After a Flash Marriage with a Professor - Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Don’t Be Fooled

Ming Shu stared blankly at Qiao Li’s outstretched hand, her mind stalled, unsure how to react.

She had expected Qiao’s family to come looking for her, but she hadn’t expected Qiao Li to come to her company.

“Ming Shu.” When she spoke again, Qiao Li’s form of address became more intimate, changing from Miss Yan to Ming Shu.

Ming Shu still felt equally uncomfortable. Qiao Li’s face remained smiling, and she retracted her hand without any awkwardness.

“It’s the first time we’ve met. It’s a bit presumptuous of me to intrude,” Qiao Li said with a smile.

Ming Shu finally squeezed out a “Ms. Qiao” from her mouth.

Qiao Li’s expression suddenly changed. “Why are you so distant? In a sense, we’re family.”

Ming Shu maintained basic courtesy, speaking neither warmly nor coldly: “Ms. Qiao, I’m still at work, and it’s not long until closing time. Please wait a few minutes for me. We can talk about whatever it is after work.”

“Alright, then I’ll wait in your company’s reception room first.” Qiao Li gently pressed Ming Shu’s shoulder, then elegantly turned and left the office.

Ming Shu sensed many pairs of eyes in the office staring at her. Ignoring them, she double-checked her work for the day. Ling Han cast a sharp glance around, and the colleagues immediately lowered their heads, pretending to be busy with work, though their minds had long drifted away.

When closing time arrived, Ming Shu packed her things and headed to the reception room. Before going, she sent Professor Shen a message, letting her know she might leave the company a little later.

After Ming Shu left the office, the office was still almost full. Ling Han sat at her desk and asked, “Is everyone not in a hurry to leave work today?”

GR Company discouraged employees from working overtime and encouraged them to complete their work during working hours and leave on time. Employees were usually eager to go home when work ended, as if staying an extra second at the company was a loss. Yet, today, they were all neatly staying put.

Someone chuckled softly, “Team Leader, you haven’t left either. You must be like us, wanting to get the first-hand gossip about the Deputy Team Leader.”

Ling Han remained silent. She was different from these colleagues who enjoyed drama. She was worried about Ming Shu. She had a premonition that the woman who called herself Professor Shen’s Auntie Qiao clearly had ill intentions.

In the reception room, when Ming Shu entered, Qiao Li was elegantly sitting on the sofa, sipping tea. She had entered under the name of the wife of the CEO of Shen Group. The staff member responsible for VIP reception had taken excellent care of Qiao Li.

When Ming Shu entered, Qiao Li gently waved her hand to the side, saying with a smile, “You can leave first. Ming Shu and I have something to discuss.”

The staff member responsible for VIP reception quickly glanced at Ming Shu, respectfully backed out, and closed the door. Colleagues who had slipped out of Ming Shu’s office to scout immediately grabbed the staff member and started asking about the situation inside. After getting the information, they ran back to the office, excitedly spreading the news: “Our Deputy Team Leader is not simple! She even knows the wife of the CEO of Shen Group.” The word “wife” was emphasized.

This simple sentence was interpreted differently by different people. The last time, when their company’s Vice President Zhang’s wife came to confront Ming Shu, it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. What about this time? No one knew, and no one dared to speak rashly, only making wild guesses in their hearts.

Ling Han, however, inferred something from the information gathered by the colleague. Shen Group, Professor Shen, the wife of the CEO of Shen Group, Professor Shen’s Auntie Qiao… was that woman Professor Shen’s stepmother?

Did Professor Shen’s stepmother dislike Ming Shu and want to cause her trouble?

Ling Han was worried about Ming Shu’s predicament. She found Professor Shen’s contact information on her phone, wondering whether to alert Professor Shen about the situation. She was also afraid that her position was too sensitive, which could lead to misunderstandings with Professor Shen and would not benefit Ming Shu.

Ling Han decided to temporarily hold her ground. The colleagues couldn’t wait any longer and started leaving the office one after another.

In the reception room, Qiao Li chatted idly with Ming Shu, telling her many stories about her daughter Qiao Qian and Shen Junlan, all of which were, of course, heavily embellished. For example, she said that while Junlan hated her, Auntie Qiao, when she was a child, she really liked Xi Xi. Junlan was a gentle child from a young age. She hated me but wouldn’t take it out on Xi Xi. On the other hand, Xi Xi was somewhat hostile towards Junlan because Junlan didn’t like her mother.

Another example was when Qiao Li said, “When I wasn’t at home, that was when Xi Xi and Junlan got along the best. They ate and slept together. Junlan was very caring and took good care of Xi Xi. Xi Xi has a difficult temperament, but Junlan, as the older sister, was tolerant. The home was very harmonious as long as I wasn’t there.”

“Ming Shu, can you understand what I’m saying?”

Ming Shu shook her head. Hearing Qiao Li say these things made her feel a little bitter, but her rationality told her not to believe everything. She should be vigilant. She didn’t need to understand this potentially fabricated story of Qiao Li’s.

“Alas~” Qiao Li sighed lightly. “How can you not understand? Ming Shu, you just don’t want to understand, right? Auntie Qiao believes that during your time with Junlan, you’ve realized what kind of person Junlan is. It should be pretty much the same as what Auntie Qiao is saying.”

Ming Shu remained silent. Qiao Li continued, “Junlan is gentle and caring towards you now because she learned to be gentle to Xi Xi and to take care of her since childhood. Ming Shu, everything you enjoy now belongs to Xi Xi.”

This statement touched a nerve for Ming Shu. She retorted, “Professor Shen is gentle and caring because Professor Shen is naturally that kind of person. She is gentle and caring towards me because Professor Shen likes me. Professor Shen clearly told me that she doesn’t like Qiao Qian. The stories you’re telling about the past are just the versions you want me to hear. Their authenticity is questionable.”

