Chapter 256 The Misunderstanding Deepens

They seemed to be having a very pleasant conversation.

Chen Chunzhi was pointing at the painting and saying something, with an appreciative smile on his face.

Although Shang Wu's face was turned to the side and her expression was not visible to Lu Rang, her slightly listening posture was very irritating to Lu Rang.

Lu Rang recalled Cheng Zhou's message saying she was feeling down, her phone call where she said she wasn't happy, and her days of indifference and rejection.

Could it be that she felt unhappy being with Chen Chunzhi because of him?

Lu Rang clenched his fists tightly.

He wanted to rush over, pull Shang Wu to his side, and assert his dominance.

But he was even more afraid that if he appeared at this moment, he would see resistance or embarrassment in Shang Wu's eyes.

That possibility is worse than killing him.

Finally, he abruptly turned around and left the scene.

Lu Rang didn't send Shang Wu a single message. Instead, he drove back to his cold and empty home alone, filled with resentment.

Inside the exhibition hall, Shang Wu only exchanged a few polite words with Chen Chun about the paintings after they happened to meet.

Chen Chunzhi did try to find out about her and Lu Rang's situation, but Shang Wu subtly thwarted his attempts.

She realized that Lu Rang had been gone for quite a while, and was about to call him when she turned around, but he was already gone.

A piece of her heart felt empty.

He just left like that, without even saying goodbye?

Was it because he saw her talking to Chen Chunzhi that he got angry?

But they were just having a normal conversation.

Shang Wu felt a surge of resentment and anger.

He can be incomprehensible about her grief over losing her son, and he can make decisions for her without her consent. Now he even cares about her exchanging a few words with ordinary friends?

Shang Wu took a deep breath and left.

The next day, at the law firm.

Lu Rang walked into the office with a heavy atmosphere.

The dark circles under his eyes showed that he hadn't slept all night.

Lin Ruan walked in carrying a cup of perfectly heated black coffee and gently placed it on his table, her voice soft.

"Attorney Lu, here's your coffee. You don't look well. Didn't you sleep well last night? Should I cancel your less urgent meeting this morning?"

Her care was just right, not overly intimate, yet full of thoughtfulness.

Lu Rang rubbed his temples, didn't look up, and just gave a faint "hmm".

Lin Ruan didn't say anything and quietly left.

But in the instant she turned around, a barely perceptible sneer appeared on the corner of her mouth.

The first step to revenge is to make this man accustomed to her presence and dependent on her care.

Meanwhile, Shang Wu is currently busy having a cold war with Lu Rang, which is a godsend.

She doesn't actually have a boyfriend; that's just a pretense to lower their guard.

She is Zhou Yanci's cousin and a relative of the man who was killed by Shang Wu.

She lay low, waiting for this opportunity to get close to Lu Rang, break them up, and let Shang Wu also taste the pain of losing her love.

In the afternoon, Lu Rang needed an important document and, as usual, called Lin Ruan in.

When Lin Ruan came in with the documents, she tripped and the documents scattered all over the floor.

She quickly apologized and squatted down to pick it up.

Lu Rang also bent down to help.

Just as their fingers were about to touch the same piece of paper, Lu Rang's gaze swept over it, and he paused slightly.

Lin Ruan's bracelet, he seemed to have seen a similar style somewhere before?

A hint of doubt arose in his mind, but it was quickly suppressed by heavier worries.

His mind is now filled with images of Shang Wu and Chen Chunzhi standing together.

...

That evening, Lu Rang dragged his tired body home.

The house remained deserted.

Shang Wu sat on the sofa in the living room, watching TV, but her eyes were unfocused.

Hearing him return, she didn't look up at him as usual.

Lu Rang's heart sank little by little.

He silently changed his shoes, went upstairs, and wanted to take a shower to wash away his fatigue.

He stopped in his tracks as he passed the study.

On the desk sat a cup of black coffee that had long since gone cold.

It was made by Shangwu.

She still cares about him?

A slight ripple stirred in Lu Rang's heart.

He almost turned around impatiently, wanting to go downstairs to find her and break this damn stalemate.

However, just as he reached the stairwell, he heard Shang Wu talking on the phone downstairs, her tone relaxed, a tone he hadn't heard in a long time.

"...Okay, fine, I have nothing else to do anyway."

"Tomorrow afternoon? Sure."

"Okay, see you then."

The call ended.

Lu Rang froze in place.

Whose phone call could make her speak in that tone?

Chen Chunzhi?

Are they going to meet tomorrow?

