Shen Qi chuckled lightly. "Since you're so warmly inviting me, I naturally won't refuse. Senior fellow apprentice, thank you!"
The term "senior fellow apprentice" made Feng Manlun's mind wander for a moment.
He quickly averted his gaze and let out an unnatural, light cough.
He had always done things unscrupulously.
In the past, he hadn't seen anything wrong with that.
As long as the outcome was satisfactory, he didn't care about the process at all.
He didn't even mind sacrificing anyone's interests.
But for some reason, at this moment, looking at Shen Qi's candid smile and clear eyes, he suddenly began to doubt himself for the first time.
Since childhood, his ears had been filled with his parents' constant dissatisfaction.
From the time he could remember, his parents had drilled into him that the Feng family was inferior to the He family.
From the time he understood things, he had always been compared to He Yining.
From the time he gradually grasped reason, his achievements were always laid bare in the sunlight, trampled and crushed by He Yining's accomplishments.
He didn't know when his heart had become colder and harder than stone.
Nor did he know when he had started becoming unscrupulous.
What was he striving so hard for?
To prove something to his parents?
To prove something to the world?
To prove something to He Yining?
He knew well that his talent wasn't as good as He Yining's, yet he was always unwilling to lose to him.
So, he had been struggling all along.
In the past, he didn't think there was anything wrong with this struggle.
But today, seeing Shen Qi's clear eyes, he suddenly began to question himself. What was the ultimate goal of his competition?
If one day he truly trampled He Yining underfoot, what then?
For the first time ever, Feng Manlun felt a sense of confusion.
Seeing Feng Manlun lost in thought, Shen Qi couldn't help waving her hand in front of his eyes. "Senior fellow apprentice? What's wrong?"
Feng Manlun snapped back to reality.
He forced a smile. "Nothing, sorry, I was just spacing out. Let's go. It's not a short drive."
Shen Qi nodded and walked out side by side with Feng Manlun.
From the design studio to the car dealership, it spanned nearly a third of the city.
They drove one car there, and Shen Qi sat in the passenger seat, gazing at the scenery outside while lost in her own thoughts.
Feng Manlun drove quietly, catching Shen Qi's dazed expression in the rearview mirror. He knew that her relationship with He Yining wasn't as rosy as it seemed.
These past few days, Lin Xi had been clinging to He Yining.
As long as He Yining didn't show signs of being annoyed with Lin Xi, there was still a chance.
Feng Manlun pulled himself together.
He warily glanced at his reflection in the mirror.
He had actually wavered just now!
That had never happened before!
He absolutely wouldn't allow himself to have any weaknesses.
Defeating He Yining had always been his goal!
Until he achieved that goal, he would never give up!
This woman was terrifying.
When she was with He Yining, He Yining had a weak spot.
He himself had only interacted with her two or three times, and yet he had nearly let his defenses crack!
He hadn't even noticed how she had done it!
Arriving at the dealership, Shen Qi got out of the car and was immediately attended to by several handsome young men.
Someone held an umbrella for her, someone offered wet wipes for her hands, and someone provided introductions along the way.
On the other side, Feng Manlun was surrounded by a group of beautiful women as he walked forward.
Compared to Shen Qi's side, the enthusiasm on Feng Manlun's side was almost over the top.
Although Feng Manlun had just returned to the country and hadn't made many appearances locally, a handsome, tall man with a great physique driving a luxury car—even if he had no fame at all—wouldn't stop those girls hoping to latch onto a wealthy family from trying their best.
Seeing the overwhelming enthusiasm, Shen Qi waved her hand and said, "Don't misunderstand. I'm not here to pick a car today. I'm just accompanying a friend to pick up his car."
Hearing that Feng Manlun was there to pick up a car, the girls' eyes grew even more eager.
Shen Qi noticed that along this street, several supercar manufacturers were packed closely together.
No wonder this dealership offered handsome guy and beautiful girl services—the competition was fierce!
The car Feng Manlun had ordered was a Pagani.
Shen Qi didn't know much about Pagani, but she did quite like the Huayra.
As soon as they entered, a gleaming white, top-tier handcrafted Pagani immediately caught their eyes.
Feng Manlun handed over his identification, and the staff member took it with both hands, glanced at it, and respectfully said to Feng Manlun, "This is the car you ordered. Please inspect it."
Feng Manlun nodded, turned to Shen Qi, and gave a faint smile. "It's all yours!"
The keys were handed to Shen Qi, and she felt as if she were dreaming.
Shen Qi felt her fingers trembling.
Such a beautiful car—was it really going to be hers to drive first?
Clutching the keys, Shen Qi strode toward the car.
Just then, a discordant voice rang out from the entrance. "Wow, what a beautiful car! Yining-ge, I want this car!"
Shen Qi's steps halted abruptly.
She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
He Yining's gaze wasn't on the car but fixed on Shen Qi's back.
