Chapter 41: Settling Shen Jingshu

The car stopped in front of Villa No. 18.

Qin Ze got out and helped Shen Jingshu with her luggage.

Shen Jingshu stood before the villa, looking up at the white building, completely stunned.

"Qin Ze, do you mean I'll be staying here for the next few days?!"

"Let's go inside and take a look first."

Qin Ze nodded, opened the door, and gestured for Shen Jingshu to enter first.

Shen Jingshu walked into the living room, her steps becoming lighter.

She looked around, her eyes growing wider and wider.

The living room ceiling soared at least six meters high; a massive crystal chandelier hung from above, scattering fragmented light in the sunshine.

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows lay the view of the backyard.

There was a neatly trimmed lawn, a swimming pool so blue it dazzled the eye, and several lush green plants.

"Is all the furniture inside brand new?"

Shen Jingshu turned around to look at Qin Ze.

"Did you buy this recently?"

Qin Ze nodded.

"I bought it yesterday!"

"Sister Jingshu, just stay here for now. Once the matter with Liu Bin is settled, if you like it, you can keep living here indefinitely."

"Come, let me show you around."

Immediately, Qin Ze led Shen Jingshu from the first floor up to the third.

On every floor, Shen Jingshu marveled for quite a while.

"Qin Ze, because of my messy affairs, I've caused you so much trouble."

Shen Jingshu turned her head to look at Qin Ze.

Her eyes were bright, reflecting Qin Ze's image within them.

"Why are you so good to me?"

Qin Ze thought for a moment:

"Because you deserve it."

Tears fell from Shen Jingshu's eyes again.

She took a step forward and gently hugged Qin Ze.

Qin Ze's body stiffened, but he did not push her away.

Shen Jingshu buried her head against his shoulder and whispered:

"Do you know? In all the years I've been married to Liu Bin, he has never said such words to me."

"He only sees me as his accessory, as capital for his showing off."

"Only you... only you treat me like a human being."

Qin Ze gently patted her back:

"It's all in the past."

Shen Jingshu held the embrace for a while before letting go and wiping away her tears.

"So next... what should I do?"

Qin Ze sat down opposite her:

"The first thing is to send a message to Liu Bin, formally telling him you want a divorce."

"What if he doesn't agree?"

"If he doesn't agree, block him. Delete all contact methods so he can't reach you."

"And then?"

"Then you don't need to worry about anything else," Qin Ze said.

"The lawyer will handle negotiations with him. You only need to cooperate with the lawyer—sign where signing is required, and appear in court when necessary."

Shen Jingshu fell silent for a few seconds:

"Will he retaliate against me?"

"He can barely save himself; embezzlement and tax evasion are charges enough to keep him imprisoned for ten years."

"Add infidelity to that, and you'll even get to split a large sum of money during the divorce."

"Moreover, no matter what, he won't be able to keep his position!"

Shen Jingshu bit her lip:

"Even thinking about it now, I'm still a little afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"I'm afraid he'll act desperately like a cornered dog; Liu Bin is ruthless. If he finds out I've been gathering evidence behind his back, he's capable of anything."

Qin Ze nodded:

"That's why I've asked Ning Wei to stay with you these few days."

Saying this, Qin Ze called Ning Wei, who had been waiting in the living room, over:

"Ning Wei, from today start, you are temporarily responsible for protecting Sister Shen's safety."

Ning Wei paused, startled:

"Boss, what about you?"

"I'm returning to Qingshui County tomorrow; I'll be gone for two days and then come back."

"I won't be in Jiangcheng for the next couple of days; just stay with Sister Shen."

"Qingshui County?" Shen Jingshu asked. "Is that your hometown?"

"Yes, I'm going back to visit my parents."

Qin Ze stood up and walked over to Ning Wei:

"Ning Wei, the villa's security is excellent, but we still can't let our guard down."

"You'll be staying here these few days; if Sister Shen needs anything, help her buy it."

"Most importantly, don't let anyone approach her, especially Liu Bin."

Ning Wei nodded vigorously:

"Don't worry, Boss, I will definitely protect Sister Shen well."

"Good."

Qin Ze then spoke to Shen Jingshu:

"Sister Jingshu, just rest well here for the next couple of days."

"If you need anything, just tell Ning Wei, and she will go buy it."

"The villa compound has good security; outsiders can't get in, so just stay here with peace of mind."

Shen Jingshu nodded, her eyes welling up again:

"Qin Ze, you really have considered everything so thoroughly."

Qin Ze smiled, then checked the time:

"Ning Wei, go buy some daily necessities: quilts, bed sheets, toiletries, and plenty of food and drink."

