Chapter 042: Tears Beneath the Bed, Worthless

Zhou Jingyi fell silent.

He glanced at the moisture on his fingertip and continued in a low voice, “Tears shed under the bed are worthless.”

Wen Ni clung to Zhou Jingyi’s arm, wiping her face carelessly.

She turned away in a fit of pique. “Men are all the same—no good. Don’t stay here. I can’t stand the sight of you.”

Zhou Jingyi’s voice was languid. “But my dear nephew is here, and that doesn’t bother you?”

A flash of utter disgust crossed Wen Ni’s eyes. “I don’t want to talk to you.”

He watched her for a moment, then abruptly turned and left—not back to the bedroom, but out of the house entirely.

Wen Ni calmed herself in silence, exhaling a long, heavy breath. She took out her phone and called Lin Luo.

“Nini?”

“Luoluo, I want to know, after sex, what’s the soonest you can test for pregnancy?”

“A week at the earliest.”

“A week, huh.”

“But everyone’s different; some people can’t tell even after a week. To be sure, ten days is about right. Did you… find someone new?”

Wen Ni’s face grew hot. “No, it’s still him. I just have a feeling this time will work.”

Lin Luo chuckled. “Didn’t you say he had dead swimmers?”

“I’ll just wait a week then. I’ll treat you to dinner another day.”

Lin Luo gave a mischievous laugh. “When would Miss Wen find the time? Aren’t you busy ‘managing affairs’ every day?”

Wen Ni was speechless.

She said softly, “Try to be serious. If your patients heard you talk like this, you’d lose all authority.”

Lin Luo laughed merrily.

She said, “Call me as soon as you test positive. I’ll handle the rest.”

Wen Ni hesitated. “Will it affect you?”

Lin Luo replied with brazen confidence, “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. Besides, if it really does affect me, it’s just an excuse to go home and inherit billions. My parents would kneel and thank you.”

Wen Ni fell silent.

Ah, the disparities of this world!

She hung up, feeling somewhat lighter, and returned to her work. Her gaze happened to fall on the paste at her side—the milky white, congealed liquid…

A sudden plan formed in Wen Ni’s mind.

—

Shen Xueqing didn’t come home that night.

Zhou Mingfan went out but returned alone, clearly having been rejected.

Wen Ni, Zhou Jingyi, and Zhou Chengli were having dinner together.

Zhou Chengli frowned. “Aren’t you eating dinner?”

Zhou Mingfan slouched over, sat at the dining table, and ordered, “Pour me a glass of wine.”

A servant hurried to pour a glass of red wine and set it beside him. “Young master.”

Zhou Mingfan downed two glasses in succession.

Zhou Chengli said, exasperated, “What now? Trying to drown your sorrows in drink?”

Zhou Mingfan remained silent.

Unable to bear it any longer, Zhou Chengli got up. “Xiao Wu, you’ll come back to the company with me later. There’s an international meeting your father specifically called to say is yours.”

Zhou Jingyi nodded quietly.

Before leaving, Zhou Chengli looked at Zhou Mingfan. “You’re not young anymore. If you keep throwing tantrums over love affairs, you can pack up and go. You can call anyone you like your father.”

Zhou Mingfan said nothing, only continued to drink.

Furious, Zhou Chengli stormed off.

Soon after, Zhou Jingyi left as well.

Wen Ni took her time with her meal, savoring Zhou Mingfan’s sorry state. “Just two glasses and you’re like this? Not much in terms of charm or drinking capacity, are you?”

Zhou Mingfan said nothing.

Wen Ni went on, “I hear men who can’t hold their liquor are just as inadequate in bed. Could it be you can’t satisfy Shen Xueqing? Is that why she’s looking for any excuse to dump you?”

A blaze of fury ignited in Zhou Mingfan’s dark eyes.

Wen Ni rose with deliberate grace, pulled out a napkin, dabbed her lips, tossed it in the trash, and sauntered off, swaying her slim waist.

Back in her room, Wen Ni listened for sounds outside.

The elevator door opened.

At once she walked to the door, about to step out, when someone pounded on it, startling her. She cursed silently before opening up.

As expected, it was Zhou Mingfan.

He was drunk, stumbling inside. “Wife, have the kitchen make me some hangover soup. My head’s splitting. Wife, I feel awful…”

He made his way in with practiced ease, flopping down on the bed.

Wen Ni suppressed her revulsion, unbuttoned his shirt, and pinched his chest hard enough to leave red marks.

The pain must have roused him; Zhou Mingfan opened his eyes by reflex.

Wen Ni took out the electric baton she’d prepared and jabbed his thigh with it.

A jolt of electricity ran through Zhou Mingfan. His body convulsed, then went limp, and he closed his eyes again.

Wen Ni put the baton away, stripped off his trousers, and carefully poured diluted paste onto his thigh.

With all done, she let out a long breath.

In the early hours, sensing Zhou Mingfan stirring, Wen Ni quickly closed her eyes.

Zhou Mingfan awoke with a splitting headache, his skull about to burst.

He slowly propped himself up, caught sight of the woman on the edge of the bed, and mumbled, “Xueqing, aren’t you afraid of falling off?”

No sooner had he spoken than he froze.

Xueqing? But she never came home!

Who was this woman?

Panic seized him. He threw off the covers.

Underneath, he was naked, his legs and the sheets marked with dried stains—a complete mess.

Holding his breath, Zhou Mingfan looked over and saw Wen Ni’s face.

He was utterly shocked.

He scrambled to his feet, hurriedly dressed, and slunk away like a thief.

He opened the door, holding up his pants, and hurried back to the room he shared with Shen Xueqing.

So flustered, he didn’t notice Zhou Jingyi standing not far off.

Once back in his room, Zhou Mingfan rushed into the shower.

Under the spray, regret overwhelmed him.

He’d drunk too much, forgotten his role, and wandered into the room he used to share with Wen Ni.

And had even… ended up in bed with her.

More than anything, he was afraid—if Wen Ni told Shen Xueqing about this, he’d be finished.

Nervous and restless, Zhou Mingfan tossed and turned the rest of the night and barely slept.

—

Wen Ni, however, woke refreshed. When she came to the dining room the next morning, no one else was up yet.

She asked a servant, “Has Fifth Master and Second Young Master gotten up?”

The servant replied respectfully, “Fifth Master has already left. Second Young Master hasn’t come down yet.”

Speak of the devil—there he was.

Zhou Mingfan entered, looking guilty, hoping to avoid Wen Ni, but fate had other plans.

Their eyes met.

Zhou Mingfan’s heart pounded wildly. He looked away at once.

Wen Ni, as though nothing had happened, said, “Second Young Master is here, serve breakfast.”

The servant hurried to comply.

Zhou Mingfan took a deep breath and sat opposite Wen Ni, his gaze landing on her. “You…”

He hadn’t finished when Zhou Jingyi returned.