"Then, now that you've accepted my apology, will you accept my thanks again?" Feng Manlun's eyes were warm as he looked at Shen Qi. "I'd like to treat you to a meal to express my gratitude, is that alright? Don't rush to refuse. I know if I offered you money or expensive gifts, you'd definitely turn me down. So I won't give you those things. I just want to invite you to taste some food you might not have tried before—consider it an invitation, a kind of sharing, not just a simple meal. Okay?"
Shen Qi smiled shyly. "Young Master Feng really knows how to talk. You make it impossible for anyone to find an excuse to refuse."
Feng Manlun lowered his gaze with a light laugh. "Being articulate is also an instinct that doesn't annoy people. To not be disliked by someone I respect is naturally an honor."
Shen Qi couldn't help but smile.
Feng Manlun was indeed different from Feng Kexin.
Feng Kexin was arrogant and overbearing.
But Feng Manlun was a gentleman—polite, refined, and elegant.
Being with a man like him truly felt pressure-free.
"Since Young Master Feng has so graciously invited me, it would be ungrateful of me to refuse again. Thank you for the invitation and for sharing this with me. I'll come." Shen Qi glanced at her watch. "What time should we set it for?"
"Whenever you're free." Feng Manlun spread his hands. "It's up to you."
Shen Qi nodded. She hadn't eaten much today, and after chatting, she was indeed a bit hungry.
"Then I'll go to the restroom first, and we can head over in a bit, how about that?" Shen Qi looked at Feng Manlun.
"Of course, please—" Feng Manlun rose gracefully and pulled out Shen Qi's chair, the epitome of a gentleman.
Shen Qi turned and headed to the restroom. Feng Manlun gazed deeply at her retreating figure, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips.
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Prepare a room for me. Make sure Shen Qi and He Yining run into each other."
A voice came from the other end. "Young Master Feng really is methodical in his scheming. I hear He Yining's new wife is a classical beauty. Has she caught your interest?"
"I've seen plenty of beauties. No matter how beautiful, they're not as important as the kingdom." Feng Manlun replied coldly.
"Tsk tsk, how heartless!" the other person couldn't help but admire. "The title 'Heartless Young Master Feng Manlun' is probably going to stick with you for life. But I'm more curious—when the day comes that you understand love but can only yearn without getting it, what will you do?"
"That day will never come." Feng Manlun said ruthlessly. "Any man trapped by love is a fool. How could I allow myself to become one?"
"Fine. I'll arrange it for you." The other person sighed softly, a thousand words condensed into one sigh.
When Shen Qi returned, Feng Manlun was already dressed neatly, smiling as he said, "Shall we go? I've already contacted them. We can start eating as soon as we arrive."
Shen Qi nodded. "Sure."
The two walked side by side.
Shen Qi noticed then that Feng Manlun was also quite tall, seemingly on par with He Yining.
No wonder they were once both called the gentlemen of H Province.
Aside from being slightly less handsome than He Yining, he seemed to match in every other way.
Feng Manlun was truly a gentleman, with manners that were just right.
Neither overly warm nor neglectful.
When picking up the car, Feng Manlun saw Shen Qi driving a vintage Beetle and chuckled. "This is one of He Yining's collectibles, isn't it?"
Shen Qi scratched her head. "I didn't pay much attention. I just grabbed one and drove out."
"The place we're eating at has an area suitable for racing. Want to try some high-speed driving?" Feng Manlun waved, and someone immediately handed him a key. He pressed it into Shen Qi's hand. "Want to try a Ferrari race car?"
Shen Qi's eyes widened. "A Ferrari race car? You didn't drive a race car here, did you?"
"Of course not. The city roads wouldn't allow it. The race car is nearby. Want to give it a try?" Feng Manlun's eyes were full of amusement.
He had already found out that Shen Qi was a woman who loved cars.
Unfortunately, the Shen family didn't have enough money to indulge that hobby, nor would they support it.
So during college, one of Shen Qi's hobbies was watching races.
After graduation, work had put that hobby on hold.
His people had reported that He Yining's custom Koenigsegg had already been given to Shen Qi.
She had driven that sports car around the entrance of Jinghua Manor many times.
So, he cleverly had several of his race cars shipped over.
Hearing that a Ferrari race car was nearby, Shen Qi was indeed tempted.
Not many people knew about this hobby of hers.
He Yining had guessed it later.
How did Feng Manlun find out?
Shen Qi hesitated. "But I'm not a good driver."
"It's not a competition, just for fun." Feng Manlun chuckled. "This car is set to compete in the upcoming European leg."
Shen Qi's eyes lit up involuntarily.
