CHAPTER 49: 049: THE RICHEST LADY OF SHENCHENG

Quan Heng finally regained his composure. He didn’t even glance at his wife beside him as he set down his teacup and stood up.

There wasn’t a trace of anger on his face because of her words.

But that indifference was more hurtful than anger.

He Yunqing’s smile vanished. Her gaze fell on the teacup before her, watching the ripples spread across its surface. After a long moment, she suddenly swept her arm, sending the teacup and teapot crashing to the floor. Tea splashed onto her light-colored trousers, creating an ugly, mottled stain.

「In the bedroom.」

Ning Guiwan examined Lai Yang’s injury but didn’t apply any medicine.

"Are you afraid I’ll reveal that you and Quan Xiangru used to date?" Lai Yang sat in an armchair, hands on the armrests, her body leaning slightly forward as she looked at Ning Guiwan. "He was the one who cheated on you. Why are you worried?"

Ning Guiwan’s hand, which had been adjusting Lai Yang’s wide-legged trousers, paused. Without looking up, a faint smile touched her lips. "You’re overthinking things."

"Then why won’t you let me say anything? When he and Chen Qinghan come over for dinner later, they’ll be all lovey-dovey. Won’t that bother you?"

As she spoke, Lai Yang’s eyes lit up. "You still like Quan Xiangru, don’t you? You’re afraid talking about it will affect him, right?"

Ning Guiwan rose and settled onto the sofa opposite Lai Yang. Her skirt glided softly over her slender, well-proportioned legs, creating an elegant picture.

She smiled nonchalantly. "You really are overthinking. The past is past. I only focus on the present and the future."

Lai Yang watched her for a moment but could find no trace of sadness on her face. She stood up and sat beside her. "It’s definitely for the best that you think that way. Honestly, I don’t think Quan Xiangru is all that great. So what if he’s a bit handsome..."

Lai Yang was speaking when she suddenly thought of her second maternal uncle. She snorted, then continued, "And he’s not even as handsome as my second maternal uncle! If you ask me, even if my second maternal uncle is a bit older, he’d be a better choice than Quan Xiangru. At least my second maternal uncle is rich! If you were with him, you’d be the wealthiest woman in Shencheng! Think of how impressive that title would sound..."

Ning Guiwan was speechless.

An inexplicable excitement lit up Lai Yang’s face. "You’ll have to support me then!"

Ning Guiwan stood up and tapped Lai Yang on the forehead. "In your dreams!"

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Miss Lai, Miss Ning, Young Master Sun and Young Madam Sun have arrived. The Madam sent me to call you downstairs."

Ning Guiwan replied calmly, "Understood."

Lai Yang pouted. "They sure got here fast!"

「Downstairs.」

Ning Qinghan sat obediently beside He Yunqing. Quan Heng and Old Madam Quan were not present. Quan Xiangru sat opposite the two women, cradling a celadon teacup.

"How has your recovery been these past few days?" He Yunqing asked, holding Ning Qinghan’s hand, her eyes crinkling with a warm smile.

Ning Qinghan always felt somewhat intimidated in He Yunqing’s presence. Although her status as the daughter of the Tianchi Group chairman had attracted many flatterers over the years, He Yunqing’s innate air of superiority still made her uneasy. This was despite He Yunqing always being perfectly cordial to her.

"The doctor prescribed some medication. After resting for a few days, I’m much better now," Ning Qinghan replied, her palms growing slightly damp.

He Yunqing seemed not to notice, still smiling kindly. "The designer from Paris sent over your wedding dress designs yesterday. After dinner with the Old Madam, come back with me to take a look. If it gets too late, you can stay over."

Ning Qinghan was thrilled, but her heart sank when she glanced at Quan Xiangru’s indifferent expression.

Biting her lip, she said, "There’s no need. My dad asked me to come home early; he said something came up..."

"I’ll call him. I’m sure he won’t object to me wanting a little chat with my daughter-in-law," He Yunqing said, her eyes crinkling with a smile. She genuinely seemed to like Ning Qinghan.

Ning Qinghan couldn’t stop smiling.

It didn’t matter if Brother Xiangru’s heart wasn’t hers, as long as He Yunqing supported her. Once she became the young mistress of the Quan Family, Quan Xiangru’s wife, she believed that someday Brother Xiangru would see her love for him...

Upstairs, Lai Yang and Ning Guiwan stood by the railing, listening to the warm conversation below. Lai Yang couldn’t help but feel angry on her friend’s behalf.

