Chapter 15: Sleep in My Room

Zhao Wenjing was somewhat surprised upon hearing Qiao Yi's words.

She knew that Qiao Yi had grown up under the watchful eye of Old Mr. Lu and, given the close relationship between the two families, Old Mr. Lu would definitely take extra care of Qiao Yi.

However, she hadn't expected that Old Mr. Lu would so readily entrust Qiao Yi with the housekeeping affairs.

For families like the Qiao and Lu, management of the family business is essential, but maintaining relations and emotional ties with other families is even more important.

Now, Qiao Yi was taking such a long-breathed role in the Lu Family; could it be that Old Mr. Lu truly valued her this much, to leave all these matters in her hands?

Of course not. Although Old Mr. Lu had such intentions, Qiao Yi's ankle injury had just healed two days ago, and as a new bride of the Lu Family, it seemed improper for her to take over these duties so hastily.

But these words could not be mentioned here; facing the astonished gazes of everyone in the room, Qiao Yi maintained an elegant and reserved smile.

"Since your father-in-law values you so much, you must get along well with Yanchuan and not cause trouble like you used to."

Zhao Wenjing was extremely pleased, but her happiness was inevitably followed by some worries.

Qiao Yi spoke to Zhao Wenjing while quietly observing Qiao Xin's expression, and sure enough, she saw Qiao Xin looking as if she had swallowed a fly, her face no longer carrying the ease it had before.

Qiao Yi hummed softly through her nose and, holding onto Zhao Wenjing's hand, was the first to leave the ward.

Though humiliated by Qiao Yi's show of authority, Qiao Xin still moved into the Lu Mansion without delay, and at dinner that evening, two new faces appeared at the table—Qiao Xin and Lu Ming.

Qiao Yi saw the bowl of chicken soup next to her, unchanged as always, and sipped it disconsolately, spoonful by spoonful.

"Today, I had them add ginseng to the soup. Try it and see how it tastes."

Old Mr. Lu looked at Qiao Yi with a smile. Taking a deep breath, Qiao Yi downed the chicken soup and wiped her mouth, praising Old Mr. Lu lavishly.

Qiao Xin sat across from them, witnessing firsthand how drastically different Old Mr. Lu's attitudes were toward the two of them.

Across from her, Qiao Yi was laughing and chatting with Old Mr. Lu, and Yanchuan occasionally chimed in. That was a picture of a happy family of three, whereas she and Lu Ming were merely sitting there like two spare parts.

While Qiao Xin watched Qiao Yi, the latter was naturally also aware of her, and although not intentionally neglecting Qiao Xin, seeing her discomfort, Qiao Yi took pleasure in the situation.

"Grandpa, you can't be so biased, Qiao... Auntie just twisted her ankle and needs nourishment, but Xinxin was in a car accident. You shouldn't play favorites."

Qiao Xin didn't speak, but it was Lu Ming who couldn't conceal his dissatisfaction with Old Mr. Lu's indifferent attitude towards him and Qiao Xin, and he took the initiative to speak out.

Old Mr. Lu seemed to suddenly remember that there were two more people in the house, glancing at Qiao Xin and then at Lu Ming, and snorting through his nose.

"What, you can't pour chicken soup for your wife from the kitchen? Do I need to personally serve it to her?"

Lu Ming's face stiffened, he wanted to argue, but Old Mr. Lu had already turned away, no longer paying him any heed.

Qiao Yi kept her head down and continued eating, as the stares of Lu Ming and Qiao Xin settled on her, as if she were the reason Old Mr. Lu was ignoring them.

The meal was tense, greatly affecting the appetite.

Qiao Yi went upstairs after eating only half her meal; she really couldn't be bothered to watch Qiao Xin sucking up to Old Mr. Lu.

"Father said you didn't eat much tonight and asked me to bring this up to you."

After playing with her phone in her room for a while, Lu Yanchuan came in carrying a tray.

"Oh, thank him for me."

Qiao Yi acknowledged, eyes fixed on the mobile game interface without moving.

After a long while without hearing the door, Qiao Yi looked up to see Lu Yanchuan sitting on the sofa, looking at her.

Qiao Yi felt a tingling on her scalp under his gaze and uneasily crawled out of bed.

"What else do you want?"

"Sleep in my room tonight."

Qiao Yi almost spewed out blood!

How could Lu Yanchuan say such a thing with a straight face?

"What do you want to do!"

Involuntarily, Qiao Yi scooted back, staring at Lu Yanchuan warily as if he were some kind of lecherous ghost.

Lu Yanchuan frowned in displeasure, stood up looking down at Qiao Yi who was also staring back, hugging her blanket.

After a long stalemate, it was Lu Yanchuan who was first to retreat.

"Since you want us to play the part of a married couple, we have to do it convincingly. Once your foot is healed, sleep in my room."

Qiao Yi relaxed, realizing that was what he meant, she had thought...

Seeing the hint of red on Qiao Yi's face, the displeasure in Lu Yanchuan's heart seemed to dissipate in an instant, and he huffed and left.

As soon as Lu Yanchuan left, Qiao Xin entered the room and saw the dinner plate on the table, her face turning frightfully cold.

"You must be very pleased with yourself, seducing your brother-in-law, now strutting around here at the Lu Family!"

"Brother-in-law? Are you out of your mind? My current brother-in-law is just downstairs, I wonder who I've seduced?"

Qiao Yi sat cross-legged on the bed, the earlier embarrassment gone from her face, leaving only mockery.

The annoyance on Qiao Xin's face flickered and then calmed again.

"You know very well who I'm talking about, don't think you can be so smug forever, Lu Yanchuan will be mine sooner or later!"

Qiao Yi didn't even know what to say to her, she must have damaged her brain in that car accident, otherwise, why would she act and talk so mindlessly now?

"Seduced your brother-in-law... Lu Yanchuan will be mine sooner or later!"

Qiao Xin stared at the smartphone in Qiao Yi's hand, her face a mix of panic and embarrassment.

"You recorded it! Delete that!"

Qiao Xin lunged at Qiao Yi, but Qiao Yi swiftly dodged.

"You dare to come in my room and provoke me, why wouldn't I record it? Keep talking, be assured, I'll record everything you say."

Qiao Xin screamed in rage and frantically lunged at Qiao Yi to snatch the phone from her hand.

Unable to combat a reckless lunatic, Qiao Yi's grip loosened, and the phone landed in Qiao Xin's hand.

Qiao Xin snatched the phone and flung it to the ground, smashing it to pieces.

Qiao Yi watched indifferently as Qiao Xin lost her composure. After Qiao Xin smashed the phone, she got off the bed and suddenly grabbed Qiao Xin by the throat, slamming her violently against the wall.

"Have you had enough? I've been tolerating you over and over again because you're my sister. Our blood relation won't make me put up with you forever, if you keep this up, don't blame me for not holding back."

The hand on her throat felt as if it was made of iron; no matter how hard Qiao Xin tried, she couldn't push Qiao Yi away, forced to tilt her head back and look at her.

Qiao Yi's tone was chilling, Qiao Xin couldn't help but shiver when she met her emotionless gaze.

"What are you trying to do!"