Zhao Qian couldn't help but suppress his laughter, his voice turning gentle. "Actually, I admire you."
"Admire me?"
"Mmm." Zhao Qian placed his hands on the balcony railing, gazing at the distant sky. "As a woman, you possess more courage and capability than I do. That's what I admire."
Shen Qingqing waved a dismissive hand. "That's nothing."
Zhao Qian smiled faintly. "See? Even your demeanor is stronger than most people's."
Shen Qingqing raised an eyebrow. "Even if you praise me, I won't change my mind."
"I know." Zhao Qian chuckled softly. "I wasn't planning on using this to change your mind. I just feel that this kind of adventure in life is rare. When I go back, I'll be just like everyone else. Please let me stay. I don't want to have any regrets."
"What's so good about this kind of experience?"
Shen Qingqing couldn't understand. All she ever dreamed of was an ordinary life, eating, working, and raising children every day.
But perhaps fate was playing a trick on her, for she could never achieve it.
She wouldn't seek trouble, yet trouble found her.
Zhao Qian smiled faintly. "In any case, I admire you, and I want to stay."
Since he had put it that way, Shen Qingqing couldn't insist otherwise, but she had to make the terms clear first. "You must understand one thing: staying here might involve danger."
"I understand."
He nodded solemnly.
Shen Qingqing said no more. "Alright, since you're clear about that, then it's up to you."
Soon, she noticed that the apartment was being guarded.
Initially, there were only two security guards outside the apartment, but now there were several more bodyguards, all wearing a uniform yellow outfit.
Mr. Z appeared behind her silently. "These are royal guards."
Shen Qingqing frowned and looked at him. "Don't you make any noise when you walk?"
Mr. Z was taken aback. "I did announce my presence. You were just too engrossed."
That was impossible.
But Shen Qingqing was too lazy to bicker with him and instead asked, "How do you know these are royal guards?"
"You already have your suspicions, don't you? Why ask the obvious?"
Mr. Z said something strange.
Shen Qingqing gave him a cold glance. She did have her suspicions. Knowing they were royal guards meant one thing: he had been to the royal palace.
But how could someone who skulked in the shadows have visited the royal palace?
Or perhaps, who had invited him in?
"I'm a little curious, who invited you?" Since she thought of it, she asked.
Mr. Z seemed a bit surprised that she asked so directly and answered just as directly. "If I said it was the King, would you believe me?"
Shen Qingqing remained silent.
Mr. Z chuckled. "Believe it or not, it doesn't matter."
"Mr. Z, not everyone is a fool."
Before leaving, Shen Qingqing threw him this parting remark and returned to her room.
Mr. Z stood in place, gazing at the guards outside for a long time. Suddenly, he let out a low laugh, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
That afternoon, Shen Qingqing's door was knocked upon.
The knocking was urgent and loud.
Fu Jingshu went to open the door. The person there was Eisen, looking furious. His gaze swept past Fu Jingshu, searching the room for Shen Qingqing.
"Come out!"
Shen Qingqing was sitting by the bed, looking at the laptop on her lap. She had been away for so long, and the company matters had been handed over to Ke Lin.
However, there were some things that even he couldn't resolve.
Without looking up, she asked, "What is it?"
Eisen gritted his teeth, angered by her dismissive attitude. "You come out here! I have something to ask you!"
"Just say it."
Eisen desperately wanted to rush in and grab her, but Fu Jingshu was blocking the doorway. He was well aware of this man's combat prowess and didn't dare to force his way in.
He clung to the doorframe, gritting his teeth. "Did you poison Ai Qi?!"
Shen Qingqing slowly looked up. "Hmm?"
Eisen said hatefully, "Don't play dumb!"
At first, everything was fine when they returned home. But not long after arriving, Ai Qi suddenly complained of itching on her face. He thought his sister might be having an allergic reaction to something she ate.
Then he saw large patches of red spots appearing on his sister's face.
These red spots were irregular in shape and size, looking terrifying.
Upon seeing herself in the mirror, Ai Qi collapsed. She locked herself in her room, refusing to come out, no matter what. Eisen panicked for a while at first.
He called a doctor, but the doctor said her body was perfectly fine.
Almost subconsciously, Eisen thought of Shen Qingqing.
He immediately asked Ai Qi if she had offended Shen Qingqing.
Ai Qi said she hadn't.
Eisen still wanted to believe his sister, so he came to find Shen Qingqing to clarify. "My sister has developed large patches of red spots on her face; her entire face is ruined. I had a doctor examine her, and he said she's fine physically, so it must be poison you administered!"
Shen Qingqing remained silent.
This neither-confirm-nor-deny attitude made Eisen suspect something was amiss. "It was you. It must have been you."
Shen Qingqing sent an email to Ke Lin, who was abroad, then closed the laptop and looked up at Eisen, who was blocked from entering the room.
"What if it was me? What if it wasn't?"
"Are you sick?" Eisen was certain Shen Qingqing was responsible and was starting to lose it. "I didn't hold it against you when you poisoned me before, and now you've poisoned my sister. Why? Did she offend you?"
His sister had always gotten along with Shen Qingqing!
Hadn't she fallen off a cliff saving her sister? Was all of that a dream?
Shen Qingqing sneered. "You'd do better to ask your dear sister."
"What do you mean?"
The door slammed shut.
Eisen stood at the doorway, utterly bewildered. What did those words mean? Could it be that his sister had done something?
The thought that his sister might have done something wrong made his heart pound. What had that girl done to warrant such a harsh action from Shen Qingqing?
He hurried back home and went to Ai Qi's room to question her.
But Ai Qi only cried.
"Stop crying and explain clearly! Did you offend Shen Qingqing?"
"What's the use of just crying! Do you want your face to get better or not?"
She still wouldn't speak, only continuing to wipe her tears.
Eisen was being driven mad. Having no other recourse, he gritted his teeth and turned to leave.
He went to find the First Prince.
The First Prince had a good relationship with him. Upon hearing that Ai Qi was in trouble, he inquired about the reason. Eisen, not knowing the full story, was vague.
"It's probably just a disagreement between two women. I couldn't get the specifics."
If it was a disagreement between two women, it shouldn't be difficult to resolve.
The First Prince waved his hand, taking on the matter. He also ordered some gifts to be prepared, expensive and rare. He then went with Eisen to visit.
The apartment guards saw the First Prince and naturally did not stop him, letting him in.
Upon seeing Shen Qingqing, a flash of astonishment crossed the First Prince's eyes, which he quickly composed. "You must be the wife of the renowned Master Fu, right?"