What Bad Intentions Could a Wife Have? - Chapter 3

Although Le Qingshi had been greatly favored by his family, he hadn’t been raised in an environment of mindless indulgence. To meet everyone’s expectations, he had always held himself to the highest standards, never slackening in his studies simply because he was a ger.

Consequently, Le Qingshi had always been a man of strong execution.

Since he had decided to change his gloomy, withdrawn image, he headed straight for the ward—only to find there was no wardrobe.

Le Qingshi: “.”

He exhaled softly, undeterred. He naturally turned to the maid beside him and asked, “Where are my garments kept?”

The maid choked on her words, casting a strange glance at the youth before quickly looking down. Why has the Eldest Young Master started speaking so formally after taking the wrong medicine?

Though… he was certainly more likable than before.

The maid pointed in a direction: “Right over there.”

Le Qingshi followed her finger and found a small backpack sitting on the floor by the bed.

Le Qingshi, who once had so many clothes and accessories that they required a separate building for storage: “…”

The youth blinked, but quickly cheered himself up. It’s fine! When it comes to worldly possessions like clothing, quality matters more than quantity!

Le Qingshi was a master of embroidery himself; he knew better than anyone that as long as the stitching was fine and the fabric sturdy, a garment wouldn’t lose its shape even after ten years of wear.

With this thought, he pulled a pair of ripped jeans out of the backpack.

Le Qingshi: “…………”

His pupils shook with the force of an earthquake.

His eyelashes trembled, and a sharp, stinging pain on behalf of the original owner flared in his chest. After a long silence, he searched his vocabulary and spat out the harshest insult of his entire life: “That old thing… begetting a child only to neglect him!”

That man dressed himself like a proper gentleman, yet let his child wear such rags!

Unfortunately, he had no needle and thread on hand to patch these holes.

Le Qingshi sighed silently. He checked the original owner’s personal assets and, unsurprisingly, they were pitifully meager. Aside from two strange outfits, there was only a thin, black rectangular “brick” whose purpose he didn’t know.

This is too pathetic. Le Qingshi made a calculation in his head and approached Father Le that evening with a request to go out.

The moment he spoke, everyone at the dining table stopped eating.

Father Le gave a cold, angry laugh. “Are my words wind in your ears? Or do you actually think you have a hope of escaping?”

Le Qi’s eyes darted around, acting “considerate.” “Is it because Brother saw us eating well while he only gets rice water, so he feels it’s unfair? Oh, don’t throw a tantrum; it’s not that we want to mistreat you. You’re the one who did something stupid, and the doctor said you can only have rice water for now.”

As the boy spoke with a smile, he picked up a large lobster and began to peel it slowly.

Le Qingshi didn’t give him a single glance. He spoke coldly: “I simply wish to go out and procure some items. Do you not want me to marry? If I am to marry into the Gu family, I should at least present myself tidily.”

Le Kang hadn’t expected this stubborn bone to suddenly change his tune. He hesitated, not speaking for a moment.

Feng Yilan quickly cut in: “Good, good! It’s best that Qingshi has seen reason. After all, a marriage involves two families; it won’t work if only one side is interested.”

But Feng Yilan was also afraid the boy was feigning agreement just to run away. She said to her children, “Le Qi and Le Hua have nothing to do at home anyway, why don’t you accompany your brother? You can look after each other on the way.”

The girl mentioned didn’t give her any face at all. She rolled her eyes immediately and said dismissively, “I’m not going. I have etiquette class.”

She had no desire to call this destitute person “Big Brother.” Walking down the street with him would be embarrassing! If she ran into her friends, she’d lose all face!

Le Qi, however, agreed. An arrogant light flickered in his curved eyes. “Sure, let’s consider it a stroll. I haven’t had a skin treatment in a while anyway. Besides… Brother probably hasn’t been to any high-end luxury places. I wouldn’t feel right letting him go alone.”

“After all… some places require VIP status to enter. It would be bad if Brother were kicked out before even getting through the door. If he made a fool of himself, it would be the Le family losing face. So, I’ll accompany him. I go there often; they all know me. I can go anywhere without showing a membership card~”

With his wife and son singing in harmony, Le Kang’s expression softened slightly. He gave a gruff “Hmph” and added, “Keep a close eye on your brother. Take a few bodyguards when you leave.”

