Chapter 10: New Digs Old Drama

Qin Li took a shower, changed into loungewear, and lay down on Dani's bed. Even though she was exhausted, her mind was racing, and she couldn't sleep no matter how much she tossed and turned.

Taking out her phone, she turned it on, and a flurry of messages popped up—all from her brother, Qin Ming.

"Sis, where are you? You left without saying anything. Mom and Dad are worried sick."

"When are you coming back? Reply when you see this."

"If you don't get in touch soon, we're reporting you missing."

Qin Li sighed. No matter what, blood ties were not so easily severed. Cutting her family out entirely wasn't possible, no matter how much she might wish it.

She typed a reply: "Brother, don't worry, I'm fine."

Qin Ming's response came quickly, full of questions: "Where did you go? What are you doing?"

"I went abroad for a while," she started, but then hesitated. Deleting those words, she rewrote: "I went to clear my head. I'll come back in a while, don't worry."

"You've left the family in chaos while you're off enjoying life abroad. And weren't you broke after the divorce? Where did you get the money to go abroad?"

"I sold my car," Qin Li replied simply.

"You're such a handful. A few arguments with Mom, and you run off? You've known her temper your whole life—why couldn't you just put up with it?"

"If I could tolerate it, I wouldn't have left," Qin Li answered bluntly.

"Mom's only trying to help you. You should come back soon; it's expensive abroad."

"Even if I come back, I'm not returning to S City."

"Why not? If not S City, where else would you go?"

"I don't know yet. I just want a fresh start."

"Don't be silly. Your home is here. Where else do you have to go?"

"Brother, take care of Mom and Dad for me."

"What kind of joke is that? They're your parents too! Don't you have any responsibility?"

"If you take care of them, all their future assets will belong to you. I won't fight you for anything."

Knowing their parents' house was worth several million and they had savings as well, Qin Ming's tone immediately softened: "Take care of yourself out there. If you're unhappy in S City, maybe it's better to move somewhere else to start over."

Qin Li couldn't help but smile bitterly. Her brother didn't truly care about her well-being; he only cared about how her actions affected his benefits. When she had been married, he'd used her to squeeze money out of her ex-husband. Now that she was out of the picture, he was relieved there was one less person to divide the inheritance.

"Do you still keep in touch with Sun Yi?" he asked.

"No," Qin Li lied.

"That guy has no conscience. Want me to teach him and that homewrecker a lesson? How about we make her miscarry? Let's see how smug she is then."

Alarmed by her brother's suggestion, Qin Li quickly replied, "Don't do anything reckless. Mom and Dad need you to stay out of trouble."

"Fine, fine, just saying. But Sis, don't take this the wrong way—you really should've tried harder. If you'd had a baby, things wouldn't have ended up like this."

Not wanting to discuss her painful past further, Qin Li quickly changed the subject, exchanging a few polite words before logging off.

She felt like a patient recovering from surgery, her emotional wounds still raw and bleeding. Though a new environment offered hope for healing, forgetting the pain would take a long time.

Exhaustion eventually pulled her into a light, restless sleep. When she woke, it was already afternoon. She wandered out of the bedroom to find her suitcase emptied and the apartment tidied up. Dani was nowhere to be seen.

The small one-bedroom apartment was compact but cozy, complete with a tiny balcony just big enough for a table and two chairs.

Qin Li stepped out onto the balcony and took a seat. From here, she had a view of a park in the distance, a lush sea of green with a shimmering lake at its center. Dani clearly had an eye for a good place—this sunny, scenic apartment was worth every euro of the 900 monthly rent.

Breathing in the crisp air, Qin Li stretched lazily and yawned. As she leaned over the railing, she noticed someone on the neighboring balcony watching her.

It was a man, probably in his thirties, wearing a tailored suit and holding a glass of sparkling wine. He caught her gaze and raised his glass in a polite toast.

Caught off guard, Qin Li managed an awkward smile before retreating back into the apartment. Just as she stepped inside, Dani returned, arms full of grocery bags.

Dani looked up as Qin Li emerged from the bedroom. "You're up! Perfect timing. Help me with these bags."

"Why didn't you wake me? I could've gone grocery shopping with you," Qin Li said, taking one of the bags from her.

