Chapter 5 When Will You Two Break Up?

Chapter 5: So, When Are You Two Calling It Quits?

"You like rings?"

In the restaurant, Ling Jue saw her eyeing the server's wedding ring a few times and asked with a smile.

Three days ago, when they went to the jewelry store to pick up the ring, the staff mistook Qin Shuyi for Miss Tao and offered to help her try it on.

Just as Qin Shuyi was about to decline, Ling Jue, who had returned from taking a call outside, cut in casually.

"It's not for her."

The atmosphere in the store instantly turned awkward.

Qin Shuyi smiled and pushed the ring back. "The lady it's for isn't back in the country yet. Please wrap it up."

Later, at his request, she selected another set of jewelry for herself, making a point of not looking at any rings.

He thought she didn't like them.

Qin Shuyi shook her head. "Not really. You know my work makes it inconvenient. I don't wear jewelry except on special occasions."

"Like what?" he asked without thinking.

Qin Shuyi propped her elbow on the table, resting her chin in her hand, watching Ling Jue peel shrimp for her with a faint smile.

"A wedding ring, probably."

It had to be said that even putting in only a fraction of the effort, Ling Jue was quite a good boyfriend.

His hands never paused. His face was hazy in the tea steam on the table, yet he seemed to be teasing her. "Are you hinting at marriage?"

He pushed the plate full of peeled shrimp toward her, washed his hands, and said, "Isn't dating good enough?"

He patted her head. "Be good."

Qin Shuyi's almond-shaped eyes curved into a smile. "Okay."

He had made it clear he didn't want to get married.

But he didn't know that Qin Shuyi wasn't planning to marry him either.

…

Qin Shuyi had been staying at the Jiang house these past few days.

Aunt Zhou Tinglan had set a curfew for everyone in the household: they had to be back by eleven at the latest.

At the entrance of the Jiang house.

In the dimly lit driver's seat of the car, the man's hands, tendons standing out, gripped the slender waist of the woman sitting astride him, her *qipao* riding up. His grip was fierce, like a beast seizing its prey.

Her soft, graceful body was pressed tightly against his chest, and the wet, noisy sound of their kissing filled the car.

After a long while, the man—his cold, handsome features now tinged with sensuality from overwhelming desire—calmed his breathing. He lifted his face from between her breasts and chuckled softly, gently rubbing her fair earlobe.

"Qin Shuyi, sweetheart, are you really twenty-five this year, not fifteen?"

He never imagined that Young Master Ling would find it this difficult to get intimate with his girlfriend.

What era was this? How could something as archaic as a curfew still exist?

Qin Shuyi lay against his chest, also smiling.

Actually, there hadn't been a curfew before. It was implemented after she started dating Ling Jue.

To avoid being exposed, Jiang Yuzhou, who felt guilty for dragging his cousin into the lion's den, and even the usually playful Qian Youyou strictly adhered to the house rules, making sure to be home by curfew every day. This actually saved her aunt and uncle a lot of trouble.

To this day, Ling Jue still didn't know that this curfew was specifically meant to keep him out.

Qin Shuyi straightened up, still sitting on him, and smoothed her disheveled clothes. She then leaned over to retrieve her compact from her purse in the passenger seat to fix her smudged lipstick.

Her movements inadvertently brushed against a certain spot, causing Ling Jue to let out a muffled groan.

It was both pleasurable and agonizing.

Qin Shuyi remained unfazed. She finished touching up her makeup, skillfully opened the car door, and got out.

Watching the graceful figure walk slowly toward the main gate, Ling Jue glanced down at himself and raised his left hand to cover his forehead.

"Tsk, so heartless."

…

The lights in the living room were still on. Zhou Tinglan, draped in an apricot-colored shawl, was sitting on the sofa waiting for her.

"You're back?"

Qin Shuyi changed her shoes and nodded. "You're still up?"

Zhou Tinglan snorted lightly. "He called you away in the middle of dinner. Of course I had to make sure he brought you home."

