Another day had passed, and the night was ink-black. A crescent moon hung high in the sky, with specks of starlight sparkling like jewels, adorning the entire heavens.
With the arrival of night, it signified the beginning of nightlife. People who had been busy all day took to the streets to enjoy the coolness of the evening.
Inside Villa No. 66 in the Ziyuan District, the lights were brilliant, but the usual hustle and bustle were gone. That afternoon, Bai Qiao Mountain and He Cailan, among others, had already moved back to their ancestral home, taking with them Mrs. Zhao, Bai Zhiqing’s former nanny. Moreover, with Bai Weiwei and Mandala around to look after things, there was no need for too much concern.
In the bedroom, the cool moonlight shone through the room. Lu Tianxing stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, lighting a cigarette for himself. He watched the view outside quietly, enjoying the cool breeze on his face.
At this moment, Bai Zhiqing also walked out of the bathroom.
Hearing the footsteps behind him, Lu Tianxing’s expression changed, and with a flick of his finger, the cigarette in his hand disappeared into the darkness like a shooting star. Only then did he turn around to see Bai Zhiqing approaching him.
Perhaps because she had just taken a bath, Bai Zhiqing’s long, lustrous hair casually draped over her back, her hair tips carrying droplets of water. She exuded an indescribable aura that combined elegance and poise. Facing her was like facing a commanding queen. You feel not only inferior but also an uncontrollable urge to conquer her.
Lu Tianxing felt this way now. Even though he and Bai Zhiqing were an old married couple, he still found her stunning.
Subconsciously, Lu Tianxing began to compare Bai Zhiqing with Lin Yafei, Rose, and others, eventually concluding that Bai Zhiqing’s potential was much greater than that of Rose, Lin Yafei, and the others.
"What’s wrong, why are you looking at me like that?" Bai Zhiqing, noticing Lu Tianxing’s intense gaze, smiled and slowly walked up beside him, speaking softly.
"I was wondering if my wife wore that in Xiangjiang..."
Lu Tianxing stopped mid-sentence with an awkward laugh, then spoke seriously, "I was thinking, after we go to Beijing, I might have to protect you around the clock. After all, my wife is so beautiful, and Beijing is a place where the elite gather. I wonder if I should watch you 24/7 just in case someone tries to steal you away."
"Really? Honey, were you really thinking about that and nothing else?"
Bai Zhiqing rested a hand on Lu Tianxing’s shoulder, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Wife, of course, what I said is true. A beautiful wife like you is hard to find even with a lantern. I surely have to keep a close eye on you," he said.
"Lin Demon told me that a man’s words cannot be trusted, especially at night. Moreover, unless I heard wrong, you seemed to be saying something different just now."
"Wife, what do you mean by that? Do you think I am that kind of superficial person?" Lu Tianxing’s face remained unchanged, and he said with solemn sincerity.
"You’re really not superficial?"
Bai Zhiqing surveyed Lu Tianxing from head to toe. Before Lu Tianxing could get pleased, Bai Zhiqing’s next words made his heart sink: "You’re not superficial because you don’t even qualify to be superficial. Don’t pretend I don’t know what you’re thinking. Are you planning to have both arms around someone after Qian Ru moves in?"
"Wife, let’s be reasonable in our conversation, please. It was clearly your idea to have Qian Ru move in. You didn’t let me argue, how can this be my fault?" Lu Tianxing quickly explained.
"Yes, I said it. I need to keep an eye on you; otherwise, who knows what kind of mischief you, scoundrel, would get up to behind my back."
Bai Zhiqing spoke fiercely, "Lu Tianxing, I’m warning you. If Qian Ru moves in, you’d better stay in line. If I find out you dare to do anything, you should know what the consequences will be." She then gestured with her fingers like a pair of scissors, her meaning clear.
Seeing the cold glint in Bai Zhiqing’s eyes, Lu Tianxing broke into a cold sweat. Fierce. Ever since Xiangjiang, he had found Bai Zhiqing to be becoming more and more fierce, and now Lin Qianru was also pulled into her schemes.
Lu Tianxing finally understood Bai Zhiqing’s calculations.
In her heart, Bai Zhiqing was clear that Lu Tianxing couldn’t let go of Lin Qianru and wouldn’t possibly let her go. If Bai Zhiqing didn’t agree to them being together, Lu Tianxing would likely end up meeting Lin Qianru in secret.
Instead of that, Bai Zhiqing simply switched tactics. She brought Lin Qianru into her camp. By initially agreeing to Lin Qianru’s relationship with Lu Tianxing, Lin Qianru’s status would always be beneath Bai Zhiqing’s. She would also be grateful to Bai Zhiqing for allowing her to stay, becoming in a way Bai Zhiqing’s benefactor.
Additionally, with the three of them living together, Bai Zhiqing could fully monitor Lu Tianxing and Lin Qianru. Given Lin Qianru’s character, she likely wouldn’t make any intimate moves with Lu Tianxing, and there would be no chance of close contact. At the same time, this move would also endear Bai Zhiqing to Lin Qianru. If anything happened in the future, the two could stand together to combat Lu Tianxing.
This was Bai Zhiqing’s strategy. Not only could she keep an eye on Lu Tianxing, but she could also recruit Lin Qianru as an ally, killing two birds with one stone.