Giving You Dawn and Dusk - Chapter 15

Maybe I should just divorce her.

The thought briefly flashed through Liang Shi’s mind.

This job was impossible.

The mess the original host left behind was too big, like a tangled ball of yarn with no end in sight—impossible to cut or untangle.

When she left Xu Qingzhu’s room, Bai Weiwei was still trying to convince Xu Qingzhu to divorce.

Xu Qingzhu, however, showed little reaction, her expression calm. Though her complexion wasn’t good, she didn’t mention the divorce.

But Liang Shi was never good at handling this kind of situation.

Interpersonal relationships are so difficult.

She almost lost her composure and argued with Bai Weiwei.

Even though she didn’t argue, her mood was still foul when she came out of the room.

What kind of terrible mission is this System giving me!

The original host was such trash, couldn’t it just kill her outright?

Let Xu Qingzhu be a wealthy young widow, free and unconstrained, let her be a normal person. Wouldn’t that be better?

Why force her to conquer Xu Qingzhu?

Liang Shi sat on a bench in the hospital garden for a while.

This was a small path, frequently visited in the summer when people came to cool off. By autumn, very few people came, and coupled with the recent bad weather—the autumn wind was getting colder by the day—and the hospital population generally having poor health, the area was quite secluded.

She gulped down a bottle of ice water, trying to quench her anger.

Even a lump of clay has a temper.

People used to say that Liang Shi lived like an immortal.

Her assistant, Jingjing, often said, “Teacher Liang is a banished celestial from heaven; she never gets angry.”

Liang Shi would just smile at Jingjing’s teasing. “It’s not that exaggerated.”

She simply felt there was no need.

But her current situation made her feel deeply weary.

She understood that the System gave her a chance at a new life, so it required her to do something—in other words, to pay a price.

But how could she do anything if it didn’t tell her anything?

Was it genuinely forcing her to face a dragon with a rotten wooden sword?

It was too challenging.

The autumn sky changed rapidly. The sun had just been hanging in the sky, but moments later, large patches of dark clouds moved in, covering the sky, making it look gloomy, as if a storm was imminent.

The autumn wind swept up the fallen leaves, the withered branches and leaves swirling as they were blown away.

Liang Shi sneezed. After a moment, she took out her phone and replied to Qiu Zimin: [Understood. I will be there on time.]

Just continue living.

Take things one step at a time.

As things stood, there was no better solution.

Liang Shi decided she wouldn’t try to clean up the original host’s messes anymore.

Isn’t being myself more enjoyable?

Anyway, she might not live much longer.

As for the System?

Let it do whatever it wants.

What does it have to do with me?

Once she figured this out, Liang Shi felt her mood settle.

The speed at which she replied to Qiu Zimin’s message was faster, too.

“That’s good.” Qiu Zimin’s voice message quickly came back, still quite long. “You know the Zhou family’s influence. Your father recently took an interest in a piece of land in Chengnan. Whether it can be approved depends on Zhou Liye. So, take this opportunity to get along well with Yian.”

Liang Shi: “…?”

“Yian likes you; everyone knows that,” Qiu Zimin sent another voice message. “Don’t take advantage of her affection and act recklessly. Things are different now. You need to know that the Zhou family is not what it used to be. They’ve connected with the Shen family and have soared in status. If you still want your father to fund the Xu family, don’t mess around. Talk nicely with Yian.”

Liang Shi: “…”

She listened to the voice message twice, trying hard to interpret it.

Then she transcribed it into text.

She roughly understood the situation.

However, the first question that popped into her mind was: If the original host was such trash, why would Zhou Yian like her?

Was she blind?

Liang Shi had never met Qiu Zimin, so she only replied: [Understood.]

A very neutral response.

She extinguished her phone screen, subtly sighing.

“What are you thinking about?” A cool voice suddenly sounded in her ear.

It startled Liang Shi.

Her eyelid twitched. She covered her chest and leaned back slightly, looking up to see the person who had arrived: Xu Qingzhu.

Liang Shi exhaled softly. “You startled me.” She then complained quietly, “Don’t you make any noise when you walk?”

