Returning to the apartment, the old man was sitting on the sofa. Ever since the two left, his heart had been in turmoil, worried they wouldn't return safely.
Now that he saw them back safe and sound, his heart finally settled.
"Did you run into any trouble?"
Shen Qingqing pulled Fu Jingshu to sit on the sofa. After a moment's thought, she decided to tell the truth. "As you said, we were indeed ambushed."
The old man was startled but then immediately thought that since they returned safely, they must not have suffered any losses. "I knew that kid wasn't a good person the moment I saw him!"
Shen Qingqing rubbed her chin. "But something's not right."
The old man and Fu Jingshu both looked at her.
"What's not right?"
Shen Qingqing pondered, "Even if he had set up an inescapable net, how could he have known precisely when we would leave?"
Mr. Z was right outside the door at the time. She didn't believe Mr. Z returned with any ulterior motives; it was clear his purpose was them.
He wanted to capture them himself.
Fu Jingshu knitted his brows slightly and looked at the old man.
The old man was startled and blurted out, "Why are you looking at me? You don't suspect me of leaking information, do you?!"
Fu Jingshu stared at him intently.
Although the old man hadn't done such a thing and didn't feel guilty, he still felt his scalp tingle under the stare. "How can you, you brat, suspect others without reason? I already disliked that person, how could I have informed on him? Would I be crazy to help him against the girl?"
"Your behavior has always been peculiar," Fu Jingshu said expressionlessly.
"Even if I'm peculiar, I wouldn't joke about something like this!"
The old man was very displeased.
Shen Qingqing patted Fu Jingshu's hand. "It wasn't him."
A tender look appeared in Fu Jingshu's eyes. "I'll listen to you."
The old man was so upset he felt like spitting blood. "This guy, as always, is so unlikeable. What happened today?" he asked gruffly.
"Z set a trap," Shen Qingqing rested her chin on her hand, feeling a bit thirsty. She licked her lips at Fu Jingshu, who immediately understood, got up, and went to pour water.
After drinking some water, Shen Qingqing continued, "I initially thought his return was a coincidence, but I didn't expect him to set a trap and then wait for us right outside. If I hadn't brought steel wire today, we wouldn't have made it back."
She took out a square box from her pocket that resembled a tape measure. With a simple operation, she pulled out a very thin strand of steel wire.
It was this steel wire that they had used to rappel down from a three-meter-high building.
Of course, this steel wire was extremely thin and very sharp. It was impossible to rappel down with bare hands. Before coming here, she had specifically had a pair of special rings made.
These rings had a small mechanism. Once the steel wire was clipped into the mechanism, the rings could be used to control the wire, preventing it from cutting her fingers.
The old man smiled when he saw the steel wire. "It seems you've found this useful."
Shen Qingqing chuckled, "Thank you."
That's right, this steel wire was made by the old man, and he had even taught her how to make the rings.
"Do you have any leads on who might have leaked the information?" the old man asked.
Shen Qingqing frowned slightly. "Since this happened, I've only come into contact with a few people. The potential leakers are limited to just a few."
Besides the old man and Fu Jingshu, King...
There was only one person left.
The old man said grimly, "You mean, Zhao Qian."
"Let's give it a try," Shen Qingqing thought of the introverted, steady, and reserved young man, finding it hard to suspect him.
"I always thought that kid was unreliable. Maybe you don't even need to test him to know it's him!" The old man had never liked Zhao Qian, and his face showed complete aversion when speaking of him. "It's only because you're always soft-hearted towards him. If it were me, I would have kicked him out long ago!"
Shen Qingqing chuckled. "I'm not being soft-hearted towards him. It's just that I find people with his personality rare. If we can be friends, it's better not to become enemies."
The old man snorted, offering no comment.
Upstairs, Zhao Qian fell asleep after taking the antidote pill. Waking up thirsty, he went downstairs to find some water and happened to see the three of them sitting on the sofa.
"You're back."
"You knew we were going out?" Shen Qingqing asked.
Zhao Qian hummed. "Before I fainted, I vaguely heard you mention going somewhere... I fainted after that, so I didn't hear the rest. Where did you go?"
He seemed genuinely confused, not like he was faking it.
Shen Qingqing glanced at him. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm much better." Zhao Qian felt himself and beamed. "I didn't expect his medicine to be so effective! Uncle, you're amazing!"
The old man ignored him.
If Shen Qingqing hadn't asked him to save him, he wouldn't have cared whether this person lived or died.
He saved people based on his mood, and he intensely disliked this person from before.
Shen Qingqing sighed softly.
Zhao Qian quickly asked, "What's wrong? Did you encounter any difficulties?"
Shen Qingqing coughed. "It's nothing."
She glanced at Fu Jingshu, who had an arm around her, his face showing concern.
"Does it hurt?"
Shen Qingqing shook her head, her face growing paler. She simply buried her face in the man's embrace.
Zhao Qian asked confusedly, "What's wrong? Where does it hurt? Are you sick?"
Shen Qingqing shook her head, her back to him. "It's nothing. Zhao Qian, if anyone asks you about what happened here later, just say you don't know."
"Okay, I understand, but you..." Zhao Qian's face was filled with worry.
Shen Qingqing coughed a few times. "It's nothing."
Fu Jingshu then scooped her up and strode towards the stairs. The old man followed closely. Seeing Zhao Qian about to follow, he turned back and snapped.
"Don't come up! You stay downstairs!"
They were in the apartment's dining area, and the rooms upstairs were guest rooms. As they all left, Zhao Qian sighed helplessly.
If they don't want me to see, they don't want me to see. Why does it end up with me not even being able to return to my own room?
But seeing their expressions, it seemed Shen Qingqing was quite ill.
Could she be poisoned?
Zhao Qian remained worried, pacing back and forth at the bottom of the stairs. After an unknown amount of time, someone finally came down.
It was Fu Jingshu.
"Master Fu, how is Miss Shen?" Zhao Qian asked urgently.
Fu Jingshu completely ignored him.
Zhao Qian knew this man was cold and unwilling to talk to others, but he was genuinely worried about Shen Qingqing. He shamelessly pursued him. "What's wrong with her? Is she poisoned or sick? If she's sick, I can contact local doctors. I have some connections here..."
Fu Jingshu walked to the kitchen and turned on the gas.
Zhao Qian was stunned. "You, you're going to cook?"
He thought this man would be someone who never touched manual labor, but to his surprise, he was boiling water and making noodles with skilled and swift movements.
Clearly, this wasn't the first time he had done something like this.
"Are you, hungry?"
Isn't he a doting husband? Now that his wife seems unwell, he still has the mind to come down and cook noodles?
Fu Jingshu glanced at him faintly. "This is for Qingqing."
Zhao Qian fell silent. He remained quiet until the noodles were cooked. As Fu Jingshu was about to leave with the noodles, Zhao Qian hurried after him.
This time, he didn't ask. Since Fu Jingshu wasn't planning to say anything, it would be better to go up and see for himself. To his surprise, Fu Jingshu didn't stop him.