On the day of the divorce, I became Qin Shao's darling.

Qin Jiamo stubbornly insisted again, "I'm not at the point where I can't live without her."

Meng Junhe gave a wicked smile and teased slowly, "Come on, have you ever cared about any woman all these years? But now, you've even abandoned your work, going out to dinner with someone while injured, and having your driver take her to work. Even after all this, you're still being stubborn!"

"..." Qin Jiamo pursed her lips and did not refute.

Actually, what bothered him was not only Lin Xiwei's attitude towards him, but also his anger at his own "impulsive and childish" behavior.

As his friend said, he had never cared for any woman like this before in all these years.

From childhood to adulthood, he has always been extremely calm and rational, even seen as a "cold-blooded machine" by ordinary people.

When the boys around him were rebellious and dating during their adolescence, he thought they were really stupid.

He spends all his time and energy on romance and trying to win over girls, acting like a servant to his girlfriend.

After he grew up and saw the men around him getting married, he felt that those men were really foolish.

He talks about "my wife" all the time. When their relationship is good, they are all lovey-dovey, but when it breaks down, they tear each other apart.

In all the divorce cases he's handled over the years, every single one ended up with the other person wanting nothing more than to stab them to death.

So he had long since seen through love and marriage.

He enjoys a simple life and the feeling of being in control of his life.

In his view, women were simply a source of trouble.

Despite his impenetrable defenses, he still inadvertently fell into the trap of clichés and became the kind of person he despised the most.

He didn't know when it started, but the tenacity in Lin Xiwei's eyes, the sharpness of a mother's strength, and even the occasional vulnerability she revealed, were like fine needles, silently piercing through the calm barrier he had cultivated over the years.

And it happened in such a short and rapid time.

By the time he realized it, his indifferent heart had already been rippled with waves, and her shadow had taken up residence in his broken heart.

But he still resisted and refused to believe it.

It wasn't until this moment that his friend directly exposed his thoughts, forcing him to confront the truth.

Meng Junhe knew him too well. Seeing his sullen face and silence, with emotions shifting in his eyes, he sighed and said, "Don't be hypocritical. You're already this age, isn't it normal to like women? It's just dating, it's not like it's going to kill you."

Qin Jiamo came to her senses and said in a calm tone, "I'm afraid it's worse than death."

"No, it won't happen." Meng Junhe smiled and comforted her, "Don't think of women as so terrifying. Besides, Miss Lin, I don't think she's the kind of person who would make a fuss unreasonably."

Before Qin Jiamo could respond, her phone rang twice.

He stared at the flashing avatar on the screen, his gaze darkening.

"Look, women love to send WeChat messages all the time, how childish." He added as he picked up his phone.

Meng Junhe raised an eyebrow and teased, "Did Miss Lin send this to you? We just broke up..."

Qin Jiamo ignored her and unlocked the screen.

Lin Xiwei: [I promised to treat you to this meal, but Uncle Meng refuses to accept the money, insisting it's on him. Could you go and pay the bill, and I'll transfer the money to you?]

After getting into the car, Lin Xiwei thought it over and over but still felt it was inappropriate, so she sent this WeChat message to Qin Jiamo.

Although it wasn't appropriate to ask Qin Jiamo to pay, she still chose to trouble Qin Jiamo based on the closeness of their relationship.

Qin Jiamo looked at the WeChat message, a slight smirk playing on her lips, and replied: [He's even less likely to accept it.]

In the car, Lin Xiwei frowned: [What should we do? This meal definitely won't be cheap; we can't let them lose money.]

Qin Jiamo: [Didn't you say he was taking advantage of someone he knew? Then he deserves to lose out.]

Lin Xiwei was speechless upon seeing these words.

[I didn't know about the relationship between Uncle Meng and Dr. Meng at the time; I misunderstood them.]

If you think about it for a moment, you'll realize that no one would dare to harm someone they know well like Qin Jiamo.

Given his status in Jiangcheng's elite circles, anyone with a bit of standing would rush to curry favor with him.

Who would dare to lay a finger on him? Aren't they afraid of being sued and going bankrupt?

The more Lin Xiwei thought about it, the more she felt she had been incredibly stupid. Qin Jiamo was probably laughing at her in his heart.

Qin Jiamo stared at her phone screen, already imagining the embarrassed and awkward expression on that face.