“I do,” Xu Qingzhu sat down on the bench not far from her. The buttons of her white cardigan were unfastened, swaying slightly in the wind, making her look ethereal. Even her voice carried a cool, otherworldly feeling. “You were too engrossed in your thoughts to hear me.”

“Okay,” Liang Shi took another gulp of ice water and asked casually, “What do you need?”

“Can’t I come find you if I don’t need anything?” Xu Qingzhu countered.

“…You can,” Liang Shi pressed her temple, giving her a quick side-glance appraisal.

Hmm, very good-looking.

She withdrew her gaze.

After a while, Xu Qingzhu whispered, “Thank you.”

Liang Shi was surprised. “Huh?”

Thank me for what?

“For taking me back to the hospital yesterday,” Xu Qingzhu said. “And for Ya Ya’s matter.”

“It’s nothing,” Liang Shi said. “I just did it casually. Besides, you’re my wife.”

Liang Shi said it offhandedly, but immediately felt awkward afterward.

Would this sound like sexual harassment?!

Having lived in that world for so long, Liang Shi was a bit overly cautious.

Fortunately, Xu Qingzhu had no reaction. She merely softly repeated the two words: “My wife.”

Liang Shi’s ears felt warm, and she felt the gland behind her ear itch.

She rubbed her ear. “Anything else? If not, I’m leaving.”

She needed some time to calm down, too.

Only when fully calm could she think about how to conquer Xu Qingzhu and complete the System’s mission.

“Liang Shi,” Xu Qingzhu called out to her.

“What is it?” Liang Shi asked.

Xu Qingzhu paused. “Is the Liang family facing a crisis?”

Liang Shi: “?”

“I don’t know,” Liang Shi answered confidently. “I never really manage the company’s operational status.”

With Liang Xinzhou and Liang Xinhe around, she didn’t even go to the company.

The original host was an ignorant, good-for-nothing rich second generation.

“Did you hear something?” Liang Shi inquired.

Xu Qingzhu pressed her lips together, tilting her head up to look at her. Their eyes met.

After a moment, she asked, “Then why are you going to meet Zhou Yian?”

Liang Shi hadn’t expected Xu Qingzhu to ask so directly and with such a frank demeanor.

However, after asking, Xu Qingzhu added, “If you don’t want to talk about it, it’s okay.”

Liang Shi strangely felt like she was a person having an affair caught by her wife.

She thought for a moment. “Then I choose not to talk about it.”

Xu Qingzhu nodded. “Okay.”

Xu Qingzhu stood up, pulling her cardigan tighter. “I’m leaving now.”

With that, she walked toward the inpatient building without looking back.

Liang Shi walked a few steps quickly, keeping a foot of distance between her and Xu Qingzhu’s shoulder.

It was very close, close enough that Xu Qingzhu’s long hair gently brushed her face.

The ends of her hair carried a rich strawberry sweetness.

“I haven’t figured things out yet,” Liang Shi added. “Everything has to wait until after I meet her. That’s why I can’t tell you. Saying anything now would be irresponsible.”

Xu Qingzhu stopped and turned back to look at her.

After a moment, she suddenly smiled and asked, “Liang Shi, will you always be like this?”

Liang Shi was startled. “Huh?”

She felt she couldn’t understand Xu Qingzhu.

It was as if, for a brief moment, Xu Qingzhu’s clear eyes had illuminated her, leaving her with nowhere to hide.

She had the illusion that she could be completely herself in front of Xu Qingzhu.

But it was just an illusion.

She definitely wouldn’t act that way right now.

“The way you are now is very good,” Xu Qingzhu said.

Liang Shi: “…”

She was vague. “It’s alright.”

“Oh, right.” Xu Qingzhu took a folded paper star from the pocket of her cardigan and handed it to Liang Shi. “You left this in the room.”

Liang Shi took it. “Thank you.”

Liang Shi had a habit of folding paper stars.

She would casually fold one when she was stressed.

The star returned to her hand still held a little warmth.

It seemed to remind Liang Shi that the person who was holding it earlier was not a cold-blooded person.

//

Liang Shi arrived at Cangyue Restaurant at 7:20 p.m.

Qiu Zimin had already booked a private room. When she entered, Zhou Yian hadn’t arrived yet.

