The girl was beautiful, with exquisite features and skin that was almost transparently white.
Her expression was blank, her gaze unfettered as she looked at Shen Qingqing. After a thorough appraisal, her voice soft and gentle, she asked, "Who are you looking for?"
"Miss Lu, she's here to see Mr. Fu."
Seeing that Shen Qingqing had no intention of speaking, the servant replied softly.
Miss Lu…
Shen Qingqing narrowed her eyes slightly, "Lu Wanying?"
A flash of surprise flickered in Lu Wanying's eyes, "How do you know my name? Do you know me?"
Shen Qingqing remained silent.
Lu Wanying seemed to recall something, a thoughtful look in her eyes, "You're here to see Jingshu, why?"
"I'll wait for him to come back and tell him then."
Shen Qingqing didn't know her specific relationship with Fu Jingshu yet, and didn't want to take it out on her. Moreover, the girl looked rather frail.
Lu Wanying was a little displeased, but said nothing, "Then sit down, Xiao Su, bring a cup of tea."
The servant looked at her, then at Shen Qingqing, nodded, and left.
She acted every bit like the mistress of the house. Shen Qingqing remained composed, while across from her, Lu Wanying was also subtly sizing her up.
She had assumed that there wouldn't be any women around Fu Jingshu.
But this woman…
Was very different.
The corners of Lu Wanying's lips curved upwards, her smile gentle and charming, "Are you Jingshu's friend?"
Shen Qingqing raised an eyebrow, "May I ask, are you…"
Lu Wanying smiled without answering.
But her demeanor exuded an intimate familiarity with Fu Jingshu. Moreover, as if a thought had struck her, a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
Adding a touch of allure to her pale face.
Shen Qingqing felt a pang of annoyance but showed no outward reaction. Just then, the servant brought the tea, and Shen Qingqing took it and took an elegant sip.
The two women sat on the sofa, neither speaking, yet the servant inexplicably felt a chill down her spine.
It was as if something in the air was about to ignite.
Just then, Shen Qingqing's phone rang. It was Fu Jingshu calling. As soon as he answered, he said only one sentence.
"Grandmother's condition has worsened, come and see her."
Nothing was more important than Grandmother. Shen Qingqing immediately stood up, "I understand."
Her phone's volume wasn't low, and Lu Wanying happened to hear it. Seeing her heading out, she followed behind, "I'm going too."
Hearing the voices of two women on the other end of the phone, Fu Jingshu fell silent for a moment.
Shen Qingqing glanced at her phone screen; the call was still ongoing, but the person on the other end was as silent as a mute.
If he didn't want to say anything, then so be it.
She hung up the phone and looked at Lu Wanying, her gaze a complex mix of emotions. In the end, they both left together and got into the same car.
On the road, the atmosphere in the car was heavy with silence.
As they approached a red light, Shen Qingqing applied the brakes, waiting quietly. Lu Wanying suddenly spoke, "Jingshu and I have known each other for many years."
Shen Qingqing's fingers on the steering wheel twitched slightly.
"I'm not planning on leaving this time after returning," Lu Wanying continued.
"Where did you go before?"
Lu Wanying paused, as if surprised by the question, but then smiled, "I, well, I had to leave due to some issues."
Her words were vague, clearly indicating she didn't want to elaborate. Shen Qingqing didn't press further.
Lu Wanying glanced at her with admiration, pleased with her attitude, "Aren't you curious about my relationship with Jingshu?"
The red light turned green. Shen Qingqing pressed the accelerator, "Not particularly."
What kind of answer was that?
Curious was curious, not curious was not curious. Where did 'not particularly' come from?
Lu Wanying was a little displeased, like a spoiled princess, her arrogance and pride unmasked.
"But I am very curious about you. No woman has ever appeared by Jingshu's side."
Shen Qingqing chuckled, "Perhaps you've been gone too long. Jingshu has had more than just me by his side."
Lu Wanying pursed her lips. Her lips lacked the natural color of blood, starkly white, "Who else?"
Since she asked, Shen Qingqing replied, "Shen Yaoyao, Lin Minglan…"
These were just the ones she had seen. She had no idea how many others there were, considering Fu Jingshu's status and appearance, it was hard not to attract attention.
Of course, she didn't mention his own self-restraint.
Lu Wanying clasped her hands together, lost in thought, her expression growing somber.
Silence descended, but Shen Qingqing was unbothered, completely ignoring her. After a while, Lu Wanying spoke again,
"Back then, Jingshu was indifferent to everyone except me."
Shen Qingqing didn't reply, not even sparing her a glance.
Lu Wanying seemed not to care if she answered, continuing on her own, "I always thought we would never be apart."
Her words were ambiguously suggestive, without explicitly stating their relationship.
Shen Qingqing curled her lips. How boring, the most basic form of sowing discord.
However, when she glanced at the rearview mirror, she suddenly froze. In the mirror, Lu Wanying had a sweet smile on her face.
As if… she was thinking of someone who made her happy.
Perhaps seeing her silence, Lu Wanying finally turned to her and said slowly, "What about you? When did you and Jingshu meet?"
Shen Qingqing replied blandly, "Not many years ago."
Lu Wanying let out a soft "oh," her lips curving upwards, "Then it seems not as long as ours. I was wondering, I met him long before I ever saw you."
Her tone was seemingly calm, yet laced with provocation.
Shen Qingqing turned the steering wheel, a casual remark dropping like a bomb, catching Lu Wanying completely off guard, "Do you know he has a child?"
The smile on her face slowly vanished.
She and Fu Jingshu had been apart for so long, how would she know he had a child?
They had just reunited, and he had immediately received a call from the hospital and left in a hurry, without even exchanging a few words.
"Who is the mother?"
Shen Qingqing glanced at her, "Me."
The atmosphere in the car instantly chilled to sub-zero. She could feel Lu Wanying's gaze fixed on her, as if it had a physical presence.
Anyone else might have felt like they were being pricked by needles, utterly uncomfortable.
Shen Qingqing, however, seemed oblivious. She said calmly, "We have two children, both boys. They are very handsome and adorable. I love them dearly."
She cast a sidelong glance at Lu Wanying. Her face was covered in a layer of frost, cold to the extreme. Her gaze was filled with a dark, deep intensity.
Such an expression and gaze were in stark contrast to her pure white appearance.
Her hands were clasped tightly, her expression gradually turning dangerous. At one moment, for reasons unknown, she suddenly lunged at Shen Qingqing.
Her fingernails were long and sharp, aiming directly for Shen Qingqing's face!
If those claws had connected, her face would have been disfigured.