Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Huo Huaichuan noticed the change in her expression, looked up at her, and asked with a questioning look, "What's wrong?"

"We've got an enemy!" Gao Mingzhu said coldly, her voice completely cold. But her eyes softened the moment she looked at Huo Huaichuan: "I'll go deal with her."

With that, Gao Mingzhu turned and walked toward the yard gate.

Huo Huaichuan frowned and wheeled himself after her.

At the gate, he saw the "enemy" Gao Mingzhu had mentioned—Ruan Xiangxue!

Huo Huaichuan furrowed his brow slightly.

Ruan Xiangxue was Gao Mingzhu's best friend, and he had interacted with her a few times before.

In his memory, Ruan Xiangxue was extremely close to Mingzhu, always thinking of her welfare. Even regarding his and Mingzhu's marriage, she had consistently supported and advised Mingzhu to make a good life with him.

What had happened over the past six months or so? And why would Mingzhu describe her as an enemy?

As Gao Mingzhu approached, Ruan Xiangxue eagerly reached out to grab her: "Mingzhu! Let's go talk outside!"

Her tone had that no-questions-asked familiarity, and without waiting for Gao Mingzhu to agree, she began pulling her by the arm to leave.

But Gao Mingzhu stood still.

Ruan Xiangxue tugged but couldn't budge her, turning around in confusion.

"If you want to talk, then talk right here." Gao Mingzhu's voice was icy, completely emotionless, as she forcefully pulled free from Ruan Xiangxue's grasp.

Ruan Xiangxue was stunned, her face full of shock.

What was going on? Why was Gao Mingzhu so cold to her? Hadn't everything been fine before?

"Mingzhu, what's wrong?" she blinked, looking innocent and concerned.

Gao Mingzhu stared at Ruan Xiangxue's fake innocent expression, and the pent-up anger in her chest exploded like dry tinder, blazing into a raging fire!

In her past life, she had been fooled by Ruan Xiangxue's sweet and harmless act.

But who would have thought that behind that kind, harmless face hid a venomous heart?

After her family fell apart, she had come to Qingshui Brigade as an educated youth. At that time, she was desperate and all alone, and Ruan Xiangxue was the first to offer a hand of friendship.

She helped her get used to life there, helped her with work, shared good food with her, and even stood up for her when hooligans harassed her.

She had once thought of Ruan Xiangxue as her best friend, never suspecting that Ruan Xiangxue had been jealous of her from the start!

Ruan Xiangxue's kindness was all an act!

Because her family was way better off than Ruan Xiangxue's, and having lived abroad, she never wanted for money or ration tickets, and she was generous. For every little kindness Ruan Xiangxue showed her, she repaid it ten times over!

Ruan Xiangxue had also met Pei Shian through her, developed feelings for him, secretly got in touch with him behind her back, and helped him keep tabs on her!

After she returned to the city in her past life, she even managed to get Ruan Xiangxue back to the city and arranged a job for her under her supervision.

In the end, she had planted a poison weed right next to herself!

Ruan Xiangxue successfully got together with Pei Shian, framed her, and destroyed her family.

At that thought, a flash of ruthlessness, barely visible, flickered in Gao Mingzhu's eyes.

In this life, she would make Ruan Xiangxue pay ten times over for everything she had done to her in her past life!

Now wasn't the time to cut ties. Biting back the hatred boiling inside, Gao Mingzhu said coldly, "Nothing. Just been in a bad mood lately."

Not in a good mood?

Ruan Xiangxue suddenly got it.

Although Gao Mingzhu didn't marry Huo Huaichuan out of love, she still thought of him as her husband.

Now that his legs were crippled, of course she wouldn't be in a good mood!

She quickly tried to comfort her, "Oh, Mingzhu, I completely understand how you feel. It's my fault too; I've been so exhausted from work lately that I haven't had time to check in on you."

Gao Mingzhu gave an impatient "Mm."

