She told herself not to overthink it, forcing a smile. “Didn’t we say on the phone the other day that it’s been too long? That we should get together when we had time?” “Well, I was free today, so I just came over.” Maybe she was just being paranoid, but when she mentioned their call, she could have sworn Zhang Qiu tensed up. Could her best friend really be conspiring with her husband to deceive her? Once the thought took root, she couldn't shake it. Su Xiaohui was trying to figure out how to bring it up when Zhang Qiu broached the subject herself. “Speaking of which, what exactly happened that day? Why did you suddenly start checking if Lao Zhou had withdrawn a million?” “You, of all people, should know how much money he has, right?” Zhang Qiu asked casually, picking at her food. Seeing how composed she was, Su Xiaohui felt a fresh wave of doubt, this time directed at herself. She was just being paranoid. If her best friend was really in on it, how could she be so calm? She let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding and briefly explained how she had found the withdrawal slip. “I didn’t believe it at first either,” she said with a self-deprecating laugh. “But finding something like that at home… of course it would make you suspicious.” Zhang Qiu nodded in agreement. “Totally! If it were me, I’d have thought something was up too.” “But I really don’t think Lao Zhou would lie to you,” she added. “You two have been together for over a decade, since high school. The man worships you. Is there anything he has that he wouldn't give you?” “Why would he ever need to lie to you?” Su Xiaohui had never really thought her husband would do anything to betray her; she was more worried that her constant talk about wanting to earn more money had pushed him into doing something foolish. She was about to mention what had happened at the bank the day before when Zhang Qiu suddenly stood up. “Oh, I see my boss. I’m just going to go say hi. You go ahead and eat.” Su Xiaohui nodded. After talking with Zhang Qiu, she felt like she’d been worrying for nothing. There had to be a misunderstanding. Hadn’t the bank teller yesterday said she’d made a mistake? Besides, Zhang Qiu worked in banking. If her husband really had over ten million to his name, wouldn’t she have told her? The thought brought a small sense of relief. Just then, Zhang Qiu’s phone, left on the table, lit up. Su Xiaohui glanced at it casually. One look was all it took. The blood in her veins seemed to turn to ice, and the color drained from her face. A new WeChat notification had appeared on Zhang Qiu’s screen. The contact name read: ‘Lao Zhou!’ Su Xiaohui’s eyes were glued to the phone, an overwhelming urge rising in her to snatch it and see what her husband had sent. But all she could see was the sender’s name, not the content of the message. Her husband and her best friend were familiar with each other, of course, but they weren’t so close that they’d be messaging each other privately. Why would her husband be texting Zhang Qiu right now? Zhang Qiu returned a moment later, by which time Su Xiaohui had carefully composed her expression. “I think I heard your phone buzz,” she said, her voice deliberately neutral. “Looked like you got a message.” “Oh, really?” Zhang Qiu picked up her phone. Her face changed instantly, and she shot a quick, furtive glance at Su Xiaohui. She must have thought she was being subtle, but Su Xiaohui, who had been watching her every move, saw it all. A cold dread settled in Su Xiaohui’s stomach. She looked at the woman she had grown up with, her oldest friend, and could no longer hold back. “Zhang Qiu,” she asked directly, “are you hiding something from me?” Zhang Qiu froze, and then a flicker of panic crossed her eyes. Seeing that reaction, Su Xiaohui needed no further proof. Her own eyes filled with a mixture of rage and grief. “How could you? How could you lie to me with him?” “Zhang Qiu, we grew up together. You’re my best friend!” Zhang Qiu flinched, then quickly stammered, “What are you talking about?” “Why so dramatic? Who’s lying?” Then, a look of annoyance crossed her face. “If I’d known you’d be like this, I never would have agreed to keep it from you.” “Fine. It’s already come to this, so there’s no point in hiding it anymore. Yes, I’ve been keeping something from you.”