Stop Messing Around, Mr Bo! Chapter 2132 - Wen Yuan (26)

After setting her phone aside, Shang Qingmo glanced toward Shang Qiqi.

“Time to rise for lunch.”

Shang Qiqi nodded while smoothing her hair. She asked once more, “Why are you returning at this hour? Isn’t the company swamped?”

“It is.” Shang Qingmo’s eyes fell to the sofa’s base. He leaned down to position the slippers she had kicked off haphazardly by her feet. “Things aren’t busy right now.”

Noticing his gesture, Shang Qiqi slipped on her slippers and rose to her feet.

Her lips parted slightly, yet ultimately, she just murmured an “oh”.

Shang Qingmo straightened up and clasped her hand, leading her toward the dining area.

Shang Qiqi cast her gaze downward at their joined hands. Her eyelashes quivered faintly, and her lips curved faintly. “How long will you stay free? What about tomorrow? Will you come back to eat lunch with me?”

Shang Qingmo squeezed her hand firmer as he reached the dining room, drawing out a chair for her to settle into.

“Of course. In fact, you could join me at the company.”

Shang Qiqi hesitated before lifting her eyes to find him seated across from her.

Curiosity and uncertainty filled his gaze.

Was he concerned about her venturing outside?

Recalling how he had confined her at home just days prior, not even permitting her out of the room, fear still lingered within her.

Moreover, was it safe for her to step out now?

Should she show up in public, would the issue everyone had just put behind them erupt once more?

She understood the matter wasn’t fully settled, yet what they required most at present was time.

Time for everyone to catch their breath and for the company to rebound.

Staying hidden was the wisest choice for her currently…

Though she’d need to face this eventually, she craved this moment right now. She longed to linger in this dreamlike bliss, hoping it would stretch on forever…

Observing her face, Shang Qingmo paused for a couple of seconds. “Tomorrow night, I’ll take you out for some fun.”

Shang Qiqi’s heart jolted, her hand stiffening.

“Do I… have to go out?”

Shang Qingmo regarded her intently. “You can’t remain indoors indefinitely.”

Shang Qiqi fixed her gaze on him for ages, her eyes quivering. Finally, she squinted slightly and popped some food into her mouth.

“Alright.”

*

At the Pei family hotel.

Clad in a sleek black V-neck gown, Shang Qiqi remained seated in the gradually halting car. She stared blankly out the window at the brilliantly illuminated hotel.

Shang Qingmo hadn’t revealed their destination for the evening’s outing, but she knew Shen Fanxing was hosting a celebration banquet tonight.

When her uncle delivered the dress earlier, her suspicions were confirmed.

Reporters aplenty had been invited to tonight’s event amid the throng of guests.

Hadn’t he considered the fallout of escorting her here this evening?

Shang Qingmo exited the vehicle first. The reporters clustered at the entrance immediately hoisted their cameras. Shang Qiqi eyed the buzzing, thrilled assembly, her hands paling with tension.

Yet Shang Qingmo steadily opened the door for her and extended his hand.

Her hands had grown icy.

Once she stepped out…

No retreat possible.

Shang Qingmo intended to declare her publicly, shifting her from niece to girlfriend.

He wished for her to embrace normalcy, granting her position and assurance.

She comprehended his intent, but she balked at him sacrificing so much on her account.

After a moment with no response from Shang Qiqi, Shang Qingmo ducked inside and grasped her hand.

He guided her from the car, then drew her close into his arms as the reporters surged nearer.

It screamed a man’s claim over his woman.

Shang Qiqi ducked her head on reflex, shying from the flashing lenses.

Shang Qingmo pulled her nearer. “No need to fear. Stay close to me, and nobody will harm you.”

Flanked by security, they smoothly entered the hotel.

Inside the banquet hall, elites mingled with drinks in hand, chatting amiably in an air of harmony.

Shang Qingmo’s arrival with Shang Qiqi plunged the lively hall into hush.

En route, Shang Qiqi had mentally prepared herself countless times.

Still, confronted by this, her heart chilled despite everything.

They were the guilty ones, after all.

It truly was improper.

Scant optimism remained in her heart.

Soon enough, the banquet hall’s vibe normalized.

Chi Yaoyao approached, linking arms with Shang Qiqi gleefully.

“I’ve waited ages for you. Feared you might skip out.”

Shang Qiqi managed a smile. Her worry had been spot on.

Absent necessity, she wouldn’t have appeared.

Shen Fanxing was greeting guests elsewhere. Spotting Shang Qiqi, she offered a plate of treats.

“Grab a bite to tide you over.”

Shang Qiqi accepted it, staying on her feet.

Shen Fanxing glanced up at Shang Qingmo. “Your whole team awaits you. You’ll be tied up tonight. I’ll watch over Qiqi.”

Shang Qingmo furrowed his brows. “No rush at all. I’ll take her with me once she’s finished her meal.”

“Uncle,” Shang Qiqi cut in, “I’m okay. You should go handle your business.”

Chi Yaoyao clung to her arm and pressed close to Shang Qiqi. “Us ladies need to chat privately. Don’t you think it’s out of place for a guy like you to stick around?”

Shang Qingmo had faith in these women, particularly Shen Fanxing.

“Keep a close eye on her.”

Chi Yaoyao puckered her lips and whispered under her breath, “Why didn’t you leave sooner?”

Shang Qingmo acted as if he hadn’t caught that.

Once he departed, Shen Fanxing guided Shang Qiqi to the chair next to hers and they settled in.

Chi Yaoyao’s thrill was impossible to conceal. “Slim odds or not, I’m truly worried your uncle might show up with Song Yunshu tonight. What a brilliant move he made.”

Shang Qiqi nibbled on her snacks leisurely. At those words, her lips curved faintly.

“Sister Yaoyao, did Uncle really bring me here tonight?”

Chi Yaoyao hesitated. “…I shouldn’t have dragged you here. Would you prefer I fetched Song Yunshu instead?”

Shang Qiqi toyed with the treats on her dish. “Whoever he chooses to bring, except for me, our connection has already wounded plenty of folks. To everyone else, we’re…”

Chi Yaoyao pressed her lips together and huffed. “Doesn’t matter to me. I’m all about double standards. Everything you do is perfect. Anyone who badmouths you gets a beating from me!”

Warmth flooded Shang Qiqi’s heart, bringing tears to her eyes.

She chewed a piece of snack, forcing down the lump in her throat.

Perhaps she wasn’t destined for a friend as wonderful as this…

Shen Fanxing, seated across from her, regarded her with steady composure.

“No need to shoulder the guilt. Shift all the fallout from this mess onto your uncle.”

Surprise flickered in Shang Qiqi’s gaze toward Shen Fanxing.

A subtle smile played on Shen Fanxing’s lips as she continued, “I’ve always handled my issues solo. These last few years have transformed me plenty. Now that I know I love him, I trust he’s solid and dependable. No guy wants to let his woman down completely—not even out of sheer pride.”

Shang Qiqi gazed at her in a daze.

Shen Fanxing fell silent after that.

The reasoning made sense to her, yet applying it personally changed everything.

In her shoes, she couldn’t stand by while Ah Chuan faced jail time.

Watching Ah Chuan suffer was unbearable for her.

*

Just as anticipated, the once-fading subject surged back into focus.