Only then did Le Qingshi spare a glance for Le Qi—a gaze as cool as clear glass beads.

The youth tilted his chin slightly, his long lashes drooping low. He swept a disdainful look across the other’s face, his voice rising like a feather on a cat teaser: “Then I shall thank my younger brother in advance for helping me carry my things.”

Le Qi froze, his smile turning stiff.

Carry things… what is this uneducated hillbilly talking about?

Shouldn’t this impulsive, crude idiot be so enraged by his words that he lost all reason and charged forward to scream like a shrew? Why had he suddenly become so…

Le Qi didn’t know how to describe the feeling. The way the other looked at him was as if he were looking at a lowly servant who held his shoes—lazy, yet making one afraid to resist.

By taking his words and twisting them like that, it made Le Qi look like he was eager to be a slave…

Le Hua wasn’t happy. She shrieked, “You have your own hands! Why should my brother carry things for you?”

For a moment, the atmosphere at the table turned icy. The servants standing nearby didn’t even dare to breathe. This little princess of the Le family was spoiled to the core and had a terrible temper. When she threw a fit, even Le Kang got a headache.

Faced with the girl’s aggressive tone, Le Qingshi wasn’t embarrassed at all. Instead, he unhurriedly brought a spoonful of thick, warm rice water to his mouth.

The youth sat perfectly upright, his back as straight as a pine tree. His slightly prominent wrist bones shone like lustrous white jade under the light. His elegant, leisurely movements made even the plain ceramic spoon in his hand look noble.

With that poise, if someone said he was drinking precious, fragrant nectar of the gods, people would believe it.

Le Hua suddenly felt her confidence deflate by half.

Only after Le Qingshi swallowed the food did he slowly lift his eyelids to look at his angry sister. He spoke clearly: “First, I am also your elder brother.”

“Second, in what capacity are you speaking to the eldest son?” The youth said unhurriedly, “Sister, where is your upbringing?”

Hearing those familiar words, Feng Yilan’s face turned pale inch by inch.

But the youth didn’t stop. He added playfully, “Could it be that you, like me, were ‘born but not taught’?”

“Presumptuous!” Le Kang slammed the table and stood up, the force rattling his cup onto the floor. The man’s face turned beet red with rage as he pointed at Le Qingshi, unable to speak.

The youth’s question was too sharp, but the irony was that no one present had the heart to refute him.

The atmosphere was at a breaking point, but Le Qingshi suddenly smiled and said warmly, “I was only joking. Why is everyone so serious? My brother is only helping me carry things because he’s concerned my health hasn’t fully recovered, right?”

The muscles in Le Qi’s face twitched. He forced a smile and gritted out, “Of course. I’m doing it willingly. Xiao Hua, don’t be willful.”

The rest of the meal was tasteless for everyone except Le Qingshi, who seemed quite content with his rice water. After eating, everyone stood to leave in a silent pact to get away from each other.

Suddenly, a hand reached out in front of Le Kang, blocking his path.

Le Kang glared, his voice gruff: “What do you want now?”

The youth smiled. Even though he was sitting, he gave the illusion of looking down on the other. He gently wiggled his open palm: “Surely you aren’t so stingy that you won’t even provide the dowry money? You wouldn’t, right?”

The veins in Le Kang’s temples throbbed with rage.

He gritted his teeth, pulled out his wallet, took out a card, and slammed it onto the table. “Is this enough?!”

He glanced at the card he had thrown, a hint of reluctance in his eyes. He looked down on this eldest son even more now. He’s an adult, yet doesn’t even have money to buy things—he’ll never amount to anything! He’s destined to be loathed after he marries!

The Gu family was no place for idlers. A brat with a temper like Le Qingshi would surely be beaten into submission there. Thinking this, Le Kang’s anger subsided slightly.

Le Qi led Le Qingshi toward the underground garage. As they walked, he placed an affectionate arm around Le Qingshi’s shoulder, as if he had already forgotten the unpleasantness at the table. He laughed loudly: “Brother, why worry about money before we’ve even left? You’re about to marry into a top-tier family; have a broader perspective. Even if the money isn’t enough, you still have me. Dad dotes on me; he gives me plenty of pocket money. Don’t worry, it’ll be enough!”

Le Qi specifically led Le Qingshi to a luxury car in the garage. “Get in.”