That nascent hope was extinguished in an instant.

He ultimately did not go downstairs, but silently returned to his bedroom.

That night, the two still slept in the same bed but dreamed different dreams.

The next afternoon, Lu Rang finished work early and, as if possessed, drove to the vicinity of Shang Wu's studio.

He told himself that it was just on his way.

Then, he saw Shang Wu come out of the studio, dressed up carefully, wearing a dress that made her look exceptionally gentle and beautiful.

A low-key but expensive car pulled up in front of her.

The person who got out of the car was indeed Chen Chunzhi.

He gentlemanly opened the car door for Shang Wu, protecting her as she got in, showing tenderness and consideration.

The car sped away.

Lu Rang sat in the car, watching the taillights disappear, his chest heaving violently.

She actually went on a date with him.

And she's dressed so beautifully.

Lu Rang found Shang Wu's number and edited one questioning message after another, only to delete it again and again.

He was afraid.

He feared the answer he would receive would be one he couldn't bear.

In the end, he didn't send anything and slumped back in his chair.

What Lu Rang didn't know was that Shang Wu agreed to go out with Chen Chunzhi partly because she was angry after seeing Lin Ruan's thoughtfulness and care for her yesterday, and partly because she wanted to take the opportunity to relax and ease her emotions that were on the verge of collapse.

She and Chen Chunzhi simply went to see a movie, had an ordinary dinner, and talked about trivial matters.

Chen Chunzhi did express concern, but she clearly expressed her gratitude and drew a clear line between them as friends.

However, these explanations had lost their meaning to Lu Rang, who was blinded by jealousy and misunderstanding.

The cracks are getting deeper and deeper.

Lin Ruan stood by the window of her law firm office, watching Lu Rang drive back downstairs looking dejected, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

The real show has only just begun.

At one o'clock in the morning, only a floor lamp was lit in the living room of the villa.

Under the warm yellow light, Lu Rang sat on the sofa, his fingertips numb.

He heard the sound of a key turning in the entryway and immediately stood up, staring at the doorway, his aura frighteningly low.

Shang Wu pushed open the door and walked in, wearing a beige dress.

Chen Chunzhi accompanied her to buy it in the afternoon, saying that changing into a bright-colored dress would make her feel a little better.

Before she could even change her shoes, she met Lu Rang's cold gaze, her heart sank, and her already tired body felt even heavier.

"Where did you go?" Lu Rang's voice was terribly hoarse, filled with barely suppressed anger. His gaze swept over her new dress, and his tone grew even colder.

"You even changed into new clothes specifically for your date with Chen Chunzhi?"

Shang Wu frowned, bent down to change her shoes, and said with a hint of weariness in her voice, "I went to a design exhibition with him and bought a piece of clothing while I was there. It wasn't a date."

"Not a date?" Lu Rang stepped forward, grabbed her wrist with such force that Shang Wu frowned instantly, her fingertips turning white in pain.

He stared into Shang Wu's eyes, his tone full of accusation: "Shang Wu, look me in the eye and tell me, is there really nothing between you and him? Or have you wanted to be with him for a long time, but just needed an excuse?"

Shang Wu tried to shake off his hand, but he gripped it even tighter, and red marks quickly appeared on her wrist.

Looking at the suspicion and anger in Lu Rang's eyes, she felt a chill run down her spine, and her voice turned cold: "Lu Rang, can you stop being so unreasonable? The problem between us isn't Chen Chunzhi, it's you!"

"It's me?" Lu Rang seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. Pain and anger intertwined in his eyes, and his voice rose a few decibels.

He grabbed Shang Wu's wrist, pulled her closer, and said, word by word, "It was I who signed the surgical consent form, choosing to save you, causing you to lose your child. So I am an unforgivable sinner, and the reason you wanted to leave me, right?"

Shang Wu was stunned. She hadn't expected Lu Rang to bring this up suddenly, and a surge of grievance and anger welled up inside her.

Her eyes were red and swollen as she struggled violently: "Lu Rang! You bastard! When did I ever say I was going to leave you? I'm more heartbroken than anyone else because of the lost child, and now you think this way about me?"

Her voice trembled, but her attitude remained indifferent—having experienced the pain of losing her son and faced Lu Rang's repeated doubts, she had long lost her initial enthusiasm.

But this indifference was interpreted by Lu Rang as evidence of tacit agreement, and jealousy and anger instantly clouded his judgment.

Before Shang Wu could say anything more, he reached out and cupped the back of her head, then lowered his head and kissed her.