Chapter 85: I Heard from Your Mother That You Have a Girlfriend?

To say so is actually inappropriate. After all, Qiao Yudong had long been married; for a married man to be said to “care” for a woman other than his wife was always a taboo. Yet, it was obvious that Qiao Yudong had called her just to tell her about this matter. She had come, understood the words, and now to feign ignorance would surely make her seem like a manipulative pretender.

As the saying goes, the wise do not speak in riddles.

And indeed, she had not guessed wrong.

Because Qiao Yudong soon admitted frankly, “Yes, the one I care about is Song Mi. She is not only the woman who saved my sister’s life, but also the one I am interested in.”

Rong Xinan had a cousin, who had been very close to Qiao Yudong during their school days. One summer, since her parents were stationed out of town, they often called to remind her cousin to look after her. So, during that time, her cousin took her everywhere, and she ended up dining at the same table as Qiao Yudong several times.

She seemed to have attended Qiao Yudong’s wedding banquet as well.

He married straight after graduating from university. At the time, her cousin and their circle teased that he was marrying out of obligation, that he had barely left the ivory tower before stepping into the prison of marriage.

But it turned out not to be the case. Not only was it not so, but he and Fu Sisi had been married for nearly nine years now, yet they still had no children.

These past few years she had been out of the country, seldom seeing her cousin, and knew even less about Qiao Yudong’s married life.

Running into him at the headquarters of Sihai Group a few days ago had already been a surprise. Receiving his call today was another; learning that he was still in Jinzhou and hospitalized, yet another.

Earlier, Qiao Yudong had first explained that his sister and Song Mi were close friends, then shifted the conversation to the relationship between Song Mi and Wen Yanli.

Now, with him so directly professing his interest in Song Mi, Rong Xinan, though prepared, found herself at a loss for words.

Seeing her silent, Qiao Yudong became even more candid. “There’s really nothing for me to hide. Everyone has different needs and views on marriage!

“I’ve always been wild by nature. I can marry, I can take a wife, but my free spirit can never be confined!” He grinned, revealing his teeth. “Forget it, you’re still young. I won’t say more, lest your cousin finds out and accuses me of corrupting young girls!”

At that, Rong Xinan laughed. “Senior, I’ll be twenty-seven soon. Still young?”

Hearing this, Qiao Yudong’s smile grew wider. “Right, right, not young anymore. Time to find a boyfriend and prepare for marriage.”

But in her heart, Rong Xinan was conflicted.

Before coming to Jinzhou, Feng Shengzhi had asked her directly if she still liked Wen Yanli, if she had ever thought of pursuing something further with him.

It turned out Feng Shengzhi knew about her confession to Wen Yanli years ago.

It was also Feng Shengzhi who told her about the relationship between Song Mi and Wen Yanli.

Moreover, Feng Shengzhi had made it clear that she would never accept Song Mi, nor approve of their relationship.

In other words, Feng Shengzhi very much hoped she would pursue Wen Yanli.

But if she did, could she really win him?

Knowing full well that the two were already together, if she were to go after him, wouldn’t that make her the other woman?

Whether or not she could succeed was another matter, but the moment she made that decision, she’d already lost the moral high ground.

Love demands initiative, seizing opportunities. But everyone must have their bottom line—some things can be done, others cannot.

Yet, she could not deny that Qiao Yudong’s words tonight had truly shaken her heart.

She was, after all, unwilling to give up. He had been the treasure she’d kept in her heart for so many years, her first love, and the only one.

Seeing her fall silent again, Qiao Yudong didn’t rush her, letting her linger in her heavy thoughts.

After a while, he spoke again. “An’an, do you know that Wen Yanli changed his name?”

At these words, Rong Xinan looked up at him.

She quickly guessed that Qiao Yudong had probably investigated Wen Yanli. “Why do you ask, Senior?”

“The Rong family and the Feng family are related by marriage. What I know, you have no reason not to know.” Qiao Yudong laid it out plainly. “Wen Yunlan has only one son. Changing his surname was just the first step—sooner or later, he’ll return to his ancestral line!

“When the Wen family chooses a daughter-in-law, someone like you, An’an, is clearly the better choice!” He added, “When it comes to marriage, parental arrangements and matchmakers’ words count for a lot. Haven’t you thought that for some things, you don’t need to act yourself?”

“I’m half a childhood friend to your cousin as well. As long as you agree, your brothers will naturally support you!”

Finally, Rong Xinan could not suppress her restless heart any longer and confessed, “Actually, Aunt Feng has brought this up to me herself.”

Hearing this, a flash of delight lit Qiao Yudong’s sharp eyes. It was the happiest news he’d heard since being hospitalized.

For Song Mi, he had gone so far as to play matchmaker for someone else—quite a fall from dignity, when he thought about it!

But as long as he could clear away the rivals buzzing around Mi’er, a little roundabout action, a little meddling, even some disgrace—what did it matter?

Once Wen Yanli was out of the way, and with the connection through Qiao Weiwei, there would be plenty of time in the future for Song Mi to notice him!

Little did he know, before one rival was driven away, another had already arrived.

