Helping My Ex-Wife Find Love Every Day - Chapter 53

What happens when your wife walks into your bedroom and finds a naked, drugged woman?

Yao Xiang Yi had every reason to believe that Qiu Qing Shi would be overwhelmed by fury, lose her mind, and subsequently deliver a fatal blow.

“Darling, calm down,” Yao Xiang Yi shouted, trying to stop Qiu Qing Shi’s inhuman act.

Water splashed into Qiu Qing Shi’s eyes, stinging and painful. She couldn’t open them, but she recognized Yao Xiang Yi’s voice and said happily, “Boss (Bàba), hurry and help me hold Bai Meng Zhao down!”

Chi Gu Yuan and Tang Si Li were shocked: They even need a wife-wife collaboration for this crime!

Yao Xiang Yi stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and forced her up, repeating, “Calm down.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Qiu Qing Shi took the opportunity to bury her face in Yao Xiang Yi’s shoulder, rubbing against it to dry the water from her face. After a moment, she could manage to open her eyes slightly.

Bai Meng Zhao in the bathtub had regained a little reason, but her body was still terrifyingly hot. Her head rested against the edge of the tub. She wiped her face, and her chest heaved violently.

Qiu Qing Shi saw that her state was still lacking, and she immediately said to Yao Xiang Yi, “Go get some ice cubes, the more the better.”

At this, a flicker of realization crossed Yao Xiang Yi’s eyes. She shot a look at Chi Gu Yuan, signaling her to go quickly.

Chi Gu Yuan was unreliable. Her eyes spun as she tried to figure out the reason: “Is she trying to freeze her to death? Drowning her was cruel enough.”

Tang Si Li was more perceptive than her and noticed some clues. She poked Chi Gu Yuan’s forehead, expressing her exasperation: “I’ll go get them.”

She kicked off her high heels and ran to the first-floor living room. Champagne and red wine were being chilled with ice cubes at the bar. She took the wine bottles out one by one, set them aside, and returned the way she came, carrying the ice cubes, which drew considerable attention.

The crowd, eager for gossip, was driven by curiosity and followed her.

Tang Si Li handed the ice cubes to Qiu Qing Shi.

Qiu Qing Shi didn’t hesitate, dumping them with a splash directly onto Bai Meng Zhao’s head.

The icy touch was like a biting knife. Bai Meng Zhao shivered uncontrollably. She hugged herself tightly, her compressed lips trembling.

“Feeling better?” Qiu Qing Shi leaned down and asked her.

Having been subjected to the successive baptism of scorching heat and chilling cold, her skin showed an unnatural redness: “…Much better.”

Bai Meng Zhao recalled her inappropriate behavior just now. Embarrassment and humiliation nearly crushed her self-respect. She bent her knees, hid her face in her arms, and muffled, “Thank you.”

Qiu Qing Shi felt a slight sense of accomplishment. Seeing what was on her mind, she patted her head like a big sister: “This is known only to the heavens, the earth, you, and me.”

She then felt the gesture was too affectionate, which didn’t fit their actual status as rivals.

She withdrew her hand, cooling her tone by two degrees: “I won’t tell anyone else.”

Tang Si Li picked up the bath towel that had fallen in the corner and wrapped it around Bai Meng Zhao. Bai Meng Zhao, with red, wet eyes, looked at Tang Si Li and also thanked her.

“I’ll help you to rest next door,” Tang Si Li said, a light smile escaping from the corners of her eyes, offering a polite sense of reassurance.

Chi Gu Yuan, whose reactions were delayed, finally figured out the whole convoluted situation. She rushed over to help, assisting Tang Si Li in helping Bai Meng Zhao climb out of the bathtub.

As Bai Meng Zhao passed Qiu Qing Shi, she lowered her head, looked at Yao Xiang Yi, and said, “I always cause trouble for you two.”

Yao Xiang Yi also grabbed a towel, dabbing the water off Qiu Qing Shi’s qipao little by little, and replied to Bai Meng Zhao, “Don’t worry about it.”

Yao Xiang Yi had said these words to Bai Meng Zhao many times before, and they always made Bai Meng Zhao feel ashamed. Bai Meng Zhao parted her lips, intending to say something more.

