Ai Qi tiptoed back to the room and saw her brother sitting on the bedside, deep in thought. She crept stealthily, trying to sneak past unnoticed.
"Where did you go," Ai Sen suddenly asked.
Ai Qi stopped in her tracks and whispered, "I went to apologize to the pretty sister."
"She has a name," Ai Sen said with a hint of annoyance. "Why are you calling her 'sister'?"
"Oh."
Seeing his sister's pitiable look, Ai Sen couldn't help but soften, but thinking of the consequences of her reckless actions, he couldn't refrain from lecturing her. "You're so willful. How could you sneak off alone? What if you encountered danger?"
"Mom and Dad would worry! How would you explain it to them?"
Ai Qi knew she was in the wrong. She lowered her head and accepted the scolding without a word.
Ai Sen lectured for a while until his mouth was dry. He took a sip of water, his tone softening. "We'll let this slide this time, but you can't be so willful in the future."
"Mhm, I understand."
Seeing how obedient her sister was, Ai Sen decided not to scold her further. He had his own troubles to deal with.
Ai Qi observed her brother's expression, noticing he seemed to be over his anger. She sidled up to him, hooked her arm through his, and sat beside him. "Brother, what's the relationship between the pretty sister and that man?"
"Fu Jing Shu?"
Earlier, Pei Ji had called the pretty sister Mrs. Fu, so she was indeed that man's wife.
Ai Qi tilted her head. "I think they look so good together. When they're together, there's a… a… unique atmosphere."
Ai Sen immediately became wary. Fu Jing Shu's face was even more handsome than his or Pei Ji's. In other words, his handsomeness was different from theirs.
Cold, restrained, noble, powerful.
That man possessed it all, especially the fierce tenderness in his eyes that was focused solely on one person, making it easy for naive girls to fall for him.
He quickly warned her, "Don't you dare set your sights on him! They're already married!"
Ai Qi was taken aback, surprised her brother would say such a thing. Her face then turned as red as a tomato. "Brother, what are you talking about! How could I, I possibly… Ugh! You're annoying!"
Ai Sen stared at her intently. "Really not?"
"No!"
Seeing that any further questioning would make his sister angry, Ai Sen finally believed her. He said earnestly, "I'm doing this for your own good. I'm worried. They are indeed outstanding. When I first saw Shen Qing Qing, I thought she was beautiful too. But what's the use of beauty? She's already taken."
The Tucker family's motto: never cross the line, morality.
No third party, absolutely not!
At first, he felt regret, but not anymore. That woman was too fierce. Even if she wasn't taken, he wouldn't want her. He couldn't handle her.
"You'll meet someone who belongs to you in the future."
A lover…
Fu Jing Shu's face flashed in Ai Qi's mind. She then shook her head and said coquettishly, "I will! I believe in myself, I really will!"
Looking at his sister's innocent demeanor, Ai Sen sighed.
"You!"
He had scolded her and then appeased her. He figured his sister must be tired today, so he let her rest in his room for the time being.
"I'll go find the butler and arrange a room for you."
Ai Qi nodded obediently.
Ai Sen turned to leave. He first went to greet the butler, but before he could speak, the butler handed him a key.
It was for an empty room not far from his.
He took the key and gave a thumbs-up. "As expected of a professional. Thanks."
The butler watched his retreating back, smiled slightly, and then turned into Mr. Z's room, looking at the man sitting by the window, painting.
"Sir, everything is in order."
The man's brush didn't stop, adding the final stroke to the canvas. A silver men's watch peeked out from under his sleeve, but his gaze remained fixed on the drawing board.
"Very good. Then… the show is about to begin."
The painting on the paper was vibrant, with chaotic lines, using only two colors: black and red.
It depicted blood and darkness on a large scale, giving a very oppressive feeling.
The butler took a brief glance, then quickly averted his gaze, lowering his eyebrows. "Your arrangements, sir, are naturally impeccable."
With that, he quietly withdrew.
Ai Sen, holding the key, didn't rush back to his room. Instead, he went to find Pei Ji, who was reading. Seeing his friend arrive, Pei Ji casually asked,
"Why aren't you with your sister?"
Ai Sen sat down in a chair and sighed.
Pei Ji looked up, surprised. "Your sister is found, and Mrs. Fu isn't holding a grudge against you. What else do you have to worry about?"
"Keep me company for a drink."
"Not drinking."
Pei Ji had just found a rare book in his room that he had been wanting to read. He had only flipped through a couple of pages and hadn't had enough of it. Why would he drink?
Ai Sen looked dispirited. "I'm thinking, should I apologize to her?"
Her?
Pei Ji instantly understood who "her" referred to. "If you want to apologize, then go ahead. After all, she took in your sister, but you still spoke to her that way."
Ai Sen opened his mouth. "I, I…"
He just couldn't say it!
Pei Ji found it a bit amusing and placed the book face down on his lap. "You're not going to hold a grudge that she drugged you?"
"She drugged me, and I drugged her too," Ai Sen had his own logic. "Our fight is between us. I was outmatched, and I admit defeat. Besides, I don't believe she can make me… like that… forever! It will be resolved! But my sister is another matter."
That's why he was furious when he thought Shen Qing Qing had kidnapped his sister.
But when he learned it was a misunderstanding, he felt immense guilt and shame.
"You think things through clearly," Pei Ji chuckled. "Then apologize. After all, you were wrong this time, and your sister…"
He trailed off.
But Ai Sen understood. "It was her fault for not clarifying the truth immediately. She's tired now, so I didn't say much. I'll scold her later."
Pei Ji nodded. "It's good that you understand. Sometimes, misunderstandings aren't scary, but the people and reasons that create them are."
Ai Sen's expression turned serious. "Yes, don't worry."
"Going to apologize?" Pei Ji changed the subject.
Ai Sen stammered, scratched his head, and was about to speak when someone knocked on the door. It was the butler, rushing over.
"Please come to the dining room for a gathering."
"What happened?" Ai Sen asked urgently.
The butler didn't say, only, "You'll know when you get there." Ai Sen and Pei Ji followed the butler out, only to see him notifying others.
They exchanged a glance.
They had a feeling something had happened.
Upon arriving at the dining room, his sister, who had been asleep, was already there, sitting in a chair and rubbing her eyes, clearly not yet fully awake.
Ai Sen pulled Pei Ji over to sit with them.
Then they watched as others gradually arrived. Shen Qing Qing and Fu Jing Shu also arrived, sitting at their own table with the old man and King.
Zhao Qian was like an addition, barely squeezed onto the table. The others dared not come.
Mainly because the aura of these four was too powerful.
Now only Z remained. As he came out, Shen Qing Qing whispered to King, "You weren't here before. Now, take a look and see if this person is your nemesis."
King shrugged and slumped in his chair, his posture far from proper. "I don't know. He never showed his face when we clashed before."
If it really was him, his sudden appearance this time must indicate a larger conspiracy.