Because at that moment, there was a knock at the door. The visitor was Huo Qingjue, ready to launch a bold pursuit of Song Mi.

…

Elsewhere.

Song Mi finally parked at the entrance to Bar Street.

Ye Zhao had already called someone ahead to wait for her, so as soon as she stopped the car, they came over and opened the door for her. “Miss Song.”

Song Mi acknowledged them and got out.

Ye Zhao escorted her all the way to the private room, opened the door, greeted Qiao Weiwei inside, then withdrew.

Once the door was shut, Qiao Weiwei shot up from the sofa and rushed toward her. “Mi’er, you’re finally here!”

Song Mi immediately frowned. “Careful with your belly!”

Qiao Weiwei had meant to hug her, but after two steps remembered her own old injury. Now, hearing Song Mi’s warning, she instinctively slowed down.

Soon, Qiao Weiwei caught on. “You’re so anxious—are you looking to be the godmother?”

“You support me keeping the baby?”

Song Mi motioned for her to sit, then took a seat herself. “You haven’t had dinner, have you? The restaurant will deliver food soon—the same dishes you liked last time.”

Qiao Weiwei’s eyes widened. “They do delivery?”

Song Mi said nothing.

Qiao Weiwei understood. “Bosses really are different.”

Song Mi’s back ached from the drive, and her feet were sore. Seeing Qiao Weiwei didn’t press her about the baby, she asked, “Is Xiao An here?”

“If she’s free, have her come massage my back.”

Qiao Weiwei quickly pulled out her phone. “She’s here, I’ll call her up right away!”

Ten minutes later, Xiao An and another server arrived carrying the restaurant’s food.

Xiao An said it wasn’t good to get a massage just after eating, so Song Mi ate a few bites to settle her stomach, then leaned back comfortably and let Xiao An massage her legs.

Qiao Weiwei had a good appetite, eating heartily by herself—she must have been hungry.

But the meal was in vain, as near the end she became nauseous and vomited.

Once she’d finally recovered and lay weakly on the sofa, Song Mi opened her eyes and said to Xiao An, “Thank you. Please clean up and go back to work.”

Xiao An immediately stopped. “Okay!”

After Qiao Weiwei lay quietly for a few minutes, Song Mi went to sit beside her. “Feeling better?”

Qiao Weiwei replied pitifully, eyes closed, “Mm.”

Song Mi smiled. “You have quite a reaction!”

“Ah!” Qiao Weiwei sighed, opened her eyes, and looked at her. “Mi’er, what should I do—should I keep the baby or not?”

Song Mi was silent for a moment.

“If I keep it and become an unwed mother, will my parents agree? And my grandfather!” Qiao Weiwei had turned the matter over in her mind all afternoon, finding every possibility impossible—she was truly stuck between a rock and a hard place. “But if I don’t keep it, it’s still a life. I’ve never even killed a chicken before. Now I’d be… a murderer!”

“Mi’er, I can’t do that!” Qiao Weiwei clutched her arm.

Song Mi’s gaze involuntarily fell to Qiao Weiwei’s belly. “You’re rarely with your parents—if you want to hide the pregnancy from them, it shouldn’t be that hard.”

Once the baby was born, the deed was done; even if they disapproved, they couldn’t put the child back.

Song Mi felt it was doable.

But it still depended on Qiao Weiwei’s own wishes. After all, even being a mother in a normal marriage wasn’t easy, let alone a single mother.

And it had only been a month, yet she was already so sick. The coming nine months would be even harder.

Hearing Song Mi’s words, Qiao Weiwei became more certain of her stance, but she still felt something was off. “Do you really want me to have the baby?”

She had thought, given Song Mi’s decisive nature, she would advise her not to keep it.

But unexpectedly, Song Mi fully supported her having the child.

Qiao Weiwei had thought about keeping the baby, but even if she could hide it from her parents, there were so many practical problems. “Being a single mother… it’s too hard!”

Before Song Mi could reply, Qiao Weiwei’s phone rang.

She picked it up and immediately tensed. “It’s my mom!”

“I haven’t even told her about my brother’s injury, and now this… It’s just too much!”

The phone kept ringing, and Qiao Weiwei felt like she was holding a hot potato.

Song Mi looked at her deeply. “Stay calm.”

Then she stood up. “I’m going to the restroom.”

Ye Zhao was waiting outside, escorting her to the restroom door.

When she came out, Ye Zhao reported, “Liang Liang called. Tang Lishi and Shen Yanlie argued fiercely not long after their talk—he stormed out, slamming the door.”

Song Mi nodded. “I see.”

After a few steps, she remembered something. “Where’s Minghao?”

Ye Zhao replied, “No training tonight. The bodyguard took him back to Golden Mansion.”

When she returned to the private room, Qiao Weiwei had finished her call and was scrolling her phone. “Mi’er, your phone rang.”

Song Mi picked up her personal phone without thinking; the missed call was from “Boyfriend.”

He must have landed and was calling to let her know he was safe.

There was also a message from Minghao.

On the other phone, Assistant Lin had also sent several new messages.

