Chapter 2652: Candid

Qiuqian rested her head on Andong Zhou's arm, wrapped her arms around his neck, and whispered: "After hearing you say that, Hong Jinyan isn't just incompetent—she's also greedy; otherwise, she wouldn't have been sentenced to ten or twenty years. Still, I'm genuinely curious—how did someone like her end up in this position?"

Andong Zhou chuckled: "She probably got there by stripping."

"Huh?" Qiuqian asked, intrigued: "Is this Hong Jinyan very beautiful?"

"How to put it!" Andong Zhou thought for a moment: "I can't describe her appearance and figure with the words I have."

Qiuqian's curiosity deepened: "Is she really that beautiful?"

Andong Zhou shook his head: "No, Hong Jinyan isn't even remotely attractive."

Qiuqian said, disbelieving: "If Hong Jinyan isn't beautiful, how could she rise by stripping?"

"You just don't understand men." Andong Zhou's hand rubbed Qiuqian's smooth, delicate shoulder: "Men like your husband—those 'four-haves' youths, model husbands—are extremely rare. Most men like to cheat, and it doesn't matter what kind of 'fish' it is; if it smells fishy, they'll pounce and devour it."

Qiuqian propped her head on her arm, smiling at Andong Zhou: "Be honest—have you never had any thoughts about other beautiful women?"

"Comrade Qiuqian," Andong Zhou said sternly: "Before I answer your question, could you first tell me—have you ever had thoughts about other men?"

"No!" Qiuqian replied without hesitation: "Comrade Andong Zhou, I can honestly tell you that besides you, I've never had feelings for any other man. When I studied in Britain, there were indeed many suitors, including foreigners."

"But none of them caught my eye—and foreigners? Even less likely. Of course, before I turned fifteen, I did once think about marrying Tong Huaiyu, but back then I was young and ignorant—it probably doesn't count, right?"

Andong Zhou asked, skeptical: "When you were studying in Britain, did you never meet Tong Huaiyu?"

"We met once." Qiuqian said openly: "It was when I first arrived in Britain for my studies—he came to the school to find me. I had zero expectations about his visit. And after seeing him, I suddenly realized how naive I was at fifteen—how could I have ever liked someone like Tong Huaiyu?"

Andong Zhou looked doubtful: "Really?"

Qiuqian rolled her eyes: "I married you, we have a child—do I really need to lie to you about this?"

Andong Zhou stroked his chin: "What did you two do when you met?"

"What could we do? We just had a simple meal." Qiuqian said impatiently: "After that, he came to see me a few times, but I kept refusing, saying my studies were too heavy."

Andong Zhou smacked his lips: "You and Tong Huaiyu could be called childhood sweethearts—you said at fifteen you wanted to marry him, so he's kind of your white moonlight. And you just gave him up so easily?"

Qiuqian grabbed Andong Zhou's arm and bit down hard, making him yelp: "Damn, Qiuqian, are you a dog?"

"You heartless bastard." Qiuqian snorted: "If I had any lingering feelings for Tong Huaiyu, there'd be no room for you. Not to mention when he came to Jiangzhou trying to kill you—if my heart had even leaned toward him a little, would you have had a chance to lie in bed with me?"

Andong Zhou grimaced at the tooth marks on his arm, rubbed it hard, and still charging down the path of self-destruction, asked: "Why did you suddenly stop liking Tong Huaiyu?"

Qiuqian laughed angrily, grabbing his face with both hands and pulling hard: "What, are you determined to push me into Tong Huaiyu's arms or what?"

"No, no!" Andong Zhou quickly seized her hands, grinning: "I'm just curious, after all—whether man or woman, everyone tends to remember their white moonlight."

If Qiuqian had watched modern short dramas, she'd surely ask Andong Zhou: "Have you watched too many short dramas and lowered your IQ?" I already said—I was young and ignorant. Besides, I hadn't seen Tong Huaiyu in years, and when I saw him in Britain, I truly just saw him as an ordinary friend.

Andong Zhou chuckled: "So, are you saying that among the men who pursued me, including Tong Huaiyu, I'm the most handsome?"

"How could you say something so shameless?" Qiuqian scoffed: "Among those who pursued me, there are far more handsome than you. Take Tong Huaiyu—he's even a bit better-looking than you."

"You're saying one thing but meaning another." Andong Zhou's hand slipped into Qiuqian's clothes: "I'm definitely the most handsome—otherwise, why would you have chosen me?"

"Am I really that shallow?" Qiuqian let Andong Zhou roam his hands over her body: "I don't care about looks—I care about inner qualities and talent. A man who's gold-plated on the outside but rotten within—I wouldn't look at him even if he were as handsome as Pan An. Tong Huaiyu is exactly that kind of person."

Andong Zhou felt satisfied inside: "So you're saying you fell for me because of my inner qualities and talent?"

"Exactly!" Qiuqian admitted happily, gazing at him with eyes that seemed to melt: "It was just a moment—I suddenly fell for you, and I've only fallen deeper since."

Andong Zhou laughed, and Qiuqian joined in: "Are you feeling pretty pleased with yourself?"

"Not at all!" Looking at Qiuqian's alluring red lips, Andong Zhou couldn't resist kissing her: "I just feel incredibly, incredibly lucky—maybe in a past life I did something so good it moved even heaven, so now I get to marry a woman like you in this life."

"Alright!" Qiuqian said, smiling: "I've said what I needed to say—now it's your turn. Have you ever had thoughts about other women?"

"No!" Andong Zhou shook his head vigorously: "I have such a wonderful wife—sexy and beautiful, my grandfather holds high office, my father-in-law is a provincial leader—how could I dare to have a wandering heart?"

"Cut it out!" Qiuqian pouted: "There's no such thing as a cat that doesn't steal fish."

"If you don't believe me, fine." Andong Zhou snorted: "Go to sleep!"

Qiuqian gave a seductive smile, leaned close to Andong Zhou's ear, and whispered softly: "You really don't want to?"

Andong Zhou's spirit lifted: "I do… but…"

Qiuqian lowered her head, kissed his lips, then slowly slid her body down, pulled the blanket over both of them—and suddenly saw Andong Zhou's eyes widen sharply, as he sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.

After twenty or so minutes, Qiuqian lifted the blanket, covered her mouth, got out of bed, ran to the bathroom, and then the sound of water rushing from the tap began.