She rushed forward and hugged her, whispering something in her ear.
"Stay for dinner, and after that, I'll escort you out of here."
Her eyes pleaded.
Shen Qingqing nodded, "Alright."
After all, they had taken in her teacher, so a meal was normal.
But what confused her was, why didn't Linda tell her teacher directly?
Could it be...
She was afraid of being rejected?
Hearing Shen Qingqing agree, King could only smile helplessly, "Then it's settled. We'll leave immediately after dinner."
Linda looked at him reproachfully, "Do you have to rush off so soon?"
King said sternly, "Linda, you know I'm in a bit of trouble right now. I don't want to stay here and bring trouble to you."
Linda had no choice but to compromise, "Alright then. I'll go prepare lunch for you now. After we eat, I'll take you away from here."
"Thank you."
King's words made Linda smile gleefully.
Watching her cheerful retreating figure, Shen Qingqing couldn't help but ask King, "Teacher, I actually think this sister is quite nice. She's pretty, her personality is warm, and she's kind, with deep affection for you..."
The rest of her words were drowned out by his gaze.
King said nothing, but a hint of sorrow lurked in the depths of his eyes.
Shen Qingqing averted her gaze, "Pretend I didn't say anything."
Fu Jingshu knitted his brows and stepped in front of Shen Qingqing, his eyes fixed on King, his voice low, "Thank you for going through so much trouble to get the medicine for us. Consider it a favor owed. Whatever you need in the future, just ask."
King shook his head, sat down on the sofa, and sighed softly, "I did this willingly. I don't expect any reward."
Fu Jingshu frowned fiercely.
The more someone acted like this, asking for nothing in return, the more troublesome they were.
Favors that could be settled with money or connections weren't difficult. But this kind of selfless offering required the highest emotional repayment.
He was about to say something else when his sleeve was tugged. He turned to see Shen Qingqing shaking her head.
Fu Jingshu pursed his thin lips and remained silent.
Shen Qingqing looked at King and said softly, "Teacher, are you injured?"
King waved his hand.
Shen Qingqing pulled Fu Jingshu past him, her gaze examining him. "You must be injured. I saw bloodstains on the butler, but he wasn't hurt."
King had no choice but to roll up his sleeve. There was a bloody gash on his fair skin. It had stopped bleeding, but it still looked shocking.
"Why isn't it bandaged?" Shen Qingqing asked.
"There are no medical supplies here," King said somewhat helplessly.
Actually, there was a free clinic not far from here. People would go there to get bandaged when they were sick or injured, so they didn't need any at home.
Therefore, Linda's house had none.
And buying some now was impossible. Pei Xi would be watching the clinic as well. Anyone trying to buy wound supplies there would surely be caught.
"But the wound can't be left like this," Shen Qingqing said disapprovingly. She had brought some basic first-aid supplies with her on this trip.
She took out a bandage and hemostatic medicine from her bag and applied it to him.
During the explosion, no one spoke, and the atmosphere was very quiet.
King glanced at Fu Jingshu and felt the atmosphere was a bit awkward. He licked his lips and tried to break the ice, "You're not jealous, are you?"
However, he was really bad at handling such awkwardness between rivals. The topic he chose was indeed awkward, almost like fanning the flames.
Shen Qingqing burst into laughter.
The awkward, stifling atmosphere was broken.
King also smiled, but he was indeed mocking his own foolishness.
"I'm not so petty," Fu Jingshu said elegantly, crossing his legs and resting his hands on his knees, speaking unhurriedly.
King shrugged, "That's good then."
But his shrug brought his arm forward, and Shen Qingqing's bandage slipped, almost knocking off the medicine. Without thinking, she raised her hand and patted his shoulder.
And glared at him sternly.
King blinked, feigning innocence.
Shen Qingqing said exasperatedly, "Behave yourself!"
"Yes."
King nodded obediently.
Fu Jingshu watched with amusement. He didn't feel jealous at all about the scene unfolding before him because there was no hint of any romantic tension between the two of them.
Instead, it looked very much like...
A mother scolding her son.
He couldn't help but curve his lips, his brow showing unconcealed joy.
After the bandage was done, Linda's meal was also ready. To everyone's surprise, despite being Western, she had prepared a table full of Eastern dishes.
Shen Qingqing took a bite and was amazed, "Delicious!"
Linda was overjoyed and enthusiastically kept putting food on her plate, "If it's delicious, eat more. Don't let my cooking go to waste!"
By the end, her bowl was overflowing.
Shen Qingqing quickly said, "Thank you, thank you."
Such intense enthusiasm was a bit overwhelming for her, mainly because her stomach couldn't handle it.
Fu Jingshu and King watched the spectacle from the side.
King even gloated, "Linda's personality is just like that. If you praise her cooking, she'll want to put all the dishes on your plate."
Shen Qingqing's face was contorted in a grimace.
When Linda looked over, she still had to force a smile.
She couldn't let her enthusiasm be seen as a burden.
After eating, Shen Qingqing was truly stuffed.
Linda sent Fu Jingshu and King to wash the dishes. Of course, to get Fu Jingshu to move, Shen Qingqing had to give him a look.
She, on the other hand, was led by Linda to the back garden.
Linda was someone who enjoyed life. She had created a garden in her yard, which featured a sea of flowers.
In the middle, there was a swing made of vines and a soft, cute-looking rocking chair.
Linda had her sit on the rocking chair while she sat on the swing, and asked, "King likes you, doesn't he?"
Shen Qingqing raised an eyebrow, "So?"
She didn't answer directly. Linda pouted, "You cunning people. Don't worry, I'm not trying to sow discord between you, nor am I trying to test you. I know you're very important to him."
"How do you know?"
Shen Qingqing believed that the three of them had acted very normally during the meal, with no hint of intimacy beyond the platonic boundary.
Linda pointed to her eyes, "I can see."
Shen Qingqing chuckled dumbly, "You're really amazing."
"If you say that, then you're admitting it." Linda leaned forward, her eyes full of understanding, "But I can see you don't like him. My dear, why is that?"
She was genuinely confused, completely bewildered.
"He's so good, so handsome, so talented, kind, gentle, and always gentlemanly towards ladies..."
Linda said, then changed tack, "Especially towards you. He looks so devoted. He hasn't said anything, but his eyes have already told everything."
She was almost jealous.