Just then, someone knocked on the private room door. With Ye Zhao outside, it was unlikely to be a stranger. Qiao Weiwei and Song Mi exchanged a glance, and Qiao Weiwei called out, “Come in.”

To their surprise, it was Pei Qiuyang. “Mi’er.”

Qiao Weiwei instantly felt awkward.

Song Mi glanced at Qiao Weiwei first, then at Pei Qiuyang. “Following me again?”

Pei Qiuyang chuckled. “Pure coincidence, just ran into you!”

“I came with some friends,” he said, then turned to Qiao Weiwei. “Since we’re all here for business, and we all know each other, we might as well keep it in the family, right, Weiwei?”

After that night, Pei Qiuyang had been stunned—completely stunned.

For a while, he kept trying to find something to say about that night, to explain.

After all, they were acquaintances, and Qiao Weiwei was Mi’er’s best friend. Mi’er wasn’t just dating Brother Li, they were already living together.

They were bound to see each other often in the future.

He had replayed that night in detail more than once, trying to figure out what had really happened.

He knew he’d drunk too much, but how had he ended up sleeping with Qiao Weiwei?

She clearly wasn’t his type.

What troubled him most about this drunken encounter was that Qiao Weiwei had been a virgin.

He’d teased her before about not having any suitors, but surely she wasn’t that inexperienced?

After all, Qiao Weiwei was quite good-looking.

She had a great figure—curves in all the right places.

If he hadn’t seen the blood on the sheet with his own eyes, he never would have guessed it was her first time.

Especially since her performance had been… well above expectations. In short, he was stunned.

Staring at Qiao Weiwei, Pei Qiuyang couldn’t help but have a few inappropriate images flash through his mind.

But these were just idle thoughts, not any actual wicked intentions.

His most immediate impression was that Qiao Weiwei seemed thinner.

Her jaw was sharper.

Meanwhile, Qiao Weiwei was completely unaware of Pei Qiuyang’s thoughts. Preoccupied with her own troubles, she merely maintained a polite smile and adopted the tone of a proprietress. “Thank you for supporting our business, President Pei.”

Pei Qiuyang laughed it off, complimenting the thriving business and Weiwei’s excellent management.

Song Mi, watching from the side, couldn’t tell which of the two was the pursuer or the pursued, who was interested and who was indifferent.

At least they weren’t arguing anymore.

Before, they’d quarrel the moment they met; now, they were both unfailingly polite.

Perhaps that’s how it is—some things, once they happen, can’t be undone.

Song Mi could see that Qiao Weiwei was ill at ease.

Pei Qiuyang’s change in attitude was understandable. After all, they’d slept together. It would be too much to assume, from a slight shift in his words, that he had real feelings for Qiao Weiwei.

But last time at the hospital, when Qiao Weiwei nearly fainted as she got up, Pei Qiuyang had dashed forward to catch her, which left a deep impression on Song Mi.

Sometimes, the body is more direct—and honest—than the heart.

Perhaps some people are simply slow to realize their own feelings.

Sensing the atmosphere growing awkward, Pei Qiuyang quickly recalled his purpose. “Mi’er, I have something to discuss with you.”

Before Song Mi could respond, Qiao Weiwei tactfully stood up. “I’ll go to the restroom.”

When she left, Pei Qiuyang sat down across from Song Mi. “Mi’er, do you know about that woman, Wang Lisha, trying to harm Brother Li?”

Song Mi’s brows tightened. “You’re looking into this?”

Pei Qiuyang watched her for a moment—clearly, he’d guessed right. “You sent someone after Liu Hai, didn’t you?”

Instead of answering, Song Mi asked, “And what have you found?”

Pei Qiuyang shook his head. “Not everything yet.

“But I don’t think the Shen family was behind it.” After Liu Hai left Sihai Group’s security department, he had no further dealings with the Shen family, especially his former boss. Pei Qiuyang then asked directly, “So what have you found?”

…

Meanwhile, at St. Veya Hospital in the capital.

Wen Yanli did not expect to run into Wen Yunlan in the corridor.

He had seldom seen his biological father over the past few years.

There was no need, and he didn’t want to.

But now, meeting face to face, he couldn’t pretend not to see him. Moreover, it was clear Wen Yunlan had come to see his mother.

Wen Yunlan also saw him at once, slowed his pace, and instructed his attendants to go ahead.

Soon, the two were alone.

Their eyes met, and Wen Yunlan spoke first. “You came back from Jinzhou?”

Wen Yanli replied coolly, “Yes.”

Wen Yunlan watched him for a moment. “Your mother’s not doing well. Looks like she’ll need a second liver transplant.”

“I’ve already sent people to look for a donor.”

He did not refuse directly, nor did he add anything extra. “Alright.”

Wen Yunlan was used to this. After all, when he’d asked his son to take his surname, he’d already experienced this attitude thoroughly.

Still, some things had to be said. “There’s less than three years left.”

At this, a shadow crossed Wen Yanli’s eyes. Then, with a faint lift of his lips, he finally said a few more words. “As you say.”

With that, he turned to leave.

As they were about to pass each other, Wen Yunlan said, “I hear from your mother you have a girlfriend now.”