Chapter 29 This world is really small

"Zuo Qinghuan, do you not understand the situation?" Han Shibin asked, clearly displeased as Zuo Qinghuan finally appeared.

"I've thought about it for a long time. I can't keep being a mistress forever," Zuo Qinghuan said, thinking she was a rather decent mistress after all, she had even made coffee for her benefactor.

"So what?" Han Shibin raised an eyebrow, thinking Zuo Qinghuan was a smart woman who wouldn't be like those foolish women dreaming of becoming his wife. Those women had no business harboring such aspirations.

"Nothing," Zuo Qinghuan said nonchalantly. She wasn't ready to completely sever ties with Han Shibin. Without that connection, she had no relationship with Qin Wanshu at all. Previously, she had felt close to Qin Wanshu, but now it seemed like it had been an illusion. If she didn't call her, Qin Wanshu wouldn't call her either. Maybe Qin Wanshu had already forgotten about her, some minor character in her life. The thought made Zuo Qinghuan feel like she had a thick skin without it, she doubted she and Qin Wanshu would have ever crossed paths.

Han Shibin felt utterly confused. After a month on a business trip, his wife had become cold and distant, and even this mistress, who used to know exactly how to please him, seemed to have changed. Since when had this woman ever ignored him like this? Of course, Han Shibin never suspected that his wife and mistress had gotten entangled with each other.

"Don't push my limits, or don't blame me for being ruthless," Han Shibin warned Zuo Qinghuan. He still liked her; after all, she had been his only mistress for more than a year. He was willing to let her cross him once, but there wouldn't be a second time.

"Oh," Zuo Qinghuan replied, handing him the coffee, but inwardly she thought, It would be hilarious if your wife ever cheated on you. You deserve a giant green hat. 

Han Shibin saw Zuo Qinghuan's indifferent expression, and it made him furious. It was bad enough that his wife had been treating him coldly, but now even his mistress was rebelling. Did they all think he was some helpless fool? He shot Zuo Qinghuan a cold look, didn't even touch the coffee, and left.

Zuo Qinghuan glanced at the coffee and drank it herself. It was indeed delicious. However, seeing how angry Han Shibin was, she figured her good days were over. Sure enough, shortly after leaving the golden house, Han Shibin made a call, and all of Zuo Qinghuan's credit cards stopped working. She regretted not maxing them out earlier. Still, this was exactly what she had expected. Han Shibin wasn't a fool; he was very shrewd. Cutting off her credit cards wasn't about ending the relationship but about forcing her to become obedient again. After all, a rich, young, handsome, and generous benefactor like him wasn't easy to come by, and Han Shibin had the confidence to believe that.

Zuo Qinghuan and Li Xin were busy. She had leased a coffee shop in the most bustling area of the city, and the rent was sky-high. If the business didn't go well, she knew her savings would go down the drain. That's why she handled many things herself. The place had already been a café, so it didn't need much renovation, and soon, the shop reopened in this prime location. The café's name was "La," a name Li Xin insisted on. Initially, Li Xin wanted to call it "Lala." Zuo Qinghuan had wanted to bang her head against the wall when she heard that. Li Xin was so brazen, almost as if she wanted to announce her sexuality to the whole world. Of course, Zuo Qinghuan didn't allow it, and after a standoff, they compromised with just the word "La." Once the shop opened, they would have to rely on Li Xin, who not only made great desserts but would also attract wealthy men who'd want to keep her, by flirting a little while serving coffee.

The Qin Group was nearby, which was both surprising and expected. After all, this was the city's most prosperous district, with high-end office buildings everywhere. Zuo Qinghuan's target customers were white-collar workers with a taste for sophistication.

Shi Yunyang and Yan Ruoshan both brought their executives to the Qin Group, and even Qin Wanshu, rarely seen at the office, had made an appearance.

"Mrs. Qian, long time no see," Shi Yunyang was the first to greet Yan Ruoshan, her smile dazzling. She took a moment to size up Yan Ruoshan, who was still dressed like the Black Widow, with her hair tied up and wearing a sharp black suit monotone, rigid, and imposing. While not a stunning beauty, Yan Ruoshan was quite attractive, with a strong presence. The three women standing together were all striking in their own way.

