The boss clasped his arms across his chest, his face contorted in fear. "As a grown man, how can I possibly dance that kind of dance in front of so many people?!"
Shen Qingqing had no patience for his nonsense. She directly twisted her wrist, producing a crisp cracking sound.
"Dance, or don't dance."
Fine beads of cold sweat trickled down the boss's forehead. He didn't want to dance, but this woman was too fierce. He was afraid she'd dislocate his other hand. His right arm was still throbbing with pain, making him break out in a cold sweat.
Trembling, he stood up, grasped the steel pole with his left hand, and his shirt instantly flew open, revealing a physique of bulging fat.
Shen Qingqing averted her gaze, simultaneously pressing on Zhang Xiaotao's back of the head and turning her around.
The music never stopped. The boss glanced at the people in the room, then at the formidable woman. Slowly, he began to twist his body and dance.
When a slender young girl danced, even stiffly, she was still pleasing to the eye. But watching this fat, old, and ugly man twist his body stiffly was simply an eyesore!
Everyone else looked away, washing their eyes with the beauties beside them.
Shen Qingqing had no intention of watching this grotesque dance. Her purpose had been achieved anyway. Without waiting for the boss to finish dancing, she pulled the girl and turned to leave.
Fu Jingshu, who had remained silent in the corner, suddenly lifted his gaze. His deep eyes fixed on her retreating back. Then, he also stood up, tidied his tie, and strode out the door.
The others had finally managed to invite him out, but before they could exchange a few words, they immediately took their frustration out on the boss who had ruined the banquet.
The boss, glared at by everyone, felt like crying without tears.
...
Shen Qingqing led the girl out of the private room and into the deserted stairwell. Only then did she examine the girl carefully. Her clothes were disheveled, her small face pale, clearly having been terrified.
"Zhang Xiaotao?"
The girl blinked in surprise and nodded. "I am. And you are?"
Shen Qingqing had actually seen the girl's photo from Lu Junze before. She was a college student her mother had once sponsored, and there were some questions about her mother that she needed to clarify.
"I am Shen Qingqing."
Zhang Xiaotao exclaimed in surprise, "You are... Auntie's daughter."
Shen Qingqing nodded slightly. "When was the last time you saw my mother?"
Zhang Xiaotao's gaze flickered, as if recalling something terrifying. Her face instantly turned pale, her body swayed, and her eyes rolled back. She fainted. Shen Qingqing quickly caught her.
"Zhang Xiaotao, Zhang Xiaotao?!"
She didn't respond.
It seemed she wouldn't get any answers. Shen Qingqing could only find a waiter to take care of her before calling Ke Lin. "Investigate why Zhang Xiaotao is at this club."
As soon as he hung up, Ke Lin began his task.
At the same time, Shen Qingqing received another phone call. As soon as she answered, Fu Jingshu's icy voice came from the other end.
"Go to the company and retrieve the project files for the West City Ecological Pond. Deliver them to the Fu Residence."
Without waiting for her reply, he hung up the phone.
Shen Qingqing gritted her teeth. This hateful man, giving orders so nonchalantly!
She hurried to the company, retrieved the files, and went to the Fu Residence. As she reached the entrance, she saw Shen Yaoyao, dressed to the nines.
Shen Yaoyao saw her and assumed a defensive posture. "What are you doing here?"
Shen Qingqing retorted, "And what are you doing here? Chasing men? Can't stand being alone again?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Shen Yaoyao clutched her handbag, inside which was a card with thirty million yuan. She felt Shen Qingqing must have come with ill intentions, likely to complain.
She glanced at the entrance of the Fu family home and then turned back, lowering her voice and warning through gritted teeth.
"Shen Qingqing, I'm warning you, if you dare to reveal that I had dinner with Young Master Ye and he took liberties with me, I won't let you off!"
Shen Qingqing glanced behind Shen Yaoyao and chuckled, "Shen Yaoyao, do you know what it means to bring trouble upon yourself?"
Shen Yaoyao was confused. "What do you mean?"
Shen Qingqing smiled faintly, as radiant as the morning sun. "Why don't you turn around and look."
Shen Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat. She stood stiffly, suddenly afraid to turn around. But soon, the sound of footsteps approached, unhurriedly. The footsteps were so familiar.
She abruptly turned around and saw Fu Jingshu standing there, his gaze cold and indifferent.
"Jingshu, you... you heard everything?"
Fu Jingshu asked coldly, "Do you have business here?"
He didn't question her, nor did he show any disgust. This made Shen Yaoyao more flustered. No anger meant he didn't care. She still wanted to explain, "What I just said was all lies, just talk. I didn't..."
"If you have business, state it. If not, leave."
Seeing the impatience on Fu Jingshu's face, Shen Yaoyao suddenly fell silent. Trembling, she took out a card from her bag and handed it over. "I'm here to return thirty million."
Fu Jingshu took a black handkerchief from his pocket, wrapped it around the card, and then took the card. He didn't spare her another glance. "Shen Qingqing, come in with me. As for you, you can go."
Shen Yaoyao didn't understand. "Why can she go in, and I have to leave?"
Fu Jingshu didn't bother to answer. He turned and walked into the Fu Residence.
Shen Yaoyao stomped her foot and glared hatefully at Shen Qingqing. "You clearly saw Jingshu, but you didn't warn me. You did it on purpose, you bitch, you're so wicked!"
"You deserve it yourself."
Shen Qingqing wouldn't take the blame. She had wanted to report Shen Yaoyao, but before she could speak, someone had exposed herself. As she brushed past Shen Yaoyao, she said lightly, "You're really incredibly stupid."
"Bitch, bitch!"
Mindful that this was the Fu Residence, Shen Yaoyao didn't dare to curse loudly, fearing Fu Jingshu would hear. Her face, usually like a blooming hibiscus, was now contorted with rage.
Shen Qingqing entered the living room but didn't see Fu Jingshu. A maid who was cleaning pointed the way. "Master Fu has gone to the study, it's the first room on the left on the second floor."
"Thank you."
Shen Qingqing went upstairs. As she stepped onto the stairs, her foot landed on a patch of water, and she immediately slipped—
Almost simultaneously, the study door opened. Seeing her, Fu Jingshu reached out without a second thought and pulled her into his arms.
Shen Qingqing instinctively hugged his neck, still shaken. If she had fallen just now, she would have tumbled down the stairs.
"Thank you..."
Fu Jingshu narrowed his eyes slightly, his large hand supporting her slender waist. "It's alright. Can you get up now?"
Shen Qingqing's brow twitched. She immediately straightened up, broke free from his embrace, tidied her clothes, and glanced at the wet spot on the floor. "Master Fu, your house's cleaning isn't up to par."
Why would there be a patch of water out of nowhere?
Fu Jingshu hummed softly. One hand was behind his back, his fingertips still seeming to retain that soft, delicate touch. Strangely, he still felt no revulsion.
"What are you two doing?"
A childish voice called out.
Shen Jinxi was leaning by the doorway, peeking his head out, his eyes darting around.