Le Qingshi: “.”

This touched upon a gap in Le Qingshi’s knowledge. The youth’s beautiful peach-blossom eyes went round, and he didn’t move.

Seeing his big brother looking like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world, Le Qi’s mood instantly brightened. He satisfiedly pulled the door open for Le Qingshi. “Is Brother stunned? This was my eighteenth birthday gift from Dad.”

Le Qingshi was filled with wonder and didn’t even process the other’s bragging. He got into the car and looked around curiously.

Is this the modern carriage? How miraculous! There are no horses!

Le Qi buckled his seatbelt. “Brother, do you recognize the car brand? Most guys are interested in cars. This is a BMW. You’ve probably never sat in one, right?”

Le Qingshi’s mouth opened into a tiny “o.”

How strange. No horses, yet it’s called a ‘Precious Horse’ (BMW)?

The youth copied him and buckled his seatbelt, asking: “Where is the groom?” (Note: “Groom” in the sense of a horse-handler/driver).

The youth’s tone was so serious that Le Qi was stunned. Only when a stifled laugh came from the front did Le Qi force a chuckle: “Haha, Brother, you’re so humorous. You even made the driver laugh.”

Le Qingshi, afraid of making a mistake, didn’t say anything more.

He silently digested this new knowledge… How magical. A carriage with no horses, and the ‘driver’ (si-ji) is a person but called a ‘chicken’ (ji). (Note: This is a pun on the word siji – driver – sounding like “managing a chicken.”)

Le Qi lost interest in talking as well and stared out the window with a dark face.

Damn it, what does Le Qingshi mean by those idiotic questions? Does he see that I’m bragging and is intentionally using ‘stupid’ questions to mock me?

The boy gritted his teeth, his nails scratching the leather of the seat.

No matter. A hillbilly like Le Qingshi only dares to act big at home. Once we get to those luxury boutiques, I’ll wait to see him so intimidated he won’t even dare to breathe.

Le Qi specifically chose a trendy department store in the heart of the city’s most prosperous district. The prices here were extremely high—too high for ordinary people. Every service from dining to jewelry was available, and only “accessible luxury” brands or higher were qualified to set up shop there.

The clientele was mostly wealthy socialites or big bosses. Walking around here, one would likely run into several acquaintances from the circle.

This meant… once Le Qingshi made a fool of himself, the joke would spread through the entire upper-class circle!

Although the Le family didn’t have much “buzz,” everyone currently knew about the impending marriage alliance with the Gu family. It was the hottest topic among the elite right now.

If Le Qingshi made an embarrassment of himself and damaged the Gu family’s reputation, that man from the Gu family would surely vent his anger on this country bumpkin fiancé who brought him ridicule before even entering the house. When that happened… the wedding would be very interesting indeed.

Le Qi led Le Qingshi into the building with a smile. “Brother, what would you like to buy?”

Le Qingshi shook his head full of “little chilis” and said, “I’ll go for a haircut first.”

He really couldn’t appreciate this monstrous style; black hair looked much better. And those eye-blocking bangs had to be trimmed—they were interfering with his walking.

Le Qingshi touched the ends of his hair. While he missed his former long hair, based on his observations, men here didn’t seem to grow it long. He decided it was best not to be too eccentric.

Le Qi followed his request and took him to the salon area, entering a barbershop he frequently visited.

The moment they walked in, the entrance sensor chirped twice, and a receptionist quickly came to greet them.

This hair salon followed a high-end model; its membership-based service offered great privacy, so it was often frequented by celebrities or the mistresses of powerful figures. Having seen many big scenes, the staff here had a touch of arrogance. When a regular arrived, only Le Qi’s designated stylist came over to greet him. The others were either busy or casually practicing on models.

Le Qi said to his stylist, “I’m here for a small-bubble facial. This is my brother…”

The youth beside him brushed back his heavy bangs, instantly revealing bright, handsome features. He took over the sentence: “I want a haircut.”

Immediately, every idle stylist in the room sat up straight.

Stylists: “???”

Crap!! If you’re that good-looking, why didn’t you say so earlier?! Why on earth are you wearing such an eyesore of a hairstyle!

Which cold-blooded ‘Tony’ did this to him? Was it even a human act?!

If we were that handsome, we wouldn’t even close the door when we went to the bathroom!