The Crybaby Mistress GL - Chapter 38

Luo Jing stared blankly at the unsigned check on the table, her mind just as empty. She could not understand how she had ended up in such a cliché situation.

Xu Fangting noticed how Luo Jing was fixated on the check, and it was hard not to interpret her gaze as one of greed. Although Xu Fangting had been the one to offer the check, she could not help but feel a faint sense of disdain.

She said, “Just tell me how much you want.”

To her, a girl like Luo Jing was typical of those who came from the countryside and lost themselves in the city’s temptations. Xu Fangting was not worried even if Luo Jing made a bold request. With her background, the girl probably had no concept of real money. Xu Fangting figured the issue could be settled with one or two million at most.

Luo Jing snapped out of her daze and could not deny that everything was happening exactly as she had imagined. She had only been with Miss Chen for a few months, yet someone was already offering her money to leave. The request was simple. All she had to do was walk away from Chen Xin.

“Actually,” Luo Jing said cautiously, not wanting to hurt the older woman’s pride, “you don’t have to do this. I plan to leave after a year anyway.”

Their agreement had never been meant to last long. From a practical standpoint, this offer was a great deal. She could work less and earn twice as much. However, Luo Jing could not accept it. What Chen Xin had given her was not just money. There were things she could never repay. She could not betray her like this.

“Please take it back. I cannot accept this money,” she said, not even daring to touch the check.

Luo Jing’s answer caught Xu Fangting off guard. She tapped her fingers against the rim of her cup, deep in thought. Perhaps Chen Xin, who had always been generous toward the things she liked, had spoiled this girl. Maybe Luo Jing believed she could get even more by staying. A promise to leave after a year? Xu Fangting could not believe such a claim.

She had seen plenty of social climbers. The children of wealthy families might have been born into luxury, but they were no match for the ambition of those eager to rise. These young people knew how to act innocent and charming, and they often led rich sons and daughters around by the nose.

Being a kept woman was only the first step. How many of them actually walked away when it was over? Even her son-in-law Luo Jie had taken years to shake off one of them. To Xu Fangting, Luo Jing’s promise was pure fantasy.

Despite her simple appearance, Luo Jing was no different from those women who clung to the rich. When even money could not drive her off, Xu Fangting’s expression turned cold. She crossed her legs, leaned back in her seat, and suddenly exuded a far more commanding presence.

“You are still young and might think holding onto Chen Xin will bring you more benefits. However, you need to face reality. You and Chen Xin live in two different worlds. That is something you cannot change, no matter how hard you try.”

She laid bare the divide between them, a chasm Luo Jing could never cross.

Usually, such words would fill a social climber with shame or resentment. But Luo Jing had never intended to cross any divide. She simply nodded and replied, “I know our lives are different. Please don’t worry. I have no intention of clinging to her, and I never planned to change anything.”

Seeing the skepticism in Xu Fangting’s eyes, Luo Jing added, “Miss Chen was already doing me a great favor by choosing to support me. I know I cannot rely on her forever. I have my own future to plan. This year will be a beautiful interlude, and when it ends, we will go our separate ways.”

She would treasure the memories forever, perhaps never sharing them with anyone, but it would remain a cherished part of her life.

Xu Fangting became even more displeased after hearing that. The way Luo Jing spoke made it sound like Chen Xin was the one being dumped. “What do you mean by that? Are you saying my daughter is not good enough for you?”

“Huh?” Luo Jing was confused by the sudden shift. “No, that’s not it. Miss Chen is wonderful. I’m the one—”

“Mom!” The conversation was suddenly interrupted by a sharp voice.

Chen Xin came over, slightly out of breath, and walked quickly toward them. She glanced at the check on the table and immediately became upset. “Mom, didn’t we agree I would handle this? Why did you come here yourself?”

She sat down beside Luo Jing without hesitation, the two of them looking like a couple hoping to win a parent’s approval.

Luo Jing, seeing how upset Chen Xin looked, quickly reached out and patted her hand gently. “Miss Chen, this is just a misunderstanding between me and your mother.”

“I know exactly what is going on,” Chen Xin said as she flipped her hand to hold Luo Jing’s and gently kneaded her palm.

Xu Fangting could no longer believe their relationship was merely a business arrangement. Who would rush over like this for a casual companion? Who would leave work just to deal with this? How could anyone call this just entertainment?

“What did you say to me before? You called this some casual arrangement for fun?” Xu Fangting lost her composure and nearly raised her voice, barely keeping it low enough to avoid public attention.

Angering an elder was never good. Luo Jing saw that Xu Fangting was truly upset and quickly tugged on Chen Xin’s hand. “You should explain. Please let her know we are not in that kind of relationship.”

Both women turned to Chen Xin, waiting for her to defuse the tension.

Chen Xin paused. Her gaze moved from Luo Jing to Xu Fangting and then back again. She looked straight at Luo Jing, who gave her a slight nod, silently urging her to speak. Luo Jing even licked her lips nervously, clearly uneasy in front of Chen Xin’s mother.

“We are not in a relationship,” Chen Xin finally said.

Xu Fangting visibly relaxed.

Then Chen Xin suddenly tightened her grip on Luo Jing’s hand, not allowing her to pull away. Her eyes were firm as she looked at her mother. “I am the only one who is in love here.”

This was not a relationship. She had fallen hopelessly in love with Luo Jing. It was Luo Jing who insisted on keeping things limited to a sponsor arrangement.

Luo Jing’s face froze. She instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but Chen Xin held on tightly. She struggled, clearly anxious and overwhelmed, but Chen Xin refused to let go.

Xu Fangting noticed the entire exchange. She let out a cold, bitter laugh. “It seems she does not even realize how you feel.”

Chen Xin gave a self-mocking smile but replied stubbornly, “I do not care. I like her. I don’t want to support her for just a year. I want to support her for a lifetime.”

“A lifetime?”

“A lifetime?”

Two identical voices echoed in disbelief. Luo Jing and Xu Fangting had spoken in unison.

Luo Jing ignored the fact that a parent was present and exclaimed, “Miss Chen, that is not possible. I never agreed to anything like that.”

She was completely shaken by this shocking declaration.

Xu Fangting pressed her fingers against her brow, her head aching. So it was not Luo Jing who had been clinging to her daughter, but Chen Xin who was chasing her. Who could she even talk to about this now?

Chen Xin no longer cared about her mother’s headache. She turned to Luo Jing and asked directly, “You are not willing?”

Luo Jing’s eyes widened. Her words got tangled as she stammered, unable to give a proper response. Chen Xin gave up on trying to negotiate and instructed the driver outside to take her mother home.

“This is my business. Please stay out of it, Mom,” she said firmly before dragging Luo Jing away.

“Where are we going?” Luo Jing asked as she was half-pulled and half-dragged from the café, a shocked expression still frozen on her face.

“We need to find somewhere to talk in private,” Chen Xin replied.

She pulled Luo Jing into her car, buckled her seatbelt herself, and shut the door without giving her a chance to resist.

Now that everything was out in the open, they had to have a proper conversation.