Chapter 389: There’s No Need to Earn Eighth Brother’s Favor
Nevertheless, the Crown Prince’s life was quite bizarre at the moment. He had given up on a vast empire of diamonds such as Huang Yao for Mu Qiqi, even throwing away his status as its Crown Prince just for a relations.h.i.+p?
With the wealth he had, what woman could he not get?
One could only imagine how seductive the young bride of the Sheng family was.
Still, Old Sheng had really stopped bothering Sheng Xiao and the Shen family as promised. After all, he was now busy having Second Brother prepare a grand birthday celebration for himself, where he would announce Gu Ziling’s status and celebrate Sheng Xiao’s return.
While the entire Sheng family was busying around but all to Sheng Xiao’s benefit, the others were more or less uncomfortable. After all, Sheng Xiao left the family on his own with no one forcing him, and yet the whole family still revolves around him even now. What sort of reasoning is that?
However, while the Sheng family stirred restlessly, the person in question was having an easy, comfortable life at the Shen family.
Since the people he interacts with these days are different, Sheng Xiao was becoming ever more discreet.
In other words, he was becoming craftier.
In the past, his hostility against you would be apparent in public.
These days, he would ignore your existence in public, but handle you behind the scenes.
Naturally, Mu Qiqi is mesmerized with him no matter how he was behaving…
During dinner at the Shen’s residence, Old Shen sneaked a few glances at Sheng Xiao and said, “I’ve had tea with a few of my comrades today, and we spoke about you. They praise the Shen family’s son-in-law is quite spirited, securing several vital resources right after Zhongteng is founded. That said, though your ability is outstanding, Sheng Xiao, you have to know that the nail that sticks out gets hammered in this business.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to be more discreet.”
Sheng Xiao glanced down at his own formal clothes and turned innocently to Mu Qiqi, who lowered her chopsticks and told the old man, “Grandfather, I a.s.sure you that Xiao Xiao is discreet enough now. Look at him, giving up on those outrageous sport cars…”
The family chuckled before breaking out into laughter.
“Right now, the Shen family is on the rise. It’s hard to blame anyone trying to pull us down…”
“Grandfather, as long as we act respectable, I welcome anyone who dares to challenge my authority both in public and in the shadows. ”
Old Shen was not too smart when it came to business, but Sheng Xiao’s reaction alone showed him that he was a born genius.
“Remember what you say today, or I can’t be bothered when you get into trouble in the future.”
“When the matter with the Sheng family is resolved, I’ll take Qi’er home to Jing Ting with me…”
“Brat. Are you complaining that I’m long-winded now…?”
The family laughed again. In truth, Sheng Xiao felt no pressure from staying at the Shen’s residence, and the thing that Huang Yu found most precious about Sheng Xiao was that he didn’t have the eccentric flaw that most rich children had of being hard-to-please.
Aside from being nitpicky when it came to Mu Qiqi, he was unconcerned with everything about his daily needs. He was demanding towards himself, but he never tried to make thing difficult for others.
After dinner, Sheng Xiao was working at the study, whereas Mu Qiqi was reading a textbook while wearing one of Sheng Xiao’s s.h.i.+rts.
“Jing Yun has settled the matter in the Xu family…”
“Really?” Mu Qiqi paused her reading and turned to Sheng Xiao.
He had been sitting on the sofa, but for some reason he was already beside her, pinning her to the wall and lifting her chin. “Are you trying to seduce me? Hmm?”
“I… just like the s.h.i.+rt because it has your scent.” Mu Qiqi explained.
“Such a clingy little thing.” With that, Sheng Xiao leaned in for a kiss. “Looks like it’s going to be hard to work today…”
“You hadn’t told me how the Xu family matter was resolved!”
“Let’s get on the bed. We’ll discuss… while we do it.”
Mu Qiqi couldn’t help struggling. Would she even have the ability to think when that happened?
This man… it was like his whole body becomes upset if he didn’t get to touch her for one day.
***
The Sheng family was getting rather lively at the moment with Old Sheng’s birthday at hand. Gu Ziling, however, stuck out compared to the rest of them.
There was a proud and aloof side to her—something which Second Brother had observed over recent days.
“Are you unhappy because my mother’s hospitality is lacking?”
Gu Ziling was having some wine alone at the garden of Sheng’s residence. Turning to find Second Brother, she explained, “No. Your mother’s hospitality had been wonderful… but I’ve noticed there’s not much difference between our families. Also, I heard that the Crown Prince had his own place to stay and don’t usually live here…”
“He prefers his freedom and doesn’t like being constrained.” Second Brother answered.
Very good, she liked that about Sheng Xiao.
Although she had agreed to marry into the Sheng family, she was not willing to stay in such a cage. If she and Sheng Xiao could come to an accord, she could really move out of the family.
“I heard that the young bride is a student of forensics in Sheng Ting university.”
“Yes, and that is what grandfather most displeased about.” Second Brother smiled. “Still, I admire Qiqi’s determination to not change herself for anyone.”
“Well, since I can’t meet the Crown Prince in private… could you help me meet Mu Qiqi, Second Brother? I want to learn what type of girl the Crown Prince likes.”
Second Brother eyed her, before answering, “You’re beautiful. You don’t have to earn Eighth Brother’s favor.”
However, Gu Ziling was merely trying to add some leverage to her own favor.
“I’m… just feeling bored. I need some air.”
“Alright…” Second Brother replied—it was indeed difficult to meet Sheng Xiao, but he had some ideas on how to meet Mu Qiqi. “I just hope Grandfather wouldn’t blame me for deciding on my own when he learns about this.”
“But from what I’ve heard, Xiao Qi is an a.s.sistant in a forensics lab now, which is why the place we would meet here would not be so hygienic…”
“It’s fine.” Gu Ziling insisted.
“Very well. I’ll inform you after I made the arrangements.”
“Thank you, Second Brother.” Gu Ziling conveyed her grat.i.tude—with a very respectable tone, of course.
Second Brother smiled. “Rest early. I have to receive Third Brother from the airport tomorrow.”
“Go on.” Gu Ziling nodded.
***
Be that as it may, Mu Qiqi had been going on field trips with her lecturer over recent days, which was why she was not merely staying at the forensics lab.
Still, Second Brother just had to ask to know where she was.
This time, they were near a highway in the suburbs, where someone made a report after finding an extensively rotted corpse.
To train Mu Qiqi harder, her lecturer had brought her to the scene for a preliminary post-mortem.
Mu Qiqi insisted on not wearing a face mask, because forensics doctors were supposed to determine many elements unknown to others through scents.
Still, the reality was that the scene stank terribly.
“Qiqi, you’ll do the initial findings.” The lecturer called then.