Bring a Gift

Little Sponge said, [Although the system hasn't given any specific instructions on this, my guess is that we either let him get his revenge or make things up to the villain in every way to dispel the resentment in his heart.]

Xia Zhi preferred the less bloody approach.

[Okay.]

Xia Zhi pondered for a moment.

[We'll get to work when the villain comes back.]

She would make it quick. The sooner she finished the mission, the sooner she could go home.

Xia Zhi put away her paintbrush and stretched luxuriously. [I'm so tired and hungry. I could eat an elephant right now.]

Xia Zhi was starving, but she couldn't be bothered to go out for a big meal. She bought some oden and corn at the convenience store in the residential complex instead, ignoring the strange looks from others as she munched while walking.

When she reached the entrance to her villa, Xia Zhi didn't want to go inside. She had been cooped up all day and needed some air.

Sitting in the garden gazebo, smelling the flowers and munching on tender, sweet corn as the slightly hot evening breeze blew over her, Xia Zhi actually found it rather pleasant.

Quiet and lovely.

She tipped her head back to look at the sky. The sky in this world seemed much clearer than the one in her own, with more stars, too.

With her neck craned, Xia Zhi gazed at the moon and wondered whether this world's moon could possibly be the same one as in her world.

Just then, her phone, which had been silent all day, finally chimed.

It was a message.

She unlocked her phone and opened WeChat. Just as she had expected, it was from that fake innocent, Tang Fangjing, speaking in her usual saccharine manner.

-Xia Xia, I've booked a private room at the Brilliant Hotel. Make sure you're there at six tomorrow evening.

Xia Zhi raised her eyebrows slightly. The Brilliant Hotel?

She remembered it. It seemed to be a five-star hotel.

Tang Fangjing's parents were both salaried workers. She usually acted proud in front of Lu Heng and never took his money. It seemed she was really splurging this time.

Tang Fangjing had always chosen little restaurants for her birthdays before. Making such a grand affair of it this time meant she was definitely up to no good.

But even if it was a trap, Xia Zhi would still go and face her.

Xia Zhi cheerfully replied,

-Sure, see you then.

When Tang Fangjing saw Xia Zhi's reply, a vicious gleam flashed through her eyes.

She had only managed to contact Lu Heng that afternoon, but rather than anxiously pressing him about whether he and Xia Zhi had slept together, she had tactfully told him that tomorrow was her birthday.

Lu Heng had sent her a very businesslike reply.

-I'm in Country X on business. I'll bring your present back with me.

Looking at those words, Tang Fangjing's lips curved into a sweet smile. All these years, Brother Heng had always bought her presents, but never bought any for Xia Zhi.

Didn't that say enough?

That idiot Xia Zhi must have been talking nonsense.

After some deliberation, Tang Fangjing asked tentatively,

-Brother Heng, have you and your wife made up?

When Lu Heng didn't answer, Tang Fangjing added,

-Your wife told me this morning how intimate you two were last night, and how gentle you were with her. It made me blush just listening. She has no sense of shame.

It was afternoon where she was, but already the early hours of the morning where Lu Heng was.

He had just showered and lain down in bed when he saw Tang Fangjing's message "telling on" Xia Zhi.

He read that short message three times.

He couldn't help recalling everything that woman had done last night, along with what she had said in front of everyone: "We're rather traditional. We use the primal way to strengthen our bond." It had been utterly outrageous.

The corners of Lu Heng's lips lifted involuntarily, and he didn't even notice how his gaze had softened.

Tang Fangjing waited anxiously for Lu Heng's reply. She believed Brother Heng would definitely expose that woman's lies. He definitely would.

But she waited a long time without getting a response.

She couldn't tell whether his silence meant agreement or that he couldn't be bothered to explain, and she couldn't keep pestering him.

It wasn't until several hours later that Lu Heng replied,

-Sorry, I fell asleep last night. I've been rather busy lately and might not have time to buy a present. I'll tell my wife to take care of it.

Tang Fangjing was having dinner with her family and nearly choked to death on a mouthful of rice when she saw the message.

My wife?

That form of address felt very dangerous to her.

Lu Heng had always called Xia Zhi "that woman" or "her." When had he ever referred to her so intimately?

Wasn't this an inadvertent acknowledgment of Xia Zhi's status?

Could they really have...

Just thinking of Lu Heng embracing Xia Zhi, kissing Xia Zhi, or even... was enough to drive Tang Fangjing mad.

No, she couldn't let things keep developing between them like this.

She had to do something to stop it.

But what should she do?

Tang Fangjing racked her brains, and suddenly inspiration struck. Right, how could she have forgotten that Xia Zhi had an obsessive admirer?

Xia Zhi had just finished replying to the fake innocent when she received a call from Lu Heng.

Staring at the name on her phone, Xia Zhi almost thought she had misread it. Why would the villain suddenly call her?

This had never happened before.

Could he not even wait a week, insisting on discussing their divorce right now?

Xia Zhi figured she would deal with whatever came her way. There was no avoiding the inevitable, so she answered.

"Hello."

The man on the other end put her straight on speaker. "What are you doing?"

He was putting on a shirt in front of the mirror, his slender fingers doing up the buttons one by one at an unhurried pace.

"Eating corn," Xia Zhi answered casually.

His fingers paused. "That's your dinner?"

Huh? Xia Zhi wondered. Is the villain concerned about what I'm eating?

What's that supposed to mean?

"Mm."

Lu Heng asked, "Where's Aunt Liu?"

Xia Zhi said, "She hasn't come yet."

Silence suddenly fell between them, as though neither knew what to say. After an awkward moment, Xia Zhi broke the silence first.

"Did you need something?"

Only then did Lu Heng seem to remember why he had called. "Tomorrow is Xiaojing's birthday. I can't make it, so bring a gift for me."

Xia Zhi nearly rolled her eyes. So it was all for that fake innocent.

"Sure. Give me the money."

"I'll be sure to give her something that suits her perfectly."

Lu Heng raised an eyebrow. "I recall you have a supplementary card you can use as you please. Isn't that my money?"

There's a card?

Xia Zhi hurriedly took out the original owner's wallet and searched by moonlight for the card the villain had mentioned. "The one ending in 5858?"

"No."

"0710?"

"Mm."

"How much money is on it?"

"How much would you like?"

"Can I have as much as I want?"

"Not quite, but you can buy whatever you want."

Xia Zhi nearly screamed on the spot, but she desperately suppressed her excitement and tried her best to sound casual.

"Oh, got it."

How could Lu Heng possibly miss Xia Zhi's excitement?

Even though he couldn't hear her thoughts at that moment, he could still guess what was going through her mind.

"I have to go. I have things to do."

Now that she had money, Lu Xia immediately turned obsequious. "Go ahead. Don't worry about Tangtang's gift. I'll do a splendid job."