After the Bankrupt Heiress Married into a Rich Family - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Backing Her Up

“Rongrong, I miss you so much! Really, really miss you.”

Rong Zhao had been suffering from severe insomnia lately.

During those few days when Mingzhu slept beside her, she couldn’t say if she was reluctant to sleep or what, but the insomnia was constant. Now that Mingzhu was gone, she thought she would sleep better, yet the insomnia persisted.

Without makeup, Rong Zhao looked even more aloof. She walked toward the kitchen: “I need to find some carbs to eat.”

Maybe eating more carbs will make me sleepy.

Auntie Guan remembered that Auntie Tang had baked some sugar-free biscuits. She brought them out and asked, “Will these do, Miss?”

Rong Zhao looked at them and, thinking of Mingzhu’s love for sweets, said: “Sprinkle some powdered sugar on them. And give me a glass of milk.”

Auntie Guan set out the sugar-dusted biscuits, warm milk, and disposable gloves for handling snacks on the kitchen island. Then, she timely presented the budget sheet: “Miss, this is the budget for April.”

Rong Zhao wore a disposable glove on her left hand to eat a biscuit while casually flipping through the budget with her right. Her gaze paused, and for the first time, she offered an opinion on the budget: “Double it.”

Guan Tong hadn’t witnessed Mingzhu’s spending power yet and assumed Rong Zhao was just being generous. She smiled and said, “Alright. Any surplus can be carried over to May.”

Rong Zhao took a sip of milk but didn’t mention that a doubled budget would likely be the minimum, not the maximum.

Rong Zhao usually had few demands, and the housekeeper’s life was quiet. Having lived together like family for years, the housekeeper couldn’t help but let out a sigh: “I’m not sure if it’s because Miss Mingzhu isn’t home or if it’s just the late spring chill, but the house feels two degrees colder.”

Two degrees?

It feels like more than that.

Seeing that Rong Zhao didn’t disagree, the housekeeper knew she felt the chill too. “I’ll go adjust the air conditioning, but it will take time for the temperature to rise. Would Miss like to put on another layer?”

Rong Zhao thought for a moment. Looking at the roses whose petal edges had begun to wither after only three days, she said nonchalantly, “Is Mingzhu’s white windbreaker put away? If not, I’ll take that one.”

A new bar called “Mo San” had opened on Fu’an Road. It featured a lot of trendy gimmicks and had been bustling since its opening day. A long line of people waited outside, while inside was a crowded, thumping mass of ear-splitting music.

Mingzhu had ordered several drinks with exotic names. She loved the feeling of being just on the edge of tipsy, the heat rising to her face—it made her feel excited. She never grew tired of drinking games like “Captain Cook,” “Mona Lisa,” or “007.” She was currently shouting over the music, laughing and drinking heartily with He Chan and their usual crowd.

Suddenly, He Chan nudged Mingzhu’s arm. Mingzhu turned around with a laugh, swaying to the music as she shouted, “What’s up?”

He Chan pointed to the side. Mingzhu followed her gaze, and her smile instantly vanished.

Standing by the table was Wan Qing, sporting short hair. In one hand she held a bottle of Chinese white spirit (baijiu), and in the other, two small spirit glasses. She was looking at Mingzhu with a smile.

Wan Qing was Wan Ling’s older sister.

Just then, as if someone had given a signal, the music volume dropped.

Mingzhu set down the rhythm shaker in her hand. With a cold, artificial smile, she brushed back her red hair. A red spotlight swept across her, making her face appear flushed, yet her expression remained frostily distant.

Wan Qing walked over with the alcohol and signaled the girl sitting to Mingzhu’s left to move. Wan Qing sat down beside Mingzhu: “Mingzhu, long time no see.”

He Chan immediately moved to swap seats with Mingzhu, but Mingzhu held her down. She swung her legs and said with a bright smile, “Sister Wan Qing, it has been a long time.”

Wan Qing unscrewed a bottle of mineral water, poured it into a spirit glass until it was half full, and placed it in front of Mingzhu. She said, “I heard about what happened with Wan Ling at the stables. I also heard she said some things she shouldn’t have said.”

Mingzhu’s smile vanished instantly. The atmospheric pressure around them plummeted.

Wan Qing proceeded to open the baijiu, filled the other glass 80% full, picked it up, and toasted Mingzhu’s water with her alcohol: “Mingzhu, Wan Ling is immature. I’m very sorry she offended you and caused you distress. I’ve already scolded her, and she knows she was wrong. As her sister, I have the responsibility to discipline her. It was my lack of strictness. I’m here to apologize on her behalf. I hope you won’t take it to heart.”

