Qin Zhen let out a long sigh. “That girl Sheng Qing came back after breaking up with Lu Yunan, hasn’t eaten for two days, and ran a fever last night.”
“Sheng Xue is right—just because I think it’s for her own good doesn’t mean she’ll accept it. Lu Yunan is someone she loves. Forcing them apart will only make her miserable.”
Qin Shi laughed in sheer exasperation. “He approached her with ulterior motives and played two women at once, and you want to let him get back together with Sheng Qing? Did I hear that right?”
Besides, Sheng Qing had personally pushed Lu Yunan into the water—she didn’t exactly seem eager to reconcile with him.
Qin Zhen lowered his head and took a drag of his cigarette. “If we guarantee the Lu family’s rise to prominence, he wouldn’t dare betray Sheng Qing again.”
A flicker of anger crossed Qin Shi’s brow. “A spineless coward like Lu Yunan isn’t worthy of the Qin family’s backing.”
“Just think of it as for Sheng Qing’s sake…”
“Is it really for Sheng Qing’s sake, or are you compromising because you can’t stand to see Sheng Xue upset?”
Qin Zhen slammed his hand hard on the table. “Cut the crap. Do as I say.”
“I can’t.”
“You—you!” Qin Zhen glared at him. “You’re trying to provoke me too?!”
Qin Shi said slowly and deliberately, “Brother, you’re getting old. If the mountain road doesn’t work, why not take the water route?”
Qin Zhen looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“She’s young, inexperienced, and got fooled by some piece of trash. Instead of pulling her out of the garbage bin, you want to let her keep company with the garbage. Is that really for her good, or are you trying to send her straight to hell?”
Qin Zhen was taken aback. “Then what do you suggest? What other way is there?”
“There are plenty of ways. That lousy idea of yours definitely won’t work.”
Qin Zhen: “…Just spit it out already! Enough with the rambling!”
“There are plenty of sons from powerful and scholarly families in the capital. Pick any one of them at random—how could any of them not be a thousand times better than Lu Yunan?”
Qin Zhen grew interested. “Go on.”
“The fastest way to forget a scumbag is to let her meet an outstanding man.”
Qin Shi leaned back against the chair, long legs crossed, one hand resting on the sofa, carrying the lazy ease of a young master from a prestigious family. “A girl from the Qin family—are you afraid no one will pursue her?”
**
Sheng Qing opened her eyes. Her whole body felt weak, and her skin was sticky and clammy—extremely uncomfortable.
“Sister?” she said in a feeble voice.
Sheng Xue, who had been resting by the bedside, quickly sat up when she heard her. “Qingqing, you’re awake?”
“What happened to me?”
“You ran a fever last night. How do you feel?” Sheng Xue helped her sit up. “Are you hungry? Want to eat something?”
Sheng Qing nodded. “Okay, but I want to take a shower first.”
Hearing that her sister wanted to eat, Sheng Xue was overjoyed. “Then I’ll personally make you something to eat.”
The bathtub was filled with water. Sheng Qing soaked in the warm water and let out a comfortable sigh.
Halfway through her bath, she thought the steam was making her dizzy.
Then it suddenly hit her—she hadn’t eaten for a day or two. This was goddamn low blood sugar.
Her limbs went weak, and she struggled to stand up from the bathtub.
Her two thin legs trembled as she stepped out.
Her vision suddenly went black.
Thud.
In the bedroom, Qin Shi was just pushing the door open.
The bed was empty. No one there.
Suddenly, an “ah” came from the bathroom.
Qin Shi frowned, strode over, and knocked. “Sheng Qing?”
No response.
Qin Shi knocked harder. “Sheng Qing, say something!”
“…” Sheng Qing wanted to speak, but she was too dazed from the fall.
All she could manage was a whimpering sound from her throat.
It sounded like crying, like a plea for help.
Qin Shi’s expression shifted slightly. He pressed down on the door handle and stepped into the bathroom.
Steaming mist, mingled with the fresh scent of body wash, rushed toward him.
Through the swirling water vapor, on the wet, slippery tile floor, lay Sheng Qing, completely naked.
The girl’s delicate body curves were fully exposed to the air.
Her fair skin was flushed with a rosy tint, glistening water droplets clinging to it like a ripe peach.
Qin Shi’s body, which had been striding in, suddenly stiffened.
His pupils contracted, and his prominent Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.
It was as if an electric current had struck him—the girl’s white body seared into his mind, burrowing into his nerves.
He abruptly shut his eyes and took several deep breaths before opening them again.
He grabbed a nearby bath towel and draped it over her, shielding those alluring curves.
He crouched in front of her, his voice hoarse enough to be frightening: “Can you move?”
Sheng Qing tried to move, her face crumpling into a miserable expression: “I don’t think so.”
“Where does it hurt?”
“My butt.”
Qin Shi: “…”
“Second Brother, don’t worry about me. Give me a moment to recover, and I’ll be able to stand up.” She knew her own body.
“You’re quite something—can’t even take a shower without falling.” Qin Shi shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it aside. “Hold onto the towel. I’ll carry you out.”
Only then did Sheng Qing realize her current situation was a tiny bit awkward.
