What a clever scheme

Xia Zhi covered her nose, her voice muffled.

"Okay."

Lu Heng glanced at her, then turned and went back into the bathroom.

Soon, the sound of running water came from inside again.

Once Lu Heng was gone, Xia Zhi quickly tore off half a tissue and rolled it into two little plugs, stuffing one into each of her hopeless nostrils before starting to apply the ointment.

Ugh.

It hurt so much.

Grimacing and whimpering in pain, Xia Zhi hurriedly spread on the ointment, afraid Lu Heng might suddenly come out of the bathroom.

But she was worrying for nothing. The water kept running in there for a long time.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Xia Zhi froze, then remembered this was the Lu family's old residence. No outsider could get in anyway. But the marks on her body had yet to fade, and yesterday's dress couldn't cover them at all. She couldn't very well wrap herself in a quilt to answer the door, could she?

The knocking sounded again.

Xia Zhi called out, "Who is it?"

"Good morning, ma'am. It's Jiang Cheng. President Lu asked me to bring some clothes."

Clothes?

They must be Lu Heng's.

Xia Zhi hesitated. "Y-you can leave them outside the door. I'll get them in a moment."

"Of course."

Only after estimating that Jiang Cheng had gone far enough away did Xia Zhi wrap herself in the quilt and get out of bed to answer the door.

A wave of heat hit her face when she opened the door. It was so hot outside.

A little head poked out and looked both ways, then a fair little hand swiftly pulled the paper bag into the room.

When Lu Kuo came over, what he saw was Xia Zhi with white tissue plugs in her nostrils, acting as furtively as a little mouse. That quick-witted air really was quite different from what he had seen of her before.

After closing the door, Xia Zhi happened to spot a red hem inside the paper bag.

Women's clothes?

Xia Zhi was a little surprised, then reconsidered. Could Jiang Cheng have brought clothes for her, not Lu Heng?

Curious, Xia Zhi unfolded the dress and understood completely. It really was for her. The long sleeves and high collar were meant to hide the marks on her body.

Looking at the dress the villain had thoughtfully prepared for her, Xia Zhi had mixed feelings.

Though the villain had a cold face and a sharp tongue, he had scratched her itch, applied ointment for her, and even prepared a dress for her... Perhaps he wasn't so bad after all.

Ultimately, if the original owner of her body and the Lu family hadn't forced him, the villain wouldn't have turned evil.

With complicated feelings, Xia Zhi slipped on the new dress. Like the last one, it reached her ankles. The sleeves and collar were mainly lace, making it breathable rather than stuffy.

By the time Lu Heng came out of the bathroom, Xia Zhi was dressed and standing gracefully beside the bed.

The long dress was still a fiery red, but its fabric was lighter and thinner than the previous one's. Xia Zhi was covered from head to toe, with only her head showing.

Compared with her previous bold, revealing style, this glimpse of what lay beneath was even more alluring.

Just then, another knock came at the door. "Aheng, Xiao Xia, are you up?"

"Grandma's calling you down for breakfast."

It was Lu Kuo.

Xia Zhi hurried into the bathroom. She hadn't even washed up or put on makeup yet. How could she let anyone see her face like this?

Lu Heng went out to send Lu Kuo away. "Go on ahead. We'll be there later."

Lu Kuo gave a suggestive smile. "I saw your wife opening the door to get something earlier. She had plugs in both nostrils. A nosebleed, was it?"

Lu Heng frowned. "What's it to you?"

Lu Heng asked curiously, "What tasty food did she eat to get so overheated?"

"Get lost," Lu Heng said.

Lu Kuo looked innocent. "I'm just showing some concern for my sister-in-law."

Xia Zhi didn't dare keep the old madam waiting. She washed her face and put on makeup as fast as she could, mostly applying foundation to cover the injuries on her face.

"You can't tell, can you?"

Xia Zhi caught hold of Lu Heng and asked nervously.

Lu Heng looked down at his watch, seemingly pressed for time. "Let's go."

On the way to the main sitting room, Lu Heng said, "I'm leaving on a business trip today. I'll be back in about a week."

"Oh."

Huh?

Was the villain reporting his schedule to her?

Why?

That was rather sudden.

After a brief silence, Lu Heng said, "We'll deal with the divorce when I get back."

"Oh."

He still wanted a divorce?

Xia Zhi had thought the villain had already given up on the idea.

Neither of them spoke for the rest of the walk.

Breakfast was lavish, but Lu Heng only had a small bowl of rice porridge. Before the old madam had put down her chopsticks, he was already on his feet.

"Grandma, Dad, Mom, Kuo, I have to leave now. My flight to Country X is at nine thirty. I'll be back in about a week."

The old madam checked the time. "It's getting late. Go on, then. Stay safe on the way."

"Yes."

Before leaving, Lu Heng glanced at his mother. "Mom, let's also wait until I get back to deal with Taozi joining the company."

His mother's expression turned slightly awkward. "All right."

Lu Heng bowed slightly to everyone again before leaving, without looking at Xia Zhi once the entire time.

Watching him walk away, Xia Zhi felt disgruntled. She was his wife in name, at least, yet he hadn't even said goodbye or bothered to keep up appearances. Had he made up his mind to divorce her?

Little Sponge said, [Dear host, I think you're feeling a little sad.]

Xia Zhi replied, [Sad, my foot. I'm trying to complete the mission.]

Little Sponge mercilessly exposed her. [That's not what you said before. You said...]

Xia Zhi interrupted, [Mind your own business.]

Whatever the reason, she was in a bad mood.

"Xia, Xia..."

Xia Zhi came back to her senses and turned toward Lu Kuo, waiting for him to continue.

"Now that Aheng's gone, you can ride with me later."

Xia Zhi nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Kuo."

While they were talking, the old madam had already set down her bowl and chopsticks and was wiping her mouth. "I don't have much of an appetite. Carry on without me."

As she spoke, her sharp old eyes swept toward Lu Heng's mother.

His mother didn't dare keep eating. She hastily put down her chopsticks too and explained quietly,

"Mom, I just wanted to ease things with the eldest brother's family. They've held quite a grudge against us these past few years because of what happened with Aheng's adoptive parents."

The old madam's voice sharpened. "Don't you know exactly what sort of person that Taozi from the eldest brother's family is? Does mending relations mean you have to bring him into the company to turn everything upside down?"

"What kind of parent are you?"

"It's bad enough that you don't think about lightening your son's burden. You're certainly good at making trouble for him."

Lu Heng's mother flushed scarlet under the old madam's scolding.

Seeing this, his father hurriedly said, "Mom, that's enough. The... the children are all here."

The old madam sneered. "Don't think I don't know who came up with the rotten idea of bringing Taozi into the company. When it comes down to it, what do your wife and those Lu relatives have to do with each other? She was sticking her neck out for you!"

Lu Heng's father immediately fell silent.

Xia Zhi hardly dared breathe either. The old madam had such a powerful presence and such a piercing gaze. Goodness, she truly deserved her reputation as an iron lady of the business world.

Impressive.

Only now did Xia Zhi finally understand why Lu Heng's mother hadn't brought this up with him in front of the old madam during mahjong last night. The old madam hadn't known about it.

Lu Heng had probably noticed this too, which was why he had deliberately tossed out this hot potato just before leaving.

By the time he returned a week later, the matter would already be settled.

What a clever scheme.

What a cunning businessman.

Xia Zhi had to admit she had underestimated the villain. She had assumed a novel's male lead would absolutely outclass the supporting characters in intelligence across the board, but now it seemed this villain was no simple character.