Pei Xi’s smile faltered, "Hmph, you truly can’t distinguish right from wrong."
Shen Qingqing’s voice was resonant, "You are the one who can’t distinguish right from wrong. The old man forcing you was wrong initially, but if your will had been firm, you wouldn’t have started. Since you did, you should have learned properly. Instead, you blamed everyone and everything. You caused harm first, so it's natural for the old man to discipline you. If it were me…"
She would have slapped such a disciple long ago.
Pei Xi was furious, "You!"
Shen Qingqing didn’t give him a chance to speak, saying rapidly, "No one is born to die. We are human, and we have laws to govern ourselves and adhere to bottom lines. You, however, have lost your bottom line. A person like you, how could I dare to make a deal with you?"
Pei Xi stood up abruptly, "Shen Qingqing!"
"Get out."
Shen Qingqing turned away, unwilling to even glance at him again.
Pei Xi thrived on manipulating people, but this was the first time he encountered a heart he couldn’t control. Yet, he wasn’t discouraged; on the contrary, he became more determined.
"It's okay, sooner or later, you will understand me."
"Get lost."
At the other end of the room, the old man couldn't stand it any longer and started cursing.
"This little beast, I confined him and provided him with the best food and drink, yet in his words, I get no credit?"
He was so agitated that spittle flew, nearly hitting King’s face.
King dodged a couple of times, trying to calm him, "Calm down, calm down!"
"I can't calm down!" The old man was fuming and pacing, "This little beast truly knows nothing about gratitude! For so many years, I fed and cared for him, prioritized him in everything, treated him like my own son!"
"Was he truly your own son?"
The door was suddenly kicked open, and Pei Xi stood in the doorway, his face cold.
Seeing him, the old man’s anger flared even more, "Good, you still dare to show your face. Have you tired of living? Do you believe I won't kill you right now?!"
"Ungrateful wretch, you disgust me!"
After his tirade, Pei Xi didn’t get angry. He had long known the old man’s temperament and expected to be scolded after their identities were revealed.
"Do you regret taking me as your disciple now?"
"I do!"
Pei Xi’s expression was unreadable, but the hand behind his back clenched into a fist. The old man had done many things in his life, but he always boasted that he never regretted anything.
Yet now, he said he regretted it.
"What's the use of regretting it," he said mockingly, "I was taught by you."
Without waiting for the old man's reply, he turned and left.
The door slammed shut with a bang.
The old man's words were stuck in his throat, and he felt incredibly stifled. He smashed a cup in anger, which only then brought him a slight release.
King sighed, "Why must you do this to yourself?"
Knowing what kind of person he was, to get sick with anger over him, wasn't that just torturing himself?
The old man sat on the bed, dejected, and fell silent.
King wanted to comfort him, but the complex and melodramatic history between them was too much. He didn’t know what to say, so he decided to say nothing.
It was probably good for the old man to have some quiet.
The old man suddenly spoke, "Don't you think he's changed a little?"
King, casually flipping through a financial newspaper, replied indifferently, "You haven't seen each other for years. It's normal for him to change, just like you didn't recognize him at first."
"No!"
The old man carefully chose his words, unsure how to describe it.
King looked up, seeing his conflicted expression, "What exactly are you trying to say?"
The old man tutted, trying his best to articulate his feelings, "It's just… he's different from the Pei Xi we saw at the dungeon entrance earlier. Didn't you feel it?"
King looked puzzled, "Different? How is he different?"
He had indeed changed his clothes, but his face was still the same, his voice the same, and even his smiling-tiger demeanor hadn’t changed.
"I can't tell."
The old man exclaimed, "You're so stupid!"
King’s face darkened, "You’re being ridiculous!"
"I'm not talking to you anymore!" The old man was annoyed and turned away, muttering, "I've never met anyone so stupid. If it were a girl, she'd definitely understand!"
King’s lips twitched.
He was truly speechless!
The next day, Shen Qingqing found that they were allowed to go out.
However, they would be accompanied by two guards, and they were not allowed to go to crowded places. She didn't mind. After sitting in the garden for a while, she returned to her room.
As soon as she entered, a servant announced, "Young Master Aisen has arrived."
What was he here for?
Was it about Aiqi’s matter?
Shen Qingqing invited him in and poured him a glass of water. Before Aisen could speak, she said, "If it's about your sister, please don't bother opening your mouth."
Aisen, who had just taken a sip of water, choked on it and coughed violently.
"Ugh…"
Shen Qingqing quickly grabbed a magazine from the table and held it in front of her face, saying, "Are you dirty? Can't even drink water properly!"
Her disdain was evident.
Aisen finally stopped coughing, nearly spitting blood from anger, "It's all because of you!"
Shen Qingqing put down the magazine, glanced at him, and leaned back, "Go on, what is it?"
Aisen patted his chest, still feeling shaken, and pushed the glass of water far away. "Mrs. Fu, oh no, Miss Shen, I know you don't want to hear it, but as her brother, I have to say it. Aiqi did something wrong, and I apologize on her behalf. Whatever you want, I will try my best to give it to you. Please, help her detoxify."
Shen Qingqing mused, "Haven't you looked for anyone else?"
Aisen’s face stiffened.
Of course, he had. But no one could solve it. Doctors, renowned poison masters, all were helpless.
He had even alerted Pei Xi.
But Pei Xi couldn’t solve it either!
"Miss Shen, please!" He was genuinely scared. If his sister's face remained like that forever, that girl would surely not be able to bear it.
Shen Qingqing sighed, looking at him with pity. "Have you ever thought about how your sister found the cruise ship and boarded it without anyone noticing?"
Aisen was taken aback, "I haven't thought about it…"
"Go back and ask her. You should get a shocking answer." Shen Qingqing paused, looking at him with sympathy. "If she's willing to tell you."
Aisen didn't understand the connection to detoxification. "Miss Shen…"
"Enough, stop dawdling." Shen Qingqing rubbed her forehead and said, "It's not a potent poison. I just wanted to teach her a lesson. It will resolve itself in time."
Aisen breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Miss Shen!"
"Thank me for poisoning your sister?"
"No, thank you for showing mercy." Aisen was too embarrassed to say that after returning, he had tried it himself. His male vigor had indeed returned!
And, perhaps it was an illusion, but it seemed stronger than before!
The young model hadn't woken up the next day.
He cleared his throat slightly, "Miss Shen, I…"
Seeing his hesitant expression and the strange flush on his face, Shen Qingqing raised a hand. "Stop! You can shut up now."
She had a premonition that she wouldn't want to hear what Aisen was about to say.