"Afraid? Why wouldn't I be?"
Qing Sihui admitted frankly, "He's the little prince of Country C, showered with endless affection. How could an ordinary person like me possibly contend with him? I need time, enough time to become strong. Only then can I protect my little princess, Yaoyao."
Yaoyao... little princess?
Such doting words made Shu Yao's face instantly flush crimson.
Dazzled by love, she disregarded everything else and nodded madly, "Don't worry, I won't tell Anthony. No... I won't tell anyone, lest Anthony finds out. I'll strive to gain more time for you to become strong enough."
Let alone Qing Sihui, even her own parents were no match for Anthony.
In this love affair, Qing Sihui was very passive, while she was the one applying pressure.
After all, Anthony, who could command influence in Country C, was behind her.
She had a responsibility, an obligation, and should indeed help Qing Sihui conceal things, so Anthony wouldn't suspect Qing Sihui, nor would he secretly harm Qing Sihui.
"Alright. I believe you."
Qing Sihui nodded slightly. After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked again, "Hearing me say this, will you think I'm irresponsible?"
"How could I?"
Shu Yao smiled and shook her head. "You're already amazing. In my heart, you are a superhero."
Recalling the scene from last night, she felt that Qing Sihui was the mighty hero who came to save her, riding on a colorful cloud.
And Meng Jingwei, she was even more incredible.
"Mm. We can try to spend some time together. But, if outsiders were to know, if the matter were to reach Anthony's ears, I fear I might be nipped in the bud before I could become strong enough."
"I know, I know."
Shu Yao nodded enthusiastically, her expression candid and endearing.
Knock knock—
Someone knocked on the door from outside.
The waiter pushed the door open, and Qing Sihui immediately retracted his hand.
As dishes were served one by one, the two began to dine.
Qing Sihui thoughtfully cut the steak in front of him, speared a piece with his fork, and offered it to Shu Yao, "Little Yaoyao?"
"Mm?"
Shu Yao looked up, and a piece of steak was right in front of her.
She couldn't help but be taken aback, her face blushing shyly. Her eyes, rippling with contented smiles, met Qing Sihui's gaze. She opened her mouth and ate the Wellington steak, instantly finding it tender, juicy, and incredibly delicious.
This was perhaps... the best Wellington steak she had ever eaten.
Little did she know, this steak was infused with the power of love.
After all, she didn't like medium-rare steak.
They chatted while they ate, and an hour passed quickly.
Qing Sihui glanced at his watch and said to Shu Yao, "Little Yaoyao, I'm sorry, I can't stay too long. I have another client to meet."
"Ah? You have a client?"
Shu Yao felt even more touched upon hearing this.
Qing Sihui had actually taken time out of his client meeting to accompany her, which was already incredibly thoughtful.
"I've only recently returned to the country, and there are many matters that require my attention. I'm indeed quite busy," the man spread his hands. "I hope you can understand."
"It's alright, I understand. Then you should go quickly. I'll head back by myself later," she said.
Qing Sihui nodded, took off the napkin from his neck, walked to her side, placed his large palm on her head, gently stroked her hair, and then leaned in to kiss her hair, "You've worked hard, my Little Yaoyao."
The sudden intimacy made Shu Yao's entire being tense. Her face turned as red as a ripe peach, yet she was immersed in the sweetness of love, completely dazed.
"Then I'll be going now."
"Mm."
Shu Yao took a long time to recover from this sweet onslaught, but the man had already left.
She bit her lower lip lightly with her teeth, covering her cheeks with her hands. "Oh my god, oh my god, I'm so embarrassed. He actually accepted my confession. Little Yaoyao?"
For the first time, Shu Yao found this moniker so pleasing to her ears.
She believed this was the appearance of the love she had longed for and yearned for.
Little did she know, as Qing Sihui walked out of her private room, he went to the adjacent one.
And sitting in the adjacent room was none other than Li Yun'er, her makeup exquisite, her demeanor dignified and elegant.
She sat at the table, slowly sipping her coffee, waiting. It wasn't until Qing Sihui appeared that she stood up. "Seventh Uncle."
Having been previously engaged to Qing Muye, she had gradually grown accustomed to calling Qing Sihui "Seventh Uncle."
"You've kept me waiting."
He sat opposite her.
The waiter walked in, his eyes showing a hint of surprise upon seeing Qing Sihui. However, such occurrences were not uncommon, and the waiter was used to it.
After the two ordered their meals, the waiter left. As he closed the door, he muttered, "Damn scumbag, shameless. Having kids, no shame."
"Seventh Uncle, why did you ask me to come over today?" Li Yun'er, looking somewhat haggard, had been very dejected recently, hiding at home all day, unwilling to go out, unwilling to see people, plunged into extreme despair.
Qing Sihui observed her. "I sympathize with your situation. I asked you here simply to offer you some advice."
"Mm? Seventh Uncle, please tell me."
Li Yun'er took a sip of her coffee and listened quietly.
"Quite a lot has happened in Lancheng recently. And you, as a talented woman of both beauty and intellect in Lancheng, naturally attract much attention when such incidents occur. However, once something has happened, there is no room for retraction."
"I, however, feel you could take the initiative and engage in some charitable work to wash away those unsavory matters. You must remember, gold will always shine. A woman as charming as you is destined not to be buried by dust."
He spoke calmly and composedly.
Listening to Qing Sihui's words, Li Yun'er frowned slightly. After a moment of contemplation, she asked, "Is this all you wanted to tell me, Seventh Uncle?"
"Otherwise?"
"But... why are you helping me?"
Qing Sihui was clearly strategizing for her.
But to offer favors without reason implies ulterior motives.
He, naturally, had some purpose.
"To be frank, do you still love Muye?" He leaned back, resting his wrist on the booth's armrest, his eyes narrowing. Sensing a trace of hostility from Li Yun'er's slightly narrowed pupils, he continued, "Muye was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, so that sense of superiority is innate. Even his aloof and detached demeanor is quite off-putting."
Hearing his words, Li Yun'er tightly gripped her cup, unsure whether Qing Sihui was friend or foe.
"You know, although I am a member of the Qing family, my mother is ultimately not from a distinguished family. Therefore, Qing Sihui holds little status within the Qing family. In contrast, Qing Muye has everything perfect and best, which truly irks me."
If Li Yun'er was still suspicious of Qing Sihui earlier, she should now believe him to some extent.
"I truly don't understand. A woman as outstanding as you is a goddess in my heart, Qing Sihui. Talent and beauty coexist. How could he possibly fancy that scrawny, crooked Meng Jingwei? It must be just a fleeting infatuation with such a wild and unrestrained woman."