Helping My Ex-Wife Find Love Every Day - Chapter 15

Drawing a sword to sever the running water, the water flows on. Raising a cup to dispel sorrows, the sorrows return even stronger.

Yao Xiang-yi’s alcohol tolerance was not great, and she was deliberately trying to drown her sorrows. Yet, after downing a few consecutive drinks, the melancholy that had weighed heavily on her chest for days did briefly dissipate, only to return in full force shortly after, even stronger than before.

It was like a gigantic net enveloping her entire heart, constricting her until she couldn’t breathe.

She leaned against the bar counter, her eyes half-open, feeling a little heartbroken, a little lonely.

Above her, the multicolored lights flowed and shimmered, illuminating her features with an exquisite, mysterious brilliance.

Chi Gu-yuan cupped her face, blatantly admiring Yao Xiang-yi’s breathtaking beauty with a lovesick gaze.

She was truly envious of Qiu Qing-shi. How could her taste in a ‘wife’ be so good? Not only was she wealthy and beautiful, but she was also devoted to her.

“Daddy, there’s something I’m not sure if I should say.”

Yao Xiang-yi ordered another bottle of wine, eyeing her skeptically: “Permission granted.”

Chi Gu-yuan cleared her throat, sat upright on the high stool, and smiled shyly, perfectly capturing the essence of a girl’s crush: “Do you have any plans to date two people at once?”

Yao Xiang-yi elegantly raised her right hand, poised to deliver a slap.

Chi Gu-yuan quickly dodged backward, mimicking zipping her lips, and earnestly pleaded forgiveness with a pitiful, innocent gaze.

Finally, she penalized herself three drinks as an apology to the world.

Then, she returned to the main topic, using every bit of charm and childish antics to persuade Yao Xiang-yi to tell her the full story of the “Night Market Battle” between Qiu Qing-shi and Bai Meng-zhao.

The alcohol was starting to affect Yao Xiang-yi. Unable to withstand Chi Gu-yuan’s relentless assault, she recounted the entire sequence of events, including Qiu Qing-shi’s misunderstanding that Bai Meng-zhao was her mistress.

One told the story with great fervor, the other listened with keen interest. Perhaps because the plot was so tight, the drinker next to them was also drawn in, secretly leaning an ear closer. Yao Xiang-yi shot them a sharp glare.

She then leaned towards Chi Gu-yuan, showing her scarred left ear.

Chi Gu-yuan inexplicably felt pity for Yao Xiang-yi. What a strong and resilient CEO! She endures pain that a person her age shouldn’t have to bear.

She grabbed her glass, sighing that women shouldn’t make things difficult for other women.

Grasping Yao Xiang-yi’s hand tightly, she widened her bright, clear eyes and said sincerely: “Daddy, even if the whole world misunderstands you, you still have me by your side.”

A kind word warms you through three winters.

This long-lost warmth deeply moved Yao Xiang-yi.

The depression and grievances accumulated over the past few days seemed to have found an outlet, creeping up from her chest and throat. Her nose stung, and her eyes felt hot.

But Yao Xiang-yi held back. She was a CEO; her persona couldn’t shatter. She hastily turned away, adjusting her mood and calming her emotions where Chi Gu-yuan couldn’t see.

She noticed that the drinker who had been eavesdropping on her story was now watching The Temptation of Going Home.

And they were watching the most classic scene from Episode 11.

Hong Shi-xian walks out of the bathroom after showering, his shirt open, exposing his pale, muscular chest. He asks Ai Li: “Why are you wearing Pin Ru’s clothes and using her things?”

Ai Li stands up, swaying her slender waist, a wicked curve on her lips: “Since we’re looking for excitement, we should see it through to the end.”

A flirtatious glint flashed in Hong Shi-xian’s eyes, and he smirked playfully: “You’re so cheap.”

Revenge.

Blatant, naked revenge.

Since she wouldn’t let him listen to the “mistress” story, he put on a “mistress” TV show right next to her.

Yao Xiang-yi’s barely pacified emotions immediately surged into a monstrous wave.

She had once seen an interview with the actor who played Hong Shi-xian, where he said that Hong Shi-xian met Lin Pin-ru while dating Ai Li, became infatuated with her, and broke up with Ai Li. Therefore, Lin Pin-ru was the true mistress.

This drama was a massive hit back then. She had watched a few episodes and, at the time, thought Ai Li was disgusting for stealing someone’s husband and calculatingly ruining their marriage happiness.

Yet now…

She realized she was the real-life Ai Li.

She married Qiu Qing-shi first but was getting divorced, and now she was desperately trying to cause trouble.

And her ending, just like Ai Li’s, would be a miserable one.

Thinking of this, Yao Xiang-yi could no longer control her tears. They poured out, and she covered her face, hot tears rolling between her fingers.

The muffled sobs escaping her throat were filled with an unspeakable bitterness.

Who in this world is more miserable than she is!

Chi Gu-yuan was drunk and struggling to sit steady. She suddenly heard someone crying. Following the sound, she realized it was Yao Xiang-yi.

No, no, no. Daddy Yao is cruel and emotionless. She can’t possibly be crying.

Chi Gu-yuan rubbed her eyes hard, looking again…

It really was Yao Xiang-yi crying!

She was both shocked and terrified. She leaned forward unsteadily, stammering through her alcohol-numbed tongue: “Daddy, why are you crying? It’s just a misunderstanding with Qiu Qing-shi. Just explain it clearly.”

Yao Xiang-yi had drunk just as much as her. Her eyes were swollen red from crying. She drunkenly whimpered: “I ask you, if one day your lover falls for someone else, not only leaves you, but becomes your enemy, what would you do?”

Chi Gu-yuan slapped the bar counter: “I would beat her… and the mistress to death!”