Qiu Qing Shi’s eyes darkened a little, and she interrupted their interaction: “Si Li, you should still take Miss Bai to the hospital to get checked.”

Get her far away from my Boss (Bàba).

Tang Si Li agreed and politely asked the crowd of sisters blocking the bathroom door to move, clearing a path. Someone thoughtful even took a windbreaker from the closet and helped Bai Meng Zhao put it on.

Qiu Qing Shi felt resentful, with sour bubbles popping everywhere.

Sleeping in my Boss’s bed, lying in my Boss’s bathtub, and even wearing my Boss’s clothes!

Is Yao Xiang Yi my Boss (Bàba), or is she yours?

Yao Xiang Yi straightened Qiu Qing Shi’s shoulders, scrutinized her from head to toe, and then rubbed her cheek, arm, and slender waist, confirming that she was perfectly fine.

“Did Bai Meng Zhao hurt you?”

Qiu Qing Shi didn’t answer but started a new topic, whispering, “Did you see Bai Meng Zhao without clothes just now?”

Yao Xiang Yi’s expression shifted several times, and her brain quickly processed the situation: “We’re both women; whatever she has, I have, too.”

This response strongly implied, “So what if I looked?”

Qiu Qing Shi was soured, so much so that her cell walls felt like they were shrinking: “Congratulations, CEO Yao, your car vibration (cz) is canceled for tonight, and there won’t be any in the future, either!”

Yao Xiang Yi seemed to remember something. She clicked her tongue, placed a finger over her lips, and whispered, “I was looking for you.”

Listen to this 2.0 version of the渣女 (Scum Woman) Handbook—so scummy it defies heavenly reason.

Qiu Qing Shi wanted to contact a publisher to release a book for Yao Xiang Yi titled The Years I Spent as a Scum Woman.

Yao Xiang Yi said, stressing each word: “Your chest is bigger than hers.”

Qiu Qing Shi’s anger instantly evaporated, and she even felt a little giddy.

She leaned into Yao Xiang Yi’s ear and said, “Boss (Bàba), I want three car vibrations (cz) tonight.”

The sisters outside couldn’t wait any longer and interrupted their private moment: “Qing Qing, what exactly happened?”

They arrived too late and only saw the conclusion of the story, making them incredibly curious.

Qiu Qing Shi elegantly waved her hand, saying lightly, “Just a small incident.”

She raised her eyes and saw herself in the mirror, gasping in shock.

“Hiss—”

Her makeup was running.

A few strands of her hair were messy and wet.

The number one socialite in Haishi absolutely could not be so impolite in the public eye.

She tidied the scattered hair around her temples in the mirror.

The sisters, who loved gossip, offered a malicious smile: “Why did you pour ice cubes on Bai Meng Zhao? Was she perhaps—”

They stopped short, their faces full of inquiry, waiting for Qiu Qing Shi to provide an answer.

Qiu Qing Shi usually found their habit of finding amusement in others’ misfortune, completely oblivious to their own despicable behavior, deeply repulsive.

Yao Xiang Yi, fearing a third round of catfighting among the sisters, took the initiative to extinguish the flame before it could ignite.

She said bluntly, “You can eat whatever you want, but you can’t talk nonsense!”

As soon as she spoke, everyone stopped talking, turning into embarrassed wooden figures and trying to sneak away.

Yao Xiang Yi said calmly, “Did I say you could leave?”

The sisters were puzzled, glancing at each other. What? Did watching the drama make us criminals?

While they might not have the massive wealth and power of the Yao family, they were either born into influential families or had accumulated some background and connections through years of hard work. To be controlled so casually felt like an overreach of power.

One of them spoke up bravely: “CEO Yao, we didn’t do anything wrong.”

Qiu Qing Shi was surprised by Yao Xiang Yi’s unconventional move. She tucked the stray hair behind her ear and waited for the rest of the story.

At that moment, Chi Gu Yuan rushed back like her pants were on fire, shouting anxiously, “Boss (Bàba), Tian Ji Film and Television’s boss, Ji Ping Han (Jì Píng Hán), is here and demanding to take Bai Meng Zhao away!”

