The First Prince was a remarkably handsome man.
He carried an elegant and composed aura, completely different from Pei Ji. While they shared some facial similarities, their demeanor and behavior were worlds apart. One was like the sun, the other a noble scion.
"What can I do for you?" Shen Qingqing asked directly.
The First Prince smiled faintly. "I'm here today because I've long heard of your reputation. In Hua Xia, Master Fu is a renowned business magnate in City A..."
Shen Qingqing pursed her lips. This was how smart people spoke, so verbose.
They meandered for ages, failing to get to the point.
"...So, my visit is twofold: to pay my respects to Master Fu and Madam Fu, and also concerning Ai Qi's matter."
Here it comes, the main point.
Shen Qingqing raised an eyebrow. "Are you on very good terms with Ai Qi?"
The First Prince glanced at Ai Sen, who was seated beside him. "Ai Sen and I are on good terms, but not as close as my younger brother. My brother and Ai Sen are of similar age and always got along."
Shen Qingqing remained noncommittal.
The First Prince continued, "These two grew up together since childhood. Whatever happened, my brother always had to clean up Ai Qi's messes. Even at such a young age, he became like a nanny..."
As he spoke, his tone shifted.
"Now that my brother hasn't woken up, I'm the one who has to clean up the mess."
Shen Qingqing secretly rolled her eyes. "First Prince, what benefit do you get from cleaning up his mess?"
"We're friends, it's just helping out. What benefits do I need?"
The First Prince put on an air of close camaraderie with Ai Sen.
Ai Sen was deeply touched. "Big Brother, thank you."
The First Prince then turned his gaze to Shen Qingqing, speaking gently. "I've heard about Ai Qi's situation. That girl has been spoiled since she was little, perhaps too much so. If she offended you in any way, I ask for your understanding."
Shen Qingqing picked up an orange from the coffee table and began peeling it, eating with relish.
She acted as if she hadn't heard a word.
The First Prince, with his extraordinary demeanor, didn't get angry. He asked with good-natured patience, "What are your demands? Whatever compensation you need, just name it, and I will fulfill it."
Shen Qingqing finally looked up at him. "I'd advise you to stay out of a girl's affairs."
She felt that if it were Pei Ji, that clever fellow would surely not get involved in such matters, knowing that conflicts between girls were as tangled as an endless knot.
The First Prince's cultivated composure began to wear thin. "Madam Fu, then what exactly do you want?"
"That question offends me," Shen Qingqing said, accurately tossing the orange peel into the trash bin. "You should ask what the other party did to displease me, and how they can compensate me to make me happy again."
"She's just a little girl, what could she possibly do?"
The First Prince had never considered the squabbles between women as anything significant, merely trivial matters.
A simple apology, a gift as compensation, and it would be over.
He clapped his hands.
Immediately, two burly men entered, carrying a large chest. When it was opened, it was filled with rare treasures, antiques, and famous paintings.
Shen Qingqing casually picked up a pearl necklace and examined its luster. "The items are good... Are these for my apology?"
"In a way."
Although the First Prince said so, Shen Qingqing felt no sincerity whatsoever.
He didn't even seem to know what mistake Ai Qi had made that warranted such punishment, offering only a crude and direct compensation with material goods.
The antecedent and consequence were of no concern to him.
With a "snap," she tossed the pearl necklace down. She didn't even spare a glance at the chest full of precious jewels that women would covet.
"An insincere apology, I do not accept."
The smile on the First Prince's face faded. "Madam Fu, you must be aware of Ai Qi's background. She followed Pei Ji around like a shadow since she was a child, showered with immense affection, and, one might say, spoiled. It's normal for such a girl to make some mistakes."
"Are you threatening me?"
Shen Qingqing chuckled, angered.
Did he really think she couldn't understand his implications? That Ai Qi, being who she was, couldn't be pushed further, and this apology was the best he could offer.
The First Prince smiled slightly. "I have no such intention. I merely hope for reconciliation. After all, you have shared hardships together. It would be a waste of that camaraderie to fall out over a minor disagreement."
"The First Prince is very generous."
Shen Qingqing spoke with a pointed meaning.
The First Prince, not understanding, frowned. "I can't possibly argue with a child."
Shen Qingqing let out a cold snort. "Before you champion others, you should first ascertain what exactly the other party has done."
Feeling thirsty, she took a sip of water and set the cup down casually.
"I have matters to attend to and cannot entertain you further. Please see yourselves out."
She directly showed them the door.
The First Prince was not a persistent person. Since he had been asked to leave, he could only comply. As he reached the doorway, he suddenly heard a voice from behind.
"Stop."
He paused. "Is there something else?"
A gust of wind sounded, and he instinctively turned around, just in time to catch something flying through the air. A white button lay quietly in his palm.
"You might as well take this back and ask Ai Qi. She will understand."
The First Prince instinctively looked at Ai Sen, who wore a look of bewilderment.
After the two left, Fu Jingshu asked, "You've just handed over the evidence, and you're not going to punish her anymore?"
"She has already been punished."
Shen Qingqing no longer cared about Ai Qi. In any case, the other party had already suffered a severe punishment, her most important asset destroyed.
She had always been skilled at that.
The weaknesses of Ai Sen and his sister were too obvious.
On the way back, the First Prince and Ai Sen didn't speak much. Both were deep in thought. Ai Sen, having spent more time with his sister, understood her better.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was amiss.
"First Prince, this matter might be difficult to resolve."
"What have you thought of?"
Ai Sen's face was filled with bitterness. "If my guess is correct, then we have no grounds at all. Let alone poisoning her, even I might have killed the person!"
What kind of hatred would drive a woman to attack another woman's face?
It was either jealousy, or revenge for a parent's death, or perhaps...
A third party!
The First Prince was astonished. "What on earth have you thought of?"
Ai Sen fell silent.
They arrived at the villa entrance and stopped the car. The First Prince's unease and foreboding reached their peak, so he strode into the living room and headed straight for Ai Qi's room.
"Ai Qi, what did you do to Shen Qingqing?" he asked directly as he entered.
Ai Qi remained silent.
Ai Sen then took out the button and showed it to her. He had studied it for nearly half an hour in the car and was certain it belonged to his sister.
"Look at it carefully!"
Upon seeing the button, Ai Qi flinched, her eyes darting away.
This made the First Prince and Ai Sen even more certain that she must have done something bad to incur such trouble.
"Speak up!" Ai Sen roared.
Ai Qi shrank her shoulders and finally broke. Her voice was barely a whisper. "Back on the cliff, it wasn't she who saved me, it was I who pushed her..."