The Billionaire's New Wife in Chief-Chapter 246 - 143: He’s Preparing to Return to His Country, Isn’t He?

Chapter 246: Chapter 143: He’s Preparing to Return to His Country, Isn’t He?

Zuo Yuqing looked at Song Qiao sitting next to Lu Jingchen with some difficulty, bit her lip, and spoke, "Can I talk to you alone?"

Upon hearing her words, Song Qiao subconsciously furrowed her brows, but still turned her head to look at Zuo Yuqing across from her, a cold, mocking smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

But before she could say anything, Lu Jingchen had already refused her suggestion bluntly, "Qiaoqiao is my wife. She can listen in here with us. Go ahead, what do you need me for?"

"I..." Upon hearing Lu Jingchen’s words, Zuo Yuqing’s face slightly changed, turning a bit pale, her eyes filling with hurt and pain, and even a touch of disbelief. frёeweɓηovel_coɱ

Just then, Aunt Chen came up with the flower tea and pastries, walking straight to Lu Jingchen and Song Qiao, smiling as she said, "Sir, the pastries and flower tea you asked me to prepare for madam are ready."

Lu Jingchen’s expression remained unchanged. He merely leaned back on the sofa with a hint of disdain in his posture, humming indifferently, his gaze fixating on Zuo Yuqing across from him, a trace of sneering in his smile, barely noticeable.

When Lu Jingchen said those words, Song Qiao was looking at him, suddenly not understanding what was going on with him.

It seemed like today, after seeing Zuo Yuqing, his mood inexplicably soured, as if he were quite irritated.

Subconsciously, Song Qiao believed that something must have happened between Zuo Yuqing and Lu Jingchen, but she was uncertain of the specifics. She was sure of one thing, though—Zuo Yuqing must have done something to seriously displease and annoy Lu Jingchen.

"Madam, would you like to have some here?"

While Song Qiao was in a daze, the voice of Aunt Chen suddenly rang in her ear. She immediately came back to her senses, smiling slightly at Aunt Chen and said, "Aunt Chen, just set it down here, that’s fine. Go take a break, I can help myself."

"Alright, madam!" Aunt Chen nodded, placed the tray in front of Song Qiao, and then withdrew.

Zuo Yuqing’s face was as white as it could be, her gaze somewhat vacant as she watched Song Qiao and Aunt Chen. Lightly biting her lip, the hands resting on her knees clenched into fists, pulling at the hem of her skirt.

Back when she was with Lu Jingchen, Aunt Chen was quite nice to her as well, but she had never treated her like she did Song Qiao.

Moreover, Aunt Chen naturally addressed Song Qiao as ’madam’, completely unguarded and amiable towards her.

Even when Aunt Chen was nice to her before, there was still a certain guard, albeit with a pleasant demeanor. However, compared to how she was with Song Qiao now, it instantly made her realize what ’worlds apart’ truly meant.

From beginning to end, Lu Jingchen watched Zuo Yuqing, naturally not missing the slightest expression on her face, his brows unconsciously furrowing before he reverted to indifference the next second.

Seeing the flower tea and pastries in front of her, Song Qiao stood up, crouched by the coffee table and began to pour the flower tea. Thinking of something, she turned her head towards Lu Jingchen, asking with a light, attractive smile, "I remember you don’t drink flower tea, do you want some now?"

Lu Jingchen withdrew his gaze from Zuo Yuqing and turned to Song Qiao, his eyes filled with an ambiguous depth, his voice low and pleasant, "Pour me a cup, let me see if it’s any good, since you like drinking flower tea so much."

Song Qiao liked drinking flower tea, which was a well-known fact among everyone in the villa. Whenever she read in the study or basked in the backyard, she always had flower tea and pastries prepared.

For this, Lu Jingchen had even specifically sourced some rare flower teas for her that weren’t available on the market.

Song Qiao pursed her lips, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes. No matter how she had asked him before, he wouldn’t drink it, but now he suddenly wanted some.

Helplessly, she obediently poured him a cup and handed it over, "Here you go! Do you want some pastries, too?"

Lu Jingchen took the flower tea and looked at the pastries with a slight frown, remaining silent.

Song Qiao knew that Lu Jingchen didn’t like sweets, so she didn’t ask him again. Instead, she couldn’t help but smile wryly, and then suddenly remembered Zuo Yuqing across from her. Turning her head to look at Zuo Yuqing, her face still wore a smile as she graciously asked, "Miss Zuo, would you like some flower tea?"

All along, Zuo Yuqing’s face never looked good, especially seeing the natural interaction between Lu Jingchen and Song Qiao, which made her expression grow even uglier. Her hands clenched tightly into fists, her nails digging into the flesh of her palms.

Hearing Song Qiao’s question, she looked a bit pale, struggling to maintain her smile as she replied, "No need, I don’t like drinking flower tea."

