Chapter 14: I Wanted to Hit You Four Years Ago.

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Qiao Xu smiled faintly but did not reply. Since this was Xu Si’an’s house, she stayed for only two hours before leaving. There was a housekeeper at his place, so asking her to walk the dog was probably just to let her see the dog. Xu Si’an wasn’t at the office, and as his executive assistant, Qiao Xu had little to do. Aside from helping Xu Si’an handle some documents and attending decision-making meetings for various departments, there was basically nothing urgent. Every day, she left work early to spend two hours at Xu Si’an’s home playing with Cherry, then left. Initially, she planned to walk the dog and then go home for dinner. But she always arrived around mealtime, and Aunt Wang had already prepared the meal, so she ended up eating there. On that Friday, Xu Si’an was flying back at eight in the evening. After work, Qiao Xu bought some pastries and went to the Moonlit Mansion. When she arrived at the villa, besides Aunt Wang, there was another woman—Shen Zhiwei. Aunt Wang quickly handed Qiao Xu some slippers. “Miss Qiao, you’re here.” “Yes, Aunt Wang. Since President Xu’s flight is tonight, I won’t be coming over starting tomorrow. I brought these pastries for you. Thank you for the dinners these past few days.” Shen Zhiwei’s face darkened upon hearing that Qiao Xu had been coming for several days. Still, she maintained her composure. “Miss Qiao, long time no see.” Qiao Xu’s expression remained indifferent. “Sorry, but I’m not very familiar with you.” Cherry ran over as usual to nuzzle Qiao Xu’s feet, but Qiao Xu didn’t pick her up. With Shen Zhiwei present, she didn’t particularly want to stay. “Auntie, I have some things to do, so I’ll leave first. Could you take Cherry out for a walk later?” Shen Zhiwei sat on the sofa, assuming the air of the lady of the house. She scrutinized Qiao Xu, who she hadn’t seen in four years, but Qiao Xu had no intention of looking at her. As Qiao Xu turned to leave, Shen Zhiwei spoke. “Miss Qiao, do you have time for a drink and a chat?” Qiao Xu gave a faint smile. “I don’t think Miss Shen and I have a relationship that allows for chatting.” “Sorry, Miss Shen, I have things to attend to. Goodbye.” “Qiao Xu, don’t you want to know what has happened with Si’an over these years?” Qiao Xu stopped in her tracks. “That has nothing to do with me. I severed ties with him four years ago.” “Miss Shen, rest assured, I, Qiao Xu, would never stoop to being a homewrecker. My relationship with President Xu is strictly professional. As for coming here, that’s part of my job duties.” After Qiao Xu left, Aunt Wang fetched Cherry’s leash and tried to put it on her. Cherry, upset at seeing Qiao Xu leave, was reluctant to be leashed. Aunt Wang coaxed her for a while before managing to fasten the leash. “Aunt Wang, it’s almost mealtime. You cook, I’ll take Cherry out.”

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“That won’t do, Miss Shen. Cherry is shy around strangers. Don’t hurt yourself.” Shen Zhiwei grabbed the leash. “There’s a leash, isn’t there? It’s fine—I’ll just stroll nearby.” Shen Zhiwei had come with Xu’s mother a few times before. Aunt Wang knew she was part of the Xu family and dared not voice objections. The first time Shen Zhiwei and Xu’s mother came, Shen Zhiwei had Aunt Wang address her as the young mistress, but Xu Si’an stopped her. “Shen Zhiwei is not my wife.” As soon as Shen Zhiwei left the villa, she took the dog to the lakeside within the villa area. “An untamed dog—what’s so good about that woman?” After leaving the villa, Qiao Xu forgot to remind Aunt Wang that Cherry was due for a vaccination the next day. As the shuttle turned around, Qiao Xu saw Shen Zhiwei coming out with the dog, kicking its belly with the tip of her high heel. Qiao Xu quietly followed. If she remembered correctly, that was the lakeside. What was Shen Zhiwei up to? Why bring Cherry to the lake? When Qiao Xu reached the lakeside, she saw Shen Zhiwei dragging Cherry toward the steps leading into the water. Cherry feared water; even bath time required coaxing. Before she could think further, Qiao Xu hurried over. “Cherry! Shen Zhiwei, what are you doing?” Hearing her voice, Shen Zhiwei swung the dog’s leash, dragging the dog into the water. With a splash, Cherry cried out in the water. Qiao Xu saw Cherry struggling and sinking, dropped her bag, and jumped into the lake. It was early April; the lake water was still icy cold. Fortunately, Qiao Xu could swim well. She quickly held Cherry close and swam toward the shore. Shen Zhiwei stood watching as Qiao Xu rescued the dog. “Qiao Xu, you promised Si’an’s mother you’d leave him, so why do you still show up?” Qiao Xu gently patted the dog to soothe her, then slapped Shen Zhiwei fiercely across the face. “Ah! Qiao Xu, you shameless woman, how dare you hit me?” Shen Zhiwei raised her hand to strike back but was caught by Qiao Xu. “That slap is for throwing my dog into the water.” “Shen Zhiwei, when you arrogantly humiliated me and threatened me with my parents to make me leave Xu Si’an four years ago, I wanted to hit you then.” She had no time for further argument. Cherry was terrified of water, and her mood was poor after falling in. She needed to get to the veterinary hospital. Qiao Xu grabbed Cherry and ran toward Building Four, where she met Aunt Wang searching for the dog.

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“Oh my goodness, Miss Qiao, you’re soaked! What happened to Cherry?” “Aunt Wang, call a car for me. Cherry fell into the water and isn’t doing well. We need to see a vet immediately.” Aunt Wang quickly called the villa management office, and soon the shuttle arrived. After Xu Si’an’s plane landed, he turned on his phone and received a message from Aunt Wang sent two hours earlier, saying Qiao Xu and the dog had fallen into the water. He hurried to the veterinary hospital, where only Aunt Wang was present. Cherry needed to stay under observation. Xu Si’an didn’t see Qiao Xu and went straight to check on the dog. Seeing Cherry lying weakly on the bed, her eyes filled with grievance as she looked at him through the glass. “Aunt Wang, what happened?” Aunt Wang told Xu Si’an about Shen Zhiwei taking the dog out at the villa. She didn’t dare say more, as she hadn’t witnessed the other details. Xu Si’an took out his phone and made a call. The call was answered immediately. “Xiao An? Why are you calling me now?” “Brother, can you control Shen Zhiwei? Does she think marrying you means she can boss me around?” “As for Cherry, tell her to wait.” Qiao Xu knew Cherry was afraid of water and would never be taken near the lake to play. Xu Shiran’s tone was displeased. “Xiao An, Weiwei is your sister-in-law.” “About her going to the villa, Mom asked her to bring some things over. And Cherry? What Cherry?” Xu Si’an hung up and asked the vet about Cherry’s condition. Only after confirming there was no life-threatening danger did he relax. “Aunt Wang, where is Qiao Xu?” “Miss Qiao is soaked through. I worried she might catch a cold after being wet and exposed to the cold wind, so I sent her home first.” Xu Si’an thanked her, transferred some money as a bonus, and left immediately. Back at her apartment, Qiao Xu only left after Cherry received treatment. Still wet, she was shivering by the time she got home. Even after a hot shower, her head was dizzy and heavy. Qiao Xu knelt by the coffee table, rummaging through the drawer for medicine. There were all sorts of things but no cold medicine. Never mind. She sat on the floor and ordered a box of cold medicine on her phone. Afraid she might fall asleep while waiting for the delivery, she pulled out a cigarette from the pack and lit it just as the doorbell rang.