The sounds of laughter and merriment vanished instantly.
The two adults and one child turned towards the doorway, seeing Fu Jingshu and Lu Wanying standing together, appearing like a handsome man and beautiful woman. The mother and her two sons remained silent.
Chen Chen's small face was unusually cold. He had finally managed to persuade Mommy to come back, only for Daddy to bring another woman home in the evening. What was he trying to do?
Fu Jingshu hadn't expected her to be there either, but it was a good thing. As he was about to step forward to speak, he saw Lu Wanying take the initiative.
A gentle smile had been on her face. "Miss Shen, Jingshu said you'd be back, and I didn't believe it. I didn't expect you to really return. Welcome home."
The phrase "welcome home" felt awkward. At least, Shen Qingqing found it very uncomfortable. When did this house become hers? She looked directly at the man standing at the door. "Fu Jingshu, aren't you going to explain?"
Fu Jingshu pursed his thin lips, feeling annoyed, but things had come to this. He couldn't let it escalate further. "Wanying wants to stay here. I wanted to ask for your opinion, is that okay?"
"You've already brought her home, and now you're thinking of asking for my opinion?" Shen Qingqing asked, her expression unchanged.
Fu Jingshu frowned slightly. "That's not what I meant. I just didn't expect you to be back." He had intended to let it go and send the woman away if she disagreed, but he hadn't expected her to be home, leading to this direct confrontation.
Shen Qingqing took a deep breath. "This is your home. You can do as you please. I can't control it."
Lu Wanying had already noticed the flash of anger in her eyes, but she deliberately asked, "Then, Miss Shen, can I stay? You agree?!"
Shen Qingqing said expressionlessly, "I agree."
Lu Wanying didn't care if her agreement was genuine or forced. She happily walked over to Fu Jingshu, linked her arm through his, and said coquettishly, "See? I told you Miss Shen is reasonable and would agree. Now you can relax."
"Don't worry, we'll get along fine and won't make things difficult for you."
Hearing this, one might think they were his concubines. Shen Qingqing slightly lowered her gaze, a cold smile playing in her mind.
Fu Jingshu, however, didn't have time to pay attention to Lu Wanying. He was looking at Shen Qingqing, wondering if she had agreed too quickly. This didn't seem like her usual personality.
Then, something he found baffling happened. When it came to assigning rooms, Lu Wanying chose Shen Qingqing's room. No one had expected this, but what was even more perplexing was that Shen Qingqing agreed. She was remarkably accommodating, packing her clothes and vacating the room for her.
Not only Fu Jingshu but even Lu Wanying was surprised. She tentatively asked, "Miss Shen, are you really willing to give me your room?"
"I've already packed my clothes. What do you think?"
Lu Wanying glanced at Fu Jingshu and said softly, "Miss Shen, I didn't mean to take your room. It's just that I really like the sunlight in this room..."
She rambled on, but Shen Qingqing watched her silently, offering no reaction. Lu Wanying felt somewhat awkward, pursing her lips and revealing a hint of discomfort.
Shen Qingqing said lightly, "There are plenty of rooms here. Since you want it, I'll give it to you."
Lu Wanying didn't like hearing that. "There are plenty of rooms here" sounded as if she was deliberately snatching it. "I really didn't..."
"That's enough. Whether you did or not is unimportant," Shen Qingqing said, waving her hand with a weary expression. "Since I've moved out of the room for you, that's that." She then took her suitcase to another room.
Lu Wanying frowned slightly. She had thought Shen Qingqing would pack her bags and leave, but she hadn't expected her to stay. What a thick skin she had!
In contrast, Fu Jingshu's furrowed brow relaxed. Seeing her with her suitcase earlier, he had felt as if she was about to leave.
"Then rest well."
He only managed to say this to her retreating back before the mother and her two sons entered the room.
Lu Wanying, unwilling to give up, still wanted to say something, but Fu Jingshu stopped her. "Alright, the room is yours now. Go in and unpack your things."
Since he had spoken, Lu Wanying had no choice but to obey and quietly entered the room.
Meanwhile, Shen Jinxi and Chen Chen, like two little tails, followed Shen Qingqing, also confused. Chen Chen remained silent, but Shen Jinxi couldn't help but ask, "Mommy, why did you agree? If you didn't, Daddy wouldn't have forced you. Even if he's unreliable, there's still me and Brother!"
Seeing their puzzled gazes, Shen Qingqing said softly, "It doesn't matter who lives in it. It's just a room."
Shen Jinxi didn't understand. "Mommy, when did you become so easy to talk to?"
"Haven't I always been like this?"
Shen Jinxi quickly shook his head, counting on his little fingers. "Last time, someone chatted with you, and you broke their arm. The time before that, someone cursed at me, and you broke their fingers. The time before that..."
"Okay, okay, no need to count." Shen Qingqing covered his little mouth and instinctively glanced at Chen Chen, offering a dry explanation. "Mommy isn't a violent person. Don't listen to your brother's nonsense."
Chen Chen nodded obediently.
Shen Qingqing then released Shen Jinxi and said in a low voice, "It's just a room. There's no need to argue with her. There's nothing I cannot give up."
Shen Jinxi tilted his head, saying nothing. He felt as if her words had a double meaning.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Fu Jingshu's voice was heard from outside. "Qingqing, are you asleep?"
"Yes!" Shen Jinxi said stubbornly. After saying it, he realized it was wrong. If she were asleep, she wouldn't answer. And he had spoken so loudly. He quickly covered his mouth, looking at his mother with a hint of guilt.
Shen Qingqing sighed helplessly and tapped him with her finger. "You!"
There was no sound from outside the door, but Shen Qingqing knew Fu Jingshu hadn't left. She had no choice but to say, "I'm sleepy."
With those words, Fu Jingshu fell silent. He stood at the door for a while before finally turning to leave. Shen Qingqing waited for a moment, and when she heard no more sounds, she knew he had gone. Yet, she couldn't help but sigh, a very, very soft sigh.
Shen Jinxi and Chen Chen, however, still heard it. They exchanged a glance, neither speaking.
The next morning, Fu Jingshu woke up early. He went to the study without even eating breakfast, intending to finish his work so he wouldn't have to go to the company in the morning. The free time would be perfect for spending with Shen Qingqing; changing rooms had inconvenienced her.
He was busy for over two hours. When he opened the study door, ready to find her, he ran into Lu Wanying. This inevitably delayed him further.
After finally getting rid of Lu Wanying, he hurried to knock on Shen Qingqing's room door. However, no one answered after repeated knocks. Just then, the housekeeper came up. He asked, "Did Miss Shen go downstairs today?"
The housekeeper looked bewildered. "I haven't seen Miss Shen."
A bad premonition seized him. He immediately asked the housekeeper for a spare key, opened the door, and saw the neatly folded quilt. The room was as clean as if no one had slept in it. On the bedside table lay an envelope. On it were written four characters: "Lodging Fee." Inside the envelope was a thick wad of red banknotes.