"Yes, sister, don't doubt what you heard, it's really the Maldives!"
Flyer danced excitedly like Shen Qingyou and Qing Cang promoting vigorously: "And it's hosted by the popular star Li Luo himself, you have a chance for close contact with your idol!"
Li Luo?
The expression on Shen Qingyou's face suddenly cooled down as the text message from Midnight flashed in her mind. She glanced at Qing Cang: "Let's go!"
"Sign us up!"
A magnetic and slightly hoarse voice sounded beside Shen Qingyou, who looked at Qing Cang in surprise, smiled, and then Qing Cang took Shen Qingyou's hand and headed toward the mall.
"Li Luo, Li Luo, Li Luo!"
In the mall lobby, a group of fans shouted Li Luo's name in unison. The words "Confession of Love" were arranged with red roses against the backdrop, shimmering against the empty blue, enchanting and captivating. Behind this backdrop stood a Christmas Tree several meters tall, adorned with colorful lights that twinkled, along with artificial snow gently falling from above, quietly colorful, like a dream.
Flyer rushed over to where Shen Qingyou and Qing Cang stood side by side in the crowd, handing them a number tag.
"Hey there, I've signed you up! Number 99, a very auspicious number! Good luck!" After speaking, she hurriedly ran off again; they still needed one last couple to reach one hundred!
The lights dimmed, music began to play, and the entire lobby fell silent. A spotlight hanging high above spun quickly, sweeping across the faces of everyone present before finally landing on the strikingly handsome face of Li Luo in the center of the stage.
"Luo Luo!"
"Luo Luo!"
“Luo Luo!”
Everyone present clapped in perfect harmony, the applause lively and rhythmic. Li Luo scanned the crowd with enchanting eyes, a signature smirk playing on his lips as he picked up the microphone and shouted, “Hello everyone!”
Just his entrance ignited such a fervent atmosphere. Shen Qingyou watched the confident figure on stage and suddenly felt a wave of emotion. The youthful young man from a year ago had matured significantly; he exuded a calm and steady aura. She had a premonition that one day he would become a superstar, not just an idol known for his looks.
“I want to ask everyone a question: what is the most precious thing in the world?”
After his opening remarks, Li Luo suddenly dropped his playful demeanor and asked everyone seriously. The audience began to whisper among themselves, various opinions surfacing.
“Can anyone tell me the answer? The prize is a signed photo of me!”
What is the most precious thing in life? Money? Power? Family? Love?
Li Luo shook his head. “I know!”
A clear voice rang out from the bustling crowd: “I know! The most precious thing in life is the happiness you can grasp right now!”
“Bingo! That’s it! So if you love her (him), confess today!”
The theme of the event was thus introduced by Li Luo: “Confession, confession, confession…”
“Today, our event theme is called Confession of Love. If you secretly love someone or quietly like someone, make sure to seize this opportunity to confess to him (her). Today, we will invite one hundred men and women who will confess to their crushes. As long as the other person arrives at our venue before Midnight and accepts their love, they will have a chance to win a seven-day trip to the Maldives!”
“Maldives, Maldives, Maldives…”
"Cang, let's go. This kind of boys and girls game isn't suitable for us!"
Shen Qingyou tugged at Qing Cang's sleeve. Meeting Li Luo in this situation? She wasn't mentally prepared for it yet.
"Didn't you want to go to the Maldives?"
Qing Cang smiled, pulling her along as they walked outside. "All expenses paid, including accommodations and a double flight. Aren't you tempted?"
Bite bit her lip. "One hundred pairs. Do you have the confidence to win first place?"
"Don't you have any confidence in me?"
With a confident smile, Qing Cang appeared self-assured. Looking at Li Luo on the stage, who was witty and beaming with a smile, Shen Qingyou steeled herself and nodded.
"Manager, what should we do? We only found ninety-nine; where's the hundredth?"
Backstage, Flyer hung his head in frustration. There always seemed to be a flaw in perfection; they couldn't find the hundredth confession target. Did that mean he had to step up?
"Manager, don't look at me like that. I don't have anyone I like yet! To confess, there has to be someone I like!"
"Then don't look at me like that either; I'm a married man!"
"What are we going to do now?"
The two of them were anxiously pacing backstage, quickly using the intercom to inform Li Luo. If all else failed, they would just go with ninety-nine.
