Chapter 3 For The Last Time

• Splash!
• A bucket of cold water poured down on Qiao Yuqi and instantly, she opened her eyes.
• Am I dead? Is this the Heavens? If she were to live her life all over again, she'd choose to take control of her own life.
• “Pfft, has the young lady come round?”
• It’s her stepsister, Qiao Wenyu's surly voice, “The Mo family sent you back home because you cheated on your husband. The whole family is in disgrace because of you!”
• “Wenyu, what nonsense it that?” It was her stepmother Miao Fengqin, who was a hypocrite.
• Qiao Yuqi laughed bitterly on the inside as she watched Miao Fengqin and Qiao Wenyu gloat over her misfortune. So, this isn't the Heaven's after all. I'm back to Hell.
• She endured the pain on her body and sat up with a scoff.
• “Well, I merely learnt the ropes from the homewrecker in our family.”
• “Why, you...” Qiao Wenyu glared angrily. “Daddy, just listen to her!”
• It was then that Qiao Yuqi realized her dad, Qiao Weiguo, was present too. She pursed her lips, deciding she'd save her father some face.
• “Dad, I want a divorce,” Qiao Yuqi said firmly.
• “No way!” Qiao Weiguo had finally spoken.
• Disappointment washed over her. She always believed that regardless of what Miao Fengqin and Qiao Wenyu did, there was still a trace of familial feelings she shared with her dad.
• Qiao Yuqi scoffed and walked out. “It won't make a difference whether you agree or not. I'm a grown-up now.”
• “How brazen!” Qiao Weiguo blew up and burst into a loud coughing fit. Qiao Yuqi stopped in her tracks but did not look back.
• Miao Fengqin and Qiao Wenyu went over to soothe him. “Qiao, aren't you going to tell Yuqi what kind of situation we are in now? There's been a problem with the project we're handling now, and we made a loss of 50 million. If not for Jingwen's help, our business would have gone belly up!”
• Qiao Yuqi shuddered and recalled what Wang Shulan said when she caned her. So it was all true?
• “What happened?”
• “Yuqi!” Qiao Weiguo broke out in tears as he spoke, “Don't blame Dad. There's nothing I could do. Your Mom and I built up the family business. But it's going to ruin in my hands!”
• Mom!
• Qiao Yuqi remembered how her mother held her hands and entrusted the Qiao family to her at her deathbed. If Mom were here...
• “I'm begging you; it'll be for the last time. Apologize to Jingwen. I promise to get you back once we made it through this crisis.”
• She turned back to look at Qiao Weiguo. His words were merely butter, smooth yet slippery; she knew she could no longer trust him. But if it'd help mother keep the Qiao family business going, she was willing to try.
• ...
• At the hospital.
• Liang Hanyu returned after sending the doctor off once all the checkups were completed. He saw that Gong Hao was all dressed and freshened up. He looked as if he had just walked straight out from a painting. On top of that, he exuded an authoritative vibe owing to his sharp gaze.
• He sat idly on the sofa smoking a cigarette.
• “What are you doing? Do you think you have a body of steel? The doctor said you'll have to rest for at least two weeks!”
• Gong Hao's expression was shrouded in the smoke, but his eyes, cold and penetrating, stood out.
• “Do you think the people in Gong family would let me rest for two weeks?”
• He was right. Liang Hanyu recalled the shock on the doctor's face when he saw the wounds. Those beasts from the Gong family wouldn't be so kind.
• “Alright. You've been discharged from the hospital anyway. We'll recuperate at home. I'll arrange for some people to stay by your side.”
• “Sure,” Gong Hao answered faintly, and continued, “Before we head back, get the CCTV footage of the slum for me.”
• Liang Hanyu started, “What do you want that for? Did you miss yesterday's look?”
• Gong Hao shot him a sidelong glare, “I'm looking for someone.”
• “Who?” It hit him after he finished his sentence, “Damn! Don't tell me... Are you a masochist? Surely you can't be attracted to that woman the Gong family sent to humiliate you?”
• “Shut up!” Gong Hao ordered.
• “Ah! I'll try.” Liang Hanyu hushed.