Yao Xiang Yi frowned, running her tongue over her teeth.

Ji Ping Han was known to be low-key and mysterious, or perhaps just not fond of socializing. Since Jing Hong Entertainment and Tian Ji Film and Television had been rivals for years, Yao Xiang Yi could count on one hand the times she had interacted with her.

An uninvited guest usually meant trouble.

Chi Gu Yuan, whose actions always followed orders, held her breath, waiting for Yao Xiang Yi’s instructions.

Yao Xiang Yi, focused on the current task, gave her a new assignment: “Close the door. No one is allowed to leave.”

Chi Gu Yuan: “?”

Chi Gu Yuan didn’t ask further. She followed the instruction and, before closing the door, didn’t forget to call two servers to guard the entrance, instructing them that only people could come in, but none could leave.

Everyone in the bedroom realized something was about to happen and unconsciously took two steps back.

Once everything was ready, Yao Xiang Yi stepped out of the bathroom and headed straight for the balcony. She pulled open the curtain with a shua, revealing the half-open sliding door.

She clearly remembered the rain the night before and had specifically gotten up to close the window tightly…

It seemed the plot reward was right: someone had hidden here, attempting to take secret photos of her and Bai Meng Zhao.

She peered inside. The dark sky blurred the outlines of everything.

She turned on the wall lamp on the balcony. In the bright yellow light, there was no one but her.

Did they run away?

She had been watching the balcony since she entered the bedroom. The photographer couldn’t have slipped away right under her nose, unless… the balcony was empty before she entered.

She beckoned to Qiu Qing Shi.

Qiu Qing Shi came to her side, her eyes bright, reflecting Yao Xiang Yi’s figure: “Boss (Bàba), are you looking for something?”

Yao Xiang Yi answered quietly, “I’m looking for someone. Someone told me that Mei Kai Xuan would use Bai Meng Zhao to frame me tonight and arrange for someone to take secret photos.”

“He’s insane!” A vein throbbed on Qiu Qing Shi’s forehead, and fierce anger flared in her chest.

Yao Xiang Yi whispered to soothe her: “He is already a lunatic; there’s no need to get angry over him.”

“He doesn’t have much grievance with you; he’s clearly targeting me. There’s a proper recipient for every wrong (yuān yǒu tóu zhài yǒu zhǔ). Why should he hurt you?” Qiu Qing Shi’s face turned purple with anger, and her voice trembled, struggling to keep her volume down.

The sisters’ ears perked up like antennae, trying to dig up gossip about the Haishi number one socialite and the number one wealthy madam.

Yao Xiang Yi saw her ears slowly turning red and squeezed them: “Take a moment to recall if anyone snuck out while you were preoccupied with Bai Meng Zhao.”

Qiu Qing Shi calmed her mind and closed her eyes in thought.

After a moment, she dropped her shoulders in defeat: “I was only concerned with Bai Meng Zhao then; I didn’t pay attention to anything else.”

“Then how long were you in the bathroom?”

“About three minutes, maybe shorter. Anyway, you rushed in right after I pushed Bai Meng Zhao into the tub.”

It’s all thanks to the Innocent Loli’s reminder.

Yao Xiang Yi shifted her gaze, feeling guilty: “The time was too short. The person didn’t have much chance to escape. Perhaps they are still somewhere in this room.”

This was why she required everyone to stay.

The most important reason Bai Meng Zhao was attacked was that she let down her guard.

Artists in the entertainment industry are talented, sensitive, and generally prioritize self-protection. Bai Meng Zhao wasn’t foolish; she must have known this. Therefore, it had to be a “familiar acquaintance” who committed the act, as people rarely harbor much suspicion toward familiar friends or colleagues.

Yao Xiang Yi’s gaze became sharp and cold, like a venom-tipped snake’s tongue, focusing on every sister present: “Which one of you is an artist from Tian Ji Film and Television? A colleague of Bai Meng Zhao’s?”

The sisters broke out in goosebumps, looking left and right at the people next to them: “CEO Yao, everyone in this bedroom is a familiar face. We all know each other. It seems there are no… artists from Tian Ji Film and Television.”