She Seems to Struggle with Having a Wife - Chapter 12

Qin Mu carried breakfast as she ascended the spiral staircase to the second floor.

The first floor of the ceramic shop was the display area, while the second floor was the workshop. When Qin Mu went up, she saw four or five people wearing aprons, with staff members bending over to guide them in their DIY projects.

The second floor was decorated cleanly and beautifully.

The artistic atmosphere was excellent.

It suited her identity as an artist quite well.

Qin Mu walked in and noticed an office at the far end with the words “Boss’s Office” written on it.

As she approached the door, she politely knocked.

Suddenly, she felt a faint heaviness in her heart.

Was it because she was once the subject of Wei Qing’an’s rumors?

Qin Mu raised her hand and patted her slightly aching chest, wondering why this habit of shivering when she saw her had never gone away.

“Come in,” a voice called from inside.

Qin Mu lowered her hand, composed herself, and pushed the door open.

As the door swung open, her eyes were met with a wall full of artworks, all exquisitely crafted. Qin Mu took a step forward, widening her gaze, and only then did she notice a sculpture placed among the artworks, it was Wei Qing’an.

Qin Mu’s heart sank instantly.

So, she still cared after all.

“Qin Mu, it really is you! When I heard the name last night, I thought it might just be someone with the same name,” Ling Xi said, walking over with her hands covered in clay, her face lit up with surprise.

Qin Mu smiled and approached, placing the breakfast on the table. “Yes, it’s been a long time, Senior.”

Ling Xi had a striking appearance, with a pair of captivating, standard peach-blossom eyes that, even when gentle, carried a hint of sharpness. For instance, at that moment, Qin Mu couldn’t help but feel a chill.

Comparing her to Wei Qing’an.

One was like a vibrant, multicolored porcelain, while the other was an elegant and dignified blue-and-white ceramic.

Ling Xi walked over with a smile, reached out to peek into the bag, and couldn’t help but laugh when she saw the fried chicken inside. “Little junior, why did you bring me fried chicken? I never eat fried chicken, it’s high in calories and makes you gain weight.”

Qin Mu froze, then explained, “Senior, don’t you like fried chicken? Back in our second year of graduate school, I often saw you bringing fried chicken and coffee to school. I thought you loved it, so I specially bought some.”

“Haha, that wasn’t for me,” Ling Xi laughed brightly. “It was for your other senior, Wei Qing’an. She usually doesn’t like to eat, and her health isn’t great, but she does enjoy a bite or two of fried chicken, so I used to buy it for her.”

“So that’s how it was,” Qin Mu said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.

So, all of that was for her.

After chatting for a while, Qin Mu brought up the main reason for her visit: “Teacher Ling, today I came to—”

“Ah, Qin Mu,” Ling Xi interrupted, turning to sit down at the ceramic piece she was working on. As she continued shaping the clay, she asked, “I remember you were supposed to be in a combined master’s and doctoral program, right? But I heard you didn’t continue after finishing your master’s.”

Qin Mu instinctively clenched her fists, feeling somewhat uneasy. “Yes, due to personal reasons, I didn’t complete it.”

Ling Xi sighed, as if talking to herself. “What a pity. You could have been the next Xiao An.”

Xiao An?

She called her Xiao An.

“Oh no!” Ling Xi suddenly exclaimed loudly. Qin Mu looked up, concerned, and asked, “Senior, what’s wrong?”

Ling Xi clasped her hands together, looking apologetic. “I’m sorry, Qin Mu, but I have an important meeting scheduled soon. I’m afraid we won’t be able to discuss the collaboration today. Let’s talk tonight instead, I’ll call you then.”

Qin Mu had no choice but to agree, “Alright, you go ahead with your work.”

She then turned and left.

The moment she stepped out of Ling Xi’s office, Qin Mu felt as if she had come back to life, taking deep, heavy breaths.

This person was indeed just like before calculating and difficult to get along with.

With a grim expression, Qin Mu walked out of her ceramic shop. Zhang Fan and Li Jiashan approached her and asked, “How did it go?”

Qin Mu glanced back and said, “She has to meet someone else later and said she’d call me tonight.”

“What?” Zhang Fan said, puzzled. “That can’t be right. I was up late last night gathering information she has no work today and no personal schedule. How could she suddenly be busy?”

An excuse, then.

Judging by her attitude, it seemed she had no intention of cooperating.

Qin Mu rubbed her temples in frustration and started walking ahead, saying, “Let’s head back to the company. We’ll talk more after meeting tonight.”

Zhang Fan and Li Jiashan exchanged helpless glances.

It seemed Ling Xi truly lived up to her reputation of being hard to deal with. Even President Qin had been turned away this was going to be tough.

At noon, Qin Mu didn’t feel like eating and lay down on the sofa to rest.

As soon as she lay down, she received a message.

Qin Mu turned over, reached for her phone on the coffee table, and opened it. It was a photo of lunch sent by Wei Qing’an.

Wei Qing’an: The rice bowl tastes really good.

Wei Qing’an: What about your lunch?

Qin Mu glanced at the lunch Zhang Fan had brought for her on the coffee table. Although she often told Zhang Fan she wouldn’t eat, Zhang Fan would still thoughtfully leave it there. In the afternoon, if she saw Qin Mu hadn’t touched it, she’d take it away and secretly treat herself to an extra meal.

To prove she was eating, Qin Mu sat up, opened the lunchbox, picked up a shrimp with her chopsticks, took a bite, and then took a photo to send.

Qin Mu: Work lunch.

Wei Qing’an replied: Looks pretty good.

After taking the photo, Qin Mu lost her appetite. She finished the shrimp, put down her chopsticks, and asked with concern, “How’s your hand?”

