Qin Mingzhu had been slapped across to the washbasin, one hand supporting herself on the counter and the other cupping the half of her face that was struck, tearfully looking at Qin Mu and asking.
"It means you’re about to die!"
Qin Mu stood there, shaking with anger, his voice as cold as sub-zero temperatures.
That voice seemed to come from underground, so chilling that Qin Mingzhu shivered violently.
Afterward, when Qin Mingzhu was about to leave, Wen Runuan lowered her eyes and fished a lipstick from her pocket, which accidentally rolled onto the floor, right under Qin Mingzhu’s foot.
Qin Mu, who had been thinking about other things, turned his head at the sound of a scream and instantly, all his anger dissipated.
Qin Mingzhu had fallen to the ground, crying out in pain.
"My brand-new ’man-slayer’ lipstick!"
Wen Runuan performed as if the lipstick were as vital as life itself.
After the two had washed their hands and were about to walk out, Qin Mu finally said, "You did that on purpose just now, didn’t you?"
"I just can’t stand those women who are good for nothing and have wicked tongues. I was teaching her a lesson for you."
Qin Mu didn’t say anything else, but two days later, he sent Xiaomei to her office with a whole box of that brand of lipsticks.
After seeing the gift, Wen Runuan called Qin Mu, "Thank you!"
"Don’t mention it. Next time, pack a few more. They might come in handy."
Qin Mu stood at the window, watching a black car parked outside. A smile unconsciously hid itself as he finished speaking.
In fact, the mayor of Qin City’s car didn’t just show up anywhere; it was good that Qin Mu’s place was rather secretive.
The office sofa looked as if it hadn’t been used in a long time. Sitting on it made him seem unusually unapproachable.
Qin Mu stood aside until Xiaomei brought in some tea, then he went over to sit down.
"I heard the news that you are pregnant. How have you been feeling lately? Any discomfort?"
Qin Haiming asked while fiddling with the teacup.
"I’ve been quite well, and you?"
She asked, but recalled the appearance of Uncle Wang, his driver, when he went to the hospital for a check-up.
"I’m also quite well. I was free this morning, so I came to see you," Qin Haiming nodded.
"Speaking of which, I bumped into Uncle Wang at the hospital the last time I went for a check-up. How has he been lately?"
"Uncle Wang? What’s wrong with him? He’s downstairs!"
Qin Haiming knew nothing about Uncle Wang’s recent issues; indeed, it had been a long time since they had a proper talk.
"That day I ran into him at the hospital, he said he wasn’t feeling well and went for a check-up. I thought you knew about it."
"I’ll go and ask him later!"
Qin Haiming was concerned that something might be wrong with Uncle Wang’s health; over the years, Uncle Wang had become as important to him as a brother.
Uncle Wang always acted like an excellent driver, not asking or saying much, concentrating solely on driving well. When Qin Haiming was troubled, Uncle Wang would offer his help with a few words of advice or analysis, nothing more.
"Haven’t you moved back to live with your mother-in-law? They probably want to live with you guys."
Qin Haiming asked, looking at Qin Mu’s somewhat gaunt profile.
"My mother-in-law did mention it, but Mu Yichen hopes that we live on our own!"
Qin Mu answered, noticing the meeting was somehow different from the past.
Was it because she was pregnant again?
Or did she, too, want to receive care from her own parents, like other expectant mothers?
After a while, Qin Haiming opened his mouth again, "I heard that Mingzhu was causing trouble for you again at the hotel the other day? And there was an actress with you?"
"You mean Wen Runan? We indeed were together that day. Qin Mingzhu cursed that my child wouldn’t survive, so I slapped her. What did Qin Mingzhu tell you?"
"She dared to say that kind of thing?"
Qin Haiming frowned, as Qin Mingzhu hadn’t mentioned a word of this to him.
"Of course, she wouldn’t tell you what she said or did to me. If you hadn’t asked, it wouldn’t have occurred to me to tell you."
Qin Mu looked at him, her expression calm as she spoke.
"She’s broken two ribs and is still lying in the hospital now. Don’t get angry anymore; it won’t do any good for a pregnant woman, okay?"
Qin Mu was shocked to hear that Qin Mingzhu had broken two ribs. Could a lipstick cause that?
She thought to herself that the box of lipsticks she bought for Wen Runuan was not a waste; it would be better if it caused all of that girl’s ribs to break.
When had she become so malicious?
After Qin Haiming left, Qin Mu stood at the window watching, Uncle Wang got out of the car to open the back door for him, and they seemed to say a few words to each other before Qin Haiming got in and Uncle Wang closed the door. When he looked up at the building, he nodded at Qin Mu.