A woman in a deep purple qipao, accentuating her stunning and seductive figure, revealed a pair of fair, delicate, and slender legs as she walked.
A white shawl draped over her shoulders added a touch of elegance and nobility.
Every movement exuded feminine charm.
The women present felt envy and jealousy, while the men were more direct, their gazes filled with undisguised infatuation and longing.
Such a woman…
Such a woman…
Before they could even entertain more illicit thoughts, they felt a chilling gaze sweep across the entire venue, as if a layer of frost had settled wherever it passed.
All their desires instantly vanished.
With Master Fu present, they dared not even think of anything, unless they wished to die.
Shen Qingqing saw Ning Xin from afar. Ning Xin was raising her wine glass, offering her a smile that seemed perfectly normal, polite yet distant.
As if there had never been any unpleasantness between them.
A waiter carrying a tray passed by. Shen Qingqing picked up a wine glass and gestured towards Ning Xin.
Ning Xin, as if nothing had happened, averted her gaze.
Shen Qingqing then put down the wine glass without drinking. Fu Jing Shu picked up a drink and handed it to her, her favorite orange juice.
Shen Qingqing took a sip. She had to admit, this banquet had been an expensive affair. Even the ordinary orange juice tasted incredibly pure and sweet.
She then spotted a small cake nearby, picked it up, and took a bite.
Soft and chewy, fragrant and delicious.
"You try it."
She couldn't wait to share it with her husband.
Seeing her unusually joyful expression, Fu Jing Shu was deeply moved. He lowered his head and took a bite. It was cloyingly sweet, almost unbearable.
However, his expression remained unchanged. After swallowing, a smile graced his lips. "It's very good."
Shen Qingqing chuckled.
Fu Jing Shu raised an eyebrow slightly. "What?"
Shen Qingqing glanced around, noticing that no one was paying attention to them; everyone was busy with their own networking. She stood on tiptoe and kissed Fu Jing Shu on the cheek.
Fu Jing Shu was slightly taken aback.
His long fingers instinctively reached to steady his wife's waist, but he saw her, like a nimble snake, effortlessly twist away, her eyes gazing at him with a flirtatious glint.
"Mr. Fu, this is a public occasion. You should be mindful of appearances."
Fu Jing Shu's grip tightened slightly. "Then why are you teasing me?"
Shen Qingqing detected a hint of mild resentment in his deliberately casual tone. A faint smile played on her lips. "You're my husband. Can't I even kiss you?"
Fu Jing Shu chuckled. "Yes, you can."
As they conversed, those nearby discreetly observed them. The hosts, in particular, wanted to speak with Fu Jing Shu but, seeing him engaged in conversation with his wife, remained silent.
However, the rumors of Master Fu doting on his wife only grew stronger.
They felt full even before they had started drinking.
They had eaten their fill of "dog food."
Finally, when the couple finished their conversation, the hosts immediately approached with their wives to greet Fu Jing Shu. Shen Qingqing, disinclined to engage in such pleasantries, moved to a nearby sofa to sit.
Fu Jing Shu instructed her, "Don't wander off. Wait for me there."
Shen Qingqing nodded. "Okay."
She obediently sat there. Fu Jing Shu's lips curved slightly, and he turned to face the approaching hosts, who greeted him with smiles, speaking to him gently.
Their conversation was a back-and-forth exchange.
The host's wife and daughter were purely ornamental, with the daughter occasionally glancing at Fu Jing Shu.
Fu Jing Shu showed no reaction, but the host noticed this. He sighed inwardly, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then left with his wife and daughter.
When they reached a secluded area, he said in a low voice, "Xi Xi, absolutely do not entertain any unrealistic ideas."
The young girl blinked and hugged her father's arm, feigning innocence. "Daddy, what are you talking about? When did I entertain any unrealistic ideas? I just thought he was handsome and looked a few more times."
Ding Kang Sheng pinched her cheek. "I hope that's all it is!"
"Oh, Daddy, I'm so old, why are you still pinching my cheek!" the young girl exclaimed in a sweet, coaxing voice that could melt anyone's bones.
Ding Kang Sheng smiled. "This banquet was also organized for you. Pick whoever you like. There are so many eligible young men. Tell me if there's anyone you fancy."
"Got it, got it."
The little girl agreed readily, and Ding Kang Sheng was finally reassured.
He had no idea that after he left, Xi Xi glanced back at Fu Jing Shu's location.
Ning Xin stood by a long table, holding a glass of red wine. However, her mind was filled with the scene of the couple interacting earlier. Even she had to admire them.
A talented man and a beautiful woman, perfectly matched.
But what came to her mind was her sister, who was now confined at home, like a madwoman.
The more affectionate the couple seemed, the more pathetic her sister appeared.
She took a deep breath, drained the wine in her glass, and set the empty glass down. A glass of red wine appeared before her. She looked up along the hand holding the wine.
It was Mark.
He had a pair of exceptionally deep eyes, appearing focused and affectionate when he looked at someone.
"Perhaps you shouldn't drink too much. It's not good for your health."
Ning Xin said coldly, "What does it have to do with you?"
She knew this man; he had been with her sister before. She didn't know what their relationship was, but then he had suddenly disappeared, and her sister hadn't mentioned him.
She hadn't asked further.
However, she always harbored animosity towards any man who appeared beside her sister.
Mark saw the rejection in her eyes but wasn't angered. He withdrew his hand, took a sip of red wine himself, looking content, and naturally, his mood was good. "Actually, you don't need to treat me like this. Your sister and I were friends once."
"Once?"
Ning Xin's eyes grew colder.
If it was "once," it meant they had fallen out, and what could be the reason?
She believed her sister wouldn't act without cause. Mark must have done something she couldn't tolerate.
Seeing the hostility in her eyes, Mark couldn't help but laugh and cry. He quickly waved his hands. "Don't be like that. I never bullied your sister. It was her, out of the blue. She's simply the strangest person I've ever met. Spoiled, willful, moody, and a terrifying obsessive!"
He looked at Ning Xin with admiration in his eyes.
"Completely unlike you."
Unfortunately, Ning Xin wasn't swayed by flattery. She even felt this man was full of sweet talk and glib words, looking at him as if he were a bad person.
"Before my sister knew you, she wasn't like this."
Did she mean to blame him?
Mark certainly didn't want to take the blame. He quickly said, "Don't put the responsibility on me. Your sister has always been like this. You should know her very well."
Ning Xin's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.
Mark rather admired this calm and elegant woman. Coupled with his unwillingness to be blamed, he spoke a few more words. "I have someone I like. Your sister and I were just collaborators, not even friends. After the collaboration ended, naturally, there was no more contact."