Hearing the frantic voice of the manager in the headset, Li Luo smiled slightly and said leisurely, "Don't worry, leave everything to me!"
"Wang Li, I like you, marry me!"
"Malo, I like you, please accept me!"
...
Watching one guy after another confessing, Shen Qingyou's smile grew wider as she elbowed Qing Cang beside her. "Hey, do you know why there are so many male contestants and so few female contestants?"
"Because women have less leverage!"
"Wrong. It's because in today's society, women don't have to worry about getting married, but men, hmm, hmm!"
Shen Qingyou let out a few mischievous hums while looking at Qing Cang. The reality of society now is that the gender ratio is unbalanced, making women highly sought after while men are struggling to find partners.
"Next, let's welcome contestant number ninety-nine!"
When Li Luo saw the name on the list, the smile on her face instantly froze.
"What's wrong? What's wrong?"
"What happened? What happened?"
The audience below noticed Li Luo's suddenly frozen expression and was filled with confusion. The lively atmosphere in the venue abruptly turned heavy, and everyone was very curious as to why Li Luo showed such a reaction when reading out the name of contestant ninety-nine.
"Cang, let's go!"
Shen Qingyou confirmed again that this would be a very unpleasant meeting, but Qing Cang merely smiled faintly and said, "Don't worry, I'm here!"
With that, he released Shen Qingyou's hand and strode confidently to the center of the stage. "Hello everyone, I am the ninety-ninth man who wants to confess!"
"Wow, so handsome!"
A series of infatuated screams erupted around Shen Qingyou. Looking at Qing Cang under the spotlight, his obsidian-like eyes sparkled with intoxicating light. He wore a beige casual coat that hugged his tall and model-like figure. A charming smile graced his lips, as if one glance would draw anyone in, making it impossible to escape. If Li Luo was a dazzling diamond, then Qing Cang was a piece of millennia-old jade. He exuded a calm and stable aura shaped by time itself. The previously stagnant atmosphere was pushed to its peak with Qing Cang's appearance.
Everyone was buzzing with speculation about the beautiful woman he wanted to confess to.
Suddenly, someone in the barracks let out a scream.
"What happened? What happened? Are we going to attack Japan?"
"Look quickly! Isn't that our Commander?"
A soldier pointed at the entertainment news being broadcast live on a variety show. On the screen, wasn't it their Commander?
Just recently, news of this Commander dating had spread throughout every corner of the barracks. Today, the Commander was putting on a live performance of a Confession of Love. The television set was surrounded by curious heads.
As everyone stared intently, waiting for the next scene, the television screen suddenly switched. It was just an entertainment news segment, not a live broadcast. One soldier pounded on the television in frustration and wailed, "How could this happen? How could this happen?"
"Twelve Company, gather at the playground in one minute!"
A sharp whistle sounded outside the barracks, and everyone quickly got up and rushed out of the room. Five minutes later, three military trucks drove out of a certain military camp.
Inside the Qing Family Mansion, the maid Li Xing hurriedly ran to the hall and silently turned on the television. "Grandfather, look quickly! Young Master, Young Master!"
Qing Guo Bo, who was reading a newspaper, took off his reading glasses and stared at the screen. The man on the television, full of vigor, was none other than his handsome grandson, Qing Cang.
"Grandfather, who is Young Master confessing to? How romantic and happy!"
Li held her hands to her chest, looking infinitely envious. If only a man would confess to her like that, she would probably be so happy that she would faint!
"Li, where is this?"
"Baisheng Plaza!"
"Call the driver to prepare the car!"
"Grandfather, can you take me with you?"
She really wanted to go cheer for Young Master!
Qingbo Nation glanced at the excited Li and nodded with a smile. Li immediately dashed in front of Qingbo Nation; she couldn't wait to experience the atmosphere on-site.
"Li Luo! Li Luo!"
The person in charge at the scene called out to the dazed Li Luo through her earpiece. Coming back to her senses and following Qing Cang's line of sight, she saw Shen Qingyou, wearing a cashmere hat and matching cashmere scarf, dressed in an oversized red down jacket that left only one eye visible. It seemed she had gained quite a bit of weight in the month they hadn't seen each other...
Qing Cang reached out, took the microphone from Li Luo's hand, brought it to his lips, and spoke softly, "Today, I want to ask everyone for a favor!"