“Ming Shu, you’re agitated.” Qiao Li curved her red lips and smiled. “You’re not confident in what you currently have, are you?”

“You’re afraid that Xi Xi will take Junlan back from you, right?”

“You’re also afraid…”

“No, I trust Professor Shen and I have confidence in our relationship.” Ming Shu interrupted Qiao Li. Her face was flushed with anger at Qiao Li’s claims.

“You young people really can’t keep your composure.” Qiao Li smiled even more brightly. “I ran into Junlan this morning, and she was just as agitated. Both of you are deceiving yourselves.”

Ming Shu calmed herself down, staring at Qiao Li with an expressionless face. Qiao Li laughed out loud: “Ming Shu, you need to face the facts. Junlan can’t accept Xi Xi only because of my involvement. And it’s for this very reason that I haven’t officially married Junlan’s father. It’s all for the happiness of Junlan and Xi Xi. Once Junlan resolves her hang-ups, there will be no place for you here. Do you understand, Ming Shu? Auntie Qiao is thinking of you.”

Qiao Li felt that everything had been adequately set up. She took out a check from her bag and quickly wrote down 2 million. “Ming Shu, this is Auntie Qiao’s greatest sincerity to you. Auntie Qiao investigated. You were with Junlan for 1 million. Auntie Qiao will give you an extra 2 million. Consider it compensation from an elder for Junlan projecting her feelings for Xi Xi onto you.”

Qiao Li put on a façade of elder benevolence. She thought Ming Shu would surely agree. After all, Ming Shu was someone who easily gave herself up for 1 million. She also didn’t believe that the relationship between Junlan and Ming Shu could be that deep in such a short time. 2 million was surely enough to break them up.

Qiao Li even felt that she was being particularly generous.

She never expected that Ming Shu wouldn’t even touch her check.

“I don’t want money. Even if you throw 100 million at me, I only want Professor Shen.”

Ming Shu suddenly found it a bit amusing. The cliche drama she watched in TV shows as a child was actually happening to her. However, Qiao Li’s disguise was better and more clever than those noblewomen who threw money or water. She acted as if she genuinely cared about Ming Shu.

If she and Professor Shen hadn’t yet confessed their true feelings to each other, she might truly have been defeated by Qiao Li’s words.

“I have to leave. Please help yourself.” Ming Shu stood up and walked toward the reception room door. After righteously refuting Qiao Li, Ming Shu felt a sense of relief and exhilaration.

As she headed for the elevator, she ran into Ling Han, who had just walked out of the office and was heading towards her. She waited for Ling Han.

“Ling Han, are you working overtime today?”

“Mmm.” Ling Han replied flatly, walking into the elevator with Ming Shu. The elevator itself was like a mirror. In the reflection, they stood side by side. Ling Han looked at Ming Shu beside her in the mirror and asked, “That Ms. Qiao didn’t make things difficult for you, did she?”

Ming Shu curved her lips, showing a bright smile. “I didn’t let her make things difficult for me.”

“That’s good.” Ling Han secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Ming Shu still noticed. “Ling Han, were you intentionally waiting for me?”

“I…”

Ling Han sighed and admitted, “I was indeed a bit worried about you.”

“Thank you.” Ming Shu said gratefully, “But I’m fine. I can protect myself.”

“Yes, you can now.” Ling Han smiled, relieved.

The elevator reached the ground floor, and the two walked out of the company together. Ming Shu saw Professor Shen’s car parked by the roadside, waved goodbye to Ling Han, and Ling Han also said goodbye.

Ling Han paused for a moment, watching Ming Shu’s light, joyful steps as she ran toward the discreet Acura RLX parked by the side of the road. She didn’t watch long, withdrew her gaze, and walked toward her own car.

“I’m sorry, Professor Shen, for making you wait.” Ming Shu apologized as soon as she got into the car.

Shen Junlan turned her head and smiled. “What kept my wife? Work?”

Ming Shu didn’t want to talk about Qiao Li and changed the subject. “It’s not important. As soon as I was free, I flew out to find Professor Shen.”

Shen Junlan smiled and nodded in satisfaction. “You certainly flew over.”

Beep Ming Shu’s phone rang. She looked down at it and became even happier.

“Wife, what good news? Why are you smiling so happily?” Shen Junlan smiled unconsciously, seeing Ming Shu smile, adding another layer of sunshine to her existing smile.

“My bonus arrived! Fifty thousand yuan!”

“My wife is amazing.”

Ming Shu said, “Professor Shen, let’s not go home first. Can we go to the jewelry store? I want to pay for the ring.”

“In such a hurry?” Shen Junlan smiled and pinched the soft part of Ming Shu’s palm. “Wait until the ring is custom-made before paying. If they haven’t received the money, they’ll be more attentive.”

“Is that so?”

“Mmm.”

“Then let me treat Professor Shen to a meal?”

“Anything is fine?”

“Anything is fine. No, wait,” Ming Shu pulled back from the edge, calculated quickly, and said, “It can’t exceed 3000. I need to save money for the ring.”

“3000 is enough for a very good meal,” Shen Junlan said.

“It is!” Ming Shu agreed happily.

“Wife, I still want to eat your cooking. Why don’t we go back and cook ourselves?”

“That works too.” Ming Shu was agreeable to anything. Tonight, she prioritized satisfying Professor Shen.

Returning home, she was led to the room. A flurry of kisses descended, and as she was pressed down onto the bed, Ming Shu finally understood what Professor Shen meant by “cooking ourselves.”

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