Mark shook his head and grinned, "Of course not. I just didn't agree to meet you, but now we are indeed friends. However, as friends, I also have the right to refuse your request."
Ning Su chuckled gloatingly from the side.
She had been worried that Mark would collaborate with Shen Qingqing on this painting, which would foil her plan to get close to Mark. She wanted Fu Jingshu to know that only she could help him!
"Miss Shen, I advise you to stop wasting your time. Mark will not cooperate with you."
Seeing Shen Qingqing's increasingly cold expression, Ning Su couldn't be happier.
It was so satisfying to see her embarrassed!
Mark placed his hand on Ning Su's shoulder and said with a smile, "Alright, don't upset Miss Shen anymore. She's in a bad mood now. Miss Shen, I'm in a great mood and plan to go to a bar for a drink to celebrate. Do you want to join?"
This guy was doing it on purpose.
Looking at his cheeky grin, Shen Qingqing felt a strong urge to punch him.
But she took a deep breath and suppressed it, saying coldly, "Mark, you're new here. Have you ever heard a saying?"
"What is it?"
"'It's better to offend a villain than a woman,'" Shen Qingqing said softly.
Mark didn't take the saying to heart at first, but looking at her dark eyes, he inexplicably felt a chill down his spine. Yet, he quickly thought, what could a woman possibly do?
"Okay, I've offended you. I'll wait for you to get revenge."
His tone was gentle, his voice soft, as if he were coaxing a lover.
Shen Qingqing looked at him intently, picked up her bag from the chair, and turned to leave. Ning Su deliberately called out to her, "Miss Shen, are you leaving already? Won't you stay for a drink to celebrate?"
As soon as she spoke, a man's deep, magnetic, yet cold voice rang out.
"How about I keep you company for a drink?"
Ning Su's face stiffened.
Even Mark couldn't help but straighten his posture.
Fu Jingshu was tall and upright like a green bamboo. His stern face held no expression. As he walked in slowly, a strong aura of pressure followed him.
Shen Qingqing stammered, "Why are you here?"
Fu Jingshu walked up to her and gently touched her slightly cool cheek with his warm fingertips. "Who sent you here? Didn't I tell you I don't agree?"
Shen Qingqing felt a little guilty. She wasn't worried about the painting being taken away, as there would be plenty of opportunities to get it back.
But seeing him, she suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
After all, she had come here secretly behind his back.
Fu Jingshu stared at her lowered eyelashes for a moment. Her long, slender lashes fluttered slightly. He pinched her nose and said, "We'll settle this when we get back."
Ning Su's eyes turned red with jealousy at this scene.
She had always known that Fu Jingshu loved this woman deeply, but every time she saw it firsthand, she wished she could kill Shen Qingqing and take her place.
Fu Jingshu's cold gaze turned to Mark. "Give it to me."
Mark was startled and instinctively hid the painting behind his back. "What are you talking about? I paid for it. This painting is mine now."
Fu Jingshu stared at him, making Mark's scalp tingle.
Was he going to rob him?
But this was Huaxia. Robbery here could be reported to the police. Moreover, once it was reported, it would be a scandal. Fu Jingshu wouldn't be so foolish.
Thinking this, Mark felt reassured. "The painting is mine anyway, and I won't give it to you."
"You will return it."
Fu Jingshu uttered a meaningful sentence, then took Shen Qingqing's hand and turned to leave.
"What does he mean?"
Mark felt uneasy. When he turned around, he saw Ning Su gazing at Fu Jingshu's retreating back with infatuation. He was immediately annoyed.
"Stop staring. They're already gone!"
Ning Su withdrew her gaze and sighed softly, "When will the person he's holding hands with be me?"
What a love-struck fool!
Mark strode away.
Ning Su chased after him and asked hesitantly, "Aren't you jealous?"
Mark snorted and quickened his pace. He didn't want to answer the question, but unable to withstand Ning Su's persistent questioning, he said impatiently before getting into the car.
"I just think both of you have terrible taste!"
"Who else likes Fu Jingshu? Who?"
Mark paused and said, "Who else? Shen Qingqing. Such a beautiful woman, and she ends up liking that kind of man. Truly awful taste!"
After saying that, he turned and got into the car.
However, as he looked at the streetlights outside, a woman whose temperament and appearance were completely opposite to Shen Qingqing's appeared in his mind.
...
On the way back, the atmosphere in the car was very quiet.
Shen Qingqing felt a bit unaccustomed to it and proactively reached out to tug his sleeve. "Are you still angry?"
Looking at her fair, jade-like face leaning in, Fu Jingshu only glanced at her before turning to look out the window. "When have you ever listened to what I said?"
"Don't be angry, okay? I promise I'll listen next time!"
Shen Qingqing leaned closer, almost half-leaning on him.
Fu Jingshu pushed her away. His movements were gentle, but his tone was completely opposite, cold and displeased. "You want a next time?"
Shen Qingqing leaned in again, saying nothing, just smiling at him.
Fu Jingshu tried hard to maintain a cold expression, but the next moment, the car jolted, and Shen Qingqing lost her balance, falling towards the bottom of the seat.
His body reacted faster than his thoughts, and he caught her.
As he lowered his head, he saw the person in his arms smiling radiantly at him.
...
He took a deep breath, and his tone finally softened. "Be careful."
Shen Qingqing nodded obediently, but her smile remained as bright as ever. "I'm not afraid. I won't fall."
"So sure?"
"Yes, because you'll catch me."
Fu Jingshu was stunned. His eyes darkened instantly. He cupped her head and pulled her into his arms, feeling as if only this could fill the sudden, immense emptiness in his embrace.
The car soon stopped at the entrance, and the two of them got out and went inside.
Shen Jinxi was sitting on the sofa, waiting anxiously. He ran over excitedly and asked, "Daddy, Mommy, was it smooth?"
Shen Qingqing rubbed his head. "It was okay."
She walked towards the living room.
Behind her, Shen Jinxi puffed out his cheeks.
Something was wrong!
So, when Mommy went to the kitchen to get some water, he clung to Daddy and asked, "Daddy, tell me the truth. Was Mommy's day unsuccessful?"
Fu Jingshu didn't hide anything. "Yes."
"Did that Mark bully Mommy?" Shen Jinxi didn't think this was very likely, as Mommy's combat power was quite high.
Just then, Fu Jingshu grunted in agreement.
In his eyes, even though Shen Qingqing didn't seem to feel wronged herself, Mark taking her things was equivalent to bullying her.
"Then I'll go get justice for Mommy!"
Shen Jinxi was instantly furious. How dare they bully Mommy!
The little guy turned and was about to run.
Fu Jingshu grabbed him by the collar and easily lifted him into the air. "Where are you going?"
"To get justice for Mommy! I'm going to teach that Mark a lesson. Does he really think we have no one in our family? How dare he bully our family's eldest princess!"
"Eldest princess?"
Just then, Shen Qingqing came out of the kitchen.