Old Mrs. Fu was too enthusiastic, and Shen Qingqing couldn't refuse her kindness, so she could only follow her wishes and pick out a pearl necklace.
"This one."
Old Mrs. Fu let out a soft sound, sounding a little nervous, "You, you like this one?"
Shen Qingqing paused. The old lady's eyes had been fixated on this necklace, which must have had some special meaning to her. So, she switched to the jade bangle next to it.
"If you like it, take it."
Old Mrs. Fu said this, but her eyes were still fixed on the jade bangle. Her reluctance, coupled with her forced generosity, didn't make her seem stingy at all, but rather quite endearing.
At that moment, Fu Jingshu leaned in and whispered in her ear, "These are heirlooms, they were part of my grandmother's dowry."
Shen Qingqing understood.
These items held immense significance for Old Mrs. Fu. Yet, despite her deep affection and reluctance, she was still willing to let Shen Qingqing choose from them.
The old lady's thoughtfulness was truly exceptional.
So, Shen Qingqing switched again, observing the old lady's expression out of the corner of her eye with each change.
Finally, she settled on a jade hairpin.
Old Mrs. Fu took the hairpin and examined it. "This hairpin, though not as valuable as the others, was my most treasured item from my dowry. You have good taste, girl."
Shen Qingqing hesitated, not wanting to take the old lady's beloved possession. But before she could react, Old Mrs. Fu had already placed the hairpin in her hair.
She had styled her hair into an elegant updo that day. The jade hairpin, paired with the wine-red gown, didn't look tacky at all. Instead, it added a touch of elegance and grace.
"It looks absolutely stunning." Old Mrs. Fu liked her more and more the longer she looked. "Do you want to pick out a couple more things?"
Shen Qingqing smiled and shook her head. "No, thank you. I don't wear much jewelry usually, so this jade hairpin is more than enough."
"Good, good. As long as you like it."
Old Mrs. Fu had the rest of the jewelry put away. She attached great importance to these pieces and repeatedly cautioned them to be careful not to scratch or damage them.
Shen Qingqing found it all quite fascinating. After carefully storing the jade hairpin, she took out the gift she had prepared. "Grandma, this is a birthday gift for you."
Old Mrs. Fu's eyes lit up the moment she saw the white jade bangle.
"This bangle is truly beautiful. Look at its luster and feel; it must have been very expensive, right?"
Shen Qingqing helped the old lady put on the white jade bangle and then nodded. "The price doesn't matter as long as you like it, Grandma. This bangle suits you perfectly."
Old Mrs. Fu was flattered, her face beaming. She affectionately stroked the white jade bangle. "You're such a good child, and so sweet-tongued. Jingshu, you should learn from her. You've been so cold since you were little, I sometimes feel like my grandson is a block of ice!"
She confided in Shen Qingqing, who listened patiently and nodded in agreement.
Fu Jingshu glanced at her, his lips moving slightly. "Don't worry, Grandma, your grandson will change."
Let him change if he wants to. Why is he looking at me?
Shen Qingqing pretended not to notice. Just then, she saw a couple walking in through the doorway.
They appeared to be in their forties. The man was composed and distinguished, while the woman was elegant and dignified.
They walked directly to Old Mrs. Fu.
"Mother, we're late due to traffic."
Old Mrs. Fu smiled warmly. "It's alright, it's alright. I told you, if you're busy, you don't need to come. Jingshu is here with me."
"Mother, how can you say that? I'm your son. How could I not be here for your birthday banquet?" Fu Tingyi had someone present a birthday gift.
It was a colossal jade Guanyin statue.
Old Mrs. Fu was getting on in years and always had a fondness for such items. She looked at the jade Guanyin and immediately liked it, quickly asking for it to be taken to her room.
She couldn't rest assured and personally went upstairs to supervise.
Fu Tingyi turned to Fu Jingshu. He was very pleased with his son, who had always been steady and capable. "How is the company's business lately?"
"Very good."
Fu Jingshu was always a man of few words, and Fu Tingyi was long accustomed to it. He then turned his gaze to Shen Qingqing. "This young lady looks familiar."
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting you before, Mr. Fu."
Fu Tingyi narrowed his eyes and glanced at his wife. The unspoken understanding between them after years of marriage was unmistakable. Fang Ru immediately stepped in. Her voice was gentle, but there was a hint of distant politeness in her tone.
"I noticed, you bear a slight resemblance to Shen Yaoyao."
Shen Qingqing's expression remained calm. "She is my sister."
Fang Ru nodded slightly and smiled. "It seems my unpromising son cannot escape the Shen family."
They had finally managed to get rid of Shen Yaoyao, only for Shen Qingqing to appear.
Fu Tingyi's expression grew slightly colder, but he showed no outward sign of it. "Jingshu, your uncle is also here. Come with me, I need you to say a few words to him."
Fu Jingshu didn't move immediately. Instead, he looked at Shen Qingqing.
This hint of concern made Fu Tingyi and Fang Ru exchange a glance. Fang Ru stood beside Shen Qingqing and said softly, "Go on, I'll keep her company. No one will dare to bully her."
Only then did Fu Jingshu leave.
Not long after he departed, Fang Ru began to speak leisurely, "My son, he truly gives me endless worries. In the past, when he didn't have anyone he liked, I worried, thinking he needed to settle down soon. But now that he does, I'm still worried."
Her words were pointed, but Shen Qingqing didn't respond.
"Miss Shen, would you mind stepping aside for a moment so we can talk?" Fang Ru changed the subject.
"Of course."
Shen Qingqing wanted to see what Fang Ru was up to, so she readily agreed. She followed her to a deserted staircase, where Fu Tingyi was waiting.
She suddenly realized that this conversation was akin to a Hongmen Banquet.
The couple stood together, perfectly matched, their faces displaying the same coldness and distance. Fu Tingyi spoke first. "Miss Shen, we've asked you here because we'd like to ask you to leave Jingshu."
Fang Ru's tone softened. "Miss Shen, please don't blame us. We have no choice. With Jingshu's background and talent, he deserves a better match. Before I came, I had already shortlisted several suitable young ladies for him, all from prominent families with impeccable backgrounds. If you truly care for him, Miss Shen, you should know when to let go."
Fu Tingyi directly threw a check at her. "This is compensation for you."
The couple's words and actions were a well-rehearsed act. Any ordinary young girl, subjected to such humiliation, would surely panic and flee in tears.
Shen Qingqing accepted the check. Seeing the amount, she realized it wasn't insignificant – fifty million.
Fu Tingyi and Fang Ru exchanged a glance, a look of confident certainty on their faces.
They had investigated and knew that Shen Yaoyao was not favored in the Shen family and would find it difficult to refuse fifty million.
"Is that all?"
The couple froze. "What?"
Shen Qingqing repeated slowly, "Only fifty million? Have you two paid the taxes?"
The couple was dumbfounded. Their lives had always been smooth sailing. This was the first time they had encountered someone so unyielding. Their attempt to buy her off had failed.