Fang Yi was briefly stunned before quickly covering Shen Qi’s mouth.
But someone had already heard. A head poked in curiously, and upon seeing the two in an unfriendly posture, the person’s eyes widened abruptly.
He thought he had misheard, but never expected someone would actually be doing shady things in the hospital emergency staircase!
“Young man, let go immediately!”
Fang Yi gritted his teeth but had no choice but to release her.
Once free, Shen Qi immediately slapped him backhanded.
Fang Yi, anticipating her move, dodged backward, preventing her from succeeding.
Knowing she was no match for him, Shen Qi didn’t continue the fight and thanked the man instead.
“Young lady, you should still report this to the police,” the man whispered.
Shen Qi nodded and said she understood.
With someone present, Fang Yi couldn’t make any further moves, so Shen Qi seized the opportunity to leave the hospital.
Standing by the window, Fang Yi glared darkly at the woman’s retreating figure until it disappeared into the night.
Aunt Xie approached and quietly updated Fang Yi on Old Master Fang’s condition for the day.
“Were you here when Shen Qi came?” Fang Yi asked.
“Yes, I stayed with them the whole time.”
“What did she say to Grandpa?”
“She talked about learning a trade and also chimed in with a few comments while watching the news with the old master.”
“Just that?”
Aunt Xie thought carefully and nodded. “Yes, that’s all.”
So had he misunderstood?
He thought Shen Qi had come to spout nonsense to his grandfather again.
Learning a trade?
Fang Yi lowered his eyelashes and smiled mockingly. So she was just trying to gain benefits for herself again.
Probably hoping to use his grandfather’s connections to get a job in some government office.
Shen Qi really had no shame.
Instead of asking her own parents, she went to his grandfather.
Was she already eager to enjoy the privileges of being the Fang family’s granddaughter-in-law before even marrying in?
Ridiculous.
Shen Qi bought a simple meal for dinner. By the time she returned home, the clock on the wall showed it was past eight.
Shen Congjun and Shen Jinan were in the study, leaving only Xu Ailian and Shen Baozhu in the living room.
The two were huddled closely together, discussing a TV drama, looking very intimate.
When Shen Qi returned, they acted as if they hadn’t seen her and continued chatting about the show.
Shen Qi paid no mind. She drank water when she needed to and washed up as usual.
By the time she finished, it was almost nine. Seeing that Shen Congjun still hadn’t emerged from the study, Shen Qi simply went to her room to sleep.
Once the bedroom door closed, Shen Baozhu leaned close to Xu Ailian’s ear and whispered, “Mom, what exactly is Shen Qi learning? She came back so late.”
“Who knows? She never said.”
“Mom, I’ve heard that apprentices usually have to pay tuition, but I think Shen Qi is asking for too much money… I don’t mean anything by it, I’m just worried she might use that money for something bad.”
“Right? I think so too, but your dad…” Xu Ailian sighed. “For something like this, we need to catch her red-handed. Otherwise, if Shen Qi throws a tantrum, sheds a few tears, and brings up how she suffered with the Zhou Family, your dad will just make a fuss without taking any real action.”
“Should I… secretly follow her to see?” Shen Baozhu volunteered. “It’s winter break anyway, and I don’t have anything else to do.”
“That might be dangerous. Better to send your brother.”
“Xiao Nan is too impulsive. If he goes, it would really be dangerous.”
Xu Ailian thought about it and realized she was right. With Shen Jinan’s hot temper, if he really discovered Shen Qi using the money for something bad, he would definitely cause trouble.
“Mom, don’t worry, I’ll just follow from a distance. Nothing will happen.”
“Well… alright then. Whatever you discover, don’t act rashly. Come back and tell me, your father and I will handle it.”
Shen Baozhu nodded, her expression solemn.
She would definitely catch Shen Qi red-handed!
She wanted her father to know that even though Shen Qi was his biological daughter, she was the only one worthy of being his pride!
With an agitated heart, Shen Baozhu barely slept all night, afraid she might wake up late and fail to keep up with Shen Qi’s schedule.
In her groggy state, the alarm clock rang.
She reached out to turn it off, her mind still a muddled mess.
It was only five o’clock—she hadn’t woken up this early in a long time.
Remembering the important task ahead, Shen Baozhu threw off the covers, quickly dressed, and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.
Shen Qi didn’t get up until after six. Since she didn’t need to eat at home, she was out the door in less than half an hour.
At this hour, the bus wasn’t too crowded. Shen Qi waited about ten minutes before the bus arrived.
She boarded the bus.
Shen Baozhu, who had been following from afar, immediately hailed a rickshaw and instructed the driver to follow the bus.
“Miss, what are you up to?” the rickshaw driver asked, puzzled. “Chasing a spy?”
These days, catching spies wasn’t uncommon—it was even somewhat trendy.
Catching one not only came with a monetary reward but was also considered a contribution to national security, an honor.
Shen Baozhu ignored him, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on the bus, afraid she might lose track of it.
Meanwhile, Shen Qi remained unaware that she had acquired a little tail.
To get to Lili Hair Salon, she needed to transfer buses midway.
She got off at the transfer stop, and while helping an elderly woman pick up her dropped items, she caught a glimpse of a familiar face out of the corner of her eye.
She quickly looked up, wanting to confirm whether she had seen correctly, but the person had already disappeared.
Shen Qi pursed her lips and was about to walk over for a closer look when the bus she was waiting for arrived.
Abandoning her search, she turned and boarded the bus.
Shen Baozhu, hiding behind the corner of a wall, clutched her chest and gasped for breath.
That was close—she had almost been discovered.
She watched as Shen Qi boarded the bus, then hailed another rickshaw to continue following.
Shen Qi got off two stops early and hurried into a narrow alley.
Shen Baozhu hastily paid the rickshaw driver and got off, her eyes locked on the alley Shen Qi had entered.
She knew it! Shen Qi wasn’t off learning some trade—she was squandering the family’s money!
Her university was nearby, and she had heard classmates talk about this alley. It was a messy place, with hidden brothels, small gambling dens, and all sorts of unsavory characters.
Shen Baozhu had only passed by a couple of times before, noticing groups of shady-looking men and women gathered in the alley, smoking and laughing.
Under normal circumstances, she would never dare to enter alone.
But to catch Shen Qi in the act, she gritted her teeth and charged in.
Shen Baozhu quickened her pace, just in time to see Shen Qi’s figure disappear around the third turn.
Her eyes lit up, and she hurried after her.
The alleyways here were winding, like a maze.
Those unfamiliar with the area could easily get lost.
Shen Baozhu chased and chased, but instead of catching her target, she ended up lost.
She had passed by the house with the “Fortune” character pasted on its door three times now—no matter which way she turned, she always ended up back there.
“Where did Shen Qi go?” Shen Baozhu was utterly confused. “Where did she disappear to?”
Not far away, behind a low wall, Shen Qi cautiously pulled her head back.
So she hadn’t been mistaken—it really was Shen Baozhu.
Interesting. Early in the morning, Shen Baozhu isn’t sleeping in at home but instead comes out to follow me?
Why?
Want to know where I’m apprenticing?
Instead of asking me directly, she has to stalk me like some creep?
Shen Qi bent over and slipped away from another direction.
Since she enjoys following people so much, she might as well practice her navigation skills here.
She really has too much time on her hands.