My Ex Told Me She’s Still In Love With Me - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Just Playing Around

Hurried footsteps echoed through the empty corridor. The crisp, forceful rhythmic click of high heels betrayed the owner’s frantic state of mind.

“Slow down. Didn’t you hear? Qingwu is fine,” Lan Xining said, quickening her pace to keep up with Madam Meng (Meng Shuyu). She couldn’t help but complain internally—how old was this woman, and yet her temper was still so impulsive? She had nearly twisted her ankle getting out of the car.

Despite her thoughts, Lan Xining kept a close eye on Shuyu, terrified she might actually trip.

“She’s not your daughter!” Shuyu snapped, not even bothering to look back.

“How can you say that? She might not be mine by blood, but have I treated her as anything less all these years?” Lan Xining was stung. This woman never seemed to realize how much her words could hurt. She stopped abruptly and said coldly, “Fine. Since I’m an ‘outsider,’ I won’t go in.”

She turned to leave.

Shuyu’s footsteps faltered. A flash of regret crossed her eyes. She turned and saw the woman truly walking away without a backward glance. She lunged forward and grabbed her arm.

“Let go!” Lan Xining barked.

Shuyu pursed her lips, her expression growing colder even as her chest heaved with emotion. Without a word, she dragged Lan Xining toward Meng Qingwu’s ward.

“Meng Shuyu, are you being reasonable?” Lan Xining stumbled, genuinely annoyed now. Shuyu didn’t answer; she only gripped Lan Xining’s hand tighter.

Perhaps blinded by her lingering anger, Shuyu didn’t think to knock. She pushed the door open directly.

“Ah!”

A short gasp came from inside, followed immediately by:

“MOM!” Meng Qingwu’s roar of fury.

Shuyu reacted instantly. She shifted her body to block Lan Xining’s view and slammed the door shut, standing frozen and cold-faced against the closed wood.

Inside, there was a flurry of chaotic movement. Then, the door opened.

Cheng Yi appeared. Her face was still flushed, and a lingering, seductive “springtime” glow danced in the corners of her eyes. She looked visibly embarrassed, yet she forced herself to stand tall as if nothing had happened.

Shuyu’s gaze landed on her—sharp as a blade and burning like a torch.

By now, Cheng Yi had composed herself. She met Shuyu’s gaze without flinching.

Behind Shuyu, Lan Xining hadn’t seen the act, but she could guess from the panicked movements and the sudden slamming of the door that something scandalous had been happening. They were all adults; there weren’t many things that needed to be hidden behind a locked door in a hospital.

Lan Xining cast a teasing glance at Cheng Yi, marveling at how “wild” the youth were nowadays. In a hospital? With the door unlocked?

“Auntie,” Cheng Yi greeted Shuyu first. Then her gaze shifted to Lan Xining, and she faltered slightly. “Sister Lan.”

Lan Xining chuckled and nodded in response.

Shuyu: “…” Her face darkened. She calls me “Auntie” but calls Lan Xining “Sister”?

Entering the ward, they found Meng Qingwu leaning against the bed, casually playing with her phone. Seeing her daughter’s nonchalance, Shuyu’s brow furrowed. “Absurd!”

Meng Qingwu put down her phone. “A few kisses is ‘absurd’? I haven’t even scolded you yet—why didn’t you knock?”

Shuyu huffed and walked to the bed, inspecting the injured leg. “If you have the mind for other things, I suppose the injury isn’t serious.”

“You misunderstand me,” Meng Qingwu said innocently, spreading her hands. “It wasn’t my idea. When someone seduces me, if I don’t eat, it makes it look like I have a deficiency.”

Shuyu: “…”

Cheng Yi, who had just calmed down, turned bright red again. She didn’t dare look at anyone in the room.

“Hahaha!”

Lan Xining, however, had no such reservations. She burst into loud laughter and gave Meng Qingwu a big thumbs up. She truly admired the girl’s audacity.

“Spend less time with your aunt! Look at the nonsense you’ve learned!” Shuyu’s anger flared at the laughter.

Lan Xining took offense. “What do you mean ‘nonsense’? Are you saying I corrupted Qingwu?”

“Who else but you!”

“How do you know I do ‘nonsense’ things? Unless… you’ve experienced it yourself?”

Shuyu was choked into silence, glaring at her with resentment.

As the two elder women bickered, Meng Qingwu watched the show with great interest. She even beckoned Cheng Yi over to help her fix her collar, which hadn’t been properly straightened.

The other two stopped arguing and watched the interaction between the younger women in silence.

“So, what is going on now?” Shuyu asked, having calmed down. She sat by the bed and glanced at Cheng Yi with a cold, indifferent expression.

“As you can see,” Meng Qingwu smiled, acting as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

Cheng Yi bit her lip and went to pour water for them. Watching her back, Shuyu asked quietly, “Is it still her?”

