Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Heard That Wealthy Ladies Play Wildly
Watching Luu Qi give him a long, earnest talking-to, a dark cloud seemed to form over Xia Liang’s head. He was utterly baffled.
What is wrong with this girl? he thought, frowning as he glanced over at her.
"What’s wrong with you? Who sold their dignity? I earned all my money through hard work."
That’s right! I worked hard at my job to earn this. Thinking this, Xia Liang’s conviction grew even stronger.
Seeing Xia Liang’s shameless and completely unrepentant expression, Luu Qi’s anger flared.
"Xia Liang, I’m telling you! If you keep this up, I’m telling Auntie!"
Damn it!
Xia Liang felt like he was going to lose his mind. No, this girl Luu Qi is the one who’s gone crazy! What is wrong with her?
Taking two deep breaths, Xia Liang cleared his head. Still, I’m the older brother. I should be a little more patient with my younger sister.
With that thought, Xia Liang sighed.
"Fine, fine, fine. I was wrong. I’m guilty. I repent."
Seeing him like this, Luu Qi’s anger instantly vanished, and she looked at him with red-rimmed eyes.
Huh? Huh? Huh?
Seeing Luu Qi on the verge of tears, Xia Liang was stunned all over again.
What the hell is going on? I already apologized, so why does she still look like she’s the one being bullied?
Before Xia Liang could say a word, Luu Qi quietly took off her shoulder bag. She pulled a bank card from her small purse.
"Cousin, there’s Twenty Cents in this card. The password is six ones. It’s everything I’ve saved over the years. You don’t have to do that kind of work anymore. If you really don’t want to get a job, I’ll work to support you."
What the fuck?
As he watched Luu Qi slip the bank card into his bag, the corner of Xia Liang’s mouth twitched. Wait a minute! This girl hasn’t gotten the wrong idea, has she?
Sure enough, after putting the card in his bag, Luu Qi looked at him with a pained expression.
"Cousin, how have things been for you these past few years, ever since you got with *her*? I’ve seen some reports about it online..."
At this point, Luu Qi’s face filled with righteous indignation. "I heard those rich older women are into all sorts of kinky things... whips, candles, steel wool... Cousin! It’s all my fault for being useless! I’ve let you suffer."
For fuck’s sake!
Xia Liang finally understood what she was thinking, and he couldn’t hold back any longer. He pulled the car over to the side of the road and grabbed her head with both hands.
"Cousin! What are you doing?"
Though there was a hint of panic in Luu Qi’s voice, it was mostly filled with anticipation. Xia Liang’s actions sent her mind racing.
Has the long-term abuse finally twisted my cousin’s mind? Is he finally going to make a move on me? If so, what should I do? Should I accept? Or accept? Or accept? Besides, I was adopted. We’re not blood-related. He’s not my *real* cousin.
Thinking this, Luu Qi silently closed her eyes.
"Cousin, you have to be gentle with me."
???
Watching Luu Qi have another one of her episodes, Xia Liang felt himself starting to snap. He let go of her head and slammed his fists against the car door. Fortunately, he controlled his strength, only causing the car to shake violently. Otherwise, the airbags would have likely deployed.
Outside, passersby noticed the rocking vehicle, their faces a mixture of expressions: scorn, envy, eager anticipation, and in some cases, complete cluelessness.
"In broad daylight! Doing something so shameless on a public road!"
"That’s a BMW A7, isn’t it? Costs, what, seventy grand, right? If I could get it on in one of those... it’d be worth it!"
"Honey! That’s so exciting, let’s try that next time!"
Just then, a small child walked by and couldn’t help but point at Xia Liang’s car.
"Mommy! Mommy! Why is that car-car shaking?" he asked innocently.
The child’s mother flushed red and swatted him on the bottom. "Don’t you stare! And don’t ask silly questions! Let’s go home!"
Inside the car, Xia Liang was blissfully unaware of the many misunderstandings his outburst had caused. After venting his frustration, he turned to look at the utterly bewildered Luu Qi. He realized that if he didn’t clear this up today, he would be branded as a kept man for the rest of his life.
With that in mind, Xia Liang first took out Luu Qi’s bank card, handed it back to her, and said sternly, "Take this. And listen to my explanation!"
"Oh."
Though she didn’t know what he was up to, Luu Qi obediently took the card and looked at him.
Taking a deep breath, Xia Liang pointed at the vehicle. "First of all, my own car is at home. This car isn’t mine; it belongs to a female friend..."
Before Xia Liang could continue, Luu Qi’s expression turned wary.
"A female *friend*? Are you sure it’s not a female *aunt*? Or... a *grandma*?"
A dark line crossed Xia Liang’s face. "Yes, a female friend."
Luu Qi was still unconvinced. Xia Liang slapped his forehead in exasperation. "Forget it. You’ll see in a minute."
With that, he started the car again.
「Ten minutes later.」
They arrived at Jing’an Street, Qingyun City’s most famous food plaza. Inside the time-honored Han Gong Barbecue Restaurant, Qingxue was nervously glancing at her phone. She couldn’t understand why meeting her boyfriend’s cousin was making her so anxious. It must be because I care about Xia Liang so much, she thought. I really want his first relative I meet to approve of me.
As Qingxue was lost in thought, a man and a woman walked through the door. It was Xia Liang and Luu Qi.
Qingxue’s eyes immediately lit up. "Over here!"
The two turned at the sound of her voice.
If Luu Qi had been skeptical before, the sight of Qingxue now brought her a wave of relief. A flash of amazement crossed her eyes. I never expected my future ’sister-in-law’ to be so beautiful.
Luu Qi nodded with satisfaction. I guess she’s worthy enough to share Xia Liang with me! In her heart, she had marked Xia Liang as hers since they were children. She had always dreamed of marrying him when she grew up. Gradually, however, she realized it wasn’t possible. Even though she was adopted and they shared no blood, her adoptive parents’ strict family values would never permit such a thing. So, she decided to find another way—any way—to stay by his side. After her family moved, she threw herself into her studies, all for the sake of getting into a university in the same city as Xia Liang so she could carry out her ’plan’.
As the pair approached, Qingxue stood up nervously. Before Xia Liang could make an introduction, Luu Qi spoke up.
"Cousin, this must be my sister-in-law, right?"
Sister-in-law?
Hearing the words, Qingxue’s face turned as red as a sunset. She wanted to explain, but she didn’t know how to get the words out. "I... we... he... no... you..."
She wanted to say that her relationship with Xia Liang wasn’t official yet, that she wasn’t his sister-in-law. But in her flustered state, she was completely tongue-tied.
Seeing how a single sentence from Luu Qi had reduced Qingxue to this state, Xia Liang couldn’t help but shoot his cousin a glare.
"Don’t call her that."