Because Xu Linyun was preparing for pregnancy, her daily coffee was replaced with hot milk.
Su Qi warmed the milk and brought it to Xu Linyun. Xu Linyun was the only one in the lounge.
Seeing Su Qi arrive, Xu Linyun waited for Su Qi to put down the milk before speaking, "Wait."
Su Qi paused and stood still, "Please speak."
Xu Linyun rose gracefully, "I've considered the conditions your adoptive mother, Li Cuiping, proposed. I cannot give you one hundred million, nor are you worth that price, but I can give you ten million. If you agree, I will transfer it to you immediately, and you will go to Huo Tingyun and file for divorce and complete the procedures."
These words were taught to her by Xu Ruyun.
After Li Cuiping left that day, Xu Ruyun returned home. Upon learning the full story, she told Xu Linyun to say these things to Su Qi.
Xu Linyun spoke, feeling very nervous in her heart, but she feigned composure and looked at Su Qi.
Su Qi's long lashes trembled slightly, and she curved her red lips into a smile, "Ten million? No need. While I may not be worth that price, as long as I am not divorced from Huo Tingyun, the Su family receives ten million every year."
The implication was that she still looked down on this ten million.
In fact, Xu Linyun didn't need to go to such lengths for her.
Whether to divorce or not was entirely Huo Tingyun's decision.
It was just that man...
Su Qi realized she couldn't figure him out anymore.
He was the one who said he detested her.
Why had he become increasingly insatiable lately?
Su Qi turned to leave, then stopped, thinking of something, and looked back at Xu Linyun, "Oh, right, please tell Mr. Huo that if he's not satisfied, he shouldn't come looking for me. And please, feed Mr. Huo well."
Was Xu Linyun not proactive enough? Every time Huo Tingyun came to her, she lost half her life.
Xu Linyun's face turned pale, and she watched the door close, feeling a bit unsteady.
Huo Tingyun had been very busy these past two days, barely returning to Juyuan.
She hadn't expected Huo Tingyun to be with Su Qi.
"Mom, Su Qi she..."
Xu Linyun made a phone call, her voice choked with tears.
Meanwhile, Xu Ruyun hung up the phone, her heart heavy with thoughts.
She glanced upstairs.
Xu Linchuan had just undergone surgery last night. He returned home this morning, ate breakfast, and had been sleeping until now, not yet awake.
Xu Ruyun went upstairs and tentatively pushed open the bedroom door.
It was not locked.
In the bedroom, Xu Linchuan was still fast asleep.
His phone was charging on the bedside table.
Xu Ruyun picked up the charging phone and slid it open.
It had a password.
Xu Ruyun knew her son too well; after trying a few times, she successfully unlocked the phone.
In the contacts, Su Qi's phone number was clearly visible.
She tapped on it, composed a text message, and sent it.
Watching the message successfully sent, Xu Ruyun deleted the record.
Xu Linchuan woke up from his sleep, and it was already evening.
He reached for the bedside table and found his phone, which was supposed to be charging, had not been plugged in.
Strange, he remembered plugging it in before going to sleep.
Xu Linchuan freshened up, packed some clothes, and went downstairs with his suitcase.
"Linchuan, you're awake. Come quickly to eat. Your sister is eating at the film set. Today I made your favorite dishes."
Xu Ruyun smiled and beckoned him.
Xu Linchuan walked into the dining room and pulled out a chair to sit down.
Seeing Xu Linchuan's suitcase, Xu Ruyun was surprised, "Going on another business trip?"
"Yes, I'm going to Hong Kong to attend a lecture. It might take about a week."
Xu Linchuan took the bowl handed to him by a servant; it was filled with rice.
"That's good. Take good care of yourself when you get to Hong Kong," Xu Ruyun instructed him a few times before serving him dishes.
After the meal, Xu Ruyun saw Xu Linchuan off. After watching his car drive away, she turned and entered the mansion.
Su Qi received Xu Linchuan's text message late at night, around ten o'clock.
She had just finished a day's work and returned home. After dinner, she showered and lay in bed.
"Do you have time tomorrow? Come to the Xu family's house. I have something to tell you."
Because of the events from the previous few times, Su Qi had come to regard Xu Linchuan as a friend.
Seeing this message, she replied without hesitation, "Okay."
Xu Linchuan had just arrived in Hong Kong and hadn't even had time to look at his phone before rushing to prepare materials for a meeting.
The next day, Su Qi took leave and drove to the Xu family's house.
Gu Tangxue asked about her itinerary, and Su Qi simply said she had something to attend to.
Upon arriving at the Xu residence, Su Qi parked her car outside and went to knock on the door. A servant quickly came to answer.
Seeing Su Qi, the servant was momentarily stunned, then invited Su Qi inside.
"Please wait a moment."
The servant prepared tea for Su Qi and brought it over.
Su Qi smiled and said thank you.
This was her second time visiting the Xu family.
The last time she came, it was too rushed.
The servant looked closely at Su Qi, "You look so much like our madam when she was young."
"Really?" Su Qi smiled.
For a moment, she didn't know if the servant was scolding her or complimenting her.
"Yes, yes, you look so much like our madam when she was young, even more so than our young lady. Our young lady doesn't resemble our madam at all, but you do. I watched our madam grow up."
"Auntie, don't talk too much to our guest."
From upstairs, Xu Ruyun's voice called out.
Su Qi was startled. She had thought only Xu Linchuan was home, but she hadn't expected Xu Ruyun to be there too.
She stood up, about to leave.
"Wait, it wasn't Linchuan who asked you to come, it was me."
Xu Ruyun, holding the handrail, walked downstairs.
Today, Xu Ruyun was wearing a moon-white qipao, still with exquisite handmade embroidery. The style was simple, but it was clearly expensive.
She wore a jadeite bangle on her wrist, which made Xu Ruyun's skin appear as white as snow.
Although Xu Linyun was also fair-skinned, she was still a bit lacking compared to her own biological mother.
Xu Ruyun's skin was as white as flawless white jade, translucent and snowy.
Because of the servant's words, Su Qi looked up.
She took a careful look at Xu Ruyun.
She did resemble her a bit, but she hadn't seen Xu Ruyun when she was young.
"Sit down. I asked you here today not to make things difficult for you."
Xu Ruyun said this and sat down on the sofa.
Her posture was elegant.
She exuded the demeanor of a lady from a prestigious family.
Su Qi pursed her lips. Since she was here, she would face it. She didn't believe Xu Ruyun could deal with her here.
"This is top-grade Longjing tea from Hangzhou, brewed before the rain. Try some."
Xu Ruyun poured her tea. Su Qi did not pick it up, merely saying thank you.
"Why be so cautious? A rabbit doesn't eat the grass around its burrow. I wouldn't harm you in my own home."
"I don't like drinking tea. Thank you for your kindness."
Su Qi still didn't move.
She was pregnant and it was not suitable for her to drink tea.
It was too cold.
Hearing this, Xu Ruyun looked up at Su Qi.
This was the first time she had looked at Su Qi so carefully and up close.
Everyone said Su Qi looked like her when she was young.
She could no longer remember what she looked like in her youth, but Su Qi's methods were quite similar to hers.
But what of it...
"Yesterday, your mother came to visit."
"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you. She's not very cultured."