Meng Qingwu took the water from Cheng Yi. “Just playing around.”

Cheng Yi’s body stiffened. She stood there for a moment, closed her eyes to steady her breathing, and then handed glasses to Shuyu and Lan Xining.

Lan Xining looked at Cheng Yi with a hint of pity. However, she didn’t think Meng Qingwu was being crossing a line—it was a consensual matter between two adults.

Shuyu watched Meng Qingwu for a long time. Seeing that her daughter’s expression hadn’t changed—as if it truly were just a passionless, physical arrangement—she didn’t press further.

“What happened at the construction site?”

“Something wasn’t tied properly and fell.” Meng Qingwu’s face darkened as they turned to business. “I found some issues during the inspection. I’ll have someone follow up.”

She recalled seeing a worker at heights without a safety rope. Confidence in one’s skills is usually what kills people.

Shuyu nodded. “Recover well.”

“Don’t worry, it’s a minor injury,” Meng Qingwu laughed.

Shuyu looked displeased. “You call this minor?”

Silence fell over the room, the cool air from the conditioner failing to dissipate the tension. Cheng Yi’s hand, hanging at her side, twitched.

“Cheng Yi,” Shuyu said.

“Auntie,” Cheng Yi replied softly.

Shuyu scrutinized her. She was a natural beauty—an elegant forehead, a high bridge to her nose, and delicate red lips. Her temperament was refined and graceful.

“What are you trying to do by staying by my daughter’s side now?”

Cheng Yi instinctively looked at Meng Qingwu, but Meng Qingwu was looking down at her water, not giving her so much as a glance. Cheng Yi’s eyes dimmed. A faint, bitter smile touched her lips. “Qingwu already told you. We’re just playing around.”

Shuyu watched her. “Is that so?”

“Yes,” Cheng Yi whispered, lowering her gaze.

Meng Qingwu finally looked up. A fleeting, cold glance, before she turned back to Lan Xining to chat.

“I hope that’s the case,” Shuyu said coolly. “Also, keep this relationship hidden. I don’t want anyone to find out. After all, Qingwu will eventually need a stable relationship and a steady family.”

Cheng Yi froze. So, I’m being told not to become a “trouble” for her future?

Meng Qingwu offered no reaction to her mother’s words, seemingly in agreement.

…

After the elders left, Meng Qingwu looked at Cheng Yi, who was acting as if nothing had happened. “Why did you say that?”

Earlier, when faced with Shuyu’s demands, this person had actually refused.

“I don’t agree,” Cheng Yi had said, her face turning pale as she looked Shuyu in the eye. “I don’t agree.” “Even if we are just playing, I believe I should have a ‘name.'” “At the very least, I don’t think having a lover like me is something shameful for Qingwu.”

Shuyu had just watched her, said nothing, and left. Perhaps she thought the words were ridiculous, or perhaps she simply didn’t want to interfere anymore.

Now, Cheng Yi was tucking the blankets around Meng Qingwu. “I said it because that’s what I think. Being your lover isn’t a disgrace to you.”

The atmosphere in the room was tense. One standing, one lying; one busy, one idle. It made the idle one seem somewhat cruel.

Meng Qingwu burst into laughter, tears forming. “Cheng Yi, I didn’t realize you had grown such a thick skin.”

Cheng Yi didn’t speak. She brought the toiletries over, holding a basin for Meng Qingwu to wash. Once finished, Meng Qingwu lay back and stared at the ceiling.

Cheng Yi headed toward the caregiver’s bed nearby.

Meng Qingwu didn’t move her gaze, but her fingers hooked. “Come here.”

Cheng Yi paused and obeyed, coming to her side.

“Did you lock the door this time?” “Yes.” “Mhm.”

A silence followed.

“Sit down.” Cheng Yi sat. “Lie down.”

With a slight bob of her throat, Cheng Yi lay down beside her. In this room full of the scent of disinfectant, she could still smell the fragrance on Meng Qingwu—a scent that, much like the woman herself, carried a certain heat that pulled people into the abyss.

Meng Qingwu turned on her side, propping her head up on her hand. “The interruption earlier… how did it feel?” Her tone was casual, as if discussing the weather.

Only Cheng Yi knew how mischievous she was being. She closed her eyes, the previous images flashing in her mind.

Flashback to moments before the interruption:

“Qingwu, take me.” “Are you sure?”

The air conditioner couldn’t blow away the rising heat. Their fingers intertwined, palms itching with the touch. Fingers brushed against soft, delicate skin, rising and falling with each breath.

Cheng Yi’s face was crimson, her eyes watery as she stared. Meng Qingwu laughed softly, moving as she pleased, eventually reaching Cheng Yi’s neck. The conservative shirt collar hid everything.

Meng Qingwu unbuttoned it, intent on peering at the truth beneath.

She leaned in to kiss her.