Feng Manlun gave a faint smile, sipped his red wine without answering He Yining’s question. He turned to look at Wen Yibo, who was holding two beauties and eating fruit, and said, “What’s your take on this, Wen?”
“Me?” Wen Yibo tilted his head, his smile quite charming. He hugged the two beauties tightly, pressing them against his chest until they squealed before letting them go. With a lazy grin, he said, “What’s it got to do with me? I’m just here for the fun.”
Feng Manlun turned to Fan Sheng and Fan Li: “And what about you two?”
Fan Sheng and Fan Li spread their hands and said in unison, “Actually, Feng, you already have an answer in mind. Whatever we say won’t change anything, right?”
Feng Manlun chuckled softly at that. “True. Even if I don’t consider anyone else’s face, I have to consider yours. You all are the ones who control the GDP together. Who would I dare to offend?”
“You sure know how to talk, Feng,” Fan Sheng and Fan Li said. “Xiao Qi is your junior sister. Why would we need to worry about her? You’ll naturally keep her in mind.”
Feng Manlun nodded with a smile. “Yes, as her senior, I’d never shortchange my own people.”
With that, Feng Manlun shot a meaningful glance at He Yining.
He Yining seemed unfazed, merely raising his glass with a faint smile.
After Feng Manlun left, Wen Yibo said to He Yining, “Feng’s smile today was loaded with meaning.”
He Yining nodded. “Mm. But so what? His schemes are all about Xiao Qi. However, Xiao Qi isn’t someone he can scheme against.”
“That confident?” Wen Yibo raised an eyebrow at He Yining. “You haven’t even officially made up with Xiao Qi yet!”
“I’ll wait until after the competition,” He Yining said with a bitter smile. “My mother’s demands mean I can’t get too close to Xiao Qi during the contest.”
“The He matriarch’s boldness is truly a family tradition,” Wen Yibo couldn’t help but sigh. “Even though she’s never been back to the He family, that aura is still overflowing.”
“Get out of here.” He Yining grabbed a piece of fruit and tossed it at him. “Your mother’s just as domineering.”
Wen Yibo shook his head. “My mother may be domineering, but she’s never meddled in my love life.”
Fan Sheng and Fan Li agreed. “True. Wen’s mother is formidable, but she’s never interfered in his affairs. That’s why he’s so brazen about swapping girlfriends.”
“Hey! You two! Can you stop undermining me? Can we still have fun together?” Wen Yibo snapped at Fan Sheng and Fan Li. “Did we grow up together or not?”
After saying that, Wen Yibo turned to He Yining. “Yining, take it from a veteran in the dating scene: watch out for Feng Manlun. He’s probably got his eye on Xiao Qi.”
He Yining narrowed his eyes. “Even if he does, Xiao Qi is still my wife, He Yining’s. What’s it got to do with him?”
“That’s true. But I still feel like Feng Manlun will stir something up.” Wen Yibo furrowed his brow. “Forget it, we’ll deal with it when the time comes. In terms of wealth, status, and looks, you’ve got him beat. No matter what he plots, as long as your anchor holds, he won’t cause much trouble.”
Fan Sheng said, “This semifinal to the finals—are you not confident in Xiao Qi?”
“It’s not about confidence; it’s about worrying someone will sabotage it,” Wen Yibo replied. “Davy is Feng Manlun’s man after all.”
“Relax, Feng Manlun won’t team up with Cui Yuelan,” He Yining said firmly. “Feng Manlun doesn’t think much of Cui Yuelan.”
“You’re that sure about Feng Manlun?” Fan Li couldn’t help asking.
“It’s not that I’m sure about Feng Manlun, but I still have leverage over his sister. No one will disrupt this competition,” He Yining said lightly. “Cui Yuelan has cut off one of her own arms, and she’s too far away to do anything to Xiao Qi. With my grandmother restraining my mother, she won’t interfere again.”
“Speaking of which, Yining, your attitude toward Cui Yuelan seems to have shifted in the past couple of days,” Wen Yibo observed sharply. “Did you find something out?”
He Yining’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t answer the question. Instead, he said, “My wife will always be Shen Qi.”
Shen Qi and Liu Yi were in their room, heads down, working on their drafts.
All three meals were delivered to the room.
Shen Qi lay on the floor, carefully drawing dimensions, while Liu Yi grabbed a takeout box and came over. Seeing a few of Shen Qi’s designs, she nodded approvingly. “You’re pretty fast!”
Shen Qi said, “We only have three days. I want to put out my best work, so I have to design a whole series. Otherwise, the competition will be too weak. What about you? How’s your progress? Need me to help spark some ideas?”
Liu Yi sat across from Shen Qi, eating as she spoke. “I’m doing okay, but there are a few spots I’m unsure about. Help me figure them out after you’re done.”