"What is Aunt thinking!" she muttered under her breath.

Ning Guiwan merely smiled faintly.

Perhaps hearing Lai Yang’s voice, Quan Xiangru suddenly looked up.

The moment he saw Ning Guiwan, his gaze froze.

"Xiaowan," He Yunqing said when she saw her, her smile deepening. "When you go back tonight, tell your dad that Qinghan is staying at my place, so he doesn’t worry."

"Xiaowan has been staying here for days; she’s not going back," Lai Yang blurted out. "Can’t Qinghan just call him herself? It’s not like she hasn’t stayed out overnight before. Why would she be embarrassed?"

Lai Yang’s words were quite rude.

"You..." Ning Qinghan’s face turned pale with anger.

She was, after all, a young woman and not entirely shameless. The fact that she had become Quan Xiangru’s fiancée only after taking advantage of his vulnerability, having an affair, and then getting pregnant was a deeply sensitive topic for her. She had always feared He Yunqing and Quan Xiangru would look down on her for it. Hearing Lai Yang bring it up so bluntly made her both furious and ashamed.

"What? Am I wrong?" Lai Yang shot a contemptuous glance at Quan Xiangru and added, "Scumbag!"

In front of He Yunqing and Quan Xiangru, Ning Qinghan seethed inwardly but dared not voice her anger.

I really want to rip that annoying mouth right off her face! she thought.

Quan Xiangru looked at Ning Guiwan, expecting some reaction from her. But the young woman simply kept smiling, seemingly unaffected by Lai Yang’s words, as if they had nothing to do with her.

He had imagined countless scenarios for their reunion, but never this one. Complete indifference. It seemed he truly held no place in her heart anymore. The girl who had once rested her head on his shoulder, talking about a beach wedding—he had lost her for good.

Later, during dinner, Old Madam Quan finally emerged from her room. Quan Heng had received a call and left earlier.

Midway through the meal, Lai Yang excused herself to go to the restroom.

After washing her hands and pulling open the door, she was met with a sharp slap across the face.

Lai Yang, caught off guard, had her head snapped to the side. She was momentarily stunned. When she recovered, she saw Ning Qinghan standing before her, face contorted with rage.

"Lai Yang! I’ve never done anything to offend you, yet you constantly oppose me! What do you mean by that? Do you think I’m an easy target?" Ning Qinghan clenched her jaw, the anger she had suppressed for so long finally erupting.

Lai Yang clutched her stinging cheek, her own anger flaring. Without a word, she lunged forward and grabbed Ning Qinghan’s hair.

「In the dining room.」

The atmosphere was lukewarm. Everyone wore smiles, but they were overly polite, more like a superficial harmony maintained for some unspoken reason.

A servant suddenly rushed in, flustered and panting, "This is terrible! Miss Lai and Young Madam Sun are fighting!"

Ning Guiwan immediately put down her chopsticks and stood up, worried Lai Yang would get the worst of it.

Quan Xiangru also rose to his feet.

Watching them leave, a sharp glint flashed in He Yunqing’s eyes.

She stood up slowly, her face feigning concern. "Those two children, they’re being far too unruly!"

Ning Guiwan hurried to the restroom. Seeing the scene before her, she let out a sigh of relief.

Lai Yang had Ning Qinghan pinned against the washbasin, the faucet gushing cold water directly onto Ning Qinghan’s head. Ning Qinghan thrashed wildly, her hair a tangled mess, her blouse soaked through, presenting a thoroughly wretched sight.

"Lai Yang."

Ning Guiwan stepped forward, intending to pull Lai Yang away. "That’s enough. Let her go."

Lai Yang, her eyes red-rimmed, didn’t release her grip. Instead, she pushed Ning Qinghan’s head further into the basin, snarling fiercely, "She dared to slap me! No one has ever slapped me in my life!"

Quan Xiangru, who had followed them, entered and was momentarily stunned by the sight. Recovering quickly, he strode forward and pulled Lai Yang away.

He was strong, and Lai Yang was easily disengaged.

Ning Qinghan, losing her support, slid to the floor. She coughed incessantly, her makeup ruined, water streaming down her face from her drenched hair. She looked utterly pitiful.

"What on earth happened here?" He Yunqing’s expression darkened instantly upon seeing Ning Qinghan’s miserable state.

"Xiaoyang, why were you hitting her?" Old Madam Quan asked, frowning.