[Alright, stop worrying about it. This meal is on Uncle Meng. You can treat me next time.]

Lin Xiwei frowned. Next time?

Could this be considered... deliberately creating opportunities to "date" her?

Lin Xiwei stared at her phone, unsure how to reply.

If she wasn't sure before, she now knew perfectly well that Qin Jiamo was just playing games with her.

Once she understood this, she could also understand the abrupt kiss that night.

As for whether Qin Jiamo was serious or just acting on a whim, that remains to be seen.

Meng Junhe had almost finished eating at the restaurant.

Seeing his friend engrossed in a WeChat chat with a worthless smile on his face, he couldn't help but snort coldly.

"Who just said that sending WeChat messages is childish? I see they like it quite a bit."

Qin Jiamo pursed her lips, raised her eyes, and glanced at him. "Even food can't shut you up?"

Meng Junhe: "Okay, okay, I'll shut up, alright? I won't disturb you and your sweetheart's romance."

Qin Jiamo stared at her phone and waited two minutes before receiving a reply.

[Okay, I'll treat you again when you have time.]

Lin Xiwei also went through a period of internal struggle before making this response.

Although she was indeed very attracted to Qin Jiamo, she still didn't dare to take that step.

Her previous failed marriage, the vast difference in their social and family backgrounds, and Junjun's special identity—all these made it impossible for her to face Qin Jiamo with equanimity.

She repeatedly warned herself not to fantasize or get too caught up in it.

But Qin Jiamo had helped her so much, she couldn't say she wouldn't even treat him to a meal.

So she accepted yet another indirect invitation from the other party.

It's just a meal anyway, and she can control her emotions.

As Qin Jiamo read the reply, the smile on his face became increasingly worthless.

He put down his phone and then focused on eating.

Meng Junhe has finished eating.

Seeing his friend's reaction, he understood and asked with a mischievous, gossipy grin, "What, have you finally thought it through and decided to make a move?"

Qin Jiamo ignored him.

Meng Junhe smiled and said, "Want me to give you a few tips?"

"Ha, you're single yourself, and you're giving me advice?"

"Well, at least I've had a few relationships, which is better than you being a greenhorn."

"But all the relationships you've had have failed. Would it be suicide for me to learn from you?"

"..." Meng Junhe was speechless.

After a moment of silence, he said something very practical: "Actually, with your qualifications, you don't need to put in much effort. Just remember this one thing."

Qin Jiamo looked at him, seemingly wanting to listen.

Meng Junhe said, "You should change your sharp tongue, praise her more, and provide more emotional value—girls care a lot about that these days."

Qin Jiamo nodded: "That's the only useful thing you've said since you appeared today."

Meng Junhe: "..."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Lin Xiwei returned to the company, where her colleagues had just finished their lunch break.

When she returned, everyone started asking her questions.

Lin Xiwei's back injury has not fully recovered, but the injuries on her face are almost healed.

However, upon closer inspection, some bruises remain.

When Feng Zheqian returned from outside, he saw her as he passed by and called her into his office.

"Manager Feng, do you have any work to assign?" Lin Xiwei asked proactively.

"Well, the project you didn't finish before has been handed over to someone else because of time constraints. You can work on this project now."

Feng Zheqian handed her a project report.

Lin Xiwei took it, opened it, and looked at it: "Okay, no problem."

"This project isn't urgent, take your time, your health is the most important thing." Feng Zheqian still cared about her.

"Thank you, Manager Feng." Lin Xiwei expressed her heartfelt gratitude.

As she turned to leave, Feng Zheqian called her back.

Lin Xiwei turned around: "Manager Feng, is there anything else?"

Feng Zheqian paused, then asked with a hint of curiosity, "Was the person I saw in your hospital room that day named Qin Jiamo?"

Lin Xiwei was secretly surprised and turned around: "Manager Feng knows him too?"

"It really is true..." Feng Zheqian's tone revealed surprise.

"Yes, he handled my divorce case, and we won it decisively." When Qin Jiamo was mentioned, Lin Xiwei couldn't help but talk a little more. "His professional skills are top-notch, and he's very famous in the legal circle."

Feng Zheqian nodded. "Indeed."

Lin Xiwei asked curiously, "How does Manager Feng know him? When you met that day, you two seemed..."