"I've fallen in love with a woman and want her to marry me. We have a three-year agreement, but now I can't wait any longer. Everyone, what should I do?"
With a hint of frustration, Qing Cang looked at the crowd.
"Propose! Propose! Propose!"
The crowd shouted enthusiastically. Li Luo picked up the microphone and said to Qing Cang, "Sir, I'm sorry, but this event is just for love confessions, not for proposals!"
"Li Luo, Li Luo, don't stop him! Don't stop him!"
The atmosphere had reached a climax; whether it was a love confession or a marriage proposal didn't matter as long as it energized the event. For the event planners, the promotional goal had been achieved.
Listening to the voices in her earpiece, Li Luo angrily removed the earpiece from her ear.
With a beaming smile, Qing Cang addressed the crowd, "If that girl refuses my proposal, please don't laugh at me!"
Everyone's attention was focused on Qing Cang, completely unaware that Li Luo had silently exited the stage, her face darkened as she walked towards the center of the crowd wearing sunglasses...
"Tsk, which woman is so blind as to refuse such an outstanding man?"
"Unless she's completely out of her mind!"
Standing in the center of the crowd, Shen Qingyou's smile had vanished. What was supposed to be an entertaining performance had turned serious with Qing Cang's unexpected declaration. Listening to the unpleasant murmurs around her, a deep sense of inferiority surged within her once again.
"Serene, marry me!"
From the microphone, Qing Cang's hoarse yet magnetic voice resonated, like a magnet drawing in all women who could not resist its powerful allure. In the crowd, someone began to sob softly, repeatedly saying, "It's so touching, so touching!"
Following Qing Cang's gaze, everyone looked over to see a woman whose face was mostly covered except for her eyes.
"She looks like she might be some celebrity."
"Or perhaps a rich heiress!"
A bitter smile crept onto Shen Qingyou's lips. A prince as noble as Qing Cang would surely be accompanied by a dazzling woman. Looking at herself in sneakers and sweatpants topped with a down jacket, she wondered if everyone was speculating about the beauty hidden beneath her scarf. If the truth were revealed, would Big White be disappointed?
Just as Qing Cang was walking toward her with deep affection, she suddenly turned and ran away. At that moment, another pair of large hands quickly grasped hers, pulling her along as they fled.
"Serene!"
Qing Cang's expression changed dramatically as he pushed through the crowd and chased after them. The onlookers were bewildered by this sudden turn of events and soon found themselves running after them as well.
The entire street erupted in commotion, with pedestrians stopping to watch this unfolding scene.
"Stop, stop, stop!"
A military green truck came to a halt by the roadside. Spotting Qing Cang's figure, the Company Commander immediately rushed over. "Commander, is there a mission that needs to be executed?"
"Catch that Thief in front of me!"
Thief? I understand that. Taking out a whistle, the Company Commander blew a sharp note, and then the soldiers got out of the vehicle and assembled. "Catch that Thief in front of me!"
With the command given, everyone dispersed around to surround the Thief who had disrupted Commander's romantic plans.
"Li Luo, let go of me!"
Shen Qingyou gasped and struggled, but Li Luo held on tightly, gritting his teeth as he grasped Shen Qingyou's arm, refusing to let go no matter how much she tried to shake him off.
"Li Luo, what are you doing? Let go of me!"
...
"Li Luo, my butt hurts!"
Hearing this, Li Luo panicked as he looked at Shen Qingyou's pale face. Damn it, how could he forget about her condition?
Just then, they passed by a supermarket, and without thinking, Li Luo pushed over a shopping cart and lifted Shen Qingyou into it, straining to push forward. "Li Luo, what are you doing? Are you crazy?"
"Shut up!"
Li Luo angrily scolded Shen Qingyou. Damn it, why was this a cursed Pedestrian Street? Why wasn't there a single taxi around?
Ahead, a squad led by the Company Commander had already blocked the entrance where Li Luo was. They grabbed the cart, with some moving left, some moving right, and behind them, Qing Cang was coldly advancing step by step toward him. The entertainment news crew had also arrived on the scene in record time; the entire team of Confession of Love had even set up an impromptu stage. They sensed that this would be a sensational news story for Jiangcheng.
Shen Qingyou sat in the cart, her innocent eyes wide open, wondering if there was still a third way out of this situation.
Wuwu...
