"No matter, I'll take my leave."
Ning Xin nodded politely at the butler, then turned and got into the car. The car gradually drove away from the villa. Ning Xin, however, fixed her gaze on the rearview mirror.
She had seen a familiar figure just now.
But how could that child possibly be at Mr. He's house?
A thoughtful expression flashed in Ning Xin's eyes.
If she were the one who sent the child there, Mr. He would never have taken him in, unless he didn't know the child's identity.
Could it be that the child had gotten lost?
She had never considered the possibility that it was the child's own scheme. She didn't believe a child of six or seven could possess such deep cunning.
That evening, she paid a personal visit.
Shen Qingqing looked surprised to see her, her words carrying a hint of sarcasm: "I thought Miss Ning would never set foot in my house again."
Ning Xin smiled, "How could that be? Although we've had our disagreements, I've always considered you my most respected rival, not an enemy."
Shen Qingqing raised an eyebrow, "So what brings Miss Ning here today?"
"Don't tell me you're here to visit me."
Ning Xin herself wouldn't believe that.
Ning Xin, however, said, "You've guessed correctly. I am here to visit you today, Miss Shen. We've known each other for quite some time, won't you invite me in for a sit?"
Shen Qingqing narrowed her eyes slightly, appraising her from head to toe, and said, "Perhaps not today, as we are about to go out for a family dinner."
With the family reuniting, even if Ning Xin had thicker skin, she wouldn't dare to suggest joining them, nor would she insist on going in at this moment.
She glanced at the gifts in her assistant's hand.
"Since that's the case, I won't come in. However, I have brought gifts; you must let me deliver them, mustn't you?"
"Just leave the gifts here, and I'll be on my way. Rest assured, I won't delay your family reunion."
Shen Qingqing moved aside slightly, "Please."
Ning Xin had her assistant wait outside, and she herself carried the gifts in with Shen Qingqing. As soon as she entered, she subtly scanned the living room and the staircase.
The overall decoration exuded a style that was low-key yet luxurious. The ornaments on every table were exquisitely small and delicate.
It was evident at a glance that it was the work of a woman.
The living room was permeated with the aura of a mistress.
Shen Qingqing caught her scrutiny out of the corner of her eye but pretended not to notice, leading her to the coffee table. "You can leave the gifts here. We're going out to dinner soon, so I won't entertain you."
Ning Xin put the gifts down and straightened up. "Aren't you going to let me say hello to the children?"
"That won't be necessary," Shen Qingqing said with a smile. "The children are upstairs choosing their outfits. They want to wear matching family attire today and are very excited. They don't tolerate interruptions. You don't know their tempers. If their excitement is disturbed, forget about you, even I, their mother, have to apologize to them."
With that said, Ning Xin couldn't persist further and could only reply, "Since that's the case, I won't disturb you any longer. Goodbye."
Shen Qingqing personally escorted her to the door and watched Ning Xin get into the car.
The car gradually drove away.
The assistant asked, "Miss Ning, did you see the child?"
"She said they were upstairs changing."
"Then, if that's the case, does it mean the child you saw at Mr. He's house wasn't..."
Ning Xin looked out the window and said softly, "That's not necessarily true."
Shen Qingqing claimed they were changing upstairs, but she hadn't seen it with her own eyes. Anything not seen with her own eyes could never be trusted.
Ning Xin only trusted her own eyes.
"What are your plans next?" The assistant glanced at her.
Ning Xin said, "Let me think."
If that child was indeed Shen Qingqing's son, then things would become rather tricky.
...
Fu family villa.
Shen Qingqing made a call to Xixi, informing him of Ning Xin's visit. "Did she see you at Mr. He's house?"
Xixi's expression turned serious. "I think so. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come to the house to test me. This woman's cunning is truly deep. At the time, I thought I had hidden well enough and that she hadn't seen me, as her expression showed no anomaly."
If it weren't for Mommy's call, he would never have realized that the woman had already been suspicious then but remained unfazed.
Shen Qingqing's tone was urgent, "Don't get involved in this matter anymore. Now, immediately, hurry home."
"Mommy..." Xixi didn't know how to respond and could only change the subject, "Mommy, you're amazing! You guessed she saw me just from her visit. No matter how smart or resourceful Ning Xin is, what of it? She's no match for Mommy."
He rattled on, but the other end of the line was eerily quiet. He couldn't help but swallow.
"Mommy, I can't go back right now."
"Why?"
Hearing Mommy's somewhat cold voice, Xixi explained in a small voice, "Mr. He is sick, and he's sick because of me. Didn't Mommy always teach me that people must take responsibility for their actions? I want to stay until he recovers. This can be considered my way of making amends."
His words made perfect sense. Even Shen Qingqing couldn't refute them and could only say, "Give me a specific timeframe."
"I don't know when Mr. He will recover..."
In other words, he couldn't provide a specific time.
Shen Qingqing took a deep breath. "Shen Jinxi, I'll trust you one more time. This time, we agree that you'll come home once he's recovered. Can you do that?"
Xixi nodded quickly, knowing his Mommy's rule of "no more than twice." He naturally wouldn't dare to deceive her repeatedly. "This time, I definitely will!"
Shen Qingqing hummed, somewhat satisfied, then asked, "Also, is the postponement of Ning Xin and Mr. He's signing related to you?"
Xixi made a sound of affirmation. Mr. He postponed the signing due to illness, and he fell ill because of him. In that case...
"It is related to me."
Although Shen Qingqing didn't know the reason, she trusted that her son wouldn't go too far. Instead, she felt a bit of schadenfreude. "No wonder Ning Xin came to test you personally. She must suspect you too."
However, she lacked concrete evidence, otherwise, it wouldn't have been as simple as a personal visit.
...
That night, Xixi was woken by the urge to urinate. He got up groggily to use the bathroom but discovered the faucet was broken.
But he absolutely had to wash his hands after using the toilet.
Right! There was another bathroom on the first floor!
Xixi immediately opened his door and walked out, only to discover that Mr. He's room, next to his, had its door slightly ajar.
He tilted his head and peered in.
Half the quilt on the bed was thrown back. The dim bedside lamp illuminated the room. The bathroom was pitch black. The room was empty.
Where did Uncle He go?