Chapter 32 Supporting Male Character Xie Qinghe

Chapter 32 Male Supporting Role: Xie Qinghe

Lu Jingtang genuinely wanted to avoid the situation, and she also genuinely needed to use the restroom. However, as she turned a corner, she saw a plump woman—who looked to weigh at least 200 pounds—grabbing a staff member by the collar.

"Call your manager! I'm going to accuse you of rape!"

The woman’s voice was extremely loud, drawing a considerable crowd. Other staff quickly went to fetch the manager but didn’t dare intervene. Anyone who could enter this establishment was someone of importance, and offending them would be unwise.

The staff member accused of rape was tall with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. At a glance, Lu Jingtang thought he was quite handsome—his features sharp and distinct, his dark eyelashes slightly lowered. Even under such an accusation, he remained indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Between these two, it was hard to say who was assaulting whom.

Lu Jingtang overheard two female staff members discussing nearby. Apparently, the woman’s husband was an official with considerable power. She had taken a liking to this male employee and requested him specifically every time she visited. Despite offers of money and property, he refused all advances, which infuriated her and led to this desperate accusation.

The woman raised her plump hand and slapped him hard across the face. He didn’t even flinch, standing as still as a stone statue. As she raised her hand to strike again, she caught sight of Lu Jingtang and paused, immediately breaking into an obsequious smile. "Miss Lu, what a coincidence."

Surprised that the woman recognized her, Lu Jingtang replied, "Hello."

"Where are you headed, Miss Lu? We’re about to start a banquet—why not join us?" the woman said.

"No, thank you. Perhaps another time," Lu Jingtang declined. The thought of dining with such a person made her nauseous. Noticing the swollen side of the employee’s face—clearly, he had been hit more than once—she felt a pang of sympathy, remembering her own past struggles as a service worker.

Lu Jingtang offered an excuse: "I need to use the restroom but don’t know the way. Would it be possible to have this gentleman assist me for a moment?"

The woman’s smile faltered briefly, but after a nudge from a bodyguard, she quickly recovered. "Of course, Miss Lu. Feel free."

"Please lead the way."

Lu Jingtang followed the employee to the restroom and said to him, "You can return to your duties now. That woman shouldn’t bother you again. Don’t be so stubborn in the future—if someone hits you, remember to move out of the way, okay?"

The employee lowered his head and whispered, "Thank you."

She smiled lightly. "Just a small favor."

Without another word, Lu Jingtang turned and entered the restroom. Behind her, Xie Qinghe lifted his gaze, watching her retreating figure. In the sunlight, his two pupils appeared oddly heterochromatic, almost eerie. His expression remained indifferent, as if lost in thought.

"Do you have an employee named Xie Qinghe here?" Ji Yunyin stood at the front desk.

Her real purpose for coming today was actually to find Xie Qinghe; running into Fu Nanyu had been unexpected. Xie Qinghe was her former neighbor and childhood friend—they had been very close. When they played house as children, he often said he would marry her when they grew up. After her mother passed away, she moved away, and their contact dwindled. During high school, Xie Qinghe had visited her at school a few times.

In her previous life, after being tricked by Lu Jingtang and nearly sold into the mountains where she almost suffered assault, it was Xie Qinghe who had saved her just in time. Only before her death did she learn that Xie Qinghe’s true identity was as a member of the Qingwan Xie Family. His father had had an accidental one-night encounter with Xie Qinghe’s mother, who couldn’t bear to abort the child and raised him on her own.

Knowing that Xie Qinghe had suffered greatly before being recognized by the Xie family, she resolved in this life to help him return to the Xie family earlier—both for his sake and to aid her own revenge.

The front desk staff checked and said, "Yes, we do, Miss Ji. Would you like me to have him come over now?"

Ji Yunyin nodded. "Yes, thank you."

"Ayin."

A familiar, long-unheard voice came from behind. Ji Yunyin froze, then turned to see that it was indeed Xie Qinghe. Seeing him again brought tears to her eyes, and she choked up slightly. "Brother Qinghe."

It was already 8 p.m. by the time they returned from dinner with Li Chen and the others. As soon as they entered, Fu Ting charged at them like a bear, wailing, "Why are you back so late? Third Brother is always plotting things without me! I’ve been dying of boredom—don’t you know how ‘thirsty’ I am?"

Lu Jingtang sweatdropped. "Second Brother, that’s not how you use ‘thirsty.’"

Fu Ting’s profession made it unsuitable for him to appear in public often. Going out with family easily attracted paparazzi, which would only add to the dangers he faced in his line of work.

Lu Jingtang patted his arm comfortingly. "Second Brother, come on, let’s team up in the game."

Fu Ting cheered up, suddenly feeling regretful that Lu Jingtang couldn’t have been from the same mother as him—why did he have to end up with a brother like the third brother instead?

Fu Nanyu narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice, "Not tired after playing outside all day?"

"Not at all!" Lu Jingtang blinked. She hadn’t been the one playing—he had! But she bit back the retort. "Besides, it’s still early."

Fu Nanyu replied coldly, "Two hours, maximum. I’ll check on you at 10."

Fu Ting was about to argue that two hours wouldn’t be enough for five rounds, but the dark look Fu Nanyu shot him made him swallow his words.

Under Fu Nanyu’s oppressive gaze, the two utterly cowed siblings lowered their heads in defeat.