C1 I Am Just a Double!

"Shi Qing, get out here! Is this salty food meant for anyone to eat?"

Shi Qing was still busy at the kitchen stove when she heard Guirong's impatient voice. She had heard such remarks countless times and had grown numb to them. Taking a deep breath, she walked out of the kitchen, ignoring the scolding. She picked up the chopsticks on the table, ready to taste the dish she had just served.

But before she could, her sister-in-law, Lu Xin, snatched the plate and dumped it over Shi Qing's head.

The atmosphere in the living room instantly froze. The line of housekeepers didn't dare to breathe. As the food and oil dripped from Shi Qing's face onto the table, she calmly wiped her face, tasted the sauce, and responded expressionlessly, "I think the seasoning is just right."

Lu Xin felt provoked and shouted, "How dare you! If my mom says it's salty, it's salty. Go remake it now!"

Shi Qing didn't rush to redo the dish despite the yelling. Instead, she turned and went to the bathroom to clean up. When she came out, Lu Xin continued her relentless mockery, "You've been playing the lady of the house for a few days and really think you are one. If it weren't for your luck in saving the old man, someone like you would never have set foot in the Lu family home."

Shi Qing remained unfazed by these words; over the past three years, such difficulties had become routine. Her husband, Lu Sinian, merely saw her as a gold digger.

Seeing that Shi Qing was completely ignoring her, Lu Xin lost interest and prepared to leave with Guirong. Just as they reached the door, a thought seemed to strike Lu Xin, and her previously disdainful expression turned to one of schadenfreude. She turned back to Shi Qing in the living room and said, "You should cherish your time as Mrs. Lu. Who knows, you might be replaced any day now."

Shi Qing was baffled by this comment. What did she mean by being replaced? Even though Lu Xin had been difficult over the past three years, she had never said anything like this before. A vague sense of unease crept into Shi Qing's mind...

---

The phone on the table lit up, displaying Shi Qing's name. Lu Sinian leaned back on the leather sofa, staring at it without answering or rejecting the call.

Jiang Cheng, sitting nearby, noticed. "Not answering your wife's call? You've got some nerve."

Lu Sinian remained silent, watching the screen go dark before he felt a sense of relief. He slowly picked up the glass of strong liquor on the table, downed it in one go, and said, "Wanwan's back."

At the mention of Soong Wanwan's name, those in the know fell silent. She was the one Lu Sinian loved but could never have.

Only Jiang Cheng, oblivious as ever, asked, "Now that she's back, what are you going to do about your wife?"

"Have you thought about how to handle it?" It seemed Sinian hadn't considered this question. For three years, Shi Qing had been obedient and gave up her acting career to be a good wife. Keeping someone like her around didn't seem so bad.

He gently swirled the wine in his glass without answering. In the dim light, his handsome face revealed no clear expression. Seeing this, Jiang Cheng stopped his banter and encouraged everyone to continue drinking.

---

1:00 AM.

The sound of a car parking downstairs jolted Shi Qing awake. She knew Sinian was back.

She quickly threw on a robe and hurried downstairs, only to see the driver helping a very inebriated Sinian inside.

"Ma'am, Mr. Lu had a bit too much to drink tonight. Please take care of him," the driver said, settling Sinian on the couch before leaving.

Shi Qing hated the smell of alcohol, and now Sinian reeked of it, his expensive suit carelessly tossed aside. Despite her distaste, she frowned and approached him.

"Sinian, you're drunk. Let me help you upstairs to rest." No sooner had she spoken than Sinian pulled her into his arms with surprising strength.

He leaned in close, his breath tinged with alcohol, his eyes half-closed with an inexplicable allure.

Shi Qing was caught off guard by the intensity of the gaze, her cheeks flushing as she turned her head to avoid it. "Sinian... let's go upstairs and rest," she suggested, trying to pull away from Lu Sinian's embrace. But his grip around her waist only tightened.

In the next moment, a cascade of kisses rained down on her, and Shi Qing, momentarily stunned, closed her eyes and stopped resisting. Lu Sinian's kisses were fervent, leaving Shi Qing gasping for air like a fish out of water. Just as she felt she might suffocate, Lu Sinian suddenly pressed her down onto the couch.