"Miss, please just apologize."
Shen Qingqing looked over. It was an old man, his brows kind and his demeanor gentle.
"Miss, this is the young prince of the Walton royal family, of noble status. This one is also the young master of the third-ranked family. Why must you quarrel with them? Why not become friends?" kuAiδugg
The old man was reminding her.
Shen Qingqing accepted his good intentions. "Thank you, I understand."
Seeing her stubbornness, the old man couldn't help but sigh. In his heart, he pitied the girl. The opponent's status was clear, a young prince.
Beneath one person, above ten thousand, if he truly wanted to deal with someone...
It would be effortless.
Shen Qingqing looked directly at the young prince. She didn't know why, but even before meeting him, she hadn't had a good impression of him. Yet, the first time she saw him, she didn't dislike him.
He seemed to possess a very likable aura.
Pei Ji surveyed her, the two escorts beside her, and the old man. He slowly said, "Did you really poison him?"
Shen Qingqing nodded. "Yes."
She hadn't wanted to admit it, but now she wanted to see how this young prince would react.
Pei Ji opened his mouth, seemingly surprised. He still asked good-naturedly, "Then can you give us the antidote?"
"No."
She refused decisively. Pei Ji seemed to be in a difficult position. He knitted his brows and glanced at Ai Sen, then raised his hand and smacked him on the back of the head.
"What exactly did you do to upset the young lady?"
Ai Sen's head throbbed. "I didn't! I just asked that person to apologize, and she came down to defend him..."
Pei Ji said sternly, "No matter what, you must have provoked her first. Apologize."
"Pei Ji..."
"Apologize."
Pei Ji was usually easygoing, but when he became serious, Ai Sen dared not act playfully or make light of the situation.
He grudgingly shuffled to Shen Qingqing's side and glared at her resentfully.
"I'm sorry."
The apology was quick, rushed, and mumbled. If Shen Qingqing's hearing hadn't been sharp, she might not have heard it. But the focus wasn't on him, but the young prince opposite them.
"I've apologized, but I still won't give it."
Pei Ji asked patiently, "Then what would make you give it?"
"I'll never give it," Shen Qingqing said. She didn't back down because of his noble status, nor did she push her luck because of his good temper. "He made a mistake, and he must be punished. When he knows he's wrong, the punishment will naturally end."
Pei Ji looked at the others. None of them spoke up for Ai Sen. He understood then that it was as he had guessed.
Ai Sen must have caused trouble first. Thinking that he should learn a lesson, Pei Ji stopped pleading.
"I apologize. If he offended you, I apologize on his behalf."
Shen Qingqing glanced at him, finding this young prince different from her expectations. "He's already learned his lesson, so you don't need to apologize again."
Pei Ji smiled slightly, while Ai Sen beside him was very unhappy.
"Pei Ji, why are you helping him and not me?"
"Don't you know why I'm not helping you?" Pei Ji knew his friend all too well. He always liked to cause trouble, relying on his family background, thinking he was the best and everyone should listen to him.
He had only been delayed by one day due to some business, and his friend had already caused trouble!
"You deserve it. Remember next time, don't cause trouble."
Ai Sen usually listened to his advice, but at this moment, in front of everyone, he had lost face and become a laughingstock for that woman...
He felt utterly ashamed, his face turning green. "You're prioritizing her over a friend!"
Pei Ji's face darkened.
"...I'm not wrong. I'm your long-time friend, and you don't help me just because that woman is good-looking!" Ai Sen regretted it as soon as he said it, but the words were out, and he couldn't take them back. So, he blurted out everything else he was thinking.
The restaurant fell silent.
Everyone was stunned. Ai Sen's boldness was incredible, daring to speak to the young prince like that!
Pei Ji's youthful face grew stern, exuding considerable deterrence. "Are you daring to say that she provoked you, rather than you pestering her?"
Although he didn't know the full story, he had already guessed.
Ai Sen's lips moved, but he naturally couldn't say yes. He could only argue stubbornly, "Anyway, you're not helping me! You're just watching me get poisoned and lose all face!"
With that, he turned and left, his steps heavy as if that could vent his anger.
Pei Ji took a deep breath. He truly had no patience for this person. He turned to Shen Qingqing, "My apologies, madam. He's spoiled by his family. If he offended you, please forgive him. I hope you'll still consider giving us the antidote."
Without waiting for Shen Qingqing's reaction, he turned and went upstairs.
He had rushed here after a journey, so naturally, he wanted to take a bath and rest.
Shen Qingqing watched his retreating figure for a moment. Fu Jingshu, beside her, showed a hint of displeasure and blocked her line of sight with a large hand.
"Still not done looking?"
Shen Qingqing pulled his hand down and chided him with a glare, "I just felt like this person seemed a bit familiar..."
But the feeling was fleeting. She couldn't explain why she thought that.
Fu Jingshu knitted his brows. "Do you know him?"
"No."
Fu Jingshu's sense of crisis immediately flared up. Not knowing him yet finding him familiar... wasn't this the plot of love at first sight?
He coldly embraced her, gazing into her eyes until he saw his own reflection before he felt at ease.
"You're not allowed to look at him anymore."
Someone was jealous again.
Shen Qingqing was somewhat helpless. "Alright, I won't look. You're more handsome anyway."
Fu Jingshu's expression remained stern, but the sharp aura emanating from him vanished. He was so easily appeased; a single sentence was enough.
Everyone present was dumbfounded.
When the man's aura suddenly turned sharp earlier, everyone had instinctively held their breath. But then, this woman's words had completely pacified him.
Everyone inexplicably recalled the saying: heroes are often undone by beauty.
Breakfast was out of the question. Shen Qingqing asked the waiters to deliver breakfast upstairs to eat with Fu Jingshu and the other two. As they reached the door of the room, they saw Zhao Qian.
He seemed to have something to say, so Shen Qingqing asked Fu Jingshu and the others to go in first.
"Speak."
Zhao Qian's face was tense. "Did you just see the young prince?"
"Yes."
Zhao Qian observed Shen Qingqing's expression, which was calm and unreadable. He could only ask directly, "What do you think of him?"
"He's alright."
This answer was rather vague. Zhao Qian took a deep breath. "Actually, that Pei Ji isn't as good as you think. Don't be deceived by his appearance."
Shen Qingqing looked up. "Oh?"
"He's not a good person!" Zhao Qian said with conviction. "He's part of the royal family, and the political struggles and conflicts within the royal family never cease. He's certainly no saint. You'd best stay away from him. You are my benefactor, and I don't want you to get hurt..."