My Weekend Lover Turned Out To Be My Boss - Chapter 60

Chapter 60: Confrontation. “A Well-Meaning Breakup”

After Phoebe led Qiu Qi out of the kitchen, I lost all desire to cook. I turned off the stove, lit a cigarette, and leaned against the counter, lost in thought. Phoebe and Qiu Qi had never met before today—what could they possibly have to discuss?

Driven by curiosity, I tiptoed into the living room and stared at the tightly closed study door. I stepped closer, pressing my ear against the wood to catch the sounds from within.

It was Phoebe’s voice. I knew that tone all too well—it was that half-smile, half-sneer she wore only when she was genuinely provoked. “…So, Miss Qiu, you and Feifan visited so many places. The scenery must have been exquisite.”

Phoebe paused, then shifted to a topic I didn’t quite follow: “So, don’t you think you owe me a reasonable explanation?”

Qiu Qi’s response sounded foreign to me—the playfulness and joy were gone, replaced by a low, deliberate gravity. “Yes. There’s no need to lie to you. I was the one who answered that call you made when we were at the hotel.”

Phoebe had called me? I hurriedly fished my phone out of my pocket, but found no record of the call. Then Phoebe spoke again: “Miss Qiu, neither Feifan nor I like liars. Deception always carries a motive. Besides answering my call, what else did you do to her phone? I’m giving you one chance to tell the truth.”

Our world fell into a heavy silence. I held my breath, waiting for Qiu Qi. After a long pause, she let out a heavy sigh and replied calmly, “I put all of Feifan’s close friends on her blacklist.”

I scrolled through my contacts one by one. Sure enough, Phoebe and my entire circle of friends had been blacklisted. I couldn’t fathom why she would do such a thing. Phoebe asked the obvious: “Why?”

“I don’t know why you and Feifan separated. But after meeting her, we traveled together day and night, even facing life and death. If I said this selfish behavior stemmed from my feelings for her… would that reason satisfy you, Miss Lan?”

Qiu Qi’s answer nearly made me drop my phone. Another silence followed, broken by Phoebe’s mocking, cold laugh. The laughter cut off abruptly, followed by the sharp crack of a slap. Phoebe was never one for such loss of control. Unable to help myself, I shoved the door open. “Lan Feiyi, what are you doing?!”

Qiu Qi was clutching her cheek, looking deeply aggrieved. I stepped to her side, shielding her, and glared at Phoebe. A flicker of shock crossed Phoebe’s face before she regained her composure, looking entirely unrepentant.

I sneered in anger, “Haven’t been with Guan Shuyun that long, have you? You’ve already learned how to be unreasonable and start slapping people. Hmph, ‘he who touches pitch shall be defiled.'”

Infuriated by my words, Phoebe bit her lip, her chest heaving with rage. She ignored me, instead staring past me directly at Qiu Qi. “Qiu Qi, I’m sure you have much more to say to me. I hope you’ll bring some sincerity and find another time to visit Jieshi Excellence. That slap was a reminder: some things and some people are not for you to covet.”

Phoebe tried to push past me to leave, but I grabbed her arm. “Wuming, please step out for a moment,” I said without looking back.

Qiu Qi obeyed instantly, silently leaving the study. As I gripped Phoebe’s wrist, a look of pain crossed her face. She struggled for a moment before I let go with a shove, sending her stumbling back against the desk.

Phoebe was livid, her eyes brimming with tears of fury. “You Feifan, must we be so antagonistic?”

My calm stood in sharp contrast to her rage. I lit a cigarette, exhaled a cloud of smoke, and said airily, “The one who needs to calm down is you, Lan Feiyi. I’ll ask only once: you’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?”

She looked away, remaining silent. I swallowed hard, a sharp pain lodged in my throat. Everything had gone wrong. I reached out to brush a stray hair from her face, wanting to memorize her beauty one last time.

“I failed to control my emotions on my birthday. For that, I apologize. But now that we are both calm, I want to say this: Lan Feiyi, let’s break up. I’ve had enough of your coldness, and I’ve had enough of you hiding everything. It’s my fault too—one of us won’t ask, and the other won’t tell.

But now that I am asking, you still keep everything hidden. I’ve spent years guessing, and I’m exhausted. I’ve waited forever for a result that proves you love me, and it never comes.

I can’t afford what Guan Shuyun can give you. From the moment we met, you were always the best. No matter how much time passed or how much I gave, in the end, my efforts became a joke. I don’t want to be the streetlamp anymore.”

The moment the words left my mouth, Phoebe reached out to me in panic, but I recoiled. I was terrified of her hug; it would shatter my resolve.

