"Then, brother, what do you think I should do?" Feng Kexin looked at Feng Manlun with eager anticipation.
"Simple. From my two encounters with Shen Qi, it's not hard to see that she's actually quite kind-hearted. To deal with kind people, you use a soft knife, cutting away bit by bit. You don't use external pressure to force her to bow. You know, women who seem gentle on the outside but are tough inside are actually the strongest." Feng Manlun said disdainfully. "Using the Shen family to deal with Shen Qi wasn't wrong in itself. But the Shen family is foolish, resorting to such low-level tactics."
"Brother, do you have a better idea?" Feng Kexin's eyes sparkled even brighter.
"If force doesn't work, then show weakness." Feng Manlun's eyes dropped slightly. "If Mrs. Shen hadn't come at Shen Qi with such an aggressive, oppressive stance, but instead played the role of a weak, innocent, and pitiful figure, do you think Shen Qi would soften?"
Feng Manlun's words made Feng Kexin's eyes light up instantly!
Feng Manlun was truly Feng Manlun.
The most promising heir of the Feng family.
A refined yet utterly heartless man.
Back in the day, he was once known alongside He Yining as the two great young masters of H Province.
But after a few years abroad, his name gradually faded from people's memory.
He Yining, with his rise and brilliance, had overshadowed everyone else.
Yet Feng Manlun had indeed once stood shoulder to shoulder with He Yining!
He spoke little, but when he did, it often hit the nail on the head.
His suggestion thrilled Feng Kexin, and she immediately relayed the orders to the Shen family.
Meanwhile, the Shen family was in a state of utter chaos.
Upon receiving Feng Kexin's tip, they were overjoyed. Mrs. Shen couldn't wait to head to Jinghua Manor to show weakness to Shen Qi.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Shen's timing was off. He Yining had already taken Shen Qi to Fan Sheng and Fan Li's villa for a party.
Wen Yibo took a bottle of champagne from the server, and Shen Qi couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why is this champagne so expensive?"
Wen Yibo laughed heartily. "That's because this champagne is a true collector's item! Rumor has it that this batch was discovered in the hold of a sunken ship from World War I. When Swedish divers stumbled upon that torpedoed ship on the seabed, they found it still held several rare vintage champagnes. These champagnes and spirits were treasures of Tsar Nicholas II, sunk in Finnish waters in 1916. Because the water temperature in that area is so low, the bottles were perfectly preserved—both in color and taste, absolutely exquisite. Nowadays, you can't find these on the market; they only appear at top-tier auctions or in private collections."
"I got this bottle quite by chance. I heard an auction house was selling it, so I dropped everything, flew over, and snagged it." Wen Yibo said proudly. "What makes this bottle truly precious isn't just the vintage, but its provenance. This was one of Nicholas II's most beloved bottles. He Yining offered me a million US dollars for it—no way! I paid over a million to acquire it myself! Such fine wine is priceless!"
He Yining gave a lazy smile. "No matter how good the wine, it takes someone who appreciates it to savor it."
Wen Yibo turned eagerly to Shen Qi. "Little Seven, do you know how to taste wine?"
Shen Qi smiled lightly. "I studied it in college."
Wen Yibo, along with Fan Sheng and Fan Li, all perked up.
"I hope I won't disappoint you." Shen Qi said cheerfully. "Good wine deserves good music. I hear the Fan brothers are masters of music—any chance we could hear a performance?"
Fan Sheng and Fan Li both looked at He Yining.
He Yining immediately put on an innocent expression. "Oops, I let it slip by accident!"
So the Fan brothers' musical talent was still a secret!
Wen Yibo explained on their behalf. "Fan Entertainment has plenty of stars and singers, sure. But Fan Sheng and Fan Li are meant to inherit the company. As bosses dabbling in music, it feels a bit like neglecting their duties. Besides, Uncle Fan has always wanted them to focus on management, not become singers. So only Yi Bo and I know about this hobby."
Ah, that made sense.
Shen Qi nodded and turned to Fan Sheng and Fan Li with a wink and a smile. "Don't worry, my lips are sealed! I won't tell a soul!"
With that, she made a zipping motion across her mouth.
Wen Yibo saw her expression and couldn't help reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Little Seven, you're so cute!"
He Yining's gaze landed on Wen Yibo's hand, and Wen Yibo awkwardly withdrew it, scratching his ear instead.
He Yining placed his own hand on Shen Qi's head, repeating Wen Yibo's gesture. "Since Little Seven wants to hear it, you two play something."
Fan Li couldn't help protesting. "Yi Ning, you're so biased! Ever since you got Little Seven, your principles have gone out the window!"
Fan Sheng nodded in agreement. "Exactly! No wonder Yi Bo says you value your lover over your friends!"
Shen Qi's cheeks flushed slightly, but a sweet warmth spread through her heart.
