With Feng Kexin out of the way, many people no longer had to worry about the Feng family's face, and some began to actively show goodwill toward Shen Qi. Though they feared the Feng family, they feared the He family even more! A few of them had even been Shen Qi's customers, so they bravely greeted her. Sure enough, He Yining's phoenix eyes softened when he saw them being sensible. With He Yining's attitude, more and more people came over to greet her. Gradually, whether sincere or not, everyone finally accepted Shen Qi. Shen Qi slowly loosened up and started chatting with others.
Throughout the banquet, Shen Qi changed into eight different looks. Each look was stunning enough to captivate the entire room, and each one deepened He Yining's gaze by a fraction. Shen Qi changed into her final look, preparing to see off the guests. She had just finished changing her clothes and hadn't yet adjusted her headpiece when someone strode in from outside. "Hold on a moment, I'm not ready yet..." Shen Qi said with her back to the person. "Shen Qi." The voice of Shen Yinyin came from behind. "You're quite pleased with yourself today, aren't you?" Shen Qi's hands, which were undoing her hair, froze abruptly. She spun around and saw Shen Yinyin standing in front of a row of dresses, her greed barely concealed. "Shen Qi, don't you owe me an explanation?" Shen Yinyin walked toward her, glaring venomously. "Why is your husband He Yining instead of He Yiqi?" "I only found out recently myself," Shen Qi said, lowering her eyes. "What, regret it now? Regret forcing me to take your place back then?" "Shen Qi, don't get too cocky!" Shen Yinyin's face twisted with malice. "This was never meant to be yours!" "Right, nothing should ever be mine; everything should be yours! From childhood to now, it's all been yours! I've had nothing!" Shen Qi slowly stepped toward Shen Yinyin. "And it's still the same now! Shen Yinyin, I remember the moment my brother was driven out of your house by all of you, I told you clearly: I've paid back everything I could! I don't owe your family anything anymore!" "You think it's all settled? Not even close!" Shen Yinyin's eyes turned cold. "I regret it. I don't want you to marry in my place anymore! Shen Qi, go divorce He Yining!" Shen Qi laughed in exasperation. "Divorce? Fine! I have no problem with that! But you go tell him! Go tell He Yining that if he agrees, I'll divorce him right away." "Are you threatening me?" Shen Yinyin's eyes widened, and she raised her hand to slap Shen Qi hard across the face. "Who do you think you are?" Shen Qi grabbed Shen Yinyin's wrist, her voice turning cold. "I told you, I don't owe your family anything anymore! Don't think you can hit and scold me like you used to!" Shen Yinyin looked incredulous. "You dare to dodge?" "I put up with your hitting and scolding before because my brother was in your house, and I had no choice. I married in your place for him too! But the moment I left to take your place, you kicked my brother out! Shen Yinyin, what is your heart made of? He's your brother too!" Shen Qi's eyes reddened instantly. "Shen Yinyin, I hope this never happens again! You're not welcome here. Please leave!" Shen Qi shoved Shen Yinyin away. Without her brother as leverage, Shen Qi finally stood tall before Shen Yinyin for the first time. "Fine, fine, fine. Shen Qi, just you wait! I'll make you pay!" Shen Yinyin, furious, felt her anger boil over. "Don't you regret this!" "I won't give myself a chance to regret!" Shen Qi said firmly. As long as she got through today and sent her brother to Germany, she would have nothing to fear! Shen Yinyin's outburst made Shen Qi insist firmly on sending Shen Lu abroad immediately. Once Shen Lu was overseas, the Shen family wouldn't find it so easy to threaten her anymore! Shen Lu didn't want to leave, but Shen Qi pleaded with him, promising to pick him up from Germany once he recovered. Wei Wei was used to taking care of Shen Lu, so Shen Qi discussed it with him and arranged for him to go abroad with Shen Lu. He Yining acted quickly, and within just a week, everything was set. On the day Shen Lu left, he clung to Shen Qi and wept bitterly, so much so that Shen Qi almost softened. "Xiao Qi, I'm going," Shen Lu sobbed, gasping for breath, and pressed the bank card into Shen Qi's hand. "I'll take care of you." Shen Qi didn't think the card would have much money, but she nodded and said, "Okay, okay. Xiao Qi believes that once you recover, you'll take care of me! From now on, I'll rely on you!" "Xiao Qi..." Shen Lu was stunningly handsome, and even his crying was beautiful enough to draw stares. "Don't get hurt." Shen Qi nodded and reached out to touch Shen Lu's face. "Brother, you have to protect yourself too! Remember what I told you! In Germany, no matter who it is, if they try to do more than pinch your cheek, don't agree, understand? Your face belongs only to Xiao Qi, got it?" "Mm," Shen Lu nodded through his tears. "Yours too." Shen Qi laughed and cried at the same