The smile on Z's face remained unchanged. "This is..."
The butler whispered something in his ear.
He seemed to realize, "So you are Mrs. Fu. You are truly incredibly beautiful and very well-matched with Mr. Fu."
Putting on a show!
Shen Qingqing didn't believe he hadn't investigated the people who came here and couldn't possibly not know her. She also didn't accept his change of subject. "You haven't answered my question yet."
"Master..."
Z thought back seriously, then clutched his head as if in pain.
The butler quickly said, "Sir, please don't try to remember."
Z seemed to stop trying, and the expression on his face slowly calmed.
"Mrs. Fu, please don't force our sir," the butler said seriously for the first time. "Sir had an accident many years ago and doesn't remember anything from before."
"What a pity..."
Shen Qingqing didn't believe it was such a coincidence, but since they said so, she couldn't press further, which would seem aggressive.
She had intended to ask some things, but with so many people around, she said, "Mr. Z, shall we chat in your room after dinner?"
Mr. Z agreed readily. "Okay."
Everyone saw that this person was quite easy to talk to, and many people stepped forward to get acquainted, but unfortunately, they were all politely refused by Mr. Z.
Only then did people realize that although this person appeared gentle on the surface, he was actually quite distant.
He coughed twice after speaking a few words, as if he hadn't recovered, and didn't stay for dinner, returning to his room to rest.
Shen Qingqing then looked at the old man, moved her lips, but said nothing, lowering her head to eat.
"Don't worry about me," the old man suddenly said, his voice a little hoarse. "I won't act rashly before I get the antidote."
But after getting it...
Various complex emotions flashed in his eyes, and in the end, only indifference remained.
Shen Qingqing, eager to ask Mr. Z about some matters, left in a hurry after dinner. Fu Jing Shu naturally followed along.
At that moment, Mr. Z was sitting on his bed, holding a book and reading with great interest.
When Shen Qingqing entered, he didn't look up. "You're here."
"You should know what I'm here to ask about." Shen Qingqing looked at his dark hair, finding it hard to imagine that such a distinguished gentleman could do such things, poisoning people, selling poisons, and harming who knows how many.
"I know. It's about the poison in your aunt and A Lang."
Mr. Z closed the book, looked up, his eyes clear and understanding.
Shen Qingqing crossed her arms. "Why?"
When Mr. Z was reading, he wore glasses. Hearing her question, he took them off, rubbed his slightly sore nose, and sighed. "The reason..."
He chuckled lightly, as if finding the question amusing.
"You should have guessed. It's nothing more than a mutual exchange. I give them what they want, and they give me money. It's that simple."
"So you poison people."
"No, I don't harm people," Mr. Z corrected. "They harm people. I merely provide a poison. There are too many ways and channels to obtain poison in this world. Without me, there would be others."
As long as there was profit, someone would do it.
"Whether it's me or someone else, there's no difference. I just want to make money, that's all."
Shen Qingqing scoffed, "You want to make money, but not at the cost of other people's lives. How is what you're doing any different from robbers and murderers?"
To be human, the bottom line is not to harm one's own kind.
Didn't he understand this simple logic?
Mr. Z looked at her with a strange expression, as if hearing something unbelievable. "You think like that? You're close to the old man and became King's disciple, and this is the result? They taught you this?"
Shen Qingqing's expression turned cold.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to look down on you." Mr. Z seemed to realize his words were ambiguous and explained unhurriedly, "I just feel that neither of them seems like people who would consider others and possess compassionate hearts, yet you..."
"I don't either." Shen Qingqing never claimed to be a good person. "But at least I wouldn't use poison to harm innocent people."
It seemed their values were different.
Mr. Z didn't want to argue further, he just shook his head. "It doesn't matter. You have your ideas, I have mine. It's a fair transaction between them and me, and I have a clear conscience."
He only provided the poison. What they did with it was none of his business.
Shen Qingqing looked at him, suddenly feeling a chill in her heart. This person, with his gentlemanly exterior, had a cold heart.
She didn't want to continue this meaningless conversation and said, "Since you know that the poison recipients were my aunt and A Lang, you should know why I'm here."
"You're here to get revenge for them?"
Mr. Z laughed at himself after saying it. "You're not here for them, are you?"
Seeing the playful and mocking look in his eyes, Shen Qingqing coldly curled her lips. "Don't play these games with me. Since you know, let's not beat around the bush. Bring me the antidote."
"I can't give it to you now."
"Then when do you plan to give it to me?" Shen Qingqing pressed.
Mr. Z hummed, stroking his chin as if in thought. His gaze kept appraising her. Seeing that her expression was impassive and devoid of any nervousness, he felt bored.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. My request is also very simple. After the three-day sea cruise is over, the antidote will be yours."
Shen Qingqing's gaze was fixed on him. "Do you promise?"
Mr. Z nodded, very seriously. "Of course. I don't lie. Besides, there's no benefit in lying to you."
"Why are you organizing a three-day sea cruise?"
This had always been Shen Qingqing's puzzle. There had to be a reason for gathering so many people here.
Mr. Z smiled. "I'm kind."
Shen Qingqing's expression was blank. "Do you think I believe that?"
"Fine, it's really not easy to lie to you. You're too smart," Mr. Z pouted. He now seemed like a mischievous and playful youth. "Smart women aren't very likable."
"Nasty men aren't very likable either."
Shen Qingqing returned his words.
Mr. Z felt as if he'd been shot in the heart. He clicked his tongue. "You're so venomous with your words..."
Shen Qingqing stared at him, thinking he was spouting nonsense, likely unwilling to speak. She decided not to ask further and turned to leave without hesitation.
"Wait!"
She stopped. The voice behind her had returned to its initial gentle tone.
"Be patient. You're already here, so three days won't make a difference. I said, once things are over, the antidote will be handed over to you. As for the reason for coming here... I can't tell you yet. You'll naturally know when it's over."
Shen Qingqing, her back to him, did not see the swirling treachery and darkness in the man's eyes.
Those eyes seemed like a bottomless abyss, luring people in, but once entered, there was no possibility of return.