"No, no, we don't really know each other," Feng Zheqian quickly denied, then explained, "I had dinner with some major clients over the weekend. One of the bosses has recently run into some trouble and said he's hired Attorney Qin to represent him for ten million."

When Feng Zheqian said "ten million," he held up one finger in surprise.

"I was curious about how good this lawyer was, so I asked him a few more questions. The boss told me to look him up online. I was shocked when I looked up the photos online. I thought the lawyer looked familiar. Then I remembered that he was the lawyer I met when I visited you that day."

Lin Xiwei had always known that Qin Jiamo was powerful and that hiring him to handle lawsuits would cost exorbitant sums.

But she was shocked when she heard Feng Zheqian say that he could earn "ten million" for handling a case.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Feng Zheqian hesitated for a moment before asking, "If you ask him to handle the divorce proceedings, wouldn't that mean he'll get most of the family assets?"

Lin Xiwei hesitated for a moment, then smiled and explained, "I was lucky. My best friend has connections, and she helped me make the connection, so Attorney Qin gave me a friendly price."

Lin Xiwei didn't say that Qin Jiamo was helping her with the lawsuit for free, otherwise people would definitely misunderstand.

"Oh, I see." Feng Zheqian nodded, understanding, and sighed, "Then your best friend is also very capable. I heard that lawyer Qin has strict requirements for accepting cases."

"Hmm, I think so."

Lin Xiwei didn't dare to talk to him about these things any longer. Seeing that the topic had ended, she quickly said, "I have to go now," and turned to leave.

Back at her workstation, Lin Xiwei was still pondering Feng Zheqian's words.

She already had a biased view of Qin Jiamo, and now that she knew about this, she felt even more that he was unapproachable.

The agency fee is so expensive, and so many high-ranking officials and nobles are vying to curry favor with him, yet they are not guaranteed to succeed.

This famous and powerful figure not only helped her with her divorce case for free, but also shielded her from danger with his own body, and wasted his time and energy running errands for her.

Lin Xiwei's heart raced faster the more she thought about it.

Could it be that Qin Jiamo has really fallen in love with her?

Otherwise, if it were just for fun, why would he take it so seriously and put in so much effort?

God...

This realization made Lin Xiwei feel like she was on fire, her cheeks burning.

She covered her face with her hands to cool down, not daring to think whether she could hold her ground if Qin Jiamo were to break through that barrier one day.

too difficult!

She might lose her composure and fall headlong into it again.

Throughout the afternoon, whenever Lin Xiwei took a short break from work, she couldn't help but think about this matter.

She would occasionally pick up her phone and glance at it, as if she were hoping for something.

Just before she was about to leave work, Chu Qing sent her a WeChat message, asking if she was free to have dinner together that evening to celebrate her becoming single again and escaping her "suffering sea".

Thinking of how much her best friend had helped her these past few days, and how Junjun was being taken care of by his parents, Lin Xiwei readily replied: "I'll treat you sometime!"

Chu Qing was equally straightforward: You absolutely have to pay, Rich Lady Lin!

After booking a restaurant for dinner that evening, Lin Xiwei called Madam Qin to tell her that she had made plans to have dinner with a friend after get off work to express her gratitude, and that she would be home later.

"Okay, go ahead. Junjun is very well-behaved, don't worry about him."

Madam Qin doted on Lin Xiwei immensely, unconditionally supporting and encouraging her no matter what she did.

When Lin Xiwei met her best friend that evening, the first thing she talked about was Qin Jiamo's exorbitant agency fee.

Chu Qing was also astonished: "Ten million from just one case? That's practically a money-printing machine!"

Lin Xiwei nodded, but then explained, "However, it definitely wasn't just him who received it; it should be the entire team's payment."

"But he still takes the lion's share."

"Yes, that's for sure."

Seeing her best friend's reaction, Chu Qing leaned in and gossiped, "Hey, are you smitten? Top-notch family background, handsome, incredibly capable, and makes a fortune every day—he's practically the perfect god! Even if your heart is as hard as stone, it should be wavering by now, right?"

In the past, when her best friends teased her, Lin Xiwei would always deny and refute it.

But today, she looked at Chu Qing and hesitated for a moment, her face flushing, before finally nodding and admitting, "I think... I'm really tempted, but not because of his earning power."