He took a card out of his wallet:

"Use this card; the PIN is six sixes."

Ning Wei took the card:

"Boss, what standard should I buy by?"

"Buy the good stuff; no need to save money."

"Understood."

Ning Wei turned around and walked out.

Only Qin Ze and Shen Jingshu remained in the villa.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat subtle.

Shen Jingshu sat on the edge of the bed, head lowered, fingers twisted together.

Qin Ze walked to the window, looking out at the swimming pool.

After quite a while, Shen Jingshu finally spoke softly:

"Qin Ze, come sit over here."

Qin Ze turned around and looked at her.

Shen Jingshu's face was slightly flushed, but her gaze was firm.

Qin Ze walked over and sat down beside her.

The two sat very close, able to smell each other's scent.

Shen Jingshu carried a faint fragrance of perfume, elegant and mature.

Qin Ze smelled of fresh, clean soap.

"Qin Ze, if it weren't for you, I might still be suffering humiliation in that home," Shen Jingshu said softly.

"Liu Bin looks down on me, thinking I'm just a vase who can't survive without him."

As she spoke, tears flowed down her face again.

Immediately, she grabbed Qin Ze's hand:

"Qin Ze, tell me the truth: how do you feel about me?"

Shen Jingshu suddenly asked.

The air suddenly grew ambiguous.

Qin Ze looked at Shen Jingshu.

Today she wore a simple white T-shirt paired with jeans, her hair tied in a ponytail; though her face looked somewhat haggard, her features remained exquisite.

In her thirties, her skin was well-maintained, with only faint fine lines at the corners of her eyes.

More importantly, she possessed a charm unique to mature women, something young girls did not have.

"Sister Jingshu, you are very beautiful."

Qin Ze spoke the truth.

Shen Jingshu's face turned red.

She lowered her head, fingers twisting the hem of her shirt:

"I'm already over thirty; what beauty is there left..."

"Really."

Qin Ze said earnestly.

"You are the most temperamental woman I have ever seen."

This statement was half true, half false.

Shen Jingshu indeed possessed temperament.

But among the women Qin Ze had met, Jiang Wan was capable, Su Qingqing was pure, Xiao Ya was lively, and Jiang Manman was sexy...

Each had her own merits.

But Shen Jingshu's mature and gentle temperament was truly one of a kind.

Shen Jingshu lifted her head, looking at Qin Ze, her eyes sparkling.

"Qin Ze, you..."

Before she could finish, she leaned forward slightly, moving closer to Qin Ze.

"Don't call me 'older sister' anymore; just call me Jingshu."

"Jingshu." Qin Ze changed his address immediately.

"Qin Ze, I know I'm older than you and not worthy of you. But... but I really..."

Her voice grew softer, her face redder.

A moment later, Shen Jingshu took a USB drive out of her bag:

"Qin Ze, this is all the evidence."

Qin Ze took the USB drive:

"Alright, I'll deliver it to the lawyer tomorrow."

"By the way, when will the lawyer arrive?"

"Probably tomorrow or the day after."

"He'll contact you then; just explain the situation as usual."

"You don't need to worry about anything else."

Qin Ze put the USB drive away.

Shen Jingshu nodded:

"Okay."

Qin Ze looked at the time; it was already past four in the afternoon.

"I should go."

"I need to return to Qingshui County tomorrow, so I must go back and prepare."

Qin Ze stood up:

"Sister Jingshu, get some good rest. Call me anytime if anything comes up."

On the way back to the hotel, Qin Ze's mobile phone rang.

It was a message from Su Qingqing.

"Brother Qin! I'm back at the hotel! My mom is recovering very well today, so I asked the caregiver to watch over her while I come see you!"

Qin Ze smiled and replied:

"Perfect, let's meet tonight. Early tomorrow morning, I'll be heading back to Qingshui County."

Su Qingqing replied instantly:

"Back to Qingshui County? I want to go too!"

"No."

"I'll only be gone for two or three days before returning."

Qin Ze typed.

"Wait until I return; by then your mother will have recovered, and you can officially report for duty by my side."

Qin Ze put down his mobile phone, thought for a moment, then called his father.

The call connected, and Qin Shougang's loud voice boomed out:

"Son! When are you coming back?"

"Tomorrow."

"Really? What time will you arrive?"

"I'll depart in the morning and should arrive by noon."

"Good, good, good!" Qin Shougang was overjoyed.

"I'll tell your mom right away so she can go buy groceries! By the way, about that lottery win of yours, I told the neighbors, but they don't believe it!"

"When you return this time, you must explain it thoroughly to them!"