Was he really that partial to her?
Did he truly care about her?
Fan Sheng and Fan Li stood up, inviting everyone to the music room for a bit.
It was Shen Qi's first time in the Fan family's music room.
As she entered, her mouth fell open in awe.
It was absolutely stunning!
Pure white carpet, pure white sofas and coffee table, a pure white piano, and an exquisite crystal chandelier overhead.
A few touches of greenery brought life to this white world.
Fan Sheng and Fan Li sat side by side at the piano, while Wen Yibo finally opened the champagne, filling five glasses.
The three of them clinked glasses gently.
Shen Qi lowered her head for a sniff—the aroma was rich and intoxicating, truly fine wine.
Fan Sheng and Fan Li's fingers fell, and a cascade of piano notes poured out from under their hands.
Shen Qi nodded along to the rhythm, even as an outsider, she could tell how seamlessly they worked together and how masterfully they controlled the tempo.
"You say you love summer, yet forget the taste of rain. Do you know, the day you left, the whole world smelled of you. I kept the taste of summer for you, but couldn't keep your taste." Fan Sheng began to sing softly, his voice clear, almost heavenly.
The moment Fan Sheng opened his mouth, Shen Qi's eyes went wide.
My god, what a beautiful voice!
"If I say you are my summer, was I ever your rainy season? If I say I am your rainy season, do you remember this summer?" Fan Li joined in, their nearly identical voices creating an unprecedented harmony!
Shen Qi was completely captivated. Even after Fan Sheng and Fan Li finished the song, she remained lost in it.
"That was incredible! You two have truly gifted voices!" Shen Qi exclaimed in admiration. "It's a shame I'm not in the entertainment industry, or I'd be tempted to recruit you!"
Fan Sheng and Fan Li smiled, walking over to sit across from Shen Qi, champagne in hand. "We don't just sing for anyone. Besides, Fan Entertainment doesn't need the money we'd make from records."
Shen Qi nodded. "True. It's enough that you sing for us."
Wen Yibo heard her words and couldn't help but snicker.
He Yining also smiled softly.
Shen Qi was puzzled. "What's so funny about what I said?"
"Not that. It's just that Yi Ning once said the exact same thing. You two really are a couple—word for word, no difference." Wen Yibo laughed.
Shen Qi immediately looked up at He Yining, who was already turning to look at her.
His eyes were full of smiles and tenderness.
Seeing his gaze, Shen Qi's heart softened.
The walls she had just built were crumbling, piece by piece.
What could she do? She couldn't resist this man's irresistible allure. How was she supposed to handle this?
His tenderness was like a net, leaving her no escape.
She couldn't run, and she couldn't bear to let go.
After finishing the champagne at Fan Sheng and Fan Li's place, the servants brought out an exquisite dinner.
The five of them sat together, carefree and without any barriers, joyfully celebrating the day's victory.
After the meal and a brief rest, He Yining prepared to take Shen Qi home.
As they got into the car, Shen Qi had just fastened her seatbelt when He Yining suddenly said, "Hmm? Don't move. There's a bit of wine on your lip."
Shen Qi froze, tilting her head up toward him.
He Yining's slender fingers gently brushed across her lips.
A jolt of electricity shot through both of them from the point of contact.
Shen Qi's ears flushed a rosy red.
He Yining's phoenix eyes grew deeper, fragments of starlight shimmering in his gaze, filled with infinite tenderness.
The car's space was already small, and with their intimate proximity, Shen Qi felt the temperature around her rise a few degrees.
The light inside was dim, yet just enough for them to see each other's eyes clearly.
In this sweet, almost dreamlike space, He Yining's gaze grew more captivating.
His Adam's apple bobbed rapidly a few times, and finally, he chose not to suppress his feelings any longer. He leaned in and gently pressed his lips to Shen Qi's.
Shen Qi felt the soft, tender touch on her lips, and her whole body trembled.
This kiss was incredibly light.
This kiss was incredibly sweet.
Unlike the forceful kisses before, this one was so gentle it felt like a dream.
Shen Qi didn't pull away. She let He Yining softly cling to her lips.
"Little Seven..." He Yining murmured, almost in a daze. "I like..."
Before he could finish, a phone ringtone suddenly blared, cutting off his whisper.
And breaking the tender kiss.
Shen Qi snapped back to reality, quickly pulling away, keeping a distance from He Yining as she forced herself to stay calm. "Oh, sorry, my phone's ringing."
He Yining reluctantly withdrew his hand and returned to his seat.
The mood he had painstakingly built was shattered.
Never mind. He'd save those words for another time.
Shen Qi touched her burning ears and answered the call. "Hello, this is Shen Qi."
"Shen Qi, I finally found you!" An excited voice came through the line. "You disappeared after graduation! We're planning a reunion for the school anniversary—are you coming?"