"The person you like?"
Ning Xin glanced at him, as if in doubt.
This guy, with his Casanova demeanor, could actually have someone he genuinely liked?
Mark tutted, "Who are you looking down on? The one I like is my childhood sweetheart. We grew up together. She's beautiful, like a little princess."
The playboy Mark, when talking about the person he liked, had a light in his eyes.
Ning Xin looked behind Mark.
Mark belatedly realized something was amiss. He turned and saw Shen Qingqing standing not far away, her arm linked with Fu Jingshu's, her gaze fixed on them.
She had clearly overheard their conversation.
Mark was displeased. "What's wrong with you? Why are you eavesdropping?"
Shen Qingqing smiled, calm and composed. "You're mistaken. If you didn't want others to understand, you shouldn't have been talking here."
This was a banquet.
People were coming and going, of course, they would be overheard.
She wasn't eavesdropping; she was listening openly.
Mark tightened his grip on his wine glass, glanced at Fu Jingshu, his eyes deepening slightly. "Forget it, I won't argue with you. I have nothing to hide anyway. But Mr. Fu, I'd advise you to keep your wife in check. Otherwise, with her sharp tongue, she might get into trouble outside."
"Thank you for your concern. No need for you to worry."
Fu Jingshu skillfully blended politeness, courtesy, and a cold, distinguished air.
This infuriated Mark, who took a deep breath, stared at him for a moment, then suddenly turned to Shen Qingqing, his playful demeanor returning. "Miss Shen, I've heard you're beautiful for a long time. When you were abroad, I didn't pay much attention. But these past few times I've seen you, I've discovered something."
He deliberately created suspense, trying to pique Shen Qingqing's curiosity.
This trick had always worked wonders on girls.
But he waited for a long time, and Shen Qingqing didn't ask. Her clear, beautiful eyes simply looked at him, devoid of any curiosity or emotion.
It was as if she had no interest in what he was about to say.
This made him feel like a clown.
However, Mark had weathered many storms and understood many types of girls. Although embarrassed, he could still smoothly recover. "I've found that every time I see you, you're even more beautiful than the last time."
He deliberately lowered his voice, his deep, magnetic tone seemingly filled with endless affection.
Any other girl would have blushed and been flustered upon hearing this.
Ning Xin frowned and glanced at him, then casually looked away, her gaze now on Shen Qingqing, curious about how this woman would handle the situation.
A man was flirting with her in front of her husband.
Would she hasten to distance herself, or politely and calmly express her thanks?
Mark was also staring at Shen Qingqing, glancing at Fu Jingshu in between, his eyes full of provocation. He was doing this deliberately. The more Fu Jingshu cared about his wife, the more he wanted to focus his attention on this woman.
Shen Qingqing gave him a look of disdain. "If you don't know how to flirt, don't force it."
Saying such things in front of her husband, what was he thinking?
Was he not afraid of getting beaten?
Mark's smile became strained. "You're really no fun."
"What does my being 'fun' have to do with you?"
Shen Qingqing calmly retorted.
She held Fu Jingshu's arm tightly. To outsiders, this showed her closeness with her husband and that no one else could enter her eyes besides her husband.
Fu Jingshu also thought this, his gaze on his wife incredibly gentle.
But only Shen Qingqing knew that she was just worried about Fu Jingshu beating Mark. Not to death, but she didn't want a scene to be made at this banquet.
Mark was so choked he couldn't speak. After a while, he laughed in exasperation. "Mr. Fu, your wife is truly... articulate."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Fu Jingshu's expression was indifferent, as if he hadn't heard the sarcasm hidden in the man's words.
Mark gritted his teeth. "You two are quite a match."
"Thank you."
Fu Jingshu's two words infuriated Mark even more.
Didn't this man hear the mockery?
He had only intended to annoy him a little, but seeing his expressionless face, Mark felt an uncontrollable surge of anger.
It was this man, yes, him, who had stolen all her attention!
Mark glanced at Shen Qingqing, then at Fu Jingshu, and deliberately said loudly, "Mr. Fu is truly broad-minded. You can still be pleasant to me, even when I'm like this."
The surrounding guests looked over, their curiosity piqued.
What kind of person was he? Did he have some old grudge with Mr. Fu?
Next, Mark continued, "I thought Mr. Fu would be angry to see me, after all, you are... very fond of your wife."
The crowd: "..."
The word "fond" was spoken by him in such a convoluted, lingering way, with strong implications, as if he and Shen Qingqing had some unusual relationship.
Fu Jingshu's expression remained unchanged, but a cold glint flashed in his deep eyes. "Then your taste is good."
Mark was stunned, and suddenly became agitated. "Aren't you angry?"
He had said so much. Any other man would have lost his temper and questioned his wife by now. Even if he could keep his composure now, a seed of doubt would surely be planted in his heart.
Or was he pretending?
"Pfft."
A light, clear laugh.
Everyone was startled and looked over. They saw Shen Qingqing, her arm linked with Fu Jingshu's, a slender, jade-white finger twirling a stray lock of hair from her temple.
Perhaps it was because she was beautiful.
Even this ordinary gesture was pleasing to the eye.
Shen Qingqing said lightly, "Sir, your compliment is truly uncalled for. After all, before this banquet, I had never even met you."
Never met him, so how could he be "fond"?
The crowd looked at Mark strangely.
He was clearly lying!
Mark smiled dismissively. "It's fine, I know you won't admit it. After all, this is a banquet, and so many people are watching. Women can be shy, and it's understandable."
His words became even more ambiguous.
Shen Qingqing frowned slightly, a hint of impatience in her expression. But a beauty's frown was still beautiful, and the onlookers gazed at her rapturously.
Mark's eyes also flashed with admiration.
Shen Qingqing's clear voice rang out, "I don't understand. Are people from your country so open?"
"What do you mean? Are you being xenophobic?" Mark seized on her words, deliberately trying to corner her. But despite his bold words, he had a bad feeling.
He felt that this woman was about to say something unpleasant.
Shen Qingqing said, "I remember you were with Ning Su before, and you seemed very close. I even have photos of you two now."
Mark was furious. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Weren't you two together?" Shen Qingqing feigned surprise. "Then why were you living together? Or did you break up?"
Fu Jingshu added coldly, "Men from your country are often unreliable and abandon their partners easily. I would never."