"Where is Ai Qi?"
Shen Qingqing completely ignored Mark's sarcastic tone. What if she knew she was being followed? She had already learned what she needed to know.
Mark sneered, "If you ask me, I'll tell you?"
Shen Qingqing remained silent.
Mark seemed to find it pointless. All his provocations felt like punching cotton. "It's you who needs us now, and you're still so arrogant. Do you even want to save your grandmother's life?"
Shen Qingqing looked at her fingertips, her voice chillingly cold. "What do you want?"
"Of course, I want you to kneel and beg us."
Mark had longed for this day for a very long time.
This woman and Fu Jingshu were his lifelong enemies!
"Oh, and Fu Jingshu should come too. I really want to see him kneeling on the ground, weeping, begging me for the medicine."
Just thinking about that scene made him feel like he was in paradise.
Shen Qingqing let out a cold laugh. "Dream on. What are you?"
"What did you say?"
Mark couldn't believe this woman dared to speak to him like that.
"I said, what are you?!"
Shen Qingqing repeated herself, slowly and clearly, as if afraid Mark wouldn't hear. She even enunciated each word heavily.
Mark was so angry he was spitting fire. "How dare you? Don't you want your grandmother to live?!"
"Is it up to you?" Shen Qingqing showed no fear. "You think I don't know the medicinal ingredients are with Ai Qi? You're just a dog she summons and dismisses. You really think you're someone."
Mark's face turned ashen with anger.
Shen Qingqing wasn't finished. "Oh, I shouldn't say that, it's too insulting to dogs. Dogs are so loyal, so formidable. Look at you, pining after her, throwing yourself at her, and she still doesn't want you. Yet you think you're important."
Mark slammed his fist on the table, attracting the attention of many people in the cafe. He suppressed his rage, gritting his teeth. "You'd better watch your tone, or you'll never get the life-saving medicinal ingredients!"
"This is a deal I'll discuss with Ai Qi, not with you. Don't think too highly of yourself."
With just a few words, Shen Qingqing drove Mark to the brink of madness.
Every sentence dripped with disdain and mockery towards Mark, yet he couldn't refute it because he truly was a sycophant.
He had loved Ai Qi for so many years, but she wouldn't even glance at him.
It was only when she needed something that she would seek him out.
But even so, Mark was willing. As long as he could get close to Ai Qi, he would be happy, even if he knew he was being used, he was still willing.
Shen Qingqing had vented enough anger and didn't want to talk to him anymore.
"Tell Ai Qi I'll give you three days. If you don't contact me, I won't want this medicine."
Shen Qingqing hung up the phone after speaking.
Mark couldn't believe it. This person clearly needed them, yet she was still so arrogant!
Didn't she want to save that Old Mrs. Xiao?
He couldn't understand it. When he saw Ai Qi, he complained, "Look at Shen Qingqing. She clearly needs us, but she's still so high and mighty!"
Ai Qi was not surprised at all. "That's just her nature."
If she were to kneel and beg for mercy now, then she would be surprised. That wouldn't be Shen Qingqing's personality.
Mark pursed his lips and said, "Then what should we do? Should we really contact her proactively? If we do that, she'll have the upper hand."
Ai Qi frowned slightly. "Let me think about it."
However, she wasn't that flustered. After all, the things to save lives were in her hands. She wasn't worried that Shen Qingqing wouldn't back down.
It was just a matter of time.
Mark looked worried. "Then what should we do?"
They couldn't possibly call Shen Qingqing proactively.
Ai Qi narrowed her eyes slightly. "Let's see."
She was not in a hurry and even prepared to pour herself some tea. Mark, however, was becoming impatient. He grabbed Ai Qi's wrist.
"Ai Qi, let's leave here."
Ai Qi paused and turned to look at him.
"What did you say?"
"I said, let's leave here," Mark said sincerely. "This place isn't suitable for us. Fu Jingshu and Shen Qingqing are powerful people. We're no match for them."
Ai Qi flung his hand away.
Mark knew Ai Qi too well. They had grown up together since childhood and he knew her personality. Before she could speak, he said, "Come with me, don't waste your time here. We can't fight them!"
"Why do you boost others' morale while crushing our own?"
Ai Qi was very displeased and pushed him away.
Mark stumbled back a step. "Why won't you listen to advice?"
Ai Qi never concealed her true feelings from him. She rolled her eyes at him. "I'll say it again, I won't leave until I achieve my goal. Don't keep hindering me. If you want to leave, you can, but I won't!"
With that, she turned and walked upstairs.
Mark grabbed her wrist. "Ai Qi, do you really like him that much?"
They were childhood sweethearts.
What was Fu Jingshu compared to that?!
Ai Qi looked at him impatiently. "Let go."
"Ai Qi, answer me."
Mark was unusually serious and stern. He didn't let go as Ai Qi asked, and even took a step forward, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Tell me the truth, do you like Fu Jingshu that much? Will you only marry him?"
"Yes, I'll only marry him!" Ai Qi became angry, as any girl would be when questioned so intensely. She gritted her teeth. "Are you satisfied now? I like him, I don't want anyone else, I only want him!"
Mark was utterly dejected, staggering back a step, his eyes filled with sorrow.
Ai Qi didn't care. She glanced at him, finding him troublesome. "I hope you know your place, Mark. I've always considered you a friend. Remember that."
Mark gritted his teeth and remained silent.
Ai Qi stared at him for a while, then a smile suddenly returned to her face. "Brother Mark, you mustn't be angry with me. I truly regard you as a brother. We are family, friends, a family that won't be separated for many years. Isn't that good?"
Mark stared at her blankly.
"You really don't have any..."
"I value you very much," Ai Qi interrupted him directly. "Because I really like you. We will be lifelong best friends, Brother Mark. Even when you get married, you must not value your wife more than me."
She extended her fair, delicate hand and pulled Mark's wrist, acting coquettishly.
She was already beautiful, and when she smiled like this, she was even more charming and adorable, making people fall for her, perhaps even give her their lives.