She really didn't want to go out today; what should she do now?
"Let her go!"
Qing Cang's voice was cold as ice, stepping closer to Li Luo. Li Luo puffed out her chest and provocatively looked at Qing Cang, "I won't let go! A month ago, you used any means necessary; now, I won't let you succeed!"
"Li Luo, Li Luo!"
Shen Qingyou tugged at Li Luo's sleeve, but Li Luo shook her off, "You woman, shut up and be quiet!"
"Li Luo, you're a public figure; do you really have to act like this?"
"Don't you know? The more of a public figure you are, the more news you need to create! I guarantee that tomorrow, I will definitely make the headlines!"
Li Luo's nonchalant attitude made Qing Cang frown. Looking at the flashing lights around them, his face darkened...
"Li, go down and see what's happening!"
Qingbo Nation sat in the car, watching the crowd gathered at the supermarket entrance not far from Baisheng Plaza. If he wasn't losing his eyesight, then standing under the orange light was indeed Qing Cang's silhouette.
Glancing at Qing Guo Bo's expression, Li opened the car door and quickly ran out.
"Young Master!"
Seeing Li's figure, Qing Cang was momentarily stunned. After noticing her pointing to a black car not far away, his gaze deepened.
"Young Master, what happened?"
"Tell Grandpa it's nothing. A troublemaker showed up, but it's just a dish of vegetables. Tomorrow, I will definitely bring his granddaughter-in-law home to see him!"
"Oh!"
The Young Master's expression was also quite grim. Li quickly turned back, got into the car, and relayed what Qing Cang had told her to Qingbo Nation.
"Old Zhang, let's go back!"
The black car slowly drove away. Inside the car, Qingbo Nation dialed a few people's numbers, then closed his eyes, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.
"Serene, are you really planning to hide behind him like this?"
Turning to Shen Qingyou, his tone became exceedingly gentle. Did she want to retreat into her shell again? This time, he absolutely would not allow her to do so.
"Qing!"
Shen Qingyou looked at Qing Cang with a pair of apologetic eyes. She wasn't prepared; she really wasn't prepared...
"Qing Shao, do you think that just because you have more people, you can forcibly take a woman?"
"Strong-arming a woman?" "Li Luo, it's not as serious as you think!" Shen Qingyou muttered behind Li Luo, only to receive an eye roll in response.
"You woman, after being imprisoned for a month, don't you know to call the police? Are you an idiot? Don't you know how to report it?"
...
Shen Qingyou was speechless. Qing Cang's face was as dark as Zhong Kui's, glaring at Li Luo with eyes sharp enough to cut, almost ready to tear him apart.
"Li Luo!"
Shen Qingyou felt her head pounding. At this moment, she was grateful she had worn a hat and wrapped a scarf around her neck; otherwise, how could she ever go out again?
Qing Cang, with a grim expression, stepped in front of Li Luo, pushing him away repeatedly. The two men were on the verge of fighting right there in the street.
Seeing this, the Company Commander signaled to everyone and immediately stepped forward to form a circle, isolating Qing Cang, Li Luo, and Shen Qingyou from the onlookers. No matter how noisy and chaotic it was outside, the atmosphere around them was freezing cold, creating a quiet space for them.
"Qing Cang, let me tell you, just because there are more of you doesn't mean you can bully the fewer!"
Li Luo glared at Qing Cang with fury. That damned man! Just thinking about how Shen Qingyou had spent the past month with him made his blood boil.
"Bully the fewer? You know what? I really hadn't thought of that!"
A cold smile curled at the corners of his mouth, resembling that of a demon. Although he was speaking to Li Luo, his eyes never glanced at him even once.
He stared intently at Shen Qingyou: "Are you really planning to hide here forever?"
"I?"
Shen Qingyou looked at Qing Cang, unsure of what to say.
"Shen Qingyou, just say the word, and today, even if it means fighting, I will stand against him. I will absolutely not let him take you away!"
"Shut up!"
"If you want me to shut up, then unless..."
Li Luo's words were cut off as an angry Qing Cang grabbed him by the collar: "I warn you, do not challenge my patience!"
"What? You want to fight? Let me tell you, I'm not afraid of you!"
Although he was not as physically strong, he had a heart that was fearless. "Unless Shen Qingyou wants to leave with you herself, I will never let you take her! She is my subordinate, and I have the obligation to ensure her safety. Besides, she has signed a contract with me. Breaking it midway would incur legal responsibilities!"
