Chapter 75: Tian Dafeng, Not One of the Xia Family

Shen Qing glanced at the pendant on her wrist and said nothing. Her hand was pale, looking especially beautiful under the shop's lights.

Gu Ting turned his head, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curving upward. He gently took the girl's hand and led her upstairs to a private room on the third floor.

Mo Wuxie had arrived early and was already waiting inside, absorbed in his game. When the door swung open, he looked up to see a man and a woman enter hand in hand—handsome and pretty, a striking pair.

“Oh, little fairy... Ting—brother?” Mo Wuxie’s gaze landed firmly on their joined hands. Together! Ting-ge moves fast!

Shen Qing shot him a cold glance, her eyes dropping back to her wrist where she was being pulled along.

“Hm?” She narrowed her eyes, a dangerous look in Gu Ting’s direction.

Gu Ting stiffened under her gaze, then smiled and let go of her hand.

“Have a seat,” he said, pulling out a chair, his eyes shining with laughter as he looked at Shen Qing.

Mo Wuxie clicked his tongue from the side. Look at that! With a girl around, he forgets his brothers—Mo Wuxie had greeted him, but hadn’t even gotten a passing glance. Tsk!

Gu Ting paid no mind to Mo Wuxie’s resentful stare and sat beside Shen Qing. The large round table had only an empty spot beside Mo Wuxie.

“What would you like to eat?” Gu Ting slid the menu toward Shen Qing. Shen Qing pointed at a dish; he marked it down.

“What about you?” After placing her order, Shen Qing looked up at Mo Wuxie, who had been ignored.

“I’d like—”

“He isn’t picky,” Gu Ting interrupted, marking down a few more dishes before calling the waiter.

Mo Wuxie: …

In this trio’s hotpot, he would never possess the menu.

The dishes arrived quickly. As they ate and chatted, it was mostly Mo Wuxie talking, Gu Ting chiming in occasionally, while Shen Qing quietly ate, looking very well-behaved.

“Whoa! She can really take on ten at once?” Mo Wuxie glanced at Shen Qing, muttering under his breath.

“Hm?” Shen Qing looked up at him.

Mo Wuxie quickly smiled. “Nothing—actually, something. Shen, about that MV, do you have any requirements? Like salary or anything?”

Shen Qing shook her head. “No.”

“Alright, I’ll send you the script and song later. Study it when you get home. We’ll start filming next Tuesday, does that work for you?”

He knew her grades; missing a day of classes wouldn’t be a problem.

“Yes, that’s fine,” Shen Qing replied blandly, her face expressionless.

Mo Wuxie smiled. “Good, it’s settled then.”

He stood up to pour Gu Ting a drink, intending to pour one for Shen Qing as well, but Gu Ting stopped him.

“She’ll have a soft drink.”

Mo Wuxie paused, almost forgetting—she wasn’t yet of age.

Gu Ting filled Shen Qing’s glass with lemon soda. “This isn’t too strong.”

“Hm.” Shen Qing raised her glass.

Mo Wuxie hurried to lift his own. “Come on, let’s toast!”

Gu Ting and Shen Qing both shot him a glance, then drank directly.

Mo Wuxie held his glass awkwardly aloft, then sheepishly withdrew, clinking his glass against theirs before downing the drink in one gulp.

This wine... why is it so sour?

***

After several rounds, Mo Wuxie began to feel tipsy, his cheeks tinged pink.

Gu Ting kept adding dishes to Shen Qing’s bowl, denying her any chance to look up.

A subtle vibration sounded—Shen Qing reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone. The caller: Xia Mang.

She immediately stood. “Excuse me, I need to take this call.”

Gu Ting glanced at her. “Go ahead.”

Shen Qing stepped out, walked into the corridor, and pressed answer.

“Baby, help me!” Xia Mang’s voice was a little panicked.

Shen Qing’s delicate features were tinged with coldness; she frowned. “What’s going on?”

“I crossed the border and got targeted by mercenaries from S Continent.”

“The group from the abandoned factory in Fan City?” Shen Qing lowered her voice, recalling that they were also from S Continent.

The click-clack of heels came through the phone. “Eight or nine out of ten, probably. I’m at the capital airport in Country R right now. Handle it for me.”

“Alright. Send me your location.” Shen Qing hung up, turned toward the restroom.

Entering a cubicle, she received Xia Mang’s location, marked with the whereabouts of the S Continent people.

Xia Mang switched her phone to another mode and swiftly entered a long string of code.

***

At the capital airport of Country R, a woman in a black slip dress strode toward the ticket check in sky-high heels.

“Miss, please remove your sunglasses.”

She replied softly, removed her sunglasses, revealing a stunning face.

After facial recognition, the electronic door opened.

She smiled, gathering her hair, exuding charm.

“Tian Dafeng? Not a Xia?”

“So pretty, yet called Tian Dafeng—what a character.”

“This Xia woman is over sixty, and still calls herself Mrs. That’s bizarre.”

…