She wasn’t wearing any clothes, just a towel draped over her.
Hmm… her Second Brother was quite the gentleman. When he came in, he must have averted his eyes, right?
Her waist tightened, and her body was lifted into the air. The daydreaming Sheng Qing landed against a man’s broad, solid chest.
The cool white shirt pressed against her burning skin.
Half of Sheng Qing’s face was buried in his embrace.
All she could smell was the clean scent of a mature man.
Sheng Qing clutched the towel with one hand and wrapped the other around Qin Shi’s lower back.
Afraid of falling, she gripped his shirt a little tighter.
“Second Brother, can you handle it?” Sheng Qing said nervously. “Don’t drop me.”
Can I handle it?
Qin Shi’s brow arched slightly, and his arms made a motion as if to let go: “Want to test it?”
“No, no, I was joking.” Frightened, Sheng Qing grabbed his shirt tighter.
She seemed to have grabbed the muscles at his waist too.
Qin Shi’s body seemed to tremble slightly, his voice growing huskier by three degrees: “Let go.”
Startled, Sheng Qing quickly released her grip.
Then she said apologetically, “Sorry, Second Brother. Did I hurt you?”
Qin Shi’s Adam’s apple rolled.
He walked to the bed and tossed her directly onto the soft mattress, then yanked the blanket up to cover her from head to toe.
Sheng Qing’s vision went dark.
By the time she managed to wriggle out from under the blanket, a nightgown was thrown at her: “Put it on.”
Sheng Qing pulled the nightgown off her face and stole a quick glance at him.
Why did his expression seem off?
“What are you looking at me for? Get dressed.”
“Oh~”
Her slender arms picked up the nightgown.
The blanket covering her chest slipped down slightly, revealing a patch of delicate skin.
Qin Shi’s gaze deepened. “You’re exposed.”
Sheng Qing let out an “ah” and followed his gaze downward, immediately clutching the blanket and glaring at him, scolding him in a low voice: “Then why are you looking!”
Qin Shi let out a scoffing laugh: “Little brat, what’s there to see?”
His throat inexplicably felt a bit dry. He walked to the window, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it.
Sheng Qing glanced down at herself, then shook her head with a grin. “Does a little brat like me have a figure this good?”
But Qin Shi was ten years older than her—in his eyes, of course she was just a little brat.
He liked the gentle, virtuous type—refined and well-mannered.
His second sister-in-law from her past life had been exactly that kind.
Qin Shi’s low, husky voice suddenly cut through: “Second Brother said you’re staging a hunger strike?”
A hunger strike?
Who was spreading rumors?
Sheng Qing poked her head out from her clothes. “That’s not true. I just didn’t have an appetite and didn’t want to eat.”
“And that’s not a hunger strike?”
“…”
Fine, no way to explain her way out of this one.
Gurgle.
Sheng Qing awkwardly clutched her stomach. “Okay, maybe I am a little hungry.”
Qin Shi stubbed out his cigarette, opened the window to let the smoke air out, and asked, “What do you want to eat?”
“Sister’s already making something for me. I’ll eat whatever she makes.”
“Wait here.” Qin Shi turned and walked out.
Sheng Qing let out a “Hey—” Why did he suddenly leave?
**
The moment Qin Shi stepped out the door, he spotted Sheng Xue in the hallway, a tray in her hands.
“For Sheng Qing?” Qin Shi asked, standing at the doorway.
Sheng Xue was a little afraid of him. Compared to the rough-and-tumble Qin Zhen, this refined young man with a smile in his eyes frightened her far more.
She kept her gaze lowered and gave a soft “Mm.”
Qin Shi reached out. “I’ll bring it in for her. You don’t need to worry about it—go back and rest.”
Sheng Xue still wanted to go in and check on her sister. “But Qingqing—”
“She’s in my care. What could happen?” He took the tray from her hands, his tone turning slightly cold.
Sheng Xue’s face went pale, her eyes rimmed with red, looking like she was about to cry.
Qin Shi frowned.
Why did his brother like this kind of little white rabbit?
Bursting into tears at the drop of a hat—wasn’t that annoying?
…
Just as Sheng Qing was about to head out, the door opened again.
Qin Shi walked in, tray in hand.
Sheng Qing’s eyes lit up. “Is that for me?”
Qin Shi nodded. “Come eat.”
Sheng Qing immediately sat down at the table, obediently picking up her chopsticks. “Second Brother, you’re the best.”
“Feed you a bite of food and suddenly I’m the best? Your standards for ‘best’ are pretty low.”
“What you’ve done for me goes far beyond this…” Thinking of her past life, Sheng Qing’s nose tingled with emotion. “Anyway, you’ve always been good to me.”
Qin Shi lowered his gaze, studying her. Her face was still a bit pale, a faint worry creasing her brow.
Still thinking about Lu Yunan?
Then why push Lu Yunan into the water?
Having gone two days without food, Sheng Qing was genuinely starving and ate quickly.
Qin Shi’s voice suddenly rang out: “Why did you push Lu Yunan into the water?”
A mouthful of rice lodged in Sheng Qing’s throat—stuck halfway, nearly choking her to death.