After leaving the Long family estate, she lowered her gaze to the bank card in her hand, then turned to pack her belongings.
The modest apartment Long Yubei had rented for her held no appeal whatsoever.
No sooner had she moved in than she sought out the landlord to cancel the lease.
Infuriated, the landlord dialed the contact number left by Long Yubei, questioning how she could breach the agreement that had clearly stated the rent was non-refundable.
It was only then that Long Yubei became aware of this ridiculous turn of events.
He dispatched Tang Qingli to handle the matter.
Yet He Meiwei failed to secure the money she had hoped for, and now that Long Yubei knew what she'd done, she felt even more humiliated—utterly beneath his notice.
Dragging her suitcase, she walked away without a backward glance.
She didn't care anymore. Now that she had money, she could afford a far better place to live.
Needless to say, the apartment was quickly sublet by Tang Qingli.
"Think she's snagged a sugar daddy?" Gu Lili asked, one arm clutching half a watermelon, the other scooping out bite after juicy bite.
"No idea."
"Maybe she's working in some nightclub," Gu Lili speculated. "Otherwise, with no money to her name, how would she dare behave like that? Rent's not exactly a fortune—no way she'd break the lease just to buy medicine."
"Forget about her," Long Yubei replied indifferently. "You think you can finish that whole watermelon?"
Gu Lili raised a brow. "Back when my shifu grew watermelons, I once devoured an entire one by myself. Still not impressed?"
"…"
"You truly are a force to be reckoned with, Sister-in-law!" came a bright, cheerful voice from the doorway. Gu Lili turned her head, her eyes lighting up. "Fengxi!"
"Sister-in-law, I brought you a little something." Long Fengxi handed her a gift bag with a warm smile.
Gu Lili beamed in surprise. She quickly set the watermelon on the coffee table, wiped her hands with a tissue, and took the gift. "You really didn't have to. What is it?"
"Open it and see." Long Fengxi settled beside her, grinning.
Gu Lili untied the ribbon and lifted the lid. Inside were four delicate ceramic figurines—a pair of parents and two children. The man's features unmistakably mirrored Long Yubei's, the woman's resembled her own, and the two little ones were miniature versions of them both.
"They're absolutely adorable!" she exclaimed, smiling radiantly at Long Fengxi. "I love them—thank you so much!"
"Hehe, I hope you and my brother will soon bless me with a niece and nephew of my own."
Gu Lili nudged her husband with a playful look. "Did you hear that? Even Fengxi hopes we'll have a baby soon."
"But I still want to enjoy our time as just the two of us…"
Gu Lili merely smiled to herself. He had no idea she had already been tampering with their contraception. Once she was pregnant, he'd have no choice but to accept it.
She gazed down fondly at the charming ceramic family, then carefully replaced the lid. "Later, I'll arrange them neatly on my vanity."
"Brother, Sister-in-law, if one day I suddenly decide to get married, would you be shocked?"
"What's there to be shocked about? Didn't your sister-in-law and I decide to marry just as suddenly?" Long Yubei caught the hint in her tone. "Wait… do you have someone already?"
"No," Long Fengxi denied quickly. "I just think marriage is something that happens on impulse. If I were to marry, it might be very sudden."
"That's perfectly normal," Gu Lili said brightly. "Fengxi, if you meet a man you truly love, hold on to him tightly. Good men don't stay unclaimed for long—either by other women or… other men. Strike first, or risk losing out."
Long Fengxi nodded with a knowing smile. "I will."