Her lips trembled as she stood there, shaking her head frantically as if to deny reality. “What are you saying… I don’t understand… Don’t be like this. Please, don’t…”

Every time she moved closer, I stepped back. “I won’t say it a second time. It would only hurt you more, and hurt me too.”

She began to sob like a child who had done something wrong, her hands fidgeting nervously. Her voice turned soft and pleading, “Are you giving up on me and the child?”

I frowned slightly, staring at my feet. I gave a cold, heartless laugh and whispered back, “Don’t make this hard for me.”

Defeated by my plea, Phoebe walked away, looking like her soul had been hollowed out. Only after she vanished from sight did I collapse to the floor. I tried to stand, but my legs were like lead. I didn’t feel like crying; my heart just hurt—unbearably. I struggled on the floor, letting out a low, mournful groan and hitting the ground aimlessly.

Qiu Qi appeared at the door, startled by the noise. She rushed to my side, grabbing my arms to try and pull me up, but I was a dead weight. She eventually gave up and lay down on the floor beside me. We stayed there in silence until she reached out and interlaced her fingers with mine.

“You could have asked her to stay. Why did you break up?”

Phoebe’s departure felt like it had taken half my soul with it. I felt empty. Everything around me—even Qiu Qi—looked strange. I gave a weary smile and said quietly:

“This trip showed me more than just scenery. I saw another You Feifan, one who was free. She stood on the mountain peaks laughing at me—laughing that I had lost my dignity, that I had lost myself for Phoebe. She said I was like a dog in this relationship, content even when looked down upon.

We are all flesh and blood. Guan Shuyun isn’t the only rich one, and Lan Feiyi isn’t the only strong one. The whole world can look down on my love, but I cannot deny myself. At that moment, I was utterly disappointed in myself. I felt despair. This is better now. I am very, very sad—so sad I can’t even shed a tear.

But beneath the sadness, I feel a lightness I’ve never known. I don’t have to live for the kitchen anymore. I don’t have to watch the clock to put the kids to bed. I can do whatever I want without worrying about Phoebe’s mood. Isn’t that good? I didn’t do anything wrong; she was the one who betrayed me first.”

Qiu Qi hesitated. “Did you overhear us at the door? I’m sorry… I…”

I shook my head and curled up, looking at her. “Wuming, promise me: don’t lie to me again, okay?”

“I’m sorry… Feifan… that day, I just wanted you to rest, so I did a bad thing. I didn’t realize it would drive a wedge between you and Miss Lan…”

“I don’t blame you. It’s over now.”

Qiu Qi moved closer and hugged me. “I’m hungry…”

I stood up with effort, brushing the dust off my clothes. “Dinner will be ready soon. Give me a minute.”

…

Yu Tingzhi was efficient. Within two days, every friend knew You Feifan was back with a female companion, that they were intimate in public, and that a decade of love with Phoebe had ended in a breakup. Naturally, I became the target of everyone’s scorn.

The first to arrive was Soso, bringing Su Wei along for backup. Qiu Qi and I were about to head out for a drive when they blocked the door.

“What are you doing here?”

Soso stood there looking murderous, peering into the house. Su Wei, ever the reasonable one, gave a faint smile. “Aren’t you going to invite us in?”

I stepped aside. “Come in.”

Soso kicked off her shoes and marched to the sofa, sitting with her arms crossed like a judge. When Qiu Qi walked out of the bedroom, the atmosphere became excruciatingly awkward. I walked to Qiu Qi’s side and introduced her: “Qiu Qi, these are my best friends, Soso and Su Wei.”

Qiu Qi hurried to get water for them, but Soso refused ungraciously. “I’m not drinking anything. Don’t bother.”

I frowned. “Soso, don’t be like that. It’s rude.”

Su Wei, however, took the glass. “Thank you, Miss Qiu.”

Qiu Qi smiled and sat quietly on the side. I leaned against the bedroom doorframe. “I know why you’re here. Say what you have to say.”

Soso started, pointing a finger at Qiu Qi. “I’m here for the truth. What is going on between you and Phoebe? Is what Yu Tingzhi said true?”

I put a cigarette in my mouth and fumbled for a lighter. Qiu Qi picked one up from the table and handed it to me. I smiled at her and took her hand. This gesture seemed to ignite Soso’s fuse. “You Feifan! You!”

I lit the cigarette and looked at Soso. “What about me? Qiu Qi is a friend I met on the road. She helped me a lot. I wanted to bring my friend back to visit. Is that a crime?”

Su Wei quickly held Soso back. She said softly, “Tingzhi probably misunderstood. If it’s just a misunderstanding, let’s clear it up. Miss Qiu, please don’t take offense. Feifan, I want to know if you’re serious about the breakup. You shouldn’t joke about things like that.”

I flicked my ash and laughed, looking at Su Wei’s serious face. “Do I look like I’m joking?”