chapter 63
“Uncle, and this one for Hengheng too.” Qi Heng picked up the book that had fallen to the ground, his fair, round face full of an adorably pleading smile.
Fu Juncheng glanced at him, his tone indifferent. “Take care of your own things.”
“But you helped Pretty Sister get hers.” Qi Heng pouted his pink little lips, complaining unhappily. “Uncle, that’s being inhuman to the opposite sex!”
Gu Qingning chuckled, the corners of her lips rising despite herself.
Fu Juncheng raised an eyebrow and pinched the chubby little face in his hand. “Jing, stop learning nonsense from Uncle Xi.”
Qi Heng whined, “Then why did you help Pretty Sister but not Hengheng?”
Fu Juncheng asked, “She’s a girl, are you?”
The little guy was young, but his mind worked fast.
He lifted his chin, wearing a coquettish expression, and said astonishingly, “You’re lying. Uncle never helps other sisters with their things, and he doesn’t let other sisters get close. You only helped Pretty Sister because she’s pretty and Uncle wants to compete with Hengheng for Pretty Sister, that’s why he helped her.”
The atmosphere suddenly grew subtly tense.
Gu Qingning froze, her gaze vacant for a moment, her brows and eyes full of confusion.
Then, the little guy continued with even more shocking words: “Hengheng got it right, didn’t he? Uncle wants to compete with Hengheng for Pretty Sister and marry her, right?”
“……”
Gu Qingning realized it—the name “Ningning” echoed in her mind like a spell.
She turned her head slightly, a faint blush crossing the depths of her eyes.
“Aren’t we going to eat ice cream? Let’s go.”
She turned and went downstairs, her slender figure seeming a bit like she was fleeing.
Fu Juncheng let out a quiet laugh, glancing down at the little guy by his feet, a trace of satisfaction in his eyes. “Good performance.”
Qi Heng was dumbfounded, his face blank and innocent.
He had just said that to his uncle, and Uncle didn’t get angry?
Fu Juncheng took the book from his arms and strode downstairs.
Qi Heng scratched his head, trying hard but failing to understand.
In the end, he gave up thinking and just chased after him with his short little legs. “Uncle, wait for me!”
After settling the bill, the three of them went to the café opposite the bookstore.
Fu Juncheng took a sip of coffee, then glanced at the two eating ice cream across from him, a faint smile on his lips.
Qi Heng turned his face, licking the corner of his ice cream, and said sweetly, “Pretty Sister, your ice cream looks so delicious. Can Hengheng try a bite?”
Gu Qingning tugged her lips and pushed her cup toward him. “Go ahead.”
Qi Heng’s eyes curved like crescent moons, resembling a satisfied little fox. He said sweetly, “Thank you, Pretty Sister. I knew you loved Hengheng the most.”
“As a reward, Hengheng has decided to give Pretty Sister a kiss.”
He had just lifted his bottom from the chair when a large hand pressed down on his shoulder.
A crisp voice commanded, leaving no room for refusal. “Sit properly.”
Qi Heng sat back down, his chubby little face full of gloom. “Uncle, you’re mean, such a miser.”
Then he transformed his frustration into appetite, shoveling a big spoonful of ice cream into his mouth.
His cheeks puffed out, like a little hamster caught stealing food.
Gu Qingning propped her head with one hand, watching the little guy eat ice cream with interest, finally reaching out to poke his chubby cheeks.
At that moment, a deep, magnetic male voice sounded across from them. “Tomorrow is Friday.”
Gu Qingning turned her head, puzzled. “Hmm?”
She had apparently forgotten about the Friday appointment they had agreed on.
Fu Juncheng frowned. “You forgot?”
Forgot what? Gu Qingning paused, unable to recall at once.
Suddenly, a flash of light flickered from the shadows.
Someone was taking pictures secretly.
Fu Juncheng’s cold eyes narrowed. His tall, upright figure suddenly rose and strode away from the table.
Seeing this, Gu Qingning stood as well, reaching out to pat Qi Heng’s little head. “Hengheng, you stay here and eat your ice cream. Sister will just go to the restroom.”
Qi Heng bit his spoon and nodded obediently.
Exiting through the café’s side door, they turned a corner into a dead-end alley.
The corner walls were covered in moss, and both sides of the alley were cluttered with junk, making the alley feel even narrower.
Gu Qingning caught up and stood at the alley entrance, hearing a pleading voice.
“I won’t dare again, please spare me just this once.”
“I’ll give you all the negatives and delete the photos immediately. Please, I beg you, spare me.”
Fu Juncheng’s hand tightened on the man’s neck, his deep, icy eyes laced with a terrifying coldness, faintly tinged with killing intent.
“Wait.”
The girl’s clear, cold voice carried over, and the coldness in Fu Juncheng’s brows dissipated.
He loosened his grip, and the bespectacled man collapsed to the ground, his eyes filled with fear.
Gu Qingning walked beside Fu Juncheng, looking down at the man on the ground.
She extended her hand, her voice cold. “Camera.”
Just having returned from a near-death experience, the glasses-wearing man was truly scared. He held the camera out with both hands.
“I’m sorry, I really know I was wrong. I won’t dare next time. Please, let us go just this once.”
Gu Qingning took the camera and flipped through the photos inside.
The angles were tricky; the photos only contained her and Fu Juncheng. Hers were frontal shots, but his were only from behind.
She tilted her eyes, looking down at the man, her gaze sharp. “Who sent you?”
Out of professional caution, the man hesitated. “This…”
Gu Qingning toyed with the camera, her voice cold. “If you don’t say, then leave your life here.”
The man’s eyes flicked to Fu Juncheng. The bruises on his neck throbbed.
He swallowed and asked, “If I tell you, you’ll let me go?”
Gu Qingning nodded.
Seeing no objection from Fu Juncheng, the man’s face lit up. He confessed truthfully, “It was a young girl. She wore a mask and sunglasses, covered up tight. I don’t know her name. She just told me to follow you and take photos of your every move. If I did this for her, she’d give me a generous reward.”
A young girl?
Gu Qingning narrowed her eyes, a chill creeping into them.
“Did she give you the reward?”
The man said, “Only half.”
Gu Qingning raised an eyebrow, already suspecting someone. “Can you contact her?”
The man nodded. When faced with saving his life, money was nothing.
“Call her and tell her you took important photos, and have her give you the rest of the reward,” Gu Qingning instructed calmly.
The man hesitated for a few seconds, then pulled out his phone and called her in front of them.
He put it on speaker. Soon, a female voice came through.
“Get to the point quickly.”
Even with a voice changer, her overbearing tone couldn’t be concealed.
Gu Qingning’s red lips curved slightly, her suspicion confirmed.
It really was her.
Gu, Wan, Wan!