"My God! You've finally faced your true feelings!" Chu Qing exclaimed in surprise, clinking her juice glass with hers. "Come on, let's celebrate!"

Lin Xiwei pressed down her hand, looking conflicted and troubled. "But I don't plan on having any further developments with him."

Chu Qing exclaimed in surprise, "Why? That's Qin Jiamo!"

"I know, but precisely because he is Qin Jiamo, I must remain clear-headed and rational!"

Before Lin Xiwei could finish speaking, her phone, which was on the table, rang.

Turning her head to look, her heart skipped a beat.

Attorney Qin.

Chu Qing saw it too, and was even more excited than her: "Attorney Qin called you, answer it quickly!"

Lin Xiwei swallowed, her heart racing as she stared at her phone, yet she also felt a little timid and avoided the topic.

Chu Qing, being impatient, immediately picked up her phone, answered the call, and handed it to Lin Xiwei.

Lin Xiwei gripped the phone tightly, as if it were a hot potato, her arm twisting a few times.

"Feed..."

"Do you have a business dinner tonight?" Qin Jiamo's deep, clear voice came through, very direct.

Lin Xiwei said, "I'm having dinner with Qingqing, what's wrong?"

"Around what time will you be back?"

Lin Xiwei was taken aback. She took out her phone and checked the time; it was only 7:30.

"Around... nine o'clock."

Qin Jiamo said straightforwardly, "About 8:30, Junjun needs to rest early."

Lin Xiwei froze, holding her phone in a daze!

Before leaving get off work, she called Madam Qin to tell her about it. Madam Qin smiled and told her not to worry and that there was nothing to worry about with the child.

Why is it that Qin Jiamo called to urge her to hurry up now that she has just started eating?

She paused for a moment before asking, "Is Junjun feeling unwell?"

"No, anyway, you'll be back at 8:30."

After saying this, Qin Jiamo hung up the phone.

Lin Xiwei put down her phone, feeling both amused and exasperated.

Chu Qing had just snuggled up to her best friend to "eavesdrop," and probably overheard some of what was going on.

The two exchanged a glance, and Lin Xiwei took a breath before immediately retracting her statement: "I take back what I just said. I'm not attracted to this person at all."

Chu Qing smiled and said, "Maybe they're worried about your safety being out too late, so they want you to go home early."

Lin Xiwei didn't believe this explanation: "He could have just said it directly. Why did he have to use such a commanding tone? Who does he think he is to me?"

Two days ago, she advised this person to take care of his health and stay in the hospital to rest, but he retorted, "My parents don't care about me, so what right do you have to do this?"

Why doesn't he consider his position in managing her?

What a double standard.

"Alright, Attorney Qin is just a typical straight man, that's just his style of talking," Chu Qing comforted her, urging, "Then hurry up and eat, eat your fill before going back."

Lin Xiwei also has a somewhat stubborn personality.

Given her temperament, she would deliberately eat slowly, then go for a stroll after finishing, and return home at ten o'clock.

But considering that Junjun was sick and it was the Qin family elders who had to take care of him, she couldn't be willful after all.

I need to go back and spend time with my child soon.

Lin Xiwei picked up her chopsticks and started eating.

But then my phone rang again; it was WeChat.

She saw the profile picture and became curious again.

Is there anything else Qin Jiamo wants?

After opening WeChat, I saw that this person had sent two words.

[address?]

Lin Xiwei's heart skipped a beat.

What does that mean?

Is he going to come and take her back in person? Or is he going to come and take her back?

But she didn't want either possibility.

So Lin Xiwei didn't reply to the message and continued eating.

Chatting with your best friend is the best way to relieve stress and negative energy.

Lin Xiwei talked about what had happened in the past two weeks: her child was seriously ill, her marriage broke down, and even her parents were no longer her biological parents. Looking back now, she admires her own resilience for managing to get through it all.

"A life that survives a great calamity is bound to be blessed with good fortune. Your good days are yet to come! Think about it: because Junjun was sick, you got to know a wealthy family like the Qin family; because your marriage broke down, you have tens of millions in assets; and because your parents are not your biological parents, you will never have to be ripped off by them again."

Chu Qing analyzed it for her one by one, "Thinking about it this way, isn't it true that every seemingly terrible thing is, in a way, a blessing in disguise?"

Lin Xiwei was comforted by her, and her mood instantly brightened.

