The photograph, by all accounts, did not seem to belong to someone devoid of emotion.
Shen Qingqing took a deep breath and, feigning nonchalance, placed the photo face down on the table. "He told me their relationship wasn't like that."
"You believe him just like that? I don't know when you became so naive."
"Then what do you want me to do?" Shen Qingqing's exasperation was palpable. "Am I supposed to look at one photograph and immediately announce to the world that I'm breaking off the engagement, that the wedding is a joke, a misunderstanding?"
Her words hung in the air, and the dining table fell silent for a long time.
Shen Qingqing closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. "I'm sorry, I'm not taking it out on you, I just..."
"It's alright," King wasn't truly angry. He spoke softly, "I'm just worried about you. As your teacher, I've watched you grow. I want you to be happy, do you understand?"
"Mm."
"This photo, I brought it out for your sake. I don't want you to be deceived."
"I know."
"So, don't be mad at me." King understood his disciple too well. He knew she disliked others interfering in her affairs, but on other matters, he indulged her. "I have to see this through. You can get married, but it must be to a man who is devoted to you, otherwise, I can't rest easy."
Knowing his sincerity, Shen Qingqing accepted it. "Don't worry, I'm not someone who doesn't appreciate kindness."
King felt relieved. "So, what do you plan to do?"
Shen Qingqing didn't answer.
King frowned slightly. "Are you planning to just pretend you didn't see it?"
"Of course not." Shen Qingqing wasn't deluded to that extent. It was just that the photo had appeared so suddenly, and she hadn't had time to think of what to do.
"Then break up," King offered a decisive solution. "Or, you could be honest with him and tell him where he went wrong."
Break up...
The thought of that word inexplicably brought a sense of resistance to Shen Qingqing's heart. Besides, even if they were to break up, it couldn't be this vague. She needed to get to the bottom of it.
"Let's not talk about troublesome things. Let's eat first."
Knowing she was trying to change the subject, King didn't press.
During the meal, he occasionally glanced at Shen Qingqing and found her demeanor natural, her expression calm, seemingly free of anger or worry.
After they finished eating, he offered to take the two children out to play, but Shen Qingqing declined.
"You just got off the plane. You need to adjust to the time difference. Get some rest. We'll have a chance to go some other time."
"Alright, I am feeling a bit sleepy." King yawned and looked at the two little ones. "Then Uncle will leave now. You two go home early and listen to Mommy, okay?"
The two children nodded obediently.
After he left, Shen Jinxi looked at his mother and asked cautiously, "Mommy, do you really believe that photo?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Shen Qingqing looked down at him. "Your Uncle King might seem a bit disreputable, but he's not a bad person, especially to me. Xi Xi, remember, he's my teacher, and someone you and Chen Chen should respect."
Her mother's seriousness indicated that she valued this person greatly, so Shen Jinxi dared not disobey. "I understand."
She then looked at Chen Chen, who also nodded obediently.
Shen Jinxi tugged at her sleeve. "Then Mommy, are you still going to marry Daddy?"
He had seen the photo earlier and found it rather eye-opening. Given that Mommy couldn't stand any speck of dust in her eye, she might just break off the engagement!
He was a little worried.
Across from him, Chen Chen also looked at her expectantly, awaiting an answer.
Caught between them, Shen Qingqing let out a sigh and said, "This is grown-up stuff. You children shouldn't concern yourselves with it. No matter what, you just need to know that Mommy and Daddy both love you equally."
Shen Jinxi pouted.
"What's with that expression?" Shen Qingqing raised an eyebrow. "You don't believe me?"
"When a classmate's parents in my class get divorced, they say the same thing," Shen Jinxi said like a little adult. "They keep saying they'll still be good to them after the divorce, but once they separate, they'll form new families and have many younger brothers and sisters, and then they won't be the favored one anymore."
Chen Chen's small mouth parted, his eyes wide with surprise and fear. "Mommy..."
Shen Qingqing held his small hand to comfort him and poked Shen Jinxi's forehead with her other hand. "Where do you get all these wild ideas?"
"I heard it from my classmates!"
"That's their business. Shen Qingqing couldn't guarantee that they wouldn't separate, but there was one thing she could assure them of. "If Mommy says I love you, that will never change. I won't have any more children in the future. You are my only, no, my only two treasures."
The two children were very happy, but their ways of expressing it were quite different.
Shen Jinxi hugged her neck and kissed her cheek, while Chen Chen, being more shy and introverted, simply looked at her with teary eyes.
Her heart softened. She kissed them both. "Alright, let's go home."
She took the two children home and then went to the Fu family residence. Fu Jingshu wasn't there, so she waited in the study. Bored, she browsed the bookshelves, wanting to find a book to read.
The books here covered a wide range of genres: military, business, and many works of philosophy and literature. She was somewhat surprised that Fu Jingshu had such broad interests.
She randomly picked up a book, finding it to be about business wars.
After reading a few pages, she switched to another book. As she opened it, an envelope slipped out from the middle and fell to the floor. Just as she picked it up, she heard the sound of a door opening.
It was Lu Wanying.
"What are you doing here?"
Lu Wanying walked in leisurely, her hands behind her back. "I'm here to wait for Jingshu. What are you doing here?"
Shen Qingqing didn't answer. She placed the letter back into the book, intending to put the book away. It was Fu Jingshu's private property, and she didn't intend to snoop while he was away.
But Lu Wanying suddenly said, "Don't put it away. Aren't you curious why Jingshu would use a pink envelope?"
Shen Qingqing paused.
She was indeed curious. Given Fu Jingshu's personality, she had always thought he would be completely detached from such a delicate pink color his entire life.
"Open it and take a look," Lu Wanying's voice was soft, carrying a hint of temptation.
Shen Qingqing hesitated. She glanced at Lu Wanying and, from her expression, could tell this woman had ulterior motives. However, the pink envelope was too suggestive, conjuring images of romantic encounters.
She still opened the envelope.
The content was exactly as she had imagined: a love letter. The wording was subtle, but every line carried affection, burning and clandestine.
Seeing Shen Qingqing's expression change, Lu Wanying smirked triumphantly. "I've been wanting to see what kind of expression you'd have when you saw this letter."
"This is a love letter from Jingshu to me."
Shen Qingqing's head snapped up to look at her.
"Jealous?" Lu Wanying asked softly. "But there's nothing you can do. I met Jingshu first. He likes me immensely. He's done many things for me that he normally wouldn't. As for you..."
She slowly approached, her gaze sweeping over Shen Qingqing's face with apparent significance.
"You're actually just my substitute!"
Almost as soon as the words left her mouth, Shen Qingqing slapped her, causing her head to tilt to the side. Lu Wanying looked incredulous. "How dare you hit me?!"