Wei Qing’an: It’s nothing serious. I’ll change the dressing when I get back tonight.

Qin Mu: Okay.

At five in the afternoon, Qin Mu received a friend request. After accepting, the other person introduced herself as Ling Xi.

Ling Xi: Hello, junior.

Ling Xi: 8 p.m., Xiangshe Bar.

Qin Mu was in a meeting. After reading the message, she slid her chair over to Zhang Fan and whispered, “After the meeting, let Jiashan know I’ll meet Ling Xi at Xiangshe Bar at 8 p.m. Have him prepare the documents.”

“Okay, got it.”

Zhang Fan opened her notebook and jotted down the time and place.

By 7:30, Qin Mu had already arrived.

But she didn’t go in, choosing instead to sit in her car.

The car lights were off, and across the way was the bustling asphalt road. Qin Mu rested her head against the window, lost in thought about Ling Xi.

Back in school, everyone spread rumors that Wei Qing’an and Ling Xi were a couple, and Qin Mu had believed it at the time. But now, thinking carefully, the two of them had never publicly admitted it. Wei Qing’an had repeatedly clarified that she was single.

So, could it be that Wei Qing’an actually liked Xiao Xi?

And Ling Xi had an unrequited love for Wei Qing’an?

If that were the case, why hadn’t Wei Qing’an gotten together with Xiao Xi back then? She had been so good to Xiao Xi.

Lost in thought, Qin Mu slowly lowered her gaze.

If Xiao Xi had known Wei Qing’an liked her, she probably would have been overjoyed, grabbing Qin Mu’s hand and spinning around in excitement.

After finishing her chaotic thoughts, Qin Mu grabbed her car keys and bag, got out of the car, and walked into the Xiangshe Bar in her high heels.

This was the peak hour when the bar was crowded.

It wasn’t Qin Mu’s first time discussing work in a bar she was used to the flashy, lively atmosphere but it was still uncomfortably packed.

Ling Xi had texted to say she was at the bar counter. Qin Mu squeezed through the crowd and spotted a woman in a red dress. Just from the back, it was clear she was a beauty.

Qin Mu walked over with a smile and called out, “Senior.”

Hearing her voice, Ling Xi turned around. Her bold red lips weren’t overly flashy but perfectly complemented her custom-made red dress.

She straightened up, set down her glass, and gestured to the nearby stool with her chin. “You’re quite punctual. Have a seat.”

Putting on an obedient act, Qin Mu said, “How could I be late when Senior invited me? Especially since I’m hoping to collaborate with you, Professor Ling.”

She had used two forms of address, making her meaning clear:

Personal matters were personal; work was work.

Ling Xi laughed heartily and teased her, “You’ve really sharpened your tongue since entering the workforce, junior.”

“You flatter me, Senior.” After saying this, Qin Mu turned to the bartender. “Hello, I’d like a Margarita.”

“Right away, miss. Please wait a moment.”

The bartender left to prepare the drink.

Ling Xi raised an eyebrow, looking at her with surprise. “I thought a cool beauty like you would only bury herself in work in front of a computer. I didn’t expect you to know a thing or two about drinks.”

Qin Mu went along with it. “That used to be the case. But after starting work, I’ve had my fair share of drinks and picked up a bit.”

“That makes sense.” As Ling Xi spoke, her expression shifted slightly, as if something had crossed her mind, leaving her momentarily lost in thought.

A short while later, the bartender brought the drink over.

Qin Mu picked it up and took a small sip, not drinking much.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

Ling Xi’s phone on the table lit up.

She picked it up, and after reading the message, suddenly laughed, as if sharing with Qin Mu, “Ah, this person. Even with an injured hand, she still insists on going to teach. A true workaholic. She hasn’t changed all these years.”

Hearing this, Qin Mu froze instantly, feeling as if all the blood in her body had turned to ice.

What had she just heard?

Ling Xi mentioned an injured hand, teaching.

Wei Qing’an and her so they’ve been in contact all along? From back then until now, all this time?

Including during their marriage.

As Qin Mu thought this, her fingers trembled as she set down her glass.

All she felt now was a chilling cold spreading through her entire body.

Just how close were the two of them, to the point of sharing details like an injured hand and teaching schedules? Qin Mu couldn’t accept it.

It felt like something she cherished had been snatched away and flaunted by someone else.

She hated this feeling.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

The phone in Qin Mu’s pocket vibrated.

Afraid of losing her composure in front of Ling Xi, she quickly stood up, took out her phone, and said, “Senior, I need to take this call.”

Only then did Ling Xi genuinely smile. “Alright, go ahead.”

Qin Mu headed toward the restroom with her phone, finding a secluded corner where fewer people passed. She closed her eyes, trying to stop her racing thoughts, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t calm the frantic emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

Why did she have to go through something like this?

From Xiao Xi to Ling Xi, it was just too painful.

Qin Mu lifted a hand to her forehead. Her left hand, holding the phone, vibrated again. With red-rimmed eyes, she slowly raised it and opened the message.

Wei Qing’an: When do you get off work?
Wei Qing’an: I’m back.

Beneath the two messages was a screenshot of the time 8:20. She was saying she had kept her promise.

If it were yesterday, Qin Mu would have smiled.

But now, all she could manage was a bitter smile.

Qin Mu: “I’m out discussing work and might have to drink. I could be back a bit later. I’ll change your dressing tomorrow.”

Qin Mu: “You should rest early.”

Qin Mu’s hands trembled as she typed her reply. None of this was her fault, yet somehow, everything was tied to her.

Wei Qing’an quickly responded: “I’ll wait for you.”

Staring at those three words, Qin Mu’s eyes stung, and tears silently traced a path down her cheeks.

Support