Chapter 3

Lu Qi'an assumed she was feeling sorry for him during his hospital stay. He got up, wrapped his arms around her waist, and buried his head in her neck.

"Wanyi, meeting you is the best thing that ever happened to me."

Xia Wanyi didn't wear perfume. She only had the fresh, natural scent of shampoo, yet Lu Qi'an found it particularly pleasant, breathing in deeply as he tightened his grip around her waist.

Unexpectedly, the pressure on her fresh surgical wound made Xia Wanyi's face turn pale, and she couldn't help but gasp in pain.

Lu Qi'an quickly loosened his hold, looking at her with concern.

"What's wrong? Why do you look so unwell?"

Xia Wanyi forced a faint smile.

"It's nothing, just some period cramps."

Lu Qi'an placed his warm hand on her lower abdomen and pulled her into his embrace with his other arm.

"Let me warm you up."

Xia Wanyi didn't refuse and closed her eyes.

However, no warmth could ever thaw her heart, which had already turned completely cold.

Meeting Lu Qi'an was her greatest misfortune.

The next day, Xia Wanyi woke up early.

The rustling noises roused Lu Qi'an from his sleep. He groggily opened his eyes to see Xia Wanyi packing all her clothes from the wardrobe into a suitcase.

He was instantly wide awake, a hint of panic hidden deep in his eyes.

"Why are you packing? Are you going somewhere?"

"I'm going to the orphanage to see the house mother and donate all these old clothes."

Without looking up, Xia Wanyi continued sorting the clothes.

In half a month, when she would leave this place, Lu Qi'an probably wouldn't bother taking these cheap clothes with him.

After all, like a privileged heir, the combined value of everything in this rented apartment was probably less than a pair of his shoes.

Rather than waste them, she might as well donate them to the orphanage for the kids.

Lu Qi'an let out a barely perceptible sigh of relief.

He knew Xia Wanyi always cherished the orphanage and brought things there every month.

"I'll go with you."

Since they had been together, Lu Qi'an often accompanied Xia Wanyi to the orphanage.

But today, she didn't want him to come along.

It would be her last visit before leaving the country, and she just wanted to say a proper goodbye.

Before she could voice her refusal, Lu Qi'an's phone rang abruptly.

He glanced at the name flashing on the screen, quickly grabbed the phone, and said nervously, "My boss called me in for work."

With that, he hurriedly got out of bed and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

But in this tiny studio apartment, how effective could the soundproofing be?

The sweet voice on the other end of the call was crystal clear to Xia Wanyi.

"Qi'an, come out and go shopping with me. I'm feeling down today, and you have to keep me company."

Lu Qi'an agreed without hesitation.

When he came out, he wore his familiar apologetic smile.

"Wanyi, I'm sorry. I took too much time off while hospitalized, and my boss wants me back at work today. I can't go with you."

Xia Wanyi didn't expose his lie, merely nodding calmly.

"Alright, you go ahead."

With that, Lu Qi'an hurriedly dressed and left.

Watching his departing figure, Xia Wanyi recalled the countless times over the past two years when he had rushed off late at night or during their rare dates, always claiming his boss needed him.

She had once worried about his overworking and suggested he find another job.

But he would just embrace her from behind, resting his chin on her head, his voice filled with helplessness.

"I don't mind the hard work. I just fear not having enough money to marry you and give you a good life."

Such sweet words had moved her deeply.

Since then, besides her original three part-time jobs, she even ran errands at school, thinking any extra money would help.

Lu Qi'an was working so hard for their future; she couldn't lag behind.

Looking back now, she realized she had been a fool.

During her last visit to the orphanage, she had promised the kids some snacks. After packing all the clothes, she headed to the mall.

Though there wasn't much left in her bank account, it was enough to bring smiles to the children's faces.

After buying two large bags full at the supermarket, Xia Wanyi struggled to carry them to the subway.

As she passed a cosmetics store, a familiar voice reached her ears.

"Just buy them all. Trying them one by one is too troublesome."

Following the voice, she saw Lu Qi'an with a resigned yet indulgent smile, focused on the girl in front of him.

Though he complained about the hassle, he obediently extended his arm, letting the girl apply lipstick on it.

Even though memories from two years ago were fuzzy, it wasn't hard to guess that the girl, exuding elegance from head to toe, was An Jia Ning.

It seemed that every time Lu Qi'an said his boss needed him, he was actually accompanying this young lady.

An Jia Ning pouted, displeased.

"You're willing to spend all day with that less privileged girl, but you don't want to shop with me?"

Lu Qi'an ruffled her hair, his eyes full of affection.

"Of course not. I'm just helping to cheer you up. Let's buy all these, and I'll keep shopping with you. I'll spend the whole day with you today."

With a wave of his hand, he instructed the sales clerk to wrap up the entire set of lipsticks.

The clerk clearly recognized them, swiftly packing the items and taking Lu Qi'an's exclusive credit card with practiced ease.

"Mr. Lu, today's total is one hundred thousand yuan. We look forward to your next visit."

One hundred thousand.

The number almost made Xia Wanyi unable to stand.

In two years of dating, the gifts she received were mostly cheap, like nine-yuan-nine bracelets or ten-yuan keychains.

The most expensive gift from Lu Qi'an was a silver bracelet, just over a hundred yuan.

She hadn't even worn it, keeping it safely in a box.

Yet now, spending a hundred thousand yuan was just a typical way for Lu Qi'an to please his childhood friend.

Spending money like it's nothing—that was the real Lu Qi'an.

Xia Wanyi couldn't bear to watch the intimate scene between the prince and the young lady any longer and turned to leave.

But as she moved, the bag in her hand, unable to bear the weight, broke open, spilling snacks everywhere.

The loud noise caught Lu Qi'an's attention.

At the moment their eyes met, Xia Wanyi clearly saw Lu Qi'an's pupils contract.

Panic and helplessness simultaneously appeared in his eyes.