After speaking, she glanced at Lu Jingchen, who was still sitting there. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing and dejectedly lowered her gaze.

At this moment, Zuo Yuqing’s heart was filled with bitterness; even her heart ached, almost making it difficult for her to breathe.

In truth, she didn’t like drinking flower tea, mainly because Lu Jingchen didn’t like it when they were together, so she followed suit and disliked it too.

But now, Lu Jingchen was willing to touch what he disliked for another woman.

Song Qiao gave an "oh" and didn’t bother with anything else. She directly poured herself a cup of flower tea, but as if thinking of something, she turned to look at Lu Jingchen and smiled, "Miss Zuo came looking for you, didn’t she? It seems like she has something important to discuss with you, so I won’t disturb the two of you."

With that, she picked up the tray from the coffee table, preparing to leave.

However, before she could take a step, Lu Jingchen had already furrowed his brows and abruptly grabbed her arm, his deep voice slightly displeased, "Where do you think you’re going with that tray?"

Song Qiao turned to look at him, still smiling. Because she was holding the tray with both hands, it had shaken a little when Lu Jingchen pulled at her, causing some of the flower tea to spill. "Don’t you dislike it? I’m taking it to the back garden to enjoy by myself, since you don’t like sweets anyway." Then, as if remembering something, she continued smiling, "I might as well go check on the flowers I planted a while back; I have nothing else to do here anyway. Miss Zuo seems to genuinely need to discuss something important with you, and she doesn’t seem to like having me around to hear it, does she?"

Lu Jingchen’s brows remained knit as he coolly glanced toward Zuo Yuqing opposite him, his thin lips slightly pursed.

Zuo Yuqing looked at Song Qiao in slight astonishment. When she felt Lu Jingchen’s gaze on her, she turned to look at him, her face holding a pale smile, "Jingchen, I truly have something important to discuss with you."

Lu Jingchen frowned slightly, but then let go of Song Qiao’s hand and hummed lightly before saying, "Come back early later, I’ll have Mrs. Chen prepare your favorite dishes."

Song Qiao gave a small smile and nodded, "Okay!"

As soon as Song Qiao walked out of the garden, the smile on her face immediately retracted entirely, and looking down at the tray in her hands, she revealed a hint of a mocking smile.

To Lu Jingchen, Zuo Yuqing still held a place in his heart, but as for Song Qiao herself, she would absolutely not continue to set her heart on Lu Jingchen; otherwise, she would be the one at a loss in the end.

After Song Qiao exited the living room, only Lu Jingchen and Zuo Yuqing remained.

Zuo Yuqing looked up at the handsome yet cold-faced man opposite her, bit her lip, and tentatively called out his name, "Jingchen."

Lu Jingchen took a sip of the flower tea Song Qiao had poured for him, slightly furrowed his brows; the taste was a bit too sweet for him, not to his liking. Hearing Zuo Yuqing’s voice, his expression unchanged, he set the cup on the coffee table. His eyes still bore that familiar chill as he responded indifferently, "You said you had something to discuss with me, right? Go ahead, what is it."

Zuo Yuqing had always known how indifferent and heartless Lu Jingchen could be, but being treated so mercilessly by him now made her feel as if she were being torn apart, the pain almost suffocating her.

She bit her lip, feeling a slight sting, and after taking a deep breath, her face a mixture of bitterness, she said, "I know you hate me now, but Jingchen, there is no need for you to use Song Qiao to take revenge on me. What I did back then..."

"Yuqing." Before Zuo Yuqing could finish, Lu Jingchen coldly interrupted her. His brows slightly knit, if one looked closely, they could see the mockery in his eyes, his voice almost emotionless, "Explaining all this to me now is pointless, Yuqing. You should worry about your own matters. If the information I received is correct, he’s planning to return to the country, isn’t he?"

Zuo Yuqing’s face went pale, her eyes wide as she stared at the man opposite her, fear evident in her gaze.

Lu Jingchen didn’t continue speaking. He sat casually on the couch, and aside from his slightly clenched fists indicating his emotions, everything else was well-concealed.

After a while, Zuo Yuqing forced a bitter smile and said, "I know he’s about to return to the country. Jingchen, you’re the only one who can save me now. For old times’ sake, when we were together, can you... help me?"

That man is truly a terrifying presence.

In this world, only Lu Jingchen, and he alone, is able to help her.

Lu Jingchen’s eyes narrowed, as he looked at Zuo Yuqing across from him, the young face that had always been by his side, still somewhat naive, appeared in his mind. His Adam’s apple shifted as he slightly opened his thin lips and after a long pause finally spoke indifferently in his low, husky voice, now tinged with a hint of sexiness, "Yuqing, you should know that I am a businessman, I never engage in a losing deal."