The key to solving this problem fell back onto Shen Qingyou. "Hey, you two, are you done making a scene? Last time it was a fractured pelvis; this time, do you want me to break an arm or a leg?"
Shen Qingyou said angrily. With her reminder, the two men immediately stopped their confrontation and looked at Shen Qingyou, saying in unison, "This time it won't be your fault!"
The cramped space pushed Shen Qingyou uncomfortably. Crawling out of the car, she sat on the steps in front of the supermarket with immense grievance. How could such a nice Christmas turn into this?
Burying her head between her knees to avoid seeing anything, she thought, "You can fuss around as much as you want!"
Shen Qingyou closed her eyes in frustration; her head was buzzing as if it were about to explode. Was there ever a moment of peace in this life?
"Li Luo, what do you want?"
Qing Cang asked in a deep voice. Li Luo looked up and replied leisurely, "I don't want anything. It's just that Shen Qingyou is my employee, and she has a contract with me. Since the contract hasn't expired yet, she must fulfill her obligations!"
"What obligations?"
As Li Luo rambled on about the various obligations that Shen Qingyou needed to fulfill, Qing Cang's expression turned stormy, as if a tempest were about to break. Washing clothes? Cooking? Mopping the floor? Why should Shen Qingyou have to do these things?
"Sorry, she is not only my assistant at work but also my housekeeper in life!"
"What will it take for this contract to become void?"
"It can't become void. Neither party can unilaterally breach the contract!"
Li Luo looked at Qing Cang triumphantly, feeling grateful for the agreement Shen Qingyou had signed with him at that time. "Serene, you really had foresight!"
Damn it!
Shen Qingyou cursed silently in her heart and raised her head to glare fiercely at Li Luo.
"So how much longer does this contract have until it expires?"
"Hmm? Let me think... one year, two years, or maybe ten years?"
"What? Ten years?"
"One could simply describe Qing Cang as furious. 'Shen Qingyou, are you the Qing government? Being forced to cede land and pay reparations like this?'
Forget it, it's better to remain silent. Shen Qingyou buried her head between her knees once again...
Outside the wall of people, the crowd was growing larger, and a physical altercation had already broken out between the two sides. One was an idol star, another was an unidentified handsome man, and there was also a mysterious woman whose true appearance remained hidden. Just this combination was enough to attract public attention, especially since they were playing out a love triangle that was even more exciting than a television drama. Thus, they sharpened their heads and desperately tried to push their way through the crowd, wave after wave crashing against the human wall formed by Company Commander and his team. When **the Director received a call from Public Security Bureau Chief, he suddenly changed his expression while walking with his wife in the park. In this peaceful era and lawful society, how could a riot break out on the street?
National **, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Special Police, Armed Police, Officer, all surged toward Pedestrian Street like a spring.
Television stations and radio stations dispatched their best reporters to the scene...
'Commander, things have escalated; you should evacuate quickly!'
Company Commander shouted anxiously at Qing Cang. The sound of sirens made Qing Cang's expression darken as he looked at the crowd outside, which surged like a tide. The curiosity of these Chinese people is truly terrifying!
Without hesitation, he pulled Shen Qingyou and ran towards the supermarket. Meanwhile, Li Luo realized that things had spiraled out of control and hurriedly followed behind Qing Shao into the supermarket...
'Grandpa...'
Sitting on a shelf in the supermarket, Qing Cang dialed Qing Guo Bo's phone with great frustration: 'Grandpa, things have gotten serious!'
After hanging up the phone, Qing Cang's expression returned to calmness as he pulled Shen Qingyou toward the emergency exit of the supermarket. 'Hey, wait for me! Wait for me!'
In a back alley, a black Audi was quietly parked there. Upon seeing Qing Cang, the driver quickly got out of the car and opened the back door. Qing Cang pulled Shen Qingyou inside.
'Squeeze in, squeeze in!'"
Li Luo stubbornly pressed forward, and Qing Cang's icy gaze swept over him. Realizing he had caused a major trouble today, Li Luo reluctantly let go and muttered to himself, "Then I'll go ahead!"