“Sure.” Shen Qi smiled and nodded. “You haven’t had time to box and digest lately. Eating this much—aren’t you afraid of gaining weight?”
Liu Yi flexed her arm. “Bro’s this skinny, no worries!”
After saying that, she added, “I heard the others haven’t left their rooms either, all ordering in. Looks like everyone’s being cautious this time.”
Shen Qi nodded. “I’ve heard that in past competitions, there were several cases of idea theft. To prevent that, everyone’s being careful. Even roommates are wary of each other.”
Liu Yi patted her chest. “If anyone tries that on me, I’ll knock their teeth out.”
Just as Liu Yi finished speaking, the doorbell rang.
Liu Yi and Shen Qi exchanged a glance. Who could it be at this hour?
Liu Yi quickly put down her boxed lunch and went to open the door.
A hotel staff member stood outside.
“Is this Liu Yi?” the staff asked politely.
“That’s me,” Liu Yi replied. “What’s up?”
“Someone at the front desk left a box for you. They said it’s addressed to you. We tried calling your room, but no one answered,” the staff said.
Liu Yi looked back and remembered they’d unplugged the phone line to avoid interruptions.
Liu Yi nodded. “Alright, I’ll be right there.”
Once the staff left, Liu Yi said to Shen Qi, “I’ll go see what it is. Wait for me in the room, and I’ll grab you some other food on the way back.”
Shen Qi waved her off, and Liu Yi left.
Not long after Liu Yi left, the doorbell rang again.
Shen Qi was startled. Could she be back already?
Shen Qi got up and opened the door. The person standing outside made her freeze.
“You?” Shen Qi looked at him with a complicated expression. “Are you looking for me?”
Outside the door, He Yining leaned against the wall.
His head was lowered, making his expression hard to read.
His outfit today was extremely casual.
Gone was his usual commanding presence. He stood there quietly, like a beautiful painting.
The deep wine-red shirt was messy and seductive, paired with straight, form-fitting black trousers. The restrained yet wild allure made Shen Qi’s breath catch.
At her question, He Yining lifted his eyes slightly.
His slightly tousled, damp short hair framed his phoenix eyes, which swept over Shen Qi with a gentle, casual glance. He raised a hand, shaking the fruit basket in it. “Just arrived from Australia. Grandma specifically asked me to bring it to you.”
Shen Qi was taken aback. She hadn’t expected the He matriarch to personally send her fruit.
Lately, the He matriarch had been almost overly kind to her.
Not knowing what to say, Shen Qi could only offer a weak, “Thank you.”
“Thanking me, or thanking Grandma?” He Yining’s lips curled slightly, the corners of his eyes tilting upward, his gaze rippling.
Shen Qi shot him a sharp look.
What nerve had He Yining hit?
Was he trying to seduce her?
“Both,” Shen Qi replied curtly.
He Yining’s smile widened as he handed the fruit basket to Shen Qi.
Shen Qi reached out to take it, but when she tried to turn away, she found the basket wouldn’t budge.
Looking down, He Yining still hadn’t let go.
What did he mean by this?
Was he reluctant to give it to her?
Just as Shen Qi was about to let go, He Yining spoke with a deliberately helpless tone. “Grandma doesn’t believe I’d actually bring you fruit, so she wants me to see you eat it before she’ll let me off.”
Shen Qi’s eyes widened. “What? Eat it right here in front of you?”
He Yining looked at her innocently. “Yeah, that’s Grandma’s request. I can’t help it.”
Shen Qi wanted to refuse.
But then she thought about how the He matriarch had helped her and had sent the fruit. Even if she didn’t care about He Yining’s face, she had to respect the matriarch’s.
Silently, Shen Qi picked a beautiful cherry from the basket and quietly popped it into her mouth.
Before she could swallow, He Yining suddenly leaned in, biting the other half of the cherry still in her mouth.
Shen Qi’s whole body stiffened as she looked up sharply.
He Yining’s exquisite face was right in front of hers.
Both of them were biting the same cherry.
Though Australian cherries were large, their lips still brushed slightly.
He Yining’s eyes curved seductively as he gently bit off his half of the cherry. As he pulled back, he casually licked the juice from the corner of Shen Qi’s lips.
Shen Qi stood there dumbfounded, watching He Yining straighten up, staring blankly as he savored his half of the cherry, gaping as he wore a satisfied, happy expression. It took her a moment to realize—she’d been taken advantage of!
Ahhh! He Yining!
Not this again!
“Mm, it’s really good,” He Yining said, acting as if nothing had happened, his tone serious. “These fruits are from our He family’s orchard in Australia. To keep them fresh, they were air-freighted here in just a few hours. Grandma said Australian cherries taste best when they’re just ripe. She was right.”
Shen Qi was fuming.