"Don't be upset." Ruan Xiangxue said hastily. Glancing at Huo Huaichuan not far away, and seeing him watching them, she quickly pulled Gao Mingzhu closer and lowered her voice, "Isn't there already a solution? Has Brother Shi'an already gotten you a city recall order? Now that you have the order, just go back. Huo Huaichuan's legs are crippled now; you can't throw away your whole life for him."

Her tone was full of concern, as if she had Gao Mingzhu's best interests at heart.

Only she knew the twisted spite inside her.

Gao Mingzhu was just too lucky. Not only was she born into a good family, but she was also beautiful, and all the good men circled around her!

She had barely had it rough in the countryside, marrying Huo Huaichuan and being protected by him. Now that Huo Huaichuan was a cripple, Pei Shian stepped in to get her a return-to-city order!

Finally seeing Gao Mingzhu down on her luck, she certainly didn't want her to go back to the city.

But she had no choice. Pei Shian ordered her to make sure Gao Mingzhu went back, or else he'd cut her off.

She hadn't fully hooked Pei Shian yet, so she had to get Gao Mingzhu back to the city for now.

Later, she would definitely snatch Pei Shian away and grind that beautiful, arrogant face of Gao Mingzhu's into the mud!

Gao Mingzhu said, "I'm not going back."

"What? You're not going back?" Ruan Xiangxue became anxious, impulsively slapping Gao Mingzhu's arm: "Are you stupid? Why not?"

Although it wasn't very forceful, Gao Mingzhu frowned and without hesitation slapped her back, producing a sharp crack. She said unhappily, "Why are you hitting me? Do you think I don't want to go back? He refuses to divorce me. If we don't divorce, how can I go back?"

Gao Mingzhu hadn't held back when she hit her. Ruan Xiangxue's arm stung with a burning pain, making her furious inside.

But she was distracted by Gao Mingzhu's next words.

So it was Huo Huaichuan who refused to divorce?

Her gaze fell on Gao Mingzhu's clearly swollen lips... obviously just kissed!

She felt contempt.

This Gao Mingzhu was so dirty! What did Pei Shian see in her? A worn-out shoe!

But seeing her so well-kissed, Huo Huaichuan was quite something, even with crippled legs!

On the surface, however, she pretended to be very angry: "What? He won't let you go back to the city? No way, I'll go talk to him!"

"Don't bother!" Gao Mingzhu said impatiently. "No matter what, he was good to me before. Since he's fallen on hard times, it wouldn't be right for me to just leave. I'll wait a while longer."

Ruan Xiangxue's expression grew even more contemptuous, but a trace of smugness crept into her heart.

If she doesn't want to go back, I can't be blamed for it!

Still, she pretended to give sincere advice: "Alright then, but I still think you should think it over carefully. Honestly, given Huo Huaichuan's current situation, it's better for you to go back. People don't always have to be selfless—there's nothing wrong with being a little selfish sometimes."

Gao Mingzhu kept sneering inwardly. No wonder she had trusted her so much in her past life.

Ruan Xiangxue's facade was indeed flawless!

"Mm," Gao Mingzhu nodded. "I'll think it over carefully."

Then, as if a thought suddenly struck her, she said, "Oh, by the way, Xiangxue, you can see how difficult things are for me right now. Could you return the money I lent you before? And the things I gave you—just convert them into cash and pay me back that way too. It should add up to about a hundred or two hundred yuan, right? Just give me a hundred. Plus the three hundred you borrowed, the money you said you needed to send back for your brother's wedding—pay that back too."

Ruan Xiangxue was just about to offer a few more insincere words of comfort when she was stunned by Gao Mingzhu's sudden demand for money. She was utterly stunned.

"What did you say? You want me to pay you back?"

"Yes, the money I lent you—shouldn't you return it?"

"W-well, even if I have to pay it back, the things you gave me were gifts! How can you ask me to convert gifts into cash and pay you back?" Ruan Xiangxue thought this was absolutely ridiculous.

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