Volume One, Chapter 107: The Rift Between Close Friends

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Chi Yueyao shivered in the biting cold wind. To showcase her beauty and figure to the fullest, she had carefully chosen her outfit and makeup for a long time. She believed she was in no way inferior to Chi Xingwan, who usually went without makeup and dressed plainly. Even with a good natural appearance, Xingwan could hardly attract men. But she was different. Chi Yueyao touched up her makeup with a small mirror, growing more satisfied with herself. As long as she had the chance to be alone with Xiao Yue, she was confident he wouldn’t be able to ignore her.

It was already three o’clock, yet no one appeared. Chi Yueyao grew anxious. The cold wind howled, and she could feel her health deteriorating. A few minutes later, the gate of the nursing home opened, and Xiao Jin stepped out. She looked inside, obviously waiting for someone. Chi Yueyao’s heart leaped with joy, though she resented Xiao Jin for not informing her that the time had been brought forward. Luckily, she hadn’t missed them.

Straightening her clothes, she walked gracefully to Xiao Jin’s side and exclaimed with delight, “Xiao Jin, what a coincidence to see you here!” Xiao Jin’s expression darkened slightly as she asked, “Sister Yueyao, what are you doing here?” Yueyao tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and laughed lightly, tinged with helplessness. “Before the New Year, my aunt usually represents the company to visit the senior employees. This year, she’s ill, and Qianyu is taking care of her in the hospital, so I came in her place.”

“Your company’s senior employee also lives in this nursing home?” Xiao Jin’s tone was indifferent.

Chi Yueyao didn’t catch the underlying meaning and smiled, “No, it’s just he lives nearby. It’s my first time here, and I got lost. I followed the navigation and ended up here. Didn’t expect to run into you.”

It was an excuse she had long prepared, making it seem as though she hadn’t come here intentionally. With Xiao Jin’s intelligence, it was easy to fool her.

“So this is Fushan Nursing Home. You said yesterday you came with your second brother. What a coincidence that we actually crossed paths.” At that moment, Xiao Rui finished chatting with the nursing home director and came out, saying to Xiao Jin, “It’s done. Let’s go home.”

Chi Yueyao’s face stiffened as she said to Xiao Rui, “So you’re here too, Xiao Rui.”

Xiao Rui forced a smile. “What a coincidence, but we have to go home now. It’s not convenient to hang out.”

He pulled Xiao Jin along, ready to leave. Chi Yueyao hurriedly asked, “Aren’t you waiting for your second brother?”

She glanced toward the nursing home, assuming Xiao Yue was still inside.

Xiao Rui looked puzzled. “What does that have to do with our second brother? It’s just the two of us today.”

“What?” Chi Yueyao momentarily lost control of her expression and asked sharply, “Xiao Jin, didn’t you say you came with your second brother today?”

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Xiao Rui chuckled. He had originally planned to expose Chi Yueyao’s clumsy lie in person, but seeing Xiao Jin’s saddened expression, he changed his approach.

“Originally, second brother was coming, but then it switched to me. What’s wrong with that?”

Saying this, he pulled Xiao Jin away, deliberately speaking loudly, “Hurry up, we still have to report to work.”

Xiao Jin quickened her pace to keep up with Xiao Rui, leaving Chi Yueyao shivering alone in the cold wind.

She trembled as she returned to her car. Once inside, the warmth of the heater hit her, and she sneezed several times in rapid succession, angrily pounding the steering wheel.

She wasn’t sure if Xiao Jin suspected her, but she was certain that Xiao Jin no longer trusted her as before.

Moreover, recently Xiao Jin always had various excuses to avoid meeting her. Chi Yueyao’s heart tightened; she had to admit she’d lost her connection to Xiao Jin.

Biting her finger, she furrowed her brows and her gaze flickered uneasily.

If she lost Xiao Jin, how else could she get close to Xiao Yue?

Rely on Chi Xingwan?

Impossible.

Then who else?

Chi Yueyao thought of someone. She picked up her phone, hesitated for a moment, and decided to make a call.

...

Following Chi Yueyao’s suggestion, Yang Jing began feigning illness. To be convincing, she deliberately starved herself for several days and took cold showers. Eventually, she truly fell ill and appeared very haggard, now hospitalized.

When Chi Yueyao entered the ward, she heard Chi Qianyu complaining, “Mom, you could just pretend a little. Why do you have to make yourself this sick?”

Yang Jing sighed. “Qianyu, you don’t know how suspicious your father is. If I’m not really sick, he’ll see right through it.”

“But—”

“Stop. This illness is worth it. Ever since I was hospitalized, your father hasn’t mentioned divorce once.”

Chi Qianyu muttered, “But Dad only came on the first day I was admitted. He hasn’t visited after that.”

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Yang Jing said, “Your father’s so busy with work, it’s normal he can’t come.”

“What if... Dad is with that woman?” Chi Qianyu said bluntly.

A pang struck Yang Jing’s heart. How could she not know that Chi Zhenghua was with that woman? But Yueyao was right. As long as she secured her position as Mrs. Chi, that woman, even if she was his first love, would remain an outsider—nameless and without status.

Chi Qianyu wanted to continue, but Chi Yueyao spoke up, “Qianyu, Aunt looks tired. Let her rest for a while.”

Seeing the weariness on Yang Jing’s face, Chi Qianyu hurriedly helped her lie down.

“Mom, you rest first. I’ll keep you company during dinner tonight.”

After leaving the ward, Chi Yueyao casually asked, “Has anyone visited Aunt these days?”

Chi Qianyu snorted coldly. “Besides you and my brother coming every day, Dad’s only been here once. As for those people who worked with Mom before, none have come—just a bunch of fake flatterers.”

Chi Yueyao lowered her eyes and asked, “Chi Xingwan hasn’t come either?”

“To what end? I didn’t notify her. I don’t even consider her family,” Chi Qianyu said disdainfully.

But Chi Yueyao replied, “Qianyu, you can’t think like that. You know why Aunt is sick. I think we have to help her.”

“How?” Qianyu asked.

Chi Yueyao’s eyes flickered. “Chi Xingwan is now the future daughter-in-law of the Xiao family. If she tends to Aunt at her bedside, it shows a good relationship between them. Even if Uncle doesn’t value Xingwan, he will respect the Xiao family behind her.”

Chi Qianyu’s eyes lit up. “Right, why didn’t I think of that? I’ll notify Chi Xingwan to come now.”

When Chi Xingwan received Chi Qianyu’s call, her first words were, “What does your mom being sick have to do with me?”

Chi Qianyu exploded in frustration, shouting into the phone, “She’s your aunt! I don’t care—you have to come to the hospital!”

“Crazy,” Chi Xingwan said, abruptly hanging up. She wondered what scheme Chi Qianyu was trying to pull this time.

Originally, she hadn’t planned to come, but thinking of the oppressive atmosphere at the Chi family villa, she decided it was necessary to make this trip.