With that, Wan Qing tilted her head back and downed the glass.

It was a professional tasting glass, 50ml in volume. Wan Qing drank three glasses in a row—nearly 150ml of high-proof spirit.

Mingzhu: “…?”

What is going on?

The Wan Qing she knew was a sister who pampered Wan Ling excessively; otherwise, Wan Ling wouldn’t be so brainless. Why was Wan Qing suddenly bowing her head to toast and apologize?

He Chan suddenly remembered the group chat gossip about Wan Ling being grounded. Hearing Wan Qing mention the stables, she started to put the pieces together. She knew Mingzhu had gone to the stables with Rong Zhao.

He Chan whispered in Mingzhu’s ear: “Wan Ling has been grounded for days. Is Rong Zhao backing you up?”

Mingzhu was slightly surprised.

Rong Zhao is backing me?

She understood in an instant. She was Rong Zhao’s wife; Rong Zhao was protecting her “spouse.”

Mingzhu’s slender fingers picked up the water glass with a smile. She tilted her wrist and poured it all out.

The onlookers gasped. Wan Qing’s eyelids twitched, and her expression stiffened.

Mingzhu nonchalantly poured a small half-glass of alcohol into the glass, then picked it up and said, “Regarding that day… Wan Ling’s words were indeed hurtful. It has made me miserable until now—I guess I’m just naturally petty. But Wan Ling isn’t a child anymore; why should you be the one to apologize to me, Sister Qing? I appreciate the sentiment. I’ll drink this glass for you—only for you.”

Mingzhu downed the half-glass, then turned it upside down on the table, clearly signaling she wouldn’t drink more. She asked with a hospitable smile, “Sister Qing, want to play a game with us?”

Wan Qing understood that Mingzhu was only giving her face today. As for Wan Ling, the girl would have to come and apologize in person.

Wan Qing nodded with a smile: “Indeed. Wan Ling is an adult; she really should come and apologize to you face-to-face… Shall I play with you for a bit?”

But Mingzhu stood up and asked He Chan for her car keys: “I suddenly feel a bit dizzy. Hehe, you play with Sister Qing. I’m going to go sit in the car for a while.”

He Chan knew Mingzhu well. She guessed Mingzhu wanted a quiet place to call Rong Zhao. She handed over the keys. She would stay and play with Wan Qing—they were all acquaintances, and since Wan Qing had already swallowed her pride today, it was best not to make things too awkward for her.

Mingzhu got into He Chan’s car and immediately called the housekeeper to ask for Rong Zhao’s phone number, making up a quick excuse about her contacts being lost.

Soon, Mingzhu dialed Rong Zhao’s number. To her surprise, Rong Zhao picked up very quickly.

I must be an unknown number to her. Is she that bored that she just picks up random calls?

“Rongrong!” As soon as the call connected, Mingzhu spoke in a cloyingly sweet voice.

“Yes?”

Speaking to Rong Zhao on the phone for the first time, Mingzhu felt a sudden sense of distance, as if the familiarity of the past few days had vanished.

“It’s Mingzhu.”

“…Miss Bai has such a pleasant voice. I can tell.”

“…”

Fine. Now she’s familiar again—mocking me! Implying my voice isn’t pleasant!

“Does your body still ache?” Rong Zhao asked, seemingly indifferent.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore! It’s been three days; I’m all better. Did you miss me, Rongrong? I haven’t slept with you for days, and I haven’t seen your beautiful face. I miss you so much! Really, really miss you.”

“…Is something wrong?” Rong Zhao replied. It didn’t sound like she believed her.

Mingzhu pouted and continued her act: “I ran into Wan Ling’s sister. She apologized on Wan Ling’s behalf, but I didn’t let her off easy. I said I wanted Wan Ling to apologize in person… Rongrong, you’re the one who stood up for me, right? Thank you. You’re such a good person.”

“You’re such a good person.”

Rong Zhao: “Mhm.”

Mingzhu: “Mm-hmm!”

Rong Zhao was silent for thirty seconds. When she spoke again, her voice sounded as if tinged with intoxication, carrying a light, airy nonchalance: “Then, Miss Mingzhu, how do you plan to thank me?”

Mingzhu: “?”

She had expected Rong Zhao to say something like, “Protecting my legal wife requires no thanks.” Instead, Rong Zhao actually asked her how she planned to show her gratitude!