Chapter 19: I, Ling Qiong, Send the Money! (19)

The young girl was dressed splendidly, her asymmetrical tulle skirt swaying gracefully with her every move, delicate sparkles glimmering on the hem. She seemed like a princess straight out of a comic, a halo accompanying her every gesture, irresistibly drawing all eyes her way.

Shen Qinchuan narrowed his deep, enigmatic eyes.

It had been more than three months since he last saw her…

After some time apart, he found that he almost didn’t recognize her.

“Your ex-fiancée is truly beautiful. Not tempted at all?” his friend fanned the flames beside him.

Shen Qinchuan’s gaze followed the girl, but his face betrayed nothing.

“If you’re not interested, I might just take my chance.”

He let out a cold laugh, turned, and walked away.

His friend was left baffled. What was that supposed to mean?

After finishing a round of conversations, Shen Qinchuan scanned the room, but couldn’t spot her. He furrowed his brow, not quite sure why he was looking for her in the first place. Shaking his head, he forced his attention elsewhere.

A few minutes later, out of the corner of his eye, Shen Qinchuan caught sight of Ling Qiong standing with his friend.

He moved toward them before he’d even decided to, his presence icy and imposing.

Both turned to look at him. His friend’s eyes glinted with gossip, while Ling Qiong’s expression was one of curiosity and confusion, her demeanor gentle and obedient.

Yet Shen Qinchuan couldn’t help but think, “Obedient, my foot.”

He didn’t even know why he was standing there.

With no way to retreat, he braced himself and said, “Su Miaomiao, I have something to discuss with you.”

“Mr. Shen,” Ling Qiong replied sweetly, “I don’t think there’s anything left for us to say, is there?”

What is with this male lead? Can’t he just stay away from me?

“I have business to discuss with you,” he insisted, shooting a glance at his friend, who pretended to be oblivious, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

Shen Qinchuan’s gaze sharpened, and finally his friend left, albeit with visible disappointment, blowing Ling Qiong a kiss before he went. “Let’s chat later, little sister.”

Ling Qiong’s eyes curved in a smile, but she offered no real response.

Yet the smile seemed glaringly conspicuous, and Shen Qinchuan felt… something. He couldn’t quite name the emotion, only that it was vaguely irritating.

Suppressing his annoyance, Shen Qinchuan asked, “You haven’t returned to the Su family?”

She stepped back warily. “Mr. Shen, if you’re just concerned about my private life, you needn’t bother. We have no connection now. You have no say over me!”

He was momentarily speechless.

“And I’ve told you before, Mr. Shen,” she added, “from now on, we each go our separate ways.”

Why do you keep appearing in front of me? Do you know how much self-control it takes for me not to react?

This was a walking vault…

Shen Qinchuan’s expression darkened. “Let’s make a deal.”

“A deal?” Ling Qiong looked him up and down, her evaluative gaze making Shen Qinchuan uncomfortable.

What was she doing? Pricing pork?

The next moment, she grinned. “What sort of deal does Mr. Shen have in mind?”

“My grandmother is very fond of you.”

Ling Qiong looked puzzled. “And?”

“I need you to help me keep her reassured.”

Ling Qiong pressed, “Why not be straightforward about what you want?”

His brow twitched as he took a deep breath. “Pretend to be my girlfriend for a while and visit my grandmother with me on schedule.”

Ling Qiong blinked. “Weren’t you so against our engagement? What do you mean by this now? Don’t tell me you actually…”

He cut her off. “It’s just for my grandmother. Don’t overthink it.”

Old Lady Shen’s health wasn’t good, and ever since the incident with this woman, she was always angry when he visited. As her favorite grandson, Shen Qinchuan thought he could make this small sacrifice.

“It’s just pretend,” he said coldly. “You’ll be compensated.”

His expression seemed to say, “Rest assured, you’re not my type—someone like you would never attract me.”

Ling Qiong’s eyes widened indignantly. “I’m not that kind of person.”

He was undeterred. “Name your price.”

Ling Qiong fell silent, considering… the possibility of having her cake and eating it too.

“Mr. Shen…”

Someone called for him just then, and he told Ling Qiong, “Think about it carefully.”

As soon as Shen Qinchuan left, Bai Yewei strode over in towering heels, exuding an air of superiority.

Ling Qiong was a little nervous… worried that Bai Yewei would demand she repay her debt.

“Su Miaomiao, what are you doing here?” Bai Yewei apparently hadn’t seen her with Shen Qinchuan moments before.

Ling Qiong replied, “Why shouldn’t I be here?”

The doors are wide open—who could be barred from entering?

Bai Yewei’s mouth curled in a sneer. “I’m just curious how you got in. The Su family doesn’t care about you anymore. Did you sneak in?”

Since the engagement was called off, the Su family had washed their hands of her, as if they meant to leave her to her own devices.

Ling Qiong rolled her eyes inwardly, but smiled politely. Then she fired a seemingly unrelated but deadly question: “Miss Bai, have you succeeded in winning over Shen Qinchuan?”

Bai Yewei had no answer.

She hadn’t seen much of Shen Qinchuan lately—so much for chasing after him.

She’d only found out today that he’d be here, and she hadn’t even spotted him yet before running into this woman.

“If you have time to meddle in my affairs, you’d do better to chase after your man,” Ling Qiong smiled. “Or, if you give me another ten million, I could help you out. The male lead is always in demand, after all.”

At the mention of ten million, Bai Yewei’s face tightened. She hadn’t expected this woman to actually take the money back then—or to go and demand another ten million from Shen’s mother as well.

She’d never seen anyone so brazen.

And now she dared mention it again…

Bai Yewei fought back her anger, squeezing out a dignified smile. “Su Miaomiao, let’s see how long you can keep this up.”

Ling Qiong replied earnestly, “I’ll do my best to keep it up until the day you marry into the Shen family.”

With that, Ling Qiong sauntered off, leaving Bai Yewei grinding her teeth in place.

Ling Qiong found a seat and sent a message to Lu Wenci.

[Miaomiao Unbound: Hey, do you think I could pull off a honey trap scam?]

[Lu Wenci: ??]

The abrupt question left Lu Wenci completely lost. What honey trap?

[Miaomiao Unbound: My ex-fiancé wants me to pretend to be his girlfriend to placate his grandmother, and he’ll pay me for it.]

[Miaomiao Unbound: Do you think he’s lost his mind? He couldn’t wait to distance himself from me before, and now he’s coming straight to my door.]

[Lu Wenci: …]

[Miaomiao Unbound: I think it’s a great idea. Once I get the money, I’ll run.]

Scamming NPCs out of their money—that’s my specialty!

[Lu Wenci: …]

Apparently, Lu Wenci thought it best not to comment on this matter.

Ling Qiong’s messages kept coming in rapid succession.

Lu Wenci replied only to the ones he felt safe responding to.

[Miaomiao Unbound: Come pick me up later.] After all her chatter, she tossed out this final request.

[Lu Wenci: I’m in a meeting with Chen right now, I don’t have time.]

No further messages came.

Lu Wenci waited a few minutes, picking up and putting down his phone repeatedly.

Chen Fangchuan noticed his distraction. “What’s going on? You seem absent-minded.”

“Nothing,” Lu Wenci replied, setting his phone aside.