The Scheming Ex-Husband's Courtship-Chapter 720 - 623 Where Did Your Husband Go?
Mickey’s parents felt a bit awkward as they had just met and the address seemed too intimate.
Leng’s mother said, "Just call us uncle and aunt."
Qin Youyou immediately smiled obediently, "Hello uncle and aunt, my name is Qin Youyou, I am Ye Rui’s good friend, and also Leng Shaoqing’s assistant."
Good friends?
As Qin Youyou said this, she winked at Ye Rui, waving her hand enthusiastically, "Hi, Ye Rui."
Ye Rui felt a surge of nausea in her stomach.
She didn’t pay attention to Qin Youyou, knowing she was deliberately saying it for Leng’s parents to hear, and appearing unfriendly might make them think she lacked generosity, but Ye Rui didn’t want to put on an act in front of Qin Youyou.
She forcefully placed the plates on the table with a loud noise, then walked into the kitchen as if nothing had happened.
Ye Xiangzhong, knowing his daughter’s temperament, quickly exchanged glances with Luo Huafang, who immediately smiled and said, "Come on, dinner is almost ready, everyone please take a seat, Miss Qin please join us."
Ye Lin had been following Qin Youyou around, showing his admiration unabashedly, while Qin Youyou spoke appropriately and with good measure.
"It’s past six o’clock, why hasn’t Shaoqing returned?" Leng’s father anxiously looked at his watch, "Butler, please go hurry him up."
"Yes, sir," the butler smiled and went to make a call in the living room.
After Ye Rui finished the last dish, she came out of the kitchen and saw Qin Youyou chatting warmly with Leng’s mother, probably complimenting her on her maintenance and choice of clothes.
Ye Rui felt a rush of anger, first glaring fiercely at Ye Lin. He really was clueless; the Qin Family almost had him jailed yet he still scrambled after the Qin Family’s daughter. Qin Youyou, with her high standards, aimed to marry Leng Shaoqing. Would she take interest in such an immature guy?
"Excuse me." Ye Rui placed the dish directly in front of Qin Youyou with a bit of force, splashing some of the sauce on Qin Youyou’s hands, who screamed, "Ouch."
"Sorry, didn’t see you there," Ye Rui snorted coldly and turned away.
The Leng parents were puzzled as their daughter-in-law was usually virtuous and polite to guests, wondering why she seemed hostile towards Miss Qin.
Aren’t they good friends?
"The sir’s phone can’t be reached." The butler came back and shook his head, "I’ve tried many times, probably his phone ran out of battery."
"Have you called his assistant? Did he leave work?" Leng’s father dissatisfied.
"I did, and the assistant said that he left before his shift ended, drove alone, and left in a hurry." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
Ye Xiangzhong hurriedly played peacemaker, "Maybe it’s just traffic and his phone died, waiting a little shouldn’t hurt."
"I’ll go to the kitchen and see if I can help," Qin Youyou stood up and walked to the kitchen.
Ye Rui was tidying up the last dish when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. She forcefully placed the spoon down: "I am only tolerating you because of my in-laws, once Shaoqing returns, I will have him throw you out, better leave my house now to avoid embarrassment later."
Qin Youyou slowly walked over, back facing the dining room, others unaware of their conversation, mistaking it for a friendly chat.
"Oh, the young mistress is personally cooking, trying to win back your husband’s heart and mind? Sadly, no matter how much Shaoqing doesn’t love you, even if you became a Michelin three-star chef, it wouldn’t help."
Ye Rui wiped her hands, "Qin Youyou, you’re the most shameless mistress I’ve ever met. Do you and your mother view being a mistress as some supreme virtue? Acting so righteously as a mistress is just outrageous."
"Ye Rui, speaking of being a mistress, you are one too, only under the guise of being the wife."
"What do you mean?"
"My meaning is very clear..."
"Madam." The butler suddenly appeared at the door: "I still haven’t been able to contact the sir."
Ye Rui ignored Qin Youyou and took out her phone to call Leng Shaoqing, indeed, just as the butler said, she couldn’t get through.
The assistant said he left before five and it was almost six-thirty now, he should have arrived.
"Let’s wait a bit longer, he might be stuck in traffic," Ye Rui took off her apron, "He promised he’d be back on time."
Butler: "Then I’ll go make some flower tea for everyone."
Everyone sipped tea while waiting, the dishes on the table gradually cooling, yet no sign of Leng Shaoqing.
Ye Rui checked the traffic news, there were no blockages or accidents on the necessary roads back to Leng Mansion, traffic was smooth.
"Forget it, don’t wait for him anymore, the dishes are getting cold." Leng Father said with a stern face, "Rui has worked hard all day to prepare such a lavish meal, if he’s not in a hurry to come back and eat, we will."
