It was Qin Mu who caused the injury.
Su Xingyu silently blamed herself for being too careless, not noticing such an obvious bruise, and actually exposing it in front of Lu Shifeng.
She didn't want to waste words explaining those past matters and just pretended indifference as she withdrew her hand: "It's nothing, I accidentally bumped into something."
Lu Shifeng's eyes deepened slightly: "Accidentally bumped, and it left a fingerprint?"
She reflexively looked down and saw that the bruise on her hand was indeed fingerprint-shaped, evidently from being pinched by someone. She felt like crying but had no tears, wondering how Lu Shifeng's perception was so sharp. The issue she hadn't even noticed was caught by him with just a glance. She forced a laugh, racking her brain for an excuse.
The lighting in the living room was hazy as Lu Shifeng stood expressionless in front of her: "I don't like to hear lies."
She almost wanted to wail, is he never going to stop? It's just a handprint, what's the big deal!
Thinking of this, she simply gave up: "When I worked at the magazine, I ran into Su Xingqi and Qin Mu, that's my half-sister and her boyfriend. We had a slight conflict, and Qin Mu pinched it."
This answer should satisfy him, shouldn't it?
She looked up but saw Lu Shifeng's expression was still deep, with unpredictable emotions.
"Hand out," he said.
"Why?" she looked at him warily.
He didn't waste words with her and turned his head to call: "Mrs. Gui."
The elderly maid walked over: "What does the young master order?"
Lu Shifeng said: "Medicine box."
Mrs. Gui was insightful and promptly went to fetch the household's medicine box.
Lu Shifeng took it, half-kneeling in front of Su Xingyu's sofa, placing the medicine box on the floor with one hand, retrieving a white porcelain bottle, opening it, and picking out some ointment. He caught Su Xingyu's injured wrist with his other hand and applied the ointment to the bruise.
Su Xingyu was frightened, he, he actually knelt in front of her?!
Isn't he supposed to be just a typical straight man, how could he be so good to his wife?
She just dumbly stared at the man in front of her, her whole body stiff, hairs standing on end. He was very tall, even kneeling in front of her, he was still on par with her sitting on the sofa. From her angle, she could clearly see his sharp and narrow eyes, the straight nose, the beautifully contoured thin lips...every detail carved and cut like a sculpture, simple and neat.
Her petite body was engulfed in his shadow, daring not to speak or move.
Until his voice startled her awake: "Am I good looking?"
She was so scared that she almost jumped up, looking at him with a face of shock.
He stared at her, with a hint of a smile deep in his eyes: "You've been staring at me without moving for so long, am I good looking?"
She hurriedly shook her head, then nodded, then shook her head again, stammering: "I, I, I wasn't looking at you!"
She shrank back, nervously watching Lu Shifeng.
Lu Shifeng's eyes still carried a hint of amusement: "This is an ointment specifically for treating redness and bruising, now that I've applied it, it will be better by tomorrow. Alright, now help me take off my tie, and let's go to bed."
It was only then she realized that her wrist felt cool, it turned out he had finished applying the ointment for her.
He was still half-kneeling in front of her sofa, waiting for her, though it was a casual posture, it seemed to exert a compelling pressure.
Her scalp tingled as she trembled and shakily approached to help him with his tie.
This man is truly petty, clearly saying once or twice it doesn't matter if she doesn't greet him upon returning home, and yet he insists she helps take off his tie. Her mind was in chaos, and despite it being a simple knot, it took her several attempts to untie it. The silver-gray tie slid along her fingertips, carrying his body heat, with a feather-like delicate touch.
He caught her hand and pulled her closer, planting a kiss on her lips.
She dared not move, letting him take advantage freely, her whole body limply held by him.
"What, what are you doing?!" She blushed fiercely, struggling, "I can walk by myself!"
He casually restrained her: "Don't move. Save some strength for later."
She realized the implication of his words, her face turning as red as if bleeding: "You... I won't!"
"Do you have the right to refuse?" His voice carried a tint of ambiguity, yet his stride was large, "Su Xingyu, the moment you saw me tonight you started lying, do you think I've been too lenient, allowing you to do whatever you want?"
"I… you!" Su Xingyu was both shameful, angry, and flustered, not knowing what to say, he's been too lenient with her?! Has he ever even slightly accommodated her!
The moment she was placed on the bed, her heart already sectioned that scoundrel Lu Shifeng into eighteen pieces, then resignedly closed her eyes, enduring a long night...
The next day, she supported her waist, almost unable to get out of bed.
Recalling before leaving work yesterday, Ling Weilong asked her to head over early to reshoot yesterday's set of photos, she still bit the bullet and heroically climbed up.
From the wardrobe, she picked through her choices, finding an outfit that covered her from head to toe to change into, there was no choice, last night he seemed angry, tormenting her too harshly, now her body was covered with indescribable marks. What a petty man, just for a little lie to him, was it necessary to hold such a grudge?
Su Xingyu was quite unhappy, finished breakfast, and went to the Illusion Dream magazine.
But Ling Weilong hadn't arrived.
Su Xingyu waited for him the entire morning, and in the afternoon, he finally appeared at the magazine, followed by a girl as thin as a slender bamboo pole.
Su Xingyu glanced at the girl's height and weight, estimating that she's a model, and couldn't help but feel a bit strange: "Didn't you say we were reshooting Su Xingqi's set from yesterday?"
Ling Weilong laughed: "Su Xingqi? Does someone like her still want to be a model? Probably the people hyping her must have been blind. Look, karma comes quickly, only just causing a scene here yesterday, and today she's been pulled from above. They don't want her for the autumn and winter new fashion shoot, replaced with someone else." Speaking, he pushed the bamboo-pole-like girl forward, "This is Jiang Zhenzhen, a new model."
Su Xingyu was surprised; she was quite aware of Su Xingqi's popularity. While not reaching international supermodel status yet, she was quite recognized in the domestic modeling scene.
But this Jiang Zhenzhen, standing beside, looked quite uncomfortable, presumably a newcomer.
A newcomer squeezed Su Xingqi out of her spot?
"What on earth happened?" She was a bit dizzy.
Ling Weilong was quite gloating: "Who knows what happened, probably offended someone, the brand explicitly doesn't want her."
There are two types of models for brand fashion shoots, one being long-term ambassadors who can't be easily replaced, and another more casual, just temporarily wearing clothes for an ad, anyone would do. Unfortunately, Su Xingqi was the latter type, just a word from the brand executive, and she could be removed in an instant.
Su Xingyu quieted down, suddenly a bold thought flashed in her mind, could it be Lu Shifeng's handiwork?