CHAPTER 106: CHAPTER 106: THROWN INTO THE TRASH CAN

"Miss Li and Zhou Yun..."

"We debuted at the same time, and were the best of sisters. Zhou Yun’s death was an accident. At that time, she really wanted to marry Mr. Zhan," Li Qingqing said sadly.

Ningwan lamented, "I have seen the TV shows she acted in. She was so young and beautiful, yet her life ended so early. What a pity."

Li Qingqing looked at her in surprise, "Madam Zhan pities her?"

"Why wouldn’t I?" Ningwan retorted.

Li Qingqing showed an awkward expression, "It is indeed a pity, she was my best sister. We once said we’d share wealth together, but who knew she wouldn’t live to enjoy a life of riches. With Mr. Zhan, it was fate without destiny."

"So all these years, Zhan Hanjue has been treating you well as a form of compensation for Zhou Yun?"

"Yes, thanks to Mr. Zhan, I have what I have today. Mr. Zhan has been a benefactor to me. Between us, it is more like a friendship of confidants, so please, Madam Zhan, don’t misunderstand."

"I haven’t misunderstood. If I had misunderstood, I wouldn’t have come to chat with Miss Li today," Ningwan said with a smile.

"Is this all Madam Zhan wanted to chat with me about?" Li Qingqing asked.

Ningwan nodded, "Yes, just this. Now that we’ve finished talking, I won’t disturb Miss Li’s rest. Miss Li’s resting time must have been scarce these days, with dark circles appearing. I have a bag of aroma sachets here for Miss Li to help with sleep."

Ningwan took out a sachet and gave it to Li Qingqing.

Li Qingqing received it thankfully, "Thank you, Madam Zhan."

"I won’t disturb you any further, I’ll take my leave now," Ningwan said as she left.

Li Qingqing saw her to the door and only closed it after returning to her own room.

The assistant, Xiao Ke, asked in confusion, "Sis Qing, what do you think Madam Zhan’s purpose was in coming to talk to you?"

Li Qingqing frowned, she couldn’t figure out Ningwan’s true intentions either.

To cause trouble for her?

No.

Just for a chat?

Seems unlikely.

"Forget it, whatever the purpose, let the soldiers come and water cover the soil. I’ve known Mr. Zhan for so many years. It’s not something she can easily disrupt with her schemes," Li Qingqing snorted coldly, tossing the sachet Ningwan gave into the trash.

Ningwan returned to her room to find Wu Taotao eating instant noodles.

Seeing her return, Taotao asked in surprise, "Back so soon? Didn’t you two have a meal?"

"You’re not worried we might fight, instead you ask if we ate. Do you think we have a dine-together relationship?" Ningwan found another pair of chopsticks to share the instant noodles with Wu Taotao.

Wu Taotao said, "With your temperament, you couldn’t possibly get into a fight. Plus that Li Qingqing, she speaks accordingly to who’s in front of her, not a confrontational person, so how could there be a fight."

"You seem to know a lot about Li Qingqing," Ningwan remarked.

Wu Taotao whispered, "My brother admires her."

Ningwan raised an eyebrow.

Wu Taotao said, "My brother has collected many of her films and even has two posters of her that I found. She does look better in person than on TV, and she maintains herself so well, looking very youthful. Her appearance makes one overlook her age; she’s almost thirty."

"Yes, she is quite beautiful and very articulate, like a flower interpreter," Ningwan nodded in agreement.

"So, what did you actually go to see her for? Checking out how outstanding your husband’s affair is?" Wu Taotao asked curiously.

Ningwan said, "I don’t believe there’s anything between her and Zhan Hanjue. Didn’t the reports say they’ve known each other for many years? If nothing sparked all these years, how could something happen now?"

"Then why did you go?" Wu Taotao asked.

Ningwan said, "Nothing much, just felt her face looked familiar and wanted a closer look."

"What do you mean?" Wu Taotao got more confused the more she listened.

"Eat your noodles," Ningwan reminded her.

Saying this, she took the last piece of sausage from the bowl.

Meanwhile, Zhan Hanjue had already arrived and checked into the Jinrui Hotel.

He had someone keep an eye on Ningwan, and upon hearing she spent over an hour in Li Qingqing’s room, he frowned.

"Find out what they talked about," he instructed.

Chen Tan was sent to find out.

However, what happens inside a room can’t easily be known from outside.

Except by asking those involved.

Chen Tan said with difficulty, "Boss, I can’t find out. Should we call Miss Li?"

Since Miss Li had known their boss for years, it would be easy to call her over.

Zhan Hanjue thought for a moment, then nodded for Chen Tan to invite Li Qingqing over.

Li Qingqing was surprised Zhan Hanjue would follow, froze for a moment, then quickly applied makeup and changed into a qipao before going over.

"About the rumor, I’m sorry. Those paparazzi took pictures, and I initially tried to suppress them. But Feng Huai intervened; he’s half my boss, and I couldn’t refuse him, so I agreed to let the paparazzi release the pictures. You’re not upset, are you?" Li Qingqing apologized pitifully as soon as she saw Zhan Hanjue.

Zhan Hanjue said, "I’m not here for that. What did she talk to you about?"

Li Qingqing paused, then smiled lightly, "Madam Zhan is truly a wondrous person. We didn’t talk about anything in particular, just said she came to see me. Even complimented my looks, but commented that my skills aren’t up to par, knowing you for so many years and still not winning you over."

"She said that?" Zhan Hanjue frowned.

Li Qingqing laughed, "I explained to her already, saying we’re not in that kind of relationship and she shouldn’t misunderstand. I also told her you have feelings for her, and came to ask me how to get along with women. In the end, it’s all for her. But she doesn’t seem to believe it."

"Doesn’t believe it?"

Li Qingqing gave an awkward smile, "I don’t know if she doesn’t believe my words or... In short, I feel she doesn’t seem very concerned about it. She even gave me a sachet when leaving, saying you like the scent and encouraging me to try harder."

Li Qingqing took out the sachet.

After learning Zhan Hanjue was also there, she retrieved it from the trash can.

Zhan Hanjue’s face darkened.

Is Ningwan... wanting to leave him?

So, wants to pass him to someone else?

"Could it be she has someone in her heart, so..."

"No," Zhan Hanjue said coldly.

Even if there was, he would make them disappear.

Li Qingqing sighed in relief, then earnestly advised him, "If not, that’s good. As long as there’s no one in her heart, if you’re good to her, you can warm her heart eventually. It’s just a matter of time. So, no need to rush."

"By the way, someone just gave me a necklace. It’s beautiful. A girl would definitely like it. I brought it, so you can give it to Miss Ye. If she’s happy, wouldn’t that bring you two back together?"

Li Qingqing took out a jewelry box containing the necklace she had previously worn.