Shi Yunyang wore bright red heels and a matching fiery red suit that made her skin glow with a radiance that seemed almost blinding.

"Miss Shi, Mrs. Han," Yan Ruoshan nodded slightly toward Shi Yunyang and Qin Wanshu, who were standing together.

Qin Wanshu responded with a faint smile, as graceful as ever. In today's setting, her understated elegance was the most pleasing to the eye. One woman was overly strict, the other too flamboyant, but Qin Wanshu struck the perfect balance.

Yan Ruoshan hadn't thought much of Shi Yunyang before, but after seeing the proposal Shi's company had put forward, she had to reassess her. With the competition so tight, Yan Ruoshan no longer felt certain she could win. After all, the Qin family might choose to collaborate with the Shi family, given their long-standing relationship. However, until the decision was made, Yan Ruoshan wasn't going to admit defeat. She had a feeling that Qin Wanshu might be the key to the outcome this time.

Overall, the terms offered by the Qian Group were slightly better than those from the Shi family, but the difference was minimal. Even within the Qin Group, opinions were divided, making it hard for Qin Yu to decide.

"Everyone's tired. Let's take a break for an hour and continue afterward," Qin Wanshu said, interrupting the meeting as it reached a tense point.

"A new café opened nearby. I heard the coffee and desserts are great, and there are beautiful women too. Shall we go there for afternoon tea?" Shi Yunyang never missed an opportunity for enjoyment, especially after a long and stressful meeting. It was time to relax.

"That sounds good. Mrs. Qian, why don't you join us?" Qin Wanshu invited Yan Ruoshan.

Yan Ruoshan, accustomed to keeping herself on high alert, didn't feel tired at all. However, she didn't decline Qin Wanshu's invitation. Whether she could secure the deal this time might depend on Qin Wanshu. Throughout the meeting, Qin Wanshu hadn't expressed any opinions, only listening carefully. Yan Ruoshan couldn't gauge her stance, and this invitation was it sincere or something more?

Shi Yunyang raised an eyebrow at Qin Wanshu. Was the invitation to Yan Ruoshan purely friendly, or was there another motive?

By a twist of fate, the café that Shi Yunyang mentioned was none other than the one opened by Zuo Qinghuan and Li Xin.

So, when the three women walked in, they immediately caught attention. It couldn't be helped they stood out in the crowd. But Zuo Qinghuan's first focus was on Qin Wanshu, and then on the woman walking very closely beside her, Shi Yunyang. Zuo Qinghuan scrutinized Shi Yunyang closely after all, Shi Yunyang was holding Qin Wanshu's hand in an overly intimate way, which was an eyesore to her. Even though Li Xin looked like a woman with a questionable reputation, deep down she still had some virtuous traits. On the other hand, this woman, Shi Yunyang, was the real playgirl. Her gaze was bold and uninhibited, and Zuo Qinghuan's sharp eye immediately saw through Shi Yunyang's nature. She felt that Shi Yunyang and Qin Wanshu standing together was an odd mismatch, like Athena standing next to Carmen. It completely ruined Athena's aura. Athena should have a fairy standing by her side, Zuo Qinghuan thought to herself.

"The owner is indeed a little beauty, pure like a lily," Shi Yunyang said teasingly when she saw Zuo Qinghuan. To be honest, ever since she developed an interest in women, she had learned how to flirt with them.

Qin Wanshu was also a bit surprised when she saw Zuo Qinghuan. It seemed like a while since she last saw her. She noticed that Zuo Qinghuan had replaced all her luxury items and removed her light makeup, revealing a fresh, clean face. She looked really young truly like a pure lily.

"Zuo Qinghuan, come inside for a moment..." Li Xin came out from the back, and when she saw Yan Ruoshan, Shi Yunyang, and Qin Wanshu standing there, she froze for a moment.

Yan Ruoshan and Shi Yunyang obviously hadn't expected to run into Li Xin here either.

Shi Yunyang's excitement grew when she saw Li Xin. She noticed how Li Xin's expression dramatically changed upon seeing her and Yan Ruoshan together. Even Yan Ruoshan's usual icy demeanor softened slightly.

At the same time, Zuo Qinghuan and Qin Wanshu were both thinking the same thing: should they pretend to know each other or not?

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