Young people in love were rarely abstinent. What Qin Shuyi did outside was her own business, but at least while staying at the Jiang house, this lamb couldn't be led to slaughter on her watch.

After all, her sister and brother-in-law had entrusted her once; she couldn't be negligent again.

Staring at her niece's swollen lips, she suddenly asked, "You and Ling Jue… is there really no chance?"

Qin Shuyi's expression was detached. "Aunt, Tao Wangxi is coming back."

Zhou Tinglan fell silent for a moment, her energy deflating.

"Forget it. He's from too powerful a family; it's not an equal match."

In the almost-a-year since Qin Shuyi and Ling Jue started dating, there had been plenty of gossip outside. Some speculated that Zhou Tinglan, a commoner who had remarried, was deliberately using her beautiful niece to cling to the Young Master to solidify her position in her husband's family.

Zhou Tinglan didn't care what they said; the tangible benefits she had gained were real.

But to say she hadn't fantasized about Shuyi actually marrying into a wealthy family after they officially started dating and Ling Jue seemed to be turning over a new leaf would be a lie.

After her previous failed marriage, her goal in remarrying was clear: to secure a good life for herself and her daughter.

There was no need to hide that.

It was an objective fact that if Qin Shuyi really married Ling Jue, it would benefit her personally, her aunt and Youyou, and even the Jiang family.

But that was based on Ling Jue being young, handsome, powerful, and influential. She naturally believed her Shuyi was worthy of him.

However, after a few years in wealthy circles, she knew this circle was hard to break into, especially since the Ling family was countless tiers above the Jiang family.

It's no easy thing, being the matriarch of a family like that.

Her sister and brother-in-law had only ever hoped their daughter would be content with a modest, peaceful life.

Shuyi grew up in a simple environment. She was clever enough, but her personality just wasn't cut out for the complicated world of the capital's elite families.

Then she thought about Miss Tao Wangxi, the daughter from a family with old ties to the Lings—said to be in poor health but highly regarded by the Ling family and with Ling Jue's approval too. If she hadn't gone abroad for treatment, she would probably have become the Ling family's young mistress a long time ago. Zhou Tinglan sighed.

The Ling family's young master was like an eagle soaring in the sky—meant to be paired with a phoenix. Perhaps it was better for Shuyi to choose an easier path.

Money and status can tempt anyone, but your family's happiness should always come first.

"She just let him waste a whole year of her time."

Zhou Tinglan tried to be reasonable, but her tone still held a note of complaint.

Qin Shuyi's lips curved into a slight smile as she sat on the sofa and wrapped an arm around her aunt's shoulders.

"It's not like I lost out by dating a man like Ling Jue."

Zhou Tinglan pouted. Fortunately, the two had become an open, proper couple, not some messy, undefined fling. Otherwise, she would've had to fly overseas to apologize to her sister.

"Alright," she patted Qin Shuyi's hand, "since it's not going anywhere with you two, let's set up a time to meet that guy your mom found for you."

"I heard he's the son of her colleague, also a doctor—young and promising, and handsome too. Your parents have given so many years of service and are about to retire. In a few years, they can come back and help you raise the kids."

Qin Shuyi nodded, "After I officially break up with Ling Jue."

Ling Jue didn't have any intention of marrying her, but Qin Shuyi came from a happy family with loving parents, so she wasn't opposed to marriage.

Getting married and having children had always been part of her life plan.

Zhou Tinglan nodded in satisfaction.

Her niece was still rational, not swept away by love or his good looks.

But it bugged her that the young master had to be the one to call it off.

What really worried her was that Ling Jue didn't seem to be getting tired of the relationship at all.

"When can you two break up?"

Recalling the call Ling Jue took outside the restaurant, with faint words like "Tao Wangxi" and "airport pickup" drifting over.

Her eyes grew thoughtful.

"Soon."

From how Xu Chen had tried to warn her off outside the private room, it was clear the Tao family didn't like other women hovering around Miss Tao's future fiancé.

Tonight was just the beginning.

But if they did get engaged, it would give her the perfect reason to end things.

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