Chapter 10: Bringing Medicine to the Doorstep

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Although Qin Yu had agreed to let Lu Qiqi join the company, he did not want her to come immediately. There were many things he needed to arrange in advance to prevent her from noticing any flaws.

“Wife, why don’t you sit here for a bit? I’ll finish these documents and then keep you company, okay?”

“Alright, you go ahead and work. I can watch some movies,” Lu Qiqi said casually, shaking her phone with indifference.

Seeing that she truly came on a whim and had no intention of interfering with the business, Qin Yu felt much more at ease.

He returned to his desk and pressed the phone button to call Assistant Zhao, first arranging for some refreshments to be delivered—each item carefully chosen because they were Lu Qiqi’s favorites.

When Assistant Zhao brought in the tray, her gaze toward Lu Qiqi was filled with deep envy, and she couldn’t help but blurt out, “Mrs. Qin, the boss really loves you so much—I envy your relationship.”

Lu Qiqi paused with the cup of tea in her hand, tilted her head, and gave a warm smile, her crescent-shaped eyes sparkling as she said meaningfully, “Yes, meeting Qin Yu is my good fortune.”

Qin Yu, who was flipping through documents, caught the remark, gave the assistant an approving look, and wore a rare proud smile—the kind only a husband praised by his wife would have.

Setting down the papers, Qin Yu received a call. His brows furrowed deeper as he listened, and when he hung up, his expression was somber and grave.

“What’s wrong? Is it something difficult?” Lu Qiqi took off her earphones and feigned concern, not even putting down her snacks.

Qin Yu sighed and came over, taking her hand with deep guilt. “Wife, I’m sorry, I have to break my promise. A major client suddenly wants to cooperate, and I have to go on a business trip this afternoon. I won’t be able to accompany you.”

“Then I’ll go with you,” Lu Qiqi said deliberately, knowing he would refuse.

Sure enough, as soon as she finished, Qin Yu immediately said, “No!”

Maybe feeling his tone was too harsh, he softened and explained, “It’s too far—it's a long flight at night. Even in first class, you wouldn’t get any rest. I’m afraid you’d suffer.”

“But I’ll miss you if you’re not there...” Lu Qiqi’s eyes seemed to well up again.

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“All right, wife, be good and take care of yourself at home. Later, you can go shopping, get a beauty treatment, buy some clothes.” Qin Yu pulled out a card from his bag and handed it to Lu Qiqi, then bent down to kiss the back of her hand. “This is my secret stash—fully at your disposal.”

“Honey, you’re too good to me...” Lu Qiqi, while putting away the card, quickly withdrew her kissed hand, feeling a wave of nausea. She then threw herself into Qin Yu’s arms again, trying to hide the growing disgust on her face.

Before getting to the company, Lu Qiqi immediately called Shen Manli, knowing that Qin Yu would surely bring her along on the trip.

“Manli, come shopping with me this afternoon. I want to buy some bags and get my nails done.” As expected, when Shen Manli received Lu Qiqi’s call, her hoarse voice coughed a few times as she politely declined, “Qiqi, I’m sorry, I’m not feeling well. I already took sick leave and went home. Maybe next time?”

“Ah? Is it serious? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?” Lu Qiqi almost laughed at the flustered refusal.

“All right, all right, then rest well. I won’t bother you anymore.” Lu Qiqi’s voice was full of concern, but a mocking smile played on her lips. After hanging up, she floored the accelerator and sped off, arriving quickly at Shen Manli’s apartment.

When Shen Manli saw Lu Qiqi standing by the car door, smiling brightly, her own smile stiffened. Even with her delicate makeup, the alternating flushes of red and pale on her face were unmistakable and pitiful.

“Why are you going out when you’re so sick? If you need anything, just order takeout or get someone to run errands! You really don’t care about your health!”

Lu Qiqi’s tone was full of frustration, “Don’t you know how much your old job damaged your health? I put so much effort into helping you recover. Even if you don’t care about yourself, you should care about my efforts!”

Her words struck the darkest, most painful memories in Shen Manli’s heart—selling herself low in bars, sometimes forced to drink...

She wanted to tear this hypocritical woman’s face apart but forced herself to hold back. Shen Manli managed a weak smile and interrupted Lu Qiqi’s nagging, asking, “Qiqi, why did you come? Didn’t you say you were going to get your nails done?”

“You little thing, you’re sick, how can I just leave you alone? Look, I brought you some good stuff—tonics, all expensive!”

Lu Qiqi poked Shen Manli’s forehead with her long finger, satisfied when she left a red mark. Then she waved the things in her hand.

“Enough, don’t stand in the wind outside. Come on, inside. I’ll brew some tonic soup for you. You’re still young—you can’t let any chronic illnesses take root.”

Shen Manli couldn’t refuse and dared not offend her, so she was half-pulled back inside. Watching Lu Qiqi enthusiastically fuss in the kitchen, she felt restless and uneasy.

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The phone rang. It was Qin Yu calling.

She was about to answer when Lu Qiqi peeked from the kitchen, curious. “Who’s calling?”

Flustered, Shen Manli hung up and sent a text message instead.

Soon, Lu Qiqi came over with a bowl of dark, murky medicinal soup. She personally held a small spoon, ready to feed Shen Manli.

“Try this—it’s a prescription I got from an old Chinese medicine doctor. Very effective. It contains manchurian yellow, night-bright sand, five-spirit fat...”

The strange aroma hit Shen Manli’s nose before she could fully listen. She just felt that if she drank this, she probably wouldn’t be able to eat for days.

“Sis Qiqi... I feel much better now. Can I not drink it?” Shen Manli backed away, her face showing resistance.

But Lu Qiqi wouldn’t let up. She grabbed Shen Manli firmly, brought the spoon to her lips, and smiled firmly, “No, you can’t. I know you’re afraid of bitterness, but bitter medicine cures illness. You have to finish this medicine today, or I won’t leave.”

Staring at the black liquid, Shen Manli mustered courage and took a sip, only to be hit by an indescribably awful taste that shot straight to her brain. She spat it out with a “wah.”

But when she looked up, she saw Lu Qiqi’s smiling face.

“Spitting it out is okay—we’ll drink it slowly...”

At that moment, Shen Manli felt as if she were looking at the devil herself.