Once they were downstairs, Qin Shi pointed to the sofa opposite. “Sit.”
Sheng Qing obediently sat down.
Qin Shi lifted his eyes and looked her over.
The young woman sat with her legs together, her hands primly resting on her knees, her back straight.
A white dress, black hair—clean and pretty.
The rebellious little brat had changed. She really did seem much more well-behaved than before.
And quite likable, too.
Qin Shi leaned back in the sofa, casual and languid, and lifted his chin. “Take a look at that file.”
“This one?” Sheng Qing picked up the file from the coffee table.
“Mm. Open it.”
“Okay.” Sheng Qing opened it without a second thought.
Lu Yun’an’s photograph appeared before her eyes.
Sheng Qing’s pupils suddenly contracted. The pain and torment she had suffered in her previous life seemed to spread through her nerves and into every inch of her body all over again.
She stared fixedly at Lu Yun’an’s face, her gaze murderous.
Qin Shi spoke slowly. “Elder Brother investigated this Lu Yun’an and found out he’s your boyfriend. But he’s up to no good. He approached you with an ulterior motive.”
“For your safety, you have to break up with him. If he won’t leave you alone, Second Brother will deal with him. If you understand, nod.”
If she had listened to them sooner in her previous life, Qin Residence wouldn’t have been destroyed because of her.
Sheng Qing felt guilty and miserable; her eyes reddened. “Okay. I’ll break up with him.”
Qin Shi knitted his brows. She was already in tears, yet she still said she’d break up with him?
“All right, don’t cry. I know how to handle this. I promise I won’t hurt him.”
Sheng Qing stared at him for a moment.
Wait—why wasn’t he going to hurt that piece of trash?
Kill him!
Qin Shi had already left.
Sheng Qing looked utterly confused.
…
The private room at Yezui.
Qin Shi sat on the sofa, the top two buttons of his shirt undone, revealing his masculine, sensuous collarbones and Adam’s apple.
A cigarette burned between his long fingers. Smoke curled around him as he narrowed his eyes at Lu Yun’an.
He was young, with smooth, delicate skin. He couldn’t hide the fear in his eyes, yet he was putting on a cocky act as if he feared no one.
All looks, no substance.
Was this the type Sheng Qing liked?
“Second Brother, who’s this kid?” Tang Wen leaned over curiously. “Say something already. Look how scared you’ve got him. He’s about to piss himself.”
Lu Yun’an’s face was deathly pale.
He’d been having a perfectly ordinary meal with his friends when two men in black showed up and said the Second Young Master Qin of Qin Residence wanted him to come with them.
Who in the Imperial Capital didn’t know the reputation of the Qin family’s Second Young Master Qin?
That man had been like a crab since childhood—always moving sideways, doing whatever he pleased.
When other boys his age were still playing in the mud at twelve or thirteen, he already dared to press a gun to an enemy’s head.
Among the younger generation of the powerful families, his methods were seasoned and ruthless.
Even the older men in their families felt intimidated by this young upstart.
Qin Shi tapped the file folder. “Lu Yun’an. I’ve got the right person, haven’t I?”
Lu Yun’an raised his chin defiantly. “That’s me. The Lu Family has no grudge against you. What do you want?”
“Please have a seat, Young Master Lu,” Qin Shi said, gesturing at a chair with the hand holding his cigarette.
The two bodyguards by the door came over and forced Lu Yun’an down into the chair.
“Do you know Sheng Qing?” Qin Shi asked casually, leaning back against the sofa.
“Qingqing is my girlfriend. Did she tell you to bring me here?” Lu Yun’an couldn’t move.
“Your girlfriend?” Qin Shi flicked the ash from his cigarette, his expression almost amused. “If she’s your girlfriend, why are you two-timing her?”
The file said Lu Yun’an had more than just Sheng Qing for a girlfriend.
Panic flickered across Lu Yun’an’s face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Then tell me what you do know. When did you start pursuing her?”
“Three years ago. I took care of her in every way. When she suffered and was treated unfairly at your Qin Residence, I was always there for her!”
Lu Yun’an thought the Qin family had brought him in to break them up. He spoke passionately.
“I love Qingqing, and she loves me. We’re already boyfriend and girlfriend. We’ve done everything couples do. You can’t separate us.”
Qin Shi suddenly stopped moving. Slowly, he raised his eyes, his gaze turning cold.
“She was only sixteen three years ago. Tang Wen, what’s the maximum sentence for statutory rape of a minor?”
Tang Wen stroked his chin and answered offhandedly, “If they stack the charges, he could probably get the death penalty.”
