Chapter 61: Calculation

Lu Qiqi nodded gently, a faint blush from her recent illness still lingering on her cheeks.

"Let's head back."

The two of them walked slowly into the night. The street lamps elongated their shadows, weaving them together into a heartwarming scene.

A gentle breeze swept by, carrying the crisp chill of early autumn. Lu Qiqi instinctively pulled her collar tighter. Seeing this, Chu Linschen silently took off his own coat and draped it gently over her slender shoulders.

Lu Qiqi whispered, "Thank you."

Her voice was like the breeze of an autumn night—soft, carrying a hint of imperceptible tremor.

The corners of Chu Linschen's lips curved into a faint smile.

He gently adjusted the coat on Lu Qiqi's shoulders, making sure she was shielded from the early autumn chill.

"Don't mention it."

The halo of the street lamp washed over them, adding a touch of romance and warmth to the quiet night. The air was filled with an indescribable sweetness and tacit understanding.

After being dropped off at home, Lu Qiqi stood at the doorway. The nocturnal lights illuminated her soft face, and her eyes sparkled with gratitude.

She gently tugged at Chu Linschen's sleeve, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "Chu Linschen, thank you so much for today. If it weren't for you, I..."

Mid-sentence, she seemed unable to find the right words to express the emotions in her heart, and simply lowered her gaze slightly, her long eyelashes casting shadows beneath her eyelids.

Chu Linschen said softly, "Alright, I'm heading home."

The street lamp stretched his shadow out, gradually separating from Lu Qiqi's, yet seeming to intertwine in some careless moment, much like the unbreakable bond between them.

Fang Lehong happened to walk out from inside the house. Seeing Lu Qiqi standing by the door with Chu Linschen's figure looming indistinctly in the night, the atmosphere between the two felt subtle and warm.

Curious, she stepped forward a few paces, her gaze shifting back and forth between them, and smiled. "Qiqi, it's so late. What were you and Chu Linschen out doing?"

As she spoke, Fang Lehong blinked with an expression full of gossip.

Lu Qiqi shook her head gently, her hair fluttering in the breeze, and said softly, "We were talking about work."

Amidst her words, her gaze drifted uncontrollably toward Chu Linschen.

Fang Lehong raised an eyebrow slightly. "What kind of work requires staying out so late? Is there some secret I'm not allowed to know?"

A blush dyed Lu Qiqi's cheeks once more. She turned her head slightly to avoid Fang Lehong's probing gaze, speaking softly, "There's no secret. We were just discussing details about a project, and the time slipped away."

A flash of cunning crossed Fang Lehong's eyes. She patted Lu Qiqi's shoulder lightly and laughed in a low voice, "Qiqi, you see how hard Si Qinyu has been working lately. Shouldn't you consider him a bit more? Next time you talk work with Chu Linschen, try to secure more projects for Si Qinyu."

With that, she blinked, as if hinting at something.

Hearing this, a look of dilemma crossed Lu Qiqi's face. She frowned slightly, her gaze flickering in the night as though weighing something in her mind.

Seeing this, Fang Lehong pressed harder. "Qiqi, just do it as a favor to me. If Qinyu gets more projects, we all share in the benefits."

Lu Qiqi bit her lip lightly, a trace of resolve revealing itself in her eyes. She stated directly, "This isn't something I can decide."

The night wind blew gently, carrying an undeniable chill. She raised her head slightly, her features looking exceptionally pure and delicate under the moonlight.

Hearing this, the smile on Fang Lehong's face froze slightly before shifting into an even more intimate posture. She leaned in close to Lu Qiqi's ear, whispering in a voice meant only for her, "Qiqi, just humor me for my sake. You know how badly Si Qinyu needs this opportunity."

As she spoke, Fang Lehong rested her hand gently on Lu Qiqi's shoulder, her eyes full of expectation.

Lu Qiqi remained silent for a moment. Her gaze passed over Fang Lehong to look at the blurred street lamps in the distance, where Chu Linschen's figure had gradually faded into the distance, sinking her heart slightly.

Lu Qiqi gently shook off the hand resting on her shoulder, her gaze flashing with unprecedented firmness.

She tilted her head slightly, a detached smile playing at the corners of her lips—a smile that concealed an unquestionable strength.

"Are you trying to make Si Qinyu live off a woman?"

The words instantly complicated Fang Lehong's expression. Surprise, embarrassment, and anger collided, as if she had been struck by a sudden bolt of lightning.

Her eyes flickered uncertainly, her lips parted slightly, but she was momentarily struck speechless.

The night wind swept past with an imperceptible coldness. The atmosphere between them instantly froze, as though even the surrounding air had been shaken.

Fang Lehong's voice turned somewhat sharp in the night. Her brows knitted tightly, her eyes filled with incomprehension and displeasure.

She stepped forward, almost pressing against Lu Qiqi, her tone carrying a hint of reproach. "What is that supposed to mean? You two are husband and wife, and he is my son—isn't this only natural? Qiqi, don't forget yourself; how can you say such things now?"

With that, she reached out a finger and lightly tapped Lu Qiqi's shoulder, her eyes brimming with disappointment and fury.

Under the moonlight, Fang Lehong's shadow was drawn long, pressing tightly against Lu Qiqi's, yet it seemed to reflect the insurmountable chasm between them.

Deep in the night, Fang Lehong stood by the window, her fingers scrolling rapidly across her phone screen as she dialed Si Qinyu's number.

Her face was gloomy, a calculating smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, and her eyes flashed with unquestionable determination.

When the call connected, her voice dropped low and urgent. "Qinyu, you need to take action right away. That stubborn girl Lu Qiqi actually dared to talk back to me, saying I wanted you to live off a woman! Hmph, she doesn't even stop to think—we are the real family. You need to speed things up and get her pregnant as soon as possible. That way, she'll be firmly tied to us, and we'll see if she dares to oppose me then!"

A fierce glint flashed in Fang Lehong's eyes as she spoke, as if she could already envision the day Lu Qiqi would submit to them.

Si Qinyu stood by the window. The night was as dark as ink, his gaze deep and complex.

Moonlight pierced through the gaps in the curtains, scattering mottled light and shadow across his face.

He gripped his phone tightly, his fingertips turning slightly white from the force.

In his mind, Lu Qiqi's firm and clear gaze replayed over and over, stirring a growing anxiety within him: what if one day she truly grew tired of all this and left him? What would he do then?

Once planted, this thought grew wildly like untamed weeds, impossible to contain.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to suppress the unease, yet that heavy feeling in his chest lingered like a shadow, refusing to disperse.

Si Qinyu hung up the phone, staring blankly into the profound nocturnal scenery outside, ripples stirring deep within his heart.

He paced slowly toward his desk, pulled open a drawer, and retrieved a delicate small box. Inside lay a sparkling ring—one he had carefully and meticulously chosen for Lu Qiqi.