During the days that followed, Ji Yu lived quite comfortably.
The hospital cases weren't particularly severe, so Ji Yu rarely needed to step in herself.
Although when she first returned to Beauty Artisan, many patients had come specifically for Ji Yu's reputation as a master of contouring, everyone understood the rules of Beauty Artisan well.
Still, there were always some who considered themselves exceptions and attempted to break the rules. These people inevitably ended up leaving in disappointment.
Aside from such individuals unwilling to cooperate with the treatment plans, the other patients were very cooperative.
In the three years of her marriage, Ji Yu wasn't able to pursue the career she loved, leading her to draw another big, glaring "X" in her mind against Gu Qixiao.
After the divorce, when Ji Yu returned to the work she had a passion for, she almost seemed to radiate light.
That was precisely Feng Qinqin's impression when she spotted Ji Yu the moment she stepped into the café: "Ah! Babe, you look gorgeous now."
Feng Qinqin rushed forward and enveloped Ji Yu in a bear hug. Ji Yu almost dropped the coffee she was holding. In this moment, the scene shifted to Ji Yu lovingly supporting Feng Qinqin while stabilizing the coffee in her hand and carefully placing it back on the table to prevent it from spilling.
A moment later, Ji Yu pulled Feng Qinqin out of her arms. "Qinqin, enough now! We're in public here! You wouldn't want people to stare at us like we're circus monkeys, would you?"
Hearing this, Feng Qinqin, who had been reluctant to let go, quickly released her grip.
She immediately smoothed her clothes and checked the reactions of those around her. Fortunately, thankfully, no one seemed to be paying attention to their corner.
Feng Qinqin sat down, pouted, and complained, "No one's looking! You're so stunning now—what's wrong if I hug you? If they're staring, it's only out of jealousy!"
Ji Yu couldn't help but laugh at her words, simply indulging Feng Qinqin's playful antics.
"Why are you here today? Is the hospital not busy?" Feng Qinqin dialed back her teasing.
"I missed you. Besides, whether I'm at the hospital or not doesn't make much difference. I love my job, but I'm not a workaholic." Ji Yu passed Feng Qinqin the latte she had ordered for her.
Ji Yu's sweet talk made Feng Qinqin immensely pleased, puffing her chest with pride.
"How have you been lately? Has he figured out who you are yet?"
Feng Qinqin recalled the absurd stunt she pulled for Ji Yu last time, but no matter how ridiculous her actions were, it couldn't be worse than Gu Qixiao not recognizing his wife throughout their three-year marriage.
Ji Yu said nothing, just took a sip of coffee and nodded in silent acknowledgment.
"Gu Qixiao's really too much. No matter what, you were his wife for three years! It's bad enough that he never bothered to meet you during the marriage, but now he's brazenly running around with his mistress. If I were his wife, I'd cheat on him too. Let's see whose face would be ashamed then," Feng Qinqin said indignantly.
Feng Qinqin thought about Ji Yu's three lonely years, waiting alone in an empty house, while Gu Qixiao stayed devoted to a mistress who had been disfigured and cared for her tirelessly for three years.
If he liked the mistress so much, why did he agree to marry Ji Yu in the first place? The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
Cheating? Could it be that the woman who married me divorced me because she cheated on me?
Gu Qixiao, coincidentally meeting with a friend at the same café, had just walked in. Before he could sit down, he overheard Feng Qinqin's earlier remarks.
Coupled with Ji Yu's recent mention of their divorce, it was hard for Gu Qixiao not to assume that his unseen wife had divorced him after being unfaithful.
Already holding a grudge against Ji Yu over the misunderstanding from before, Gu Qixiao now felt further resentment toward her and Feng Qinqin, along with his ex-wife, who had allegedly cheated and divorced him without even showing her face. He detested them all.
Checking the time and realizing his appointment was nearing, Gu Qixiao sped up his pace to reach the private lounge upstairs.
Inside the Moon private lounge upstairs sat a figure. Tall and slender, immaculately dressed, with rimless gold glasses perched on his face. His graceful fingers supported his chin, a faint smile on his lips as he gazed at Ji Yu downstairs, who was chatting and laughing with Feng Qinqin.
The spot Ji Yu and her companions occupied was by the window, where the afternoon sunlight poured through, illuminating Ji Yu. Bathed in warm sunlight, her beauty stood out radiantly, resembling a flawless pearl or jade.
The lounge door swung open from outside, interrupting the moment. Turning around, the man noticed Gu Qixiao entering.
"You're here. Sit down; I've already ordered black coffee for you."
"Mm. Whatever." Gu Qixiao, still irritated by what he had just overheard, replied indifferently.
The man across from him wasn't bothered by Gu Qixiao's attitude. Having known Gu Qixiao for over twenty years, he was well aware of his usual demeanor. If Gu Qixiao ever acted polite, it would feel almost supernatural.
Looking at the friend in front of him, dressed like a devilishly charming rogue, Gu Qixiao struggled to describe his own conflicted thoughts.
Wu Bei, a rising star and newly crowned Best Actor in the entertainment industry, was also one of Gu Qixiao's closest buddies. Yet instead of managing his family's wealth, Wu Bei insisted on pursuing acting.
He justified it by saying he wanted to rely on his own talent to make his mark in the world while he was young, and only after gaining recognition would he settle down to inherit his family's business.
Among Gu Qixiao's circle of friends, Wu Bei was the one most familiar with Gu Qixiao's mysterious wife. After all, when the situation unfolded, Wu Bei was the first to assist Gu Qixiao and stabilize Mr. Gu.
Otherwise, given that Gu Qixiao had married without meeting his new bride and then stayed abroad for three years, Mr. Gu would never have agreed to such an outrageous arrangement.
Among the older generation, the only people Mr. Gu fully trusted in their circle were Ji Yuanzhou from the Ji family and Wu Bei.
"Why did you call me here?" Wu Bei asked offhandedly, sipping his coffee and getting straight to the point.
Gu Qixiao adjusted his posture, his expression growing serious. "I've been away from the country for a while. You probably have access to all the resources available within the circle these past few years, right?"
Wu Bei gave him a knowing look. "I've already compiled everything and sent it to your inbox. Is this why you called me out?"
"Mm. Do you know the people downstairs at that table?" Gu Qixiao, having gotten the information he wanted, shifted his gaze toward Ji Yu and her companion.
"Hmm...? Who?" Wu Bei wasn't sure whom Gu Qixiao was referring to.
Could it be that, after being back in the country for so long, he still hadn't met his wife?
Gu Qixiao impatiently gestured toward their table. "The person sitting on the right at the table downstairs."
Wu Bei glanced at the direction Gu Qixiao was pointing and replied, "Oh, that's Feng Qinqin, the Feng family's heiress, and a partner in your family's business dealings."