Lu Yun’an’s face went white. “I—I never touched her!”
“Even if you never touched her, do you think I’ll let you off?” Qin Shi sneered.
“My friends all saw the Qin family take me away. If… if anything happens to me, my dad will make trouble for your Qin family!”
Tang Wen nearly laughed aloud. “If your dad knew you were this stupid, he’d probably be out looking for a plot to bury you in before sunrise.”
Even the families on friendly terms with the Qin family had to get the Qin family’s approval before pursuing a Qin girl.
But this idiot had deliberately approached a girl who wasn’t even an adult yet.
He could be killed a hundred times over and still deserve it.
Lu Yun’an broke out in a cold sweat. He suddenly got up and tried to run.
A bodyguard grabbed him from behind and hauled him back like a chick.
“Sit still!”
Lu Yun’an’s legs trembled uncontrollably.
Qin Shi leaned forward, stubbed out his cigarette, picked up the file folder, and hurled it hard into Lu Yun’an’s face.
“Ah!” Lu Yun’an cried out.
Tang Wen was slightly surprised. It had been years since he’d seen Qin Shi lose his temper.
There was something special about this Lu Yun’an.
Qin Shi stood, took off his jacket, and tossed it onto the sofa. Then he rolled up his shirt sleeves to his elbows, exposing his strong, powerful forearms.
He grabbed Lu Yun’an and slammed him down onto the coffee table with a thud, pressing his head down with one hand.
The refined, handsome face had turned cold and menacing.
“Listen carefully. I’m giving you two choices.”
“First, you break up with Sheng Qing yourself. I don’t care how you do it—just make her give up on you.”
“Second, I make your Lu Family disappear from the Imperial Capital.”
With that, Qin Shi flung him back into the chair, his expression ice-cold. “Pick one.”
Lu Yun’an’s body shook. There wasn’t a trace of color in his face.
Qin Shi took a handkerchief from his pocket and slowly wiped his palm. “If you can’t decide, I can make the choice for you, Young Master Lu.”
Lu Yun’an gritted his teeth. “I—I choose the first one.”
“Good. You’re a smart man.”
Qin Shi tossed the handkerchief into the trash and motioned to the bodyguards. “Take Young Master Lu home.”
The private-room door closed again, and silence returned.
Tang Wen scratched his head. “Second Brother, the Sheng Qing you were talking about—is she that rebellious little brat from your Qin family?”
“What are you trying to ask?”
“Don’t you dislike that wild girl? Why step in and teach her scumbag boyfriend a lesson?”
Tang Wen had not only heard of Sheng Qing; he’d met her once.
She was wild—practically a little hooligan.
Qin Shi had never been fond of the girl, either. They said Qin Zhen was often driven half mad by her.
“Let me give you some advice. If you don’t want my brother to beat you with his military whip, treat her better next time you see her.”
Tang Wen gaped. “Huh?”
“That girl is the Qin family’s treasure now.” Qin Shi picked up his suit jacket. “My brother adores her.”
Tang Wen wore an incredulous expression. “You don’t adore her, though, right?”
The image of the girl sitting obediently with her hands on her knees came to Qin Shi’s mind.
His gaze darkened.
……
The next day, Sheng Qing received a text from Lu Yun’an: “Qingqing, are you free? Can we meet?”
As she looked at the message, the expression on Sheng Qing’s face gradually turned cold.
She replied word by word: “Sure. If you hadn’t contacted me, I would’ve had to find you myself.”
Sheng Qing set down her plate and got up to leave.
She said to Qin Zhen, who was in the living room, “Brother-in-law, I have to go out for a bit.”
“Where are you going?” Qin Zhen asked.
Sheng Qing thought for a moment. “Lu Yun’an—my ex-boyfriend. He wants to talk to me. It shouldn’t take long. I’ll be back soon.”
“Have Old Huang drive you.”
“No need, Brother-in-law. I’ll take the bus.”
Sheng Qing refused.
She was going to do something bad. It would be better if no one followed her—and there couldn’t be any witnesses.
Not long after Sheng Qing left, Qin Shi arrived.
Qin Zhen said, “That kid Lu Yun’an went to talk to her about breaking up.”
Qin Shi gave a nonchalant “Mm.” “He’ll break up with Sheng Qing.”
“I wonder if she’ll be able to accept it.” Qin Zhen worried over her like a father.
Qin Shi said evenly, “She’s young. Even if she likes him a lot, she’ll get over it after a few days of heartache.”
Qin Zhen was still uneasy and wanted to have the driver follow her discreetly.
“The driver won’t do,” Qin Shi said. “Get a recon scout. She won’t notice him as easily.”