jianguo was at a loss for words, his silence filled with frustration.
A look of contempt crossed Luo Qianqian's face. "What can you do? You can't even control your wife."
Luo Jianguo was stunned, his eyes widening. "What did you say? Is this how you talk to your father?"
Angered, Luo Jianguo's suppressed fury erupted. He slammed his hand on the table with a loud bang, the veins on his forehead bulging.
After a moment, Luo Jianguo shook his head, sighing in sorrow. "It's my fault for spoiling you too much in the past. I was wrong..."
"I... I owe Weiwei..."
Luo Qianqian's face twisted with anger, and she suddenly exploded. "You owe her? What a joke! The one you owe is me! Look at what you've done to my life!"
She screamed, losing her mind. She had finally found a man she liked, only to discover he was just as weak as her father.
Her eyes were bloodshot as she angrily swept the cold, congealed noodles off the table and onto the floor.
Crash—The noodles splattered like a burst flower, an eyesore against the floor.
Luo Jianguo's fury rose, and he shouted, "Are you crazy? What's wrong with you?"
"Crazy?" Luo Qianqian laughed bitterly, pointing at herself. "It's all your fault! Why did you have to go bankrupt? If you hadn't, I wouldn't have to suffer like this. I hate you."
She spat out each word with venom.
Slap—
Luo Jianguo, unable to contain his anger, struck her hard across the face.
A fiery pain spread across Luo Qianqian's cheek. She held her left cheek, dazed.
On her birthday, she was hit twice. This was the first time Luo Jianguo had ever struck her, and her face turned pale, drained of all color.
Luo Jianguo hesitated, realizing what he had done. His hand trembled slightly as he stammered, "Are you... are you okay? I didn't mean to..."
He stepped forward to check her injury, but Luo Qianqian violently pushed his hand away. "I hate you."
Tears streamed down her face as she ran back to her room in a rage.
A few moments later, Luo Qianqian emerged with a suitcase in hand. Luo Jianguo stepped forward to stop her. "Where are you going?"
"None of your business. Get lost," Luo Qianqian said, staring straight ahead without sparing him a glance.
"Where else can you go besides here? This is your home," Luo Jianguo said, gripping her arm tightly, trying to hold her back.
Luo Qianqian sneered. "You call this a home? If it is, then I don't want it."
With that, Luo Qianqian yanked her arm free and stormed out.
——
At the Chi household.
Zhu Shulan had already sent the divorce papers to Luo Jianguo, threatening to file for divorce if he refused to sign.
Over the past few days, Zhu Shulan’s mood had gradually improved. Just as she was about to join Mrs. Chi for a face mask session, she overheard a conversation outside Mrs. Chi's room.
She listened closely—it was a conversation between Mrs. Chi and Chi Ye.
"Mom, when is Aunt Zhu leaving? I'm so tired of seeing her around."
"Don't say that. Aunt Zhu is going through a tough time and needs support. We've known each other for over twenty years; we can't just abandon her."
"Hmph, she brought this on herself. I remember very well how she treated Weiwei. This is karma, and she deserves it."
The words pierced Zhu Shulan's heart like arrows. She didn't stay to listen to the rest and returned to her room with heavy steps.
She thought to herself that, although Mrs. Chi hadn't shown any dissatisfaction, she couldn't stay here forever. She needed to live her own life.
The next morning.
Zhu Shulan woke up early, even before the servants. She packed her things and left a note on the bedside table.
[Dear Xiaolan, thank you for taking care of me these past few days. I've found a place to stay and didn't mention it to you because I was afraid you'd try to stop me. I've made up my mind to start a new life. Thanks again.]
Zhu Shulan picked up her luggage and left the Chi household under the cover of dawn.
The sky was still dark, and only a few people were on the streets. Zhu Shulan looked up at the sky, her heart filled with melancholy.
She had nowhere to go. Her former friends and card-playing companions had gradually distanced themselves from her after the Luo family went bankrupt.
After some thought, she realized she had no other options. The only place she could go was—her family's home.
She hailed a cab with the last of her money and headed to the Zhu family's old residence.
The car soon stopped, and she got out, standing in front of the Zhu family home, hesitating.
As she rehearsed her opening lines with Zhu Shuli and her father in her mind, the door suddenly opened.
Zhu Shulan froze. A car was parked in front of her, and inside was none other than Zhu Shuli.
The man in the car looked at her, equally stunned.
Zhu Shulan forced a smile as the man got out of the car.
Zhu Shuli's eyes flickered with surprise as he asked, "What are you doing here?"
The grievances Zhu Shulan had been suppressing suddenly burst forth, and she broke down in tears. "Brother, can... can I come home?" she asked, her words slurred by her emotions.
Zhu Shuli hesitated for a few seconds before raising his hand to pat her shoulder. "Yes."
Zhu Shulan, overwhelmed with joy, hugged the man in front of her tightly.
=====
You can read ahead to chapterr 110 here
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