Even if she drove terribly, she still wanted to touch a car like that.
"Let's go." Feng Manlun personally opened the car door for Shen Qi.
At the foot of the mountain, Shen Qi saw several race cars parked ahead.
Sports cars and race cars were different.
Sports cars could still handle most city roads, but race cars only performed well on professional tracks.
Seeing a race car up close for the first time, Shen Qi's mouth fell open in disbelief.
Just then, a handsome young man tossed a helmet to Shen Qi and gave her a thumbs-up.
Shen Qi turned to Feng Manlun. "Can I really do this? My skills are terrible! I only know how to drive regular cars, not race cars..."
"It's fine. The road's been cleared today. You can feel free to experience it." Feng Manlun smiled at her. "Even if you drive terribly, we won't laugh at you."
Shen Qi blushed, biting her lip lightly, her eyes sparkling with radiance.
Even Feng Manlun, who was rarely captivated by beauty, had to admit that Shen Qi had something special.
When she was serious, she was truly moving.
Shen Qi bowed deeply to Feng Manlun. "Thank you! Thank you for fulfilling this dream of mine! But I really don't know how to drive a race car. Could you have someone sit in the passenger seat to guide me?"
"Of course." Feng Manlun glanced at the young man who had tossed Shen Qi the helmet. The young man immediately took another helmet from someone else and made an inviting gesture to Shen Qi.
Without further hesitation, Shen Qi put on the helmet and sat in the driver's seat.
Looking at everything around her, she felt like she was dreaming.
The young man in the passenger seat explained everything step by step. Once Shen Qi understood, he let her drive on her own.
At first, Shen Qi was nervous and fumbled.
After about ten minutes of getting used to it, she began to find her rhythm.
With a professional driver beside her, Shen Qi seized the chance to ask many questions.
He answered each one, and Shen Qi felt she had learned a lot today.
As the speed picked up, Shen Qi truly felt that exhilarating rush.
It was as if all her worries were left behind with the increasing speed.
At that moment, she just wanted to let loose and forget all the messy thoughts.
The young man in the passenger seat shared many driving tips, and Shen Qi felt like a light bulb went off—many things she hadn't understood while watching races suddenly clicked.
When Shen Qi returned and got out of the car, she was reluctant to leave.
Seeing her look back repeatedly, Feng Manlun couldn't help but smile.
Standing before him, Shen Qi said sheepishly, "Thank you! I drove terribly!"
"It was fine." Feng Manlun chuckled. "Come on, let's eat."
Shen Qi waved goodbye to everyone and followed Feng Manlun as they slowly walked down a small path.
Before long, they reached a parking lot already filled with many cars.
It seemed these were all diners who had come for the food.
"The dishes here are all made by a top chef. He only makes thirty dishes a day, and once he's done, he closes the stove, so reservations are needed in advance." Feng Manlun explained. "Luckily, I know him fairly well, so I booked a table ahead of time."
Shen Qi nodded, calming her excitement.
Feng Manlun asked casually, "Since you love race cars so much, would you like to come with me to watch the European leg live?"
Shen Qi laughed. "I can't."
"Why not?" Feng Manlun asked knowingly.
"I... I can't. Sorry, I just can't. I have too many responsibilities and things to do. I can't live so freely." Shen Qi lowered her eyes, hiding the sadness within.
Her brother still relied on He Yining's connections for treatment. She had no right to throw a tantrum or question why He Yining didn't love her but still got involved with her.
She had chosen this path willingly, with no regrets.
Feng Manlun suddenly said, "Don't move."
Shen Qi froze.
He leaned in and plucked a leaf from her hair.
Shen Qi looked up and could clearly see Feng Manlun's refined features and his faint, knowing smile.
Faint, knowing smile?
This scene was caught by He Yining, who had just arrived.
He found it jarring.
He hadn't expected Shen Qi to be meeting Feng Manlun.
Standing beside He Yining, Lin Xi snorted. "Brother Yining, is that woman really your wife? She's cheating on you!"
He Yining's phoenix eyes darkened, a spark of flame igniting within.
He didn't want to admit it, but he was jealous!
Shen Qi had no idea that Feng Manlun's gesture of removing the leaf had been seen by He Yining.
She just touched her head and thanked him. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." Feng Manlun smiled lightly. "Let's go. The food should be ready."
Shen Qi nodded and followed him away.
He Yining's phoenix eyes locked onto Shen Qi's back, watching her walk side by side with Feng Manlun, as if his beloved toy was being coveted by someone else, stirring a rage within him.
As Feng Manlun turned, a cold smile flickered at the corner of his mouth.
He had said it before—any man trapped by love was a fool.