"No, dear mother-in-law, just wait a bit longer, Shaoqing might be delayed on the road." Ye Xiangzhong hurriedly said with a smile, "If the dishes are cold, we can just reheat them. We can’t start the meal without the birthday boy."
"Ah, what on earth is Leng Shaoqing doing?" Leng Father angrily put down his chopsticks, "I’m going to take a walk in the backyard."
Though he said he was going for a walk, he was actually going out to meet Leng Shaoqing, but he stood in the yard for a long time and still didn’t see Leng Shaoqing’s car.
Rui was not concerned about the full table of dishes; she was just worried that something might have happened to Leng Shaoqing, as not being able to contact him was extremely worrying.
It wasn’t until 8 pm that there finally was news from Leng Shaoqing. As soon as the phone rang, Rui hurriedly answered it.
"Shaoqing, where are you, what happened? We’re all very worried."
"I’m fine, I can’t come back today," his voice was hurried, "My phone is about to die; you don’t have to wait for me. Sorry, I have to go now."
"Hey, Shaoqing..."
The call had already been cut off, and Rui slowly put down the phone.
"What’s going on, what did Shaoqing say?" Everyone was waiting eagerly.
Rui gathered her thoughts, forcing a bright smile, "It’s nothing, just got held up with work at the company, he said he won’t make it for dinner today, no need for anyone to wait, I’ll go reheat the food."
In front of Qin Youyou, Rui didn’t want to give her any reason to mock, so she picked up two plates of dishes and turned into the kitchen.
"What’s the matter with this Shaoqing, we’re all here for his birthday and he just says he won’t come?" Luo Huafang muttered discontentedly, "All of Rui’s effort is wasted."
Upon hearing this, Leng Mother felt embarrassed, "Well, mother-in-law, this time it was Shaoqing’s mistake; no matter how big the matter at the company, he shouldn’t have broken his promise. Rui put a lot of effort into this meal, even burnt her hands getting blisters, he’s really unreasonable. When I see him, I’ll definitely teach him a good lesson."
In the living room, others continued to talk but Rui couldn’t hear them, feeling lost as she placed the dishes in the microwave to heat up.
Leng Shaoqing hadn’t mentioned anything about work on the phone, so if it wasn’t work, it must be personal. What could be more important than coming home for his birthday?
"Heh, I told you so," Qin Youyou appeared behind her like a lingering spirit, sarcastically carrying a dish, "If Leng Shaoqing really cared about you, even if it rained knives, he should have rushed back to spend the birthday with you. So where is he now? Don’t say I didn’t warn you; this man doesn’t hold you in his heart, just like me, you’re merely the other woman."
"Qin Youyou, enough is enough, it’s none of your business how Shaoqing and I are," Rui glared at her angrily, "I didn’t want to make a scene, that’s why I let you stay for dinner. If you don’t want to eat properly, get out now. I’m not afraid to fall out with your kind."
"It’s Leng Shaoqing who upset you, not me. Why are you yelling at me?" Qin Youyou slammed the dish down, "Instead of yelling at me, you might as well find out where your beloved husband actually went."
Rui was extremely confused now; despite her efforts to trust him, Qin Youyou’s words still affected her. He didn’t give a reason, just a simple ’I have something else’ had brushed off all her efforts of the day, what could possibly be more important than their joint birthday celebration, especially after he had promised?
Due to Leng Shaoqing’s absence, the atmosphere at the dinner table was somewhat oppressively; Rui put on a brave face, though she clearly felt awful inside, still pretending everything was fine.
After dinner, Leng Mother quietly came over to comfort her, "Rui, don’t be angry, I will definitely teach that scoundrel Shaoqing a lesson."
"Mom, he had an emergency, it’s understandable."
"You are just too forgiving. Men, if forgiven once, then twice, will become reckless the third time. You might be gentle, but it doesn’t mean you don’t have a temper, sometimes you still need to show him true colors."
Rui nodded moved, grateful for Leng Mother’s broad-mindedness, which truly warmed her heart, focusing on the principles, not personal grievances.
"Alright, we’ll be heading back too. You’ve had a long day, try to get some early sleep."
After all the guests had left, Rui didn’t go straight back to her room but stood at the door lost in thought.
The butler was directing the servants to clean up the remnants of the feast when he saw Rui standing in the night wind, her hair disheveled by the breeze.
He quickly took a shawl and went outside, "Madam, it’s cold outside, you should go back inside the house."
Rui took the shawl and thanked him, "Butler, please get the car keys for me."
"Madam, it’s late, where are you going?"
"It’s nothing, I just want to get some air," Rui held out her hand, "Thank you."
The butler went back inside to get the car keys and carefully handed them over, "Madam, please drive slowly and come back soon."
"Understood."
Rui took the keys, started the car, and drove out of Leng Mansion.
At that moment, her mind echoed Qin Youyou’s haunting words: Instead of yelling at me, you might as well find out where your good husband actually went.