"You were sleeping so soundly, I couldn't bear to disturb you. So, what are we eating tonight?" Dani asked with a grin.

"What do you feel like eating?" Qin Li countered.

Dani shrugged theatrically. "I want everything—except I can't cook anything."

Qin Li laughed as she spotted the frozen shrimp in one of the bags. "Do you have hot pot seasoning?"

"Sure do," Dani replied.

"Then I'll make spicy stir-fry hot pot."

Dani clapped her hands in delight. "Just hearing that makes my mouth water!"

The two hauled the groceries into the kitchen. As Qin Li sorted through the haul, she noticed a good variety of fresh vegetables and meats. "How much was all this? Let me pay my share."

Dani waved her off. "It was under 50 euros, don't worry about it."

"That cheap?"

"This isn't even cheap. Wait till you see the farmer's market on the weekend—ten bucks can get you a whole cart of fresh produce."

Qin Li raised an eyebrow. "That can't be true."

"Don't believe me? I'll take you there to see for yourself," Dani promised.

Cooking spicy stir-fry hot pot wasn't complicated, especially with pre-made seasoning. Qin Li prepped the ingredients, chopping and washing while tossing a few dishes into the mix: sweet and sour ribs, shrimp stir-fried with eggs, cold bean curd noodles, and a tofu-spinach soup.

Growing up, Qin Li often cooked for herself. Both parents worked, and her brother only knew how to eat, not cook. Later, during her marriage to Sun Yi, she had taken on all the household responsibilities. Years of experience made her efficient in the kitchen. In no time, a sumptuous meal was laid out on the table.

Dani stared at the spread, slack-jawed. "Wow. I thought I was efficient, but you're on another level. I'm seriously impressed."

Both women enjoyed spicy food, so Qin Li had made an extra-hot Chongqing-style broth. They ate with gusto, sweating and laughing as they wiped their brows.

Dani tapped her chopsticks against her bowl. "This meal deserves drinks! Hold on, I'll check the fridge."

After rummaging around for a while, Dani exclaimed, "I forgot to buy alcohol! Give me five minutes!"

Before Qin Li could protest, Dani dashed out of the apartment, slippers slapping against the floor. She returned moments later, triumphantly holding a bottle of sparkling wine.

"Where'd you get that?" Qin Li asked.

Dani set down two coffee mugs and poured them each a glass. "Borrowed it from the guy next door."

"You've got a Chinese neighbor?" Qin Li asked, intrigued.

"Nope, he's German. 'Neighbor Wang' is just a nickname. He's a big-shot lawyer," Dani said, taking a sip of wine and grinning mischievously.

Qin Li thought back to the man she'd seen earlier on the balcony, drink in hand. His face had been hard to see, but his demeanor was certainly impressive.

"Want me to introduce you?" Dani teased, her grin widening. "He's single, loaded, and drives a Ferrari."

"No thanks," Qin Li replied quickly. "You can keep him for yourself."

Dani looked her over, her expression turning playfully critical. "Eh, with the way you dress, I doubt he'd be interested. Seriously, you need a makeover. I threw out all your old clothes, by the way."

Qin Li gasped. "You threw them out?! Where?"

"To charity. The Red Cross will send them to refugees in Africa."

"Dani!"

Ignoring her protests, Dani clasped Qin Li's hands and said solemnly, "And let's talk about this extra weight you're carrying. Time for a diet."

Qin Li, who hovered on the edge of being plus-sized, preferred loose clothing that hid her curves—especially her tummy. Her ex-husband Sun Yi had often complained that she paid little attention to her appearance, calling her less stylish than middle-aged women at public dance classes.

"Li, you've got great features, but you don't put any effort into presenting yourself," Dani said, shaking her head.

"I'm not trying to impress anyone," Qin Li replied defensively.

Dani raised an eyebrow. "Who says you're not? I'm setting you up with a German farmer."

"Very funny," Qin Li muttered, rolling her eyes.

"I'm serious," Dani said with a straight face.

"Well, I'm not going."

"Why not? Don't tell me you're still hung up on that scumbag ex-husband of yours," Dani said sharply.

Qin Li's silence spoke volumes. Frustrated and embarrassed, she stood and waved off the conversation. "I said I'm not going, and that's final!"