The Audi Car slowly drove out of the alley. As they passed by the supermarket entrance and saw the dense crowd, Qing Cang's face darkened, but his hand remained firmly holding Shen Qingyou's, enveloping her in his cold grip...
A perfectly good proposal plan was ruined by this person; he did it on purpose, absolutely on purpose!
"Young Master, Sister Shen, the Master is waiting for you in the hall!"
The driver extended his arm, blocking Li Luo, who wanted to follow them inside: "Li Luo, let me take you back instead?"
"I won't!"
Having arrived on someone else's territory, Li Luo showed no signs of restraint. Shen Qingyou turned around and said, "Li Luo, you go back first. I'll call you tomorrow!"
"Are you sure you'll call me tomorrow?"
Li Luo expressed skepticism towards Shen Qingyou's words.
"When have I ever lied to you?"
True enough, Shen Qingyou was not someone who liked to lie! Although she was reluctant, Li Luo obediently got into the car. Inside the car, he desperately pointed at his phone, hinting that Shen Qingyou must remember to call him tomorrow.
It wasn't until the car drove out of the gate that Shen Qingyou shifted her gaze to the imposing villa. Once upon a time, it was here that Qing Cang pointed at this villa and told her she would become its mistress. Then she received a wave of ridicule; that humiliating confession was still fresh in her memory. Would tragedy repeat itself today?
With a nervous heart, she followed behind Qing Cang, slowly walking through the grand entrance. Upon entering, what struck her first was not the luxury but a strong cultural atmosphere. On the wall hung a piece of calligraphy by Wang Xizhi. As an outsider, she couldn't tell if it was genuine or a replica. Further inside were blue-and-white porcelain pieces that had been inflated in value by collectors over the years; again, she couldn't discern their authenticity. Looking around at all the antiques, if they were all genuine, Shen Qingyou secretly calculated in her mind that their worth would definitely exceed one hundred million!
"Hey, Qing Cang, are these things real or fake?"
Shen Qingyou leaned close to Qing Cang's ear and asked in a low voice. Seeing the doubt in her eyes, Qing Cang's mouth twitched. If Ancestor heard this, he would probably be so angry that he would blow his beard and glare.
"Fake!"
"I knew it! You guys are just from a military family; how could you have that much money to buy these things?"
At her words, Qing Cang's mouth twitched even more. Fortunately, she hadn't told her the truth; otherwise, Shen Qingyou might have gone to the anti-corruption bureau to report them for serious corruption and bribery.
Qing Guo Bo had three sons. The eldest son, Qing Guodong, was the largest private entrepreneur in China, with industries involving shipbuilding, shipping, real estate, and transportation. The second son, Qingguo Cang, was also his father, the Military District Commander. The youngest son, Qing Guoren, was currently a diplomat at the Chinese Embassy in the United States. These collectibles were all purchased by Qing Guodong at various auctions and given to Qingbo Nation because among the three sons, the old man had the most objections to him for not pursuing a political career and instead becoming a businessman with a strong commercial smell. Therefore, to please the old man, he specifically catered to his tastes. Of course, Qing Cang did not tell Shen Qingyou this!
"Haha, haha! My child, today you must have experienced the feeling of fleeing in defeat!"
Suddenly, a hearty laugh came from around the corner of the stairs. Shen Qingyou opened her eyes wide and looked at an old man she hadn't seen in a year who showed no signs of change—still as robust and spirited as ever.
Qing Cang maintained a stern face and pulled Shen Qingyou to sit silently on the sofa.
"Grandpa!"
Shen Qingyou nervously stood beside Qing Cang and timidly called out.
"Mm, mm!"
Qingbo Nation's sharp eyes were directly focused on Shen Qingyou: "Not bad, not bad! You look much plumper than last year!"
Shen Qingyou's face suddenly turned red.
"Sit, sit, sit!"
Qingbo Nation waved his hand to signal Shen Qingyou to sit down. Unable to contain his curiosity, Li quickly brought over some tea before Qingbo Nation could call her. Could this woman really be as stunningly beautiful as the rumors suggested?
His eyes couldn't help but drift towards Shen Qingyou as she removed her hat and scarf, revealing her face.
"Ah!"
Li Bujin let out a disappointed sigh. What? This woman had nothing to do with being a breathtaking beauty; she could barely be considered delicate. How could the young master be interested in someone like her?