Seeing He Yining staring intently at Shen Qi's silhouette, Lin Xi pouted and said, "Yining-ge, say something! I really like this car. Buy it for me, okay?"
At that moment, Feng Manlun spoke up calmly. "Sorry, this car was specially custom-made by me."
He Yining snapped his head around to look at Feng Manlun.
"I'm truly sorry. This car is a gift I'm giving to my junior fellow apprentice, so I can't transfer it to you, Miss Lin." Feng Manlun's voice was unhurried, but it dropped a bombshell in everyone's ears.
Shen Qi was stunned and spun around.
What did he say?
A gift for her?
Was he joking?
This car was a custom edition?
A custom edition worth over forty million?
Feng Manlun looked up at Shen Qi with a smile. "Junior fellow apprentice, do you like this surprise? As your senior, I don't have anything too impressive to offer, so I can only give you this little gift. Don't be polite with me—it would make me sad."
Shen Qi was completely speechless from shock.
Lin Xi blurted out, "Junior fellow apprentice? Are you joking, Young Master Feng? How could this old lady be your junior fellow apprentice?"
"How could I joke about something like that?" Feng Manlun's eyes deepened as he glanced at He Yining's calm expression. "I only found out today that she has become Mr. Charles's student. Coincidentally, I studied design concepts under Mr. Charles years ago. If she's not my junior fellow apprentice, then what is she?"
Shen Qi instinctively looked toward He Yining.
He Yining stood there calmly, waiting until Feng Manlun finished speaking before fixing his gaze on Shen Qi. "Xiao Qi, don't you like Koenigsegg anymore?"
Shen Qi met He Yining's gaze.
There was a hint of grievance in his eyes.
Shen Qi's heart ached inexplicably.
No!
I don't!
I just came to accompany Feng Manlun to pick up his car. I didn't take that car!
Shen Qi opened her mouth to explain, but Lin Xi suddenly spoke up. "Old lady, Yining-ge said it's inconvenient for me to get around at the villa, so he wants to pick out a car for me. You're not upset, are you?"
The words Shen Qi was about to say got stuck in her throat.
He Yining shot a quick glance at Lin Xi.
Lin Xi felt a chill run down her spine.
That piercing gaze made her heart race.
But she had no choice.
If she completed the task, she could have a good life!
Shen Qi's eyes dimmed.
He Yining was buying a car for Lin Xi?
Fine. Fine.
She had to be magnanimous, to not ask, not pry...
Shen Qi forced a smile. "Why would I be..."
He Yining stubbornly asked again, "Xiao Qi, don't you like Koenigsegg anymore? Do you prefer Pagani?"
Before Shen Qi could answer, Feng Manlun said lightly, "She likes all racing cars."
He Yining suddenly strode toward Shen Qi, grabbed her wrist, and turned to leave.
Caught off guard, Shen Qi stumbled as she followed him.
Feng Manlun and Lin Xi's expressions changed simultaneously, and they hurried after them.
He Yining directly addressed the Pagani H Province general agent. "Call your boss out!"
Shen Qi couldn't help asking, "What are you doing?"
He Yining didn't answer her. The chill in his phoenix eyes made the Pagani employees tremble in fear.
He Yining rarely lost his temper.
But when he did, no one dared to calm him down!
At this moment, He Yining's aura was fully unleashed, his phoenix eyes as cold as ice, like a reaper from hell.
A few timid employees felt their legs go weak, nearly dropping to their knees!
In no time, the Pagani H Province general agent rushed out, wiping sweat. "So it's President He! It's all my fault—my staff failed to take good care of you..."
He Yining cut him off and got straight to the point. "I heard you got a globally limited-edition supercar from headquarters a few days ago?"
The Pagani H Province general agent broke out in a cold sweat. "Yes. This car is limited to seven units worldwide, and this is the only one in Greater China."
"Excellent. My wife still needs a car. I'll take this one." He Yining's dominance was overwhelming. "My assistant will complete the transfer with you immediately. Can we pick it up today?"
The Pagani H Province general agent nearly knelt before He Yining!
This car wasn't for sale!
But since President He had spoken, how could he refuse?
Did he want to keep operating in H Province?
If He Yining so much as lifted a finger, Pagani's sales across Greater China would suffer!
Let alone H Province!
Shen Qi stared at He Yining in shock.
What was going on?
She hadn't asked him for a car!
He Yining looked down at Shen Qi, his fingers tightening slightly. "The wife of He Yining, of course, deserves the best limited-edition car."
As soon as He Yining said this, everyone present gasped.
The girls who had been hoping to latch onto wealth looked at Shen Qi with envy that could have drowned her.
What kind of luck did it take to marry He Yining, the president of the He Consortium?
What kind of ancestral blessing was this, to be so cherished by a big boss?
Shen Qi opened her mouth. "Yining, I really don't need..."