In the coffee shop.
Shen Qingqing sat by the window, facing a young woman with deep, exquisite features. This was Ai Qi, who had come from abroad.
From the moment she sat down, a bright smile lit up her face. "Long time no see."
Shen Qingqing raised an eyebrow slightly. "I really didn't expect you to come to China. I remember you used to say you would never leave your country and disliked traveling far away?"
These were things they had chatted about when they were close.
Now, it seemed like a lie.
Ai Qi ordered a coffee from the waiter. After the waiter left, she rested her chin on her hand and said, "That's different. If I were to come here alone, of course I wouldn't want to, but..."
She paused, her expression becoming subtle.
"You understand."
Shen Qingqing narrowed her eyes slightly. "I really don't understand your intentions. After all, I couldn't do the things you've done."
Ai Qi raised an eyebrow. "What have I done?"
"Why ask when you already know." Just then, the waiter brought two cups of coffee. Shen Qingqing picked up the unsweetened coffee and took a sip. The bitter taste immediately invigorated her.
She put down the coffee cup with a soft clink.
Ai Qi watched her every move and suddenly chuckled. "You are truly a woman of elegant demeanor. No wonder he is so deeply in love with you."
Shen Qingqing remained noncommittal.
Ai Qi continued, "But do you think a man will always love the same woman?"
"I don't know about other men," Shen Qingqing said with a tone of certainty. "But I know my man."
My man.
These four words were like a sharp sword piercing Ai Qi's heart. The smile on her face vanished instantly. Maintaining her composure with her last bit of rationality, she said, "It seems you are very confident in your man."
"Naturally."
Shen Qingqing's answer was immediate, her confidence overflowing.
Ai Qi sneered. "Then I wish you can always maintain this confidence."
This cold sneer marked the end of their outwardly peaceful facade, and hostility began to subtly emerge between them.
Shen Qingqing stopped wasting her breath. "Since that's the case, let's get straight to the point. What are your conditions for giving me the herbs?"
A smile slowly spread across Ai Qi's face.
This smile was filled with profound meaning. Shen Qingqing knew what she was about to say with just one look, so before Ai Qi could speak, she said, "If you want a person, then don't bother opening your mouth."
Ai Qi faltered.
Shen Qingqing said coldly, "Let's not even mention that he is my husband and I would never give him to anyone. Secondly, he is a person, not a gift, nor is he merchandise that can be casually traded."
Ai Qi said expressionlessly, "Then do you still want this herb, and your grandmother's life?"
She wasn't forcing Shen Qingqing; after all, it was a choice between her grandmother and her man.
She propped her chin on her hands, asking with apparent curiosity, "I'm curious, how will you choose? You've always been a very capable person, with means and foresight. Faced with such a dilemma, even you will find it difficult to make a decision, won't you?"
Shen Qingqing drank the last sip of coffee from her cup and then looked at Ai Qi, her eyes conveying a coldness she had never shown before. "I don't need to make a choice because I won't hesitate at all. If my grandmother knew about this, she would scold me too."
A sarcastic smile appeared on Ai Qi's face. "It seems you're nothing special after all. You said I would go to any lengths for a man, but aren't you the same? You'd even sacrifice your own grandmother's life."
These were words Shen Qingqing had said to her the last time they met abroad.
At the time, Ai Qi had no retort.
Because that was indeed what she had done. But now, she felt Shen Qingqing was no better.
Shen Qingqing picked up her phone and bag from the table, stood up, and looked down at her. "I will not trade my grandmother's life for my husband. You wouldn't understand this."
She turned and left.
Ai Qi jumped up in anger, gritting her teeth. "Then don't regret it. Your grandmother is so old, and her illness is difficult to treat. With current medical technology, it's incurable. I know you are skilled in medicine, but even you might be powerless."
Shen Qingqing paused slightly.
Ai Qi stood up and lowered her voice. "If I were you, I would consider agreeing. At least you could fulfill your filial duty and retain your grandmother's trust. You only have one grandmother, you know."
She remembered that in China, filial piety was paramount. This woman couldn't possibly disregard her grandmother's life and death.
Ai Qi was very confident.
Shen Qingqing merely turned her head slightly, her gaze cold and unwavering. Then she turned and left.
"Are you really leaving? You'd better think carefully. If you leave, I won't deal with you again. You will truly lose your grandmother!"
Ai Qi was extremely unwilling.
Unfortunately, Shen Qingqing didn't even look back.
Ai Qi stamped her foot in anger, even drawing the attention of the surrounding customers. She forced herself to calm down, grabbed her things, and hurried away.
Shen Qingqing returned home and, facing Fu Jingshu, didn't know how to explain. Fortunately, Fu Jingshu looked her up and down and didn't ask.
Who would have thought that that afternoon, Fu Jingshu would receive a call from Ai Qi?
"Brother Fu, long time no see."
The girl's voice was chirpy and joyful, but the man on the other end of the phone was relatively indifferent. "What is it?"
"You should know without me saying, shouldn't you?" Ai Qi's voice held a hint of laughter. "What else could it be but your wife's grandmother's illness?"
"Honey!"
A voice suddenly came from the other end of the phone, and the smile on Ai Qi's face instantly vanished.
Fu Jingshu covered the receiver with one hand and softly replied, "Wife, what is it?"
"Have you seen where I put that document I brought back yesterday?"
Shen Qingqing's voice rang out, tinged with annoyance.
"I forgot where I put it, I can't find it."
Fu Jingshu said, "It's in the third drawer of the bedside table."
"Got it, honey."
Fu Jingshu turned, then released his hand from the receiver. His voice instantly shifted from tender to indifferent. "Just say what you have to say."
"You two are quite affectionate," Ai Qi's voice was inexplicably heavy, making it impossible to discern her emotions.
Fu Jingshu said blandly, "We have always been like this in our marriage."
Ai Qi was angered into a laugh. She said coldly, "Then I'll only say this once. The medicine that can save your wife's grandmother is with me. If you want to save her, then leave your wife and be with me. I can give her the medicine. After all, even if I destroy the medicine, it won't benefit her."
Ai Qi waited for a moment after speaking. Not hearing a response, but also no refusal, a sense of joy bloomed in her heart. "I won't force you. I'll give you time to think carefully. However, I hope you can do it quickly. After all, I can wait, but Shen Qingqing's grandmother cannot."
She then hung up the phone.
She now deeply understood how to use the strategy of playing hard to get.