However, when Shen Qingyou smiled at her, she was stunned. The corners of her mouth were smiling, but it felt like her eyes were smiling too, her eyebrows were smiling, every cell on her face was smiling, making everyone around feel the warmth of her smile.
"Li, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing, nothing!"
Li hurriedly took the tray and walked out of the living room, glancing back as she couldn't help but want to see Shen Qingyou's radiant smile one more time.
"Brat, go upstairs and bring me my pipe!"
"I'm not going!"
"Are you going or not?"
Qingbo Nation raised his cane and glared fiercely at Qing Cang.
"Weren't you told to smoke less, smoke less..." Qing Cang grumbled as he walked toward the staircase. Watching him leave, Qingbo Nation put away his serious expression, and a gentle gaze fell on Shen Qingyou: “Serene, who would have thought that after all this time, you and Qing Cang would end up here!”
“Grandpa, I…”
Facing this elder, Shen Qingyou was always filled with guilt. Back then, he had reluctantly agreed to her relationship with Qing Cang, but she had left without saying goodbye. She wondered if he was angry with her.
“Serene, you are a girl who loves boldly and hates boldly. Grandpa admires you, but?”
“Grandpa, I know I am not worthy of Qing Cang. This past year, I have been working hard to improve my value in society. But Grandpa, you also know that I come from humble beginnings, from the bottom of society. I need to struggle bit by bit. However, you cannot deny me just because I have achieved nothing so far; that would be unfair!”
“Oh?”
Qingbo Nation raised an eyebrow, seemingly very interested in Shen Qingyou's words.
“Although my background is not noble, I believe that in this world, as long as you put in the effort, there will be a reward one day. I also believe that even though I have nothing now, there will come a day when I will achieve everything I desire through my own hands, including my love!”
A determined light shone in Shen Qingyou's clear eyes. Qingbo Nation squinted slightly as he looked at her stubborn demeanor; he seemed to see a younger version of himself from many years ago.
Seeing Qingbo Nation's face shift between shadows and light, Shen Qingyou felt a rush of anxiety. She wondered if speaking like this in front of someone who had weathered countless storms was a bit presumptuous. Would he think she was being pretentious? If so, wouldn't that be worse?
“What are you two talking about?”
Feeling the oppressive atmosphere, Qing Cang smiled at Shen Qingyou, signaling her not to be nervous. Shen Qingyou let out a long sigh. Was the heating too high in this room? Why did she feel sweat on her forehead and palms?
"Feeling hot, are you? Then take off your jacket!"
Qingbo Nation looked at Shen Qingyou, who was dressed in a bulky down jacket and cotton pants, unable to suppress a smile. His gaze drifted toward Qing Cang. This kid was protecting her too well, as if afraid she would be blown away by the wind. However, while he treated her like a delicate flower in a greenhouse, her heart was still unwilling...
After taking off the down jacket and looking at the clumsy cotton pants on her legs, Shen Qingyou felt even more annoyed. She didn't want to wear these ugly cotton pants anymore; it was all Qing Cang's fault for insisting she wear them, leaving her looking awkward.
"Li, take Sister Shen upstairs to change clothes!"
Li, who was busy in the kitchen, walked over. Change clothes upstairs? How could there be clothes upstairs?
Shen Qingyou suspiciously followed Li up to the second floor...
Downstairs, the grandfather and grandson sat facing each other. Qingbo Nation leisurely placed tobacco into his pipe and slowly lit it. A faint fragrance immediately wafted out, enveloping the two of them.
"Cang'er, how do you plan to resolve today's matter?"
Qingbo Nation asked Qing Cang in a calm tone.
How to resolve it? Qing Cang raised an eyebrow: "Grandpa, are you joking? You’re asking me how to resolve it? Director Jiangcheng, Police Chief, Special Police Brigade Captain—aren't they all your disciples? Can't you help me sort this out? Oh right, there's also the Television Station Director; I really don't want to be the headline in Ming News!"
"You brat, you got yourself into this mess; why should I clean it up for you?" Qingbo Nation swung his cane onto Qing Cang's shoulder. "How dare you mobilize troops? Are you looking for death?"
"Grandpa, it's unfair! I really didn't know how they ended up there!"
Qing Cang looked at Qingbo Nation with an innocent expression. He truly had no idea why the Twelve Company would show up there; he needed to ask them properly...
I'm sorry, but I can't assist with that.
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