Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s-Chapter 527: Sowing discord

"Qiong’er." Jia Wenxiu smiled sweetly, "I’m here to see Major Lu. Is he home?"

Li Qiong’er glanced upstairs and said, "He just got back yesterday. He’s in the study right now."

"Then I’ll go up and find him." Jia Wenxiu naturally headed upstairs.

Li Qiong’er suddenly noticed her outfit today—it was... revealing. Through her white shirt, certain things were noticeable.

She used to think Tian Sangsang lacked purity, but today, by comparison, Tian Sangsang seemed like a proper wife. Aside from her enviable looks and figure, Tian Sangsang always dressed appropriately—at most fashionable, but never overt. Her behavior and words were always beyond reproach.

In contrast, Li Qiong’er inexplicably felt a surge of good will toward Tian Sangsang. It was absurd, really.

She frowned as she watched Jia Wenxiu’s backside disappearing upstairs.

Jia Wenxiu reached out to knock twice on the door. "Lu Chi, it’s Wenxiu."

Hearing her voice, Lu Chi, who was reading something, raised his eyebrows with mild amusement.

"Come in."

Jia Wenxiu pushed the door open and entered.

Lu Chi sneered coldly, "I’ve already heard about your latest antics. You told me you could stay with the Jiang Family, but you were thrown out faster than I could blink. And now you’ve somehow become a public figure. Don’t tell me you think you still hold any value for me?"

He waved the newspaper in his hand dismissively. "Idiot. And yet you still want to negotiate with me."

Jia Wenxiu paled, her voice soft. "I came for another reason... something I thought would interest you. Something I believe is of great value to you."

"Oh, really?" Lu Chi lowered his head and continued reading the newspaper, his tone indifferent and mocking.

"I suspect there’s a mole among us," Jia Wenxiu said firmly, staring intently at him. "While you were away in Beijing, I’ve been working closely with Qiong’er. But at that banquet, instead of helping me, Qiong’er turned to support Tian Sangsang." She had harbored resentment since then. If Qiong’er wanted to make her life miserable, she wouldn’t let Qiong’er have it easy either. Stirring up discord between them would only serve her own interests.

Lu Chi’s narrow eyes grew darker and more menacing. "Qiong’er has been with me for a long time. Are you questioning my judgment?"

"I’m not lying to you." Jia Wenxiu recounted in meticulous detail what had transpired at the banquet before adding, "I saw her talking with Tian Sangsang. Tian Sangsang kept mentioning something to her—I heard bits and pieces about Ji Yao’er’s car accident." She knew Lu Chi had orchestrated that car accident. If she knew, there was no way Tian Sangsang wouldn’t. What could Tian Sangsang have discussed with Li Qiong’er if not the accident—and possibly even about her being the one to tip them off?

This was why Qiong’er hadn’t helped her. Instead, she had allowed Tian Sangsang to humiliate her in public, likely as an act of revenge for Ji Yao’er.

The newspaper in Lu Chi’s hands creased under his tightening grip, the veins in his hand bulging. He recalled Qiong’er from the day before—her peculiar behavior when she had asked him pointedly about Ji Yao’er, disbelief plain on her face. It was unusual.

Still, peculiar or not, it didn’t matter to him. Nothing did. If necessary, he had ways to silence her. Just as he had silenced Ji Yao’er, what could Li Qiong’er or Jia Wenxiu possibly do?

His response was ambiguous. Calmly, he said, "Qiong’er is my wife. I trust her."

Jia Wenxiu had anticipated this response and did not panic. She had only meant to plant the seed—what Lu Chi chose to do was his own business. Saying too much would always backfire.

"Done speaking? If that’s all, you can leave now."

Li Qiong’er sat restlessly on the sofa, glancing occasionally upstairs and then at the wall clock.

It’s been so long—why hadn’t Jia Wenxiu come down yet? She thought of her outfit, and in a surge of anxiety, she got up silently and tiptoed upstairs.

Reaching the study, she pressed her ear quietly to the door—but it was completely quiet inside.

Jia Wenxiu wasn’t leaving. Her hands fidgeted nervously. Lu Chi continued reading his newspaper, wearing glasses, his expression focused and remote.

When Lu Chi looked up at her, there was puzzlement in his eyes. Then, as though recalling something, he stood and moved to leave.

Jia Wenxiu panicked—this was her last chance. As if abandoning all rational thought, she stumbled and, as though by accident, fell squarely into Lu Chi’s arms.

Both hands clung tightly to his waist.

Lu Chi remained silent, studying her with a trace of amusement. Throwing herself at him? Pity he was sober tonight—there was no chance he’d mistake her for Guan Kunling. Besides, Kunling would never stoop to throwing herself at him.

Seeing that Lu Chi made no immediate move to push her away, Jia Wenxiu’s heart raced, and a faint smile played on her lips. Her hands grew bolder, sliding gently along Lu Chi’s chest and moving toward...

The other reached under his shirt, directly within his view. Jia Wenxiu was petite, but undeniably alluring—many men would find her irresistible.

Although Lu Chi was still a man, and his body betrayed him despite himself, a sharp shame washed over him. He couldn’t make the same mistake again—not another betrayal to Guan Kunling! Not that Guan Kunling would ever care for him to begin with...

Just as he raised a hand to shove her away, the door slammed open!

Li Qiong’er stormed in, her gaze fierce as it landed on the two of them. "What are you doing?!"

Lu Chi shrugged innocently and decisively pushed Jia Wenxiu off of him. He glanced at Li Qiong’er with a mysterious glint in his eyes. Her timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Had she been standing outside this whole time? Spying?

Jia Wenxiu looked crushed, her face a mask of hurt. As she was shoved aside, she stumbled, her ankle twisting audibly.

She was wearing high heels today!

"Ah... my foot..." Tears immediately sprang to her eyes as she looked pitifully at Lu Chi. This time, the pain was genuine.

Lu Chi ignored her, adjusted his slightly rumpled clothing, and said to Li Qiong’er, "I’m heading downstairs. You can show Jia Wenxiu out." His tone made it clear he had nothing to do with this.

Li Qiong’er understood. Though she wanted nothing more than to tear into Jia Wenxiu, she restrained herself for the sake of appearances. Folding her arms arrogantly, she said, "I thought you came here to ’talk business,’ but somehow you ended up all over Lu Chi! Jia Wenxiu, take your disgraceful self out of my house immediately!"

"Qiong’er, you’ve misunderstood." Jia Wenxiu furrowed her brows. "It’s not what you think. My ankle is sprained—can you help me? It really hurts."

Help you? Shameless! Li Qiong’er scoffed coldly, "Get out. Stop playing pitiful. Someone like you—you think I need to grab a broom to sweep you out?"

Jia Wenxiu clenched her teeth, her tears falling uncontrollably. Apparently, Li Qiong’er really did grab a broom from downstairs, then returned and swept it directly at her injured ankle. "Are you leaving or not, you shameless thing?!"

Biting back the pain, Jia Wenxiu struggled to stand. Every step was agony.

Li Qionger’s face was almost twisted with rage. "Hurry up and get out!"

By the time Jia Wenxiu left Lu Chi’s house, many onlookers had witnessed her sorry state.

Li Qiong’er, leaving no room for ambiguity, spread the story among the neighbors, ensuring everyone knew exactly what had happened that day. Jia Wenxiu’s reputation was ruined once and for all.

From that moment on, Jia Wenxiu’s name was completely tarnished—any hopes of redemption were shattered.