Chapter 6 Sister

Lu Wanru’s face paled at once. ‘What is he doing? Is he threatening me? Or trying to talk me into polygamy?’ Alarmed, Lu Wanru straightened up and mused to herself. Dressed in a majestic, black coat with a stand-up collar, Ling Yichen looked like the epitome of a smart and handsome man. Beside him was Lu Wanqiu, her younger sister, who looked beautiful and charming in her black trench coat and red belt. They appeared to be the perfect, ideal match, but for Lu Wanru, all that was spiteful trash, considering how unforgivable their adulterous relationship was. Knowing that, all the affection that Lu Wanru once had for Ling Yichen had now disappeared. “Sister,” same as Lu Wanru, Lu Wanqiu was born with a calm temperament, except that Lu Wanqiu’s voice was affectionately sweet like dripping honey—a fitting tone for a deceitful mouth that continuously spouted numerous lies. Lu Wanru’s lips curved in a mocking smile in response to her greeting. ‘Still not impressive,’ she thought. “Wanru, Wanqiu insisted on paying you a visit,” Ling Yichen frowned at her display of quiet animosity. “Guests are always welcome here, please come in.” Lu Wanru observed her husband’s expression and smiled, “Mrs. Wu, make some apple juice for my little sister, and remember to add some honey in it.” “I can’t believe you still remember my favorite drink, sister. I’m so moved, but what a pity, it’s no longer my favorite,” Lu Wanqiu slyly leaned towards Ling Yichen and added, “I prefer coffee now, with only one lump of sugar.” Exactly the same as Ling Yichen! “Make some coffee for her and my husband then.” Lu Wanru clenched her teeth before taking her time to tell Mrs. Wu her next statement, “By the way, check if the soup for Miss Xia is ready. If so, send it to her with some of the the newly made Matcha Mousse.” Lu Wanru was pleased to catch a sight of the anger on Lu Wanqiu’s face and Ling Yichen’s embarrassment at her order. “You’ve been back for almost a year, right? What brings you here today?” Lu Wanru inquired lightly, slipping on a beaming fa?ade to welcome them fully to the household like what a proper host would do, “Did you run into your brother-in-law? Are you staying for some time, or leaving today?” “She’s just visiting,” said Ling Ying. “I plan to stay for some days,” answered Lu Wanqiu. Amused by their contrasting responses, Lu Wanru put on a bigger grin. She turned to Lu Wanqiu, “Our old house is being refurnished, and there’s only one guest room available here. It’s opposite to Miss Xia’s, but if you are fine with it, you can stay there. I believe that you’d love to meet her.” “Wanqiu, it’s time to leave.” Ling Yichen stood up abruptly from the couch and demanded, “Your sister is safe and sound, so you don’t have to worry anymore. Just focus on your painting.” “But I want to stay with my sister for some time,” Lu Wanqiu pouted, “I haven’t seen her for years.” “That’s true. It has been five years since I last saw you. I was pregnant then, and if I remember correctly, I fell into the water with you while we were taking a walk in the garden. Your brother-in-law chose to save you first instead of our child…” Lu Wanru recalled, trying to sound casual while telling the story. Reminded of the bitter memory, Ling Yichen inhaled deeply to calm down his nerves. He clearly knew that he should have done the right thing during that accident. “Wanqiu, let’s get you out of here!” Ling Yichen forcefully dragged Lu Wanqiu out of the house regardless of her unwillingness to do so. Lu Wanru tried hard to refrain from crying at the sight, a thought screaming inside her head as she held herself back: ‘Lu Wanqiu, as long as I’m alive, I’m his one and only wife!’ “Your Ladyship,” Mrs. Wu returned from upstairs and approached her with concern written all over her features, “You know what kind of person Lady Wanqiu is. She is not worth your tears!” “But Yichen doesn’t say anything. He’s such a smart and prudent man,” Lu Wanru smiled bitterly, “So the only explanation is that he doesn’t really want me to know the truth!” They must have been hiding something from her for the past five years. “Tell Xia Mo to be more obedient, or she might suffer more than she had already been subjected into. If she can’t, give her the medicine that Bo Wen brought us,” Shaking from uncontrollable fury, Lu Wanru clenched her fists and made up her mind, “Bo Wen said it’s not harmful to her body and I believe in him.” The only fault in it was that Bo Wen had also mentioned that this medicine would make Xia Mo extremely sensitive sexually forever. However, ‘forever’ did not sound that bad considering that men usually prefer women with more sensitive bodies. ‘Even if Ling Yichen becomes obsessed with Xia Mo, it won’t do me any harm. But Lu Wanqiu would be so pissed off,’ Lu Wanru thought. She had always considered herself as a kind person, but Lu Wanqiu was an embedded thorn in her side that could easily irritate her anytime she felt like doing so. She was more than willing to do anything in order to get rid of that pest. After seeing Lu Wanqiu off, Ling Yichen came back sulking. He took a deep, steadying breath and addressed his wife seriously, “Wanqiu is leaving China tomorrow, and her only wish was to see you in person again. Why couldn’t you be nicer to her?” “I’ve been nice enough to her for your sake,” Lu Wanru answered placidly, “But we seem to have different definitions of ‘nice’.” Ling Yichen fumed, obviously infuriated by her snappy attitude, “Lu Wanru, I’ve kept my promise, and I hope you will do the same. I am grateful for your family’s help, but I don’t owe you anything. I respect you because you are my wife, but if you go back on your own words, I won’t go easy on you!” The female merely levelled him with a calm, degrading stare from where she stood by the window. A hint of amusement glinted in her cold gaze, as if she was being entertained by a circus clown performing before her. Ling Yichen hated that look. She was acting like a queen who had everything under her control, and Ling Yichen did not like the idea of her being in authority. He took off his tie, threw it onto the couch while yelling angrily, “You are my wife, not my mom! You can’t be in charge of everything, and don’t you dare use my mom and grandma as your excuse! This is our life. Why do you have to make it so complicated? Can’t we live our own lives?” “Yichen, you should go to bed,” Lu Wanru diverted the topic and looked away. It was hurtful and discouraging when Ling Yichen’s efforts and anger failed to make any difference. He looked into Lu Wanru’s eyes, “Why are you always so confident?” He seethed, and when he got no response, he hatefully threatened her, “You’ll regret this one day.” “I just want a child of yours,” Lu Wanru smiled. “My child? Which one?” Ling Yichen sneered and went upstairs. The loud, booming footsteps spoke for his high level of wrath, and soon after he disappeared from the stairs, a door swung open with a bang followed by his shout, “Get out!”