time. "Fine, I've got it!" It wasn't that Shen Qi was being paranoid, but Shen Lu was truly too beautiful. As a child, he'd been coveted by countless people. To protect her brother, Shen Qi had gotten into plenty of fights. Wei Wei helped Shen Lu onto the plane and said to Shen Qi, "Xiao Qi, don't worry. I'll take good care of him!" Shen Qi immediately replied gratefully, "Uncle Wei, I'm counting on you!" Shen Lu kept looking back, and only after Wei Wei's persuasion did he board the plane. As the plane flew away, Shen Qi felt as if her soul had been ripped out. She stood there in a daze for a long time. Her brother suddenly leaving her side was something she truly couldn't adjust to. Clutching the bank card her brother had left, she casually stuffed it into her bag. She had no idea that the balance on that card was enough to cover all her debts... Back at Jinghua Manor, Shen Qi collapsed onto the sofa like a deflated balloon, not moving an inch. A servant came to bring fruit and noticed something was wrong with Shen Qi. Touching her forehead, she found it burning hot. Startled, the servant quickly notified He Yining. He Yining received the call and immediately dropped what he was doing to rush back. When he got home, he saw that Shen Qi had already taken medicine and fallen asleep. "How did she suddenly get a fever?" He Yining frowned, his eyes sweeping sharply over the maids. "Second Young Master, she came back from outside today as if she'd let out a huge sigh of relief, and then suddenly got a fever," a maid quickly replied. "The doctor said it's from prolonged tension and sudden relaxation. She just needs rest." He Yining understood immediately. His eyes flickered, and he waved his hand. "Alright, all of you can leave." He said to Xiao Chun, "Move the work here to the house." "Yes, President." Xiao Chun acknowledged and left. He Yining moved his desk directly into the bedroom and began his busy work while watching over Shen Qi. When Shen Qi groggily woke up, He Yining's figure came into view. His image blurred and sharpened in her vision several times before she finally saw him clearly. He Yining? Why was he here? She touched her forehead; her whole body felt heavy, and her mind was sluggish and numb, like a short circuit. Hearing her stir, He Yining looked up and saw her sitting up. He immediately set aside his work, sat on the edge of the bed, and felt her forehead. "Mm, the fever's finally gone down." "I had a fever again?" Shen Qi gave a bitter smile. "Sorry for the trouble." "Xiao Qi, what's been going on with you these past few days? Why are you so distant with me?" He Yining couldn't hold back and finally asked. "Nothing," Shen Qi forced a smile. "Maybe it's just because of my brother's situation, so I'm in a bad mood." He Yining looked at her suspiciously but didn't want to press her. He said, "I've had the kitchen make you some congee. Drink it while it's hot." "Mm," Shen Qi nodded. "I need to go on a business trip for a few days. Take good care of yourself at home," He Yining ruffled her hair. "When I get back, I want to see you bouncing around again." Shen Qi gave a wry smile and replied dully, "Mm." He Yining seemed genuinely busy. Once Shen Qi was awake, he quickly left Jinghua Manor. His departure also let Shen Qi breathe a sigh of relief. She had been avoiding him for days. Dodging each other was exhausting for both of them. A few days apart would give her some space. By evening, Shen Qi's fever had completely broken. After eating the congee from the kitchen, she finally felt a bit of strength. Just as she was about to shower and rest, her stepmother called. Shen Qi didn't answer. Half an hour later, a servant reported, "Second Young Madam, Madam Shen is here." What? She came all the way here after not answering the phone? And to Jinghua Manor? Who gave her the right? Shen Qi sighed helplessly and said to the maid, "Let her in." Let's see what she has to say today. Anyway, her brother was already in Germany, so she didn't have to worry about what tricks they might pull! Soon, Shen's mother walked in on high heels, wearing a look of deep grievance. Just as Shen Qi was about to speak, Shen's mother suddenly raised her hand and slapped Shen Qi hard across the face. The slap came so suddenly that everyone was frozen in place. Shen Qi said to the others, "All of you, leave." The maids glanced at her and quickly withdrew. Once the room was empty except for the two of them, Shen Qi said, "Did you come all this way just to slap me?" "You bitch!" Shen's mother suddenly pointed at Shen Qi and cursed viciously. "Why did you steal your sister's man? Are there no other men left in this world? Why did you have to marry He Yining? Don't you know he's the one Yinyin likes? Why won't you divorce him when she told you to? Tell me, are you jealous of Yinyin, so you stole her husband?" Shen Qi covered her face and looked up at her stepmother. "Was it my choice to marry back then? You forced me into it! If you hadn't pushed me, how would I be here?"