The two girls happily raised their juices and clinked them together. Before Chu Qing could even take a sip, her phone rang.

She put down her juice, took out her phone, and saw it was a local, unfamiliar number.

Hello.

"Miss Chu, I'm Qin Jiamo. Where are you having dinner?"

Upon hearing this voice, Chu Qing's eyes widened in surprise, and she turned to look at Lin Xiwei.

Fortunately, Lin Xiwei was looking down at her phone and didn't notice her reaction.

Yes, Lin Xiwei was checking WeChat, wondering if Qin Jiamo had sent any more messages.

No.

After those two words were sent, she didn't reply and just went silent.

Chu Qing turned around and asked in a low voice, "Why...why didn't you just ask her directly?"

"She's not replying," Qin Jiamo said bluntly.

Chu Qing suddenly understood something, and suppressing her wildly beating heart, she whispered, "Fourth floor of the China World Trade Center, hot pot restaurant."

Thank you.

After hanging up the phone, Chu Qing put it down.

Lin Xiwei looked at her and asked, "Who did you tell us we were eating here?"

Chu Qing also lied without thinking, "My dad called, and I told him I was eating hot pot outside and would talk to them when I got back."

Lin Xiwei didn't think much of it and continued eating.

Soon, Chu Qing's phone rang again; this time it was a WeChat message.

She looked and saw it was a voice message from her uncle.

She clicked "Convert to Text".

"Qingqing, what's your relationship with Qin Jiamo? He just called me and asked for your phone number."

Chu Qing understood.

It turns out that Qin Jiamo got her phone number from her uncle.

Chu Qing couldn't reply with a voice message, so she sent a text message: Lawyer Qin is looking for my friend. My friend is having dinner with me. It's okay, Uncle.

Keeping this secret to herself, Chu Qing couldn't concentrate on her meal anymore, constantly glancing towards the entrance of the hot pot restaurant.

However, Qin Jiamo did not appear even after they finished their meal.

Chu Qing was puzzled: What do you mean? She asked them where they were eating, wasn't it him who was coming over? She had been waiting for so long for nothing.

Lin Xiwei went to the front desk to pay the bill and then came out.

"Let's go, I have to hurry back, Junjun needs to sleep." Lin Xiwei was still worried about the child.

Chu Qing nodded, hesitating whether to tell her best friend that Qin Jiamo had just called her to ask for her address.

Before they could make a decision, someone walked up to them.

"Miss Lin, Mr. Qin sent me to pick you up."

Lin Xiwei turned around, recognized the other person, and was extremely surprised!

"How did Qin Jiamo know I was here?" she blurted out.

Chu Qing smiled, realizing that Qin Jiamo hadn't wanted her to come herself, but rather had sent someone to pick up Lin Xiwei.

"That phone call just now wasn't from my dad, it was from Attorney Qin. He asked my uncle for my phone number," Chu Qing explained, leaning closer, then teasingly added, "He really cares about you, and even said there's nothing between you two..."

Lin Xiwei frowned and stood there, stunned.

What does Qin Jiamo mean by doing this?!

Is he trying to make this ambiguous situation public knowledge?

"Miss Lin, let's go," the bodyguard urged.

Lin Xiwei had no choice but to get into the car Qin Jiamo had sent to pick her up, amidst her complicated, conflicted, and tense emotions.

This person...

Is he no longer planning to hide it?

Back at the hospital at 8:40, ten minutes later than Qin Jiamo's appointed time.

Standing outside Junjun's ward, Lin Xiwei was wondering if the child was still with her parents when she heard Qin Jiamo telling a story coming from inside the ward.

She was startled, remembering that Junjun had called him last night, saying he wanted to hear his uncle tell a story.

He said at the time that he would definitely talk about it tonight.

They actually kept their promise!

Lin Xiwei stood outside the door, thinking about how the people inside were making a fortune every day, their net worth immeasurable—while she was telling her son a bedtime story, and the feeling in her heart...

Indescribable.

I was both flattered and apprehensive.

Just as she stood outside the door, lost in thought and not yet figuring out how to go in and face this person, the door in front of her was suddenly pulled open.

Qin Jiamo's tall and slender figure appeared before them.

"What are you standing there for? You were ten minutes late, and I didn't make you stand as punishment. You're quite conscientious."