Facing the interrogation, Xu Tingyu didn't even pause in her steps and walked straight out of the coffee shop.
After all, she had never regarded Xie Yu as a rival.
Not in the past, and never in the future.
Moreover, she had a lot of things to do and had no time to idle around here.
Xie Yu didn't chase after her.
However, that night, a truncated version of their conversation was sent to Qi Shifeng's phone.
"Shifeng, I know what I'm doing is despicable, but I just can't stand her pestering you when she doesn't love you," Xie Yu said in the recording.
Xu Tingyu's voice was cold.
"Miss Xie, I've said it many times. If you're so interested in the identity of Mrs. Qi, then go and fight for it with Qi Shifeng yourself."
If you listened carefully, you could even detect a hint of impatience.
Qi Shifeng didn't reply to Xie Yu. Instead, he listened to the recording back and forth several times on his way home.
The more he listened, the darker his face became.
When he got home, Xu Tingyu was sitting by the bed, reading a book.
She was so engrossed in the book that she didn't even notice his arrival.
She was sitting in a relaxed posture, but thanks to her years of dancing training, even in such a casual sitting position, she exuded elegance and grace.
Her slender and well - proportioned calves were dangling by the bed, looking as smooth as milk under the lamp light.
Her side profile was so beautiful that it left people speechless. Like a crystal under the moonlight, it was soft and charming, making it impossible to look away.
In the past, he only thought she was gentle and elegant.
Now, he realized that he had known so little about her.
This woman, seemingly gentle, was actually quite stubborn.
Qi Shifeng stood there and stared at her for a while. There was frustration and anger in his heart.
He should praise her for being "sensible" for what she said to Xie Yu.
But somehow, after listening to it a few more times, the unwillingness and anger ignited like a spark everywhere.
Until now, seeing her sitting there reading as if nothing had happened, those sparks connected and turned into a raging fire.
It burned his eyes red.
She didn't seem to care about him at all.
He stepped heavily towards her.
Finally, Xu Tingyu heard the sound and looked up.
When she saw it was him, the innocent look on her face that came from being immersed in the book disappeared instantly.
She closed the book and put it aside, then stood up. Her waist and back were as straight as if there was an invisible ruler supporting them.
The elegance nurtured by great wealth showed on her face, looking especially gentle under the light.
"You're back. Have you eaten? Aunt Zhang has prepared..."
Her voice was soft and she was smiling.
But before she could finish, Qi Shifeng grabbed her chin.
She immediately fell silent and looked up at him.
Only then did she notice that he seemed to be in a bad mood. When he looked down at her, his jaw tightened gradually, making his already well - defined jawline even more pronounced.
What, did Xie Yu complain to him?
She didn't do anything wrong, did she?
"You seem to be in a good mood?"
He let go of her chin and traced her eyebrows and eyes with his fingertips.
What a strange question.
But Xu Tingyu didn't want to provoke him. After all, he had just helped her pay off so much debt.
Emotionally and rationally, she couldn't be ungrateful.
So she answered obediently, "Yes, it's not bad."
Maybe it was because her obedient look was so pleasing to the eye that Qi Shifeng's anger was actually suppressed.
He even reached out and hugged her, pulling her back onto the bed.
The book was still lying there.
He trapped her in his arms and reached for the book.
It was an all - English novel.
He flipped through a few pages and asked her, "Why did you suddenly start reading this?"
Xu Tingyu had more than a year of overseas training experience and her English was good, but it wasn't to the extent that she would usually read all - English novels.
After a brief pause, she replied with a smile, "Just for casual reading."
Reading casually but so intently?
But Qi Shifeng didn't expose her. He threw the book back on the side and then stared at her intently.
His gaze was so direct that just one look from him made Xu Tingyu's ears turn red.
She wondered how this man still had so much energy every day when he was so busy with work.
However, some things still needed to be clarified.
"Um, thank you for helping me pay off the debt. Please ask your lawyer to sort out the specific amount. I'll write an IOU."
One thing was one thing. She was already extremely grateful that he could help her solve the urgent problem.
Qi Shifeng's hand on her waist paused. He sized up her expression.
It seemed as if he was trying to figure out how much sincerity there was in her words.
Her eyes were clear and her expression was sincere.
She wasn't being false with him, nor was she using retreat as an advance.
And she wasn't being angry with him because of Xie Yu either.
She was smiling brightly, showing 100% sincerity as she said she would pay him back.
For a shrewd businessman, having such a "sensible" wife should be a good thing.
But Qi Shifeng's just - calmed anger flared up again.
He stared at her, a cruel smile curving his lips.
"How do you plan to pay me back?"
"By participating in variety shows and getting scolded on the hot search?"
"Or by being a stunt double and getting money from Qi Ye?"
His scorching gaze fixed on her, as if he wanted to burn through her smiling mask.
Xu Tingyu felt the change in his mood, but the impact of his words was so great that she even forgot to avoid his gaze. She just stared straight at him.
"What did you say? What money from Brother Qi?"
This look of hers was really an eyesore to Qi Shifeng.
He grabbed her waist and rolled over, pinning her down on the bed.
"Playing dumb? I remember one of your friends is an actress. Didn't she tell you how much a stunt double gets paid?"
His eyes were full of contempt and anger.
She pretended to be noble and drew a clear line from him, setting a six - month agreement.
She acted as if she wanted to live a good life with him, but in fact, she was just perfunctory.
Xu Tingyu thought he was unhappy because she had taken Qi Ye's money.
"I really don't know."
She was truly wronged in this matter. If she had known the money was from Qi Ye, she definitely wouldn't have taken it.
But Qi Shifeng obviously didn't believe her.
He let out a low laugh and slowly unbuttoned her pajamas.
"You don't know? Then I should praise you for your confidence. You think you're worth seven figures as an anonymous stunt double."
He knew where her sore spots were and deliberately aimed at them.
Xu Tingyu's face turned pale. Innocent tears welled up in her beautiful eyes.
"Did I move out and live there at that time because of this money?"
"Since you need money, why didn't you come and coax me? I'm much richer than my brother."
If his previous words were just sarcastic, then these words were an insult.
Xu Tingyu struggled violently. In the chaos, she slapped him.
With this resounding slap, the anger in Qi Shifeng's eyes could no longer be hidden.
"Xu Tingyu, you're asking for death."
He took off his tie and tied her hands together, binding them to the headboard.
"Do you think you can get what you want by inciting Xie Yu and provoking me?"
"Let me tell you, stop dreaming."
He lost all his patience and tore her pajamas.
He also tore apart the tenderness that had lasted for less than half a month between them.