Liang Shi found a seat. Soon, the door was pushed open.

The person who came in was only Zhou Yian.

She wore a bespoke suit. The hems of her white suit trousers were slightly rolled up, and her black leather shoes were polished brightly. The white suit paired with a black tie gave off a purely severe, conservative style.

Liang Shi stood up and nodded to her. “Hello.”

Zhou Yian curved her lips, smiling alluringly. “Hello, darling. Long time no see.”

Liang Shi: “…”

She sensed something indescribable.

But it was only a feeling; she couldn’t confirm it.

Liang Shi didn’t like this kind of address. It felt sleazy.

Especially coming from a stranger.

But since she currently knew nothing, she could only endure it, though she instinctively frowned.

“Darling, did you miss me?” Zhou Yian walked toward her, smiling flirtatiously. Then, when Liang Shi wasn’t paying attention, she hooked her fingers under her chin. “During the days we didn’t meet, I missed you so much that…”

Liang Shi immediately avoided the contact, cutting her off. “Show some respect.”

“Ah?” Zhou Yian laughed. “Didn’t you come here to discuss our wedding with me?”

“I’m already married,” Liang Shi said. “Whatever my mother told you doesn’t count.”

“Is that so?” Zhou Yian raised an eyebrow. “Then the Liang family no longer wants that piece of land in Chengnan?”

Liang Shi: “…”

She said coldly, “The land in Chengnan is what Granduncle Liang wants. You can go discuss it with him. There’s no need to come to me.”

Granduncle Liang was the original host’s father.

“But darling, what should I do? I only want you,” Zhou Yian approached again. The pain at Liang Shi’s temples intensified. Almost instinctively, she threw a punch, hitting Zhou Yian directly.

“What the hell,” Liang Shi swore in anger. “Get lost.”

She grabbed her phone from the table and headed out, but Zhou Yian grabbed her wrist.

Liang Shi was not a pushover. She twisted Zhou Yian’s arm directly.

The phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed “Bamboo.”

Liang Shi answered with one hand. “Hello?”

Xu Qingzhu asked, “Are you done with your meeting?”

“Who is it?” Zhou Yian suddenly spoke up. Liang Shi twisted her arm tighter, making Zhou Yian groan in pain. “Damn it. I like this.”

Liang Shi: “…”

This person must have Stockholm Syndrome.

Idiot.

She cursed in her mind.

“Check WeChat,” Xu Qingzhu said. “I sent you a message.”

Liang Shi replied, “Okay.”

“Is that your little lover?” Zhou Yian smiled provocatively.

Liang Shi snapped, “Shut up.”

Her finger accidentally brushed the speakerphone button, and Zhou Yian’s words were heard by Xu Qingzhu.

Zhou Yian chuckled. “Darling, how many little lovers do you have? But it doesn’t matter.”

“Darling,” Xu Qingzhu’s cool, faint voice came through the phone, carrying a coolly distant intimacy. “Why are you letting someone else call you darling again? I’m going to get jealous.”

Liang Shi’s throat felt itchy.

Her face suddenly felt hot.

“No,” Liang Shi instinctively explained.

“Darling wife, I miss you,” Xu Qingzhu spoke softly, tugging at Liang Shi’s heartstrings. “When are you coming back?”

Liang Shi swallowed. Even her ears were burning hot. “I’m coming home right away.”

“Then I’ll hang up,” Xu Qingzhu said. “Be careful on your way back. I’ll wait for you. Mua~”

Liang Shi lightly pressed her lips together, her heart beating rapidly.

After hanging up the phone, she released Zhou Yian. “Get lost.”

“Darling, you’ll come back begging me someday,” Zhou Yian said behind her.

Liang Shi was already out the door.

All she could hear was Xu Qingzhu’s voice in her ears.

She pinched her earlobe, which was hot as if on fire.

Stepping outside the restaurant, the cold wind blew, clearing her head slightly. She took out her phone to check WeChat.

Xu Qingzhu had sent her two messages ten minutes earlier.

【Zhou Yian is an Alpha.】

【If you don’t mind, pretend I didn’t say anything.】

Liang Shi finally understood the source of her discomfort just now.

In that moment, it felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head.