It’s a pity... even if he were to go back home to complain, the two old men in the family would always just say, "Why cry? If you get knocked down, just get back up where you fell and fight back."
It was because of this very phrase that as a child, after getting beaten by Lu Jingchen, he would immediately get up and continue to get hit, until once, on his way home from school, he was stopped by several hoodlums demanding all his pocket money. As he was about to be beaten for resisting, Lu Jingchen and Xi Mohan happened to pass by and effortlessly rescued him.
That incident marked the beginning of their friendship formed through brawls since they all lived in the same military compound. Gradually, they went to school together, and their relationship grew as close as real brothers all the way from elementary school to the present.
Seeing Lu Jingchen looking angry, Gu Xicheng felt a tightness in his heart. He wondered if Lu Jingchen had come to the bar to drown his sorrows over this issue.
But that doesn’t seem right either. Even if it was because of this issue, regardless of whether it was with Song Qiao or Zuo Yuqing that something happened, if one of them was important to Lu Jingchen, he shouldn’t be here but rather at the hospital.
A possibility he had never considered before flashed through his mind. Before Gu Xicheng could fully process it and in the absence of any other explanation, he blurted out, "Did you have a fight with Song Qiao?"
He wasn’t sure if he was overthinking, but he instinctively felt that it was because of Song Qiao.
Perhaps because Song Qiao is the daughter of that old man, although Song Qiao wasn’t disliked and Gu Xicheng did have a good impression of her, most importantly, Song Qiao often subconsciously reduced her presence but still made people inadvertently notice her.
However, no matter how good Song Qiao was, Gu Xicheng still had some small objections to her.
Lu Jingchen was about to grab a wine glass to pour himself a drink when he hesitated briefly but then continued his action, bowing his head and pouring a full glass of wine for himself without responding to Gu Xicheng.
Seeing Lu Jingchen’s reaction, Gu Xicheng confirmed it was indeed because of Song Qiao and couldn’t help but cradle his forehead.
He guessed that Song Qiao must have given Lu Jingchen some sedatives or an enchantment potion; otherwise, how could Lu Jingchen repeatedly be affected by Song Qiao?
Zuo Yuqing in the past had never made Lu Jingchen so moody.
Of course, except right after they broke up.
When Lu Jingchen returned to the villa, it was already 2 a.m., and apart from the dim wall lights in the living room and hallway, everything was dark, and the housekeepers and maids had long been asleep.
As Lu Jingchen entered the living room without even bothering to remove his shoes, he steadily walked towards the staircase. However, if one observed his steps closely, they would realize his pace was erratic due to his intoxication, with the smell of alcohol detectable from far away.
The bedroom lights were off because Song Qiao was still in the hospital; he had left home with her in the morning and hadn’t returned.
Without even turning on the lights, the man smoothly went straight to the bed and collapsed into it. Amidst the silence and darkness of the room, his heart thudded chaotically, seeming as if something was on the verge of bursting out.
[Lu Jingchen, sometimes I think our marriage might just be a mistake...]
[Lu Jingchen, let’s get a divorce.]
[But Lu Jingchen, I don’t want to like you anymore.]
It seemed as though Song Qiao’s words to him were looping in his ears, and his mind was filled with the image of her tiny face full of disappointment towards him.
Covering his forehead with a hand, Lu Jingchen closed his eyes, a low chuckle escaping from the depths of his throat, laced with a hint of cold sarcasm.
The next day, just as Madam Chen was preparing breakfast, Lu Jingchen came down dressed, holding a jacket and buttoning up his shirt.
Madam Chen hurried out to greet him, saying, "Sir, you’re up. I was just about to make breakfast. What would you like to eat today?"
Lu Jingchen paused for a moment and then looked at Madam Chen, instructing indifferently, "Don’t make my breakfast. Just cook some nutritious porridge and send it directly to the hospital for madam."
"Alright, sir," replied Madam Chen. She had already been notified by Lu Jingchen about Song Qiao being hospitalized last night when she called to ask if they would be home for dinner. Seeing Lu Jingchen about to leave, Madam Chen hesitated but eventually spoke, "Sir, are you going to work now? Are you sure you don’t want breakfast?"
Lu Jingchen hummed in response and took a few steps before stopping as he remembered something. After thinking for a bit, he turned back to Madam Chen, who was about to go to the kitchen to prepare porridge for Song Qiao, and instructed, "Make an extra portion and have someone deliver it to Zuo Yuqing."
Madam Chen paused but quickly nodded in agreement. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novelꞁire.net
Watching Lu Jingchen leave, Madam Chen thought of her madam lying in the hospital and couldn’t help but sigh softly before heading back to the kitchen to prepare the nutritious porridge for Song Qiao.
Early in the morning, the entire CK Group knew that the Boss was not in a good mood. Many executives were scolded harshly over minor issues, and even a female executive was reduced to tears.
In the secretarial office on the president’s floor, everyone sat stiffly, dreading having to deliver documents to the Boss and potentially having faults picked out.
Assistant Xie had just walked out of the office and into the secretarial office when people immediately crowded around to inquire about the situation, "Assistant Xie, what’s with the president today?"