“I want to, but Innocent Loli won’t let me!” Yao Xiang-yi cried in anguish, sobbing even harder, like a small, lost animal.

Chi Gu-yuan let out a hiccup: “Huh? Who is Innocent Loli?”

“A clueless working drone who doesn’t understand love.”

Just after answering, a call came in. Yao Xiang-yi picked up her phone and saw it was Qiu Fu-gui, Qiu Qing-shi’s father.

The Father-in-Law?

Before Yao Xiang-yi could fully process it, her finger had already answered the phone on its own accord.

Qiu Fu-gui’s loud voice, comparable to a mountain song, blasted through the earpiece, nearly shattering Yao Xiang-yi’s eardrum.

“Yi-yi, did you and Qing-qing have a fight?”

Yao Xiang-yi begged the bartender for a tissue and wiped her tears: “No, Dad. We’re doing fine.”

“Oh, why are you stammering? Did you drink?”

“Why are you drinking so much for no reason? I saw your Moments post. Did Qing-qing bully you?” Qiu Fu-gui switched to a cautious tone, sounding like he was soothing a child.

He had always deeply approved of Yao Xiang-yi. After all, she doted on Qiu Qing-shi, afraid to drop her if she held her, and afraid she’d melt if she kept her in her mouth. In short, she loved her to death, which meant she was often bullied. Sometimes, when he couldn’t bear to watch, he would back Yao Xiang-yi up and criticize Qiu Qing-shi a bit.

“Tell Dad honestly. If Qing-qing is in the wrong, I’ll make her apologize to you.”

Yao Xiang-yi threw her head back and finished the remaining wine in her glass, her face flushed crimson. She spoke the drunken truth: “She’s going to cheat on me! She’s going to divorce me soon!”

As soon as she said this, she started crying again, sniffling and wailing.

The CEO persona had completely collapsed.

Qiu Fu-gui: “！！！！！！”

In Paris, France, Qiu Qing-shi finally finished shooting the second scene of the advertisement.

Her professional skills were famously top-notch; when filming dramas, she often nailed scenes in a single take. Yet here, it was different. Every single shot required dozens, sometimes hundreds of repetitions.

Especially the close-up of her looking back outside the coffee shop, which she did over two hundred times, nearly twisting her neck off. She had to admire the director’s relentless pursuit of perfection.

She was wearing an off-the-shoulder lotus-root colored dress, her pale shoulders and arms exposed to the air. As evening approached, the temperature dropped, and the breeze brought a chilling touch to her skin. Qiu Qing-shi shivered, goosebumps rising all over.

Hearing the director yell “OK,” she felt immense relief. She covered her chest, humbly bowed to all the staff, and thanked them in French for their hard work.

Taozi strode over, shaking out a shawl to wrap around her. Several other assistants provided hot water, held an umbrella, and managed her skirt hem.

A publicist had also specially followed the crew and exchanged a few words with Qiu Qing-shi before going to chat up the director.

Qiu Qing-shi left the set surrounded by people and entered the RV parked nearby.

The moment the door closed, she collapsed onto the bed, which was barely large enough for one person, like a melted snow doll—soft, relaxed, and languidly glamorous.

She remained silent for a long time, slowly closing her eyes and then slowly opening them. Her dark pupils looked at Taozi, who had followed her into the vehicle: “Did Yao Xiang-yi… look for me?”

This was the tenth time Qiu Qing-shi had asked this question today.

Taozi secretly tallied two “zheng” marks in her mind, guessing that Qiu Qing-shi must have argued with Yao Xiang-yi. It was always like this; whenever they fought, Qiu Qing-shi couldn’t stop mentioning Yao Xiang-yi.

Fearing she might become collateral damage, Taozi cautiously replied: “Not yet.”

Qiu Qing-shi immediately lost her composure. She sat up abruptly and declared defiantly: “She better not look for me for the rest of her life!”

Taozi tried to comfort her: “Sister, don’t worry about it. Today’s shoot is mostly over. Change your clothes, and I’ll take you somewhere to walk around and clear your head.”

Suddenly remembering something, she pulled open a nearby drawer and retrieved Qiu Qing-shi’s phone: “You have quite a few messages on WeChat, though.”

Qiu Qing-shi took it and saw they were all harassing messages from her plastic besties.

Bestie No. 1: 【Sis, you must have fought with Yao Xiang-yi. It’s okay. The bigger person doesn’t hold grudges. Even though Yao Xiang-yi is ugly, her love for you is real. Forgive her.】

Bestie No. 2: 【Want to come out and have some fun? I’ll find two little male models to cheer you up. Or maybe switch things up and play with some younger guys?】

Bestie No. 3: 【Yao Xiang-yi is nothing. If I were you, I’d have kicked her out already. She says she loves you, but she keeps you busy all day, using the name of love to bind you and force you to earn money for Amazing Star Entertainment.】

Bestie No. 4: 【…】

Bestie No. 5: 【…】

Every single one of them was clearly and unapologetically manipulative.

Qiu Qing-shi mass-sent an emoji: 【[You can eat actual shit, but you can’t talk nonsense.】

Suddenly, the phone rang. It was Qiu Fu-gui calling.

Qiu Qing-shi was a little surprised. She had been too busy with work lately and hadn’t chatted with her father in a long time. Her sour mood improved. Bending her eyes, she held the phone to her ear and obediently said: “Hello, Dad.”

Qiu Fu-gui roared: “Don’t you dare call me Dad! I am not your father!!”

“Look at the mess you’ve made! You’ve completely disgraced my old Qiu family!”

Qiu Qing-shi: “?????????”

“Tell me honestly, are you secretly hooking up with another woman behind Yi-yi’s back! Oh, I can’t take this anymore! Where are my blood pressure pills!!”

Qiu Qing-shi: “?????????????????”