As they left the cinema, Fu Hengyi spotted an ice-cream shop at the entrance. Couples were lining up to buy them. He cast a glance at Shen Qinglan, went over and bought two.
He gave one to her. “The shop assistant said this is yellow peach flavor, the one with the best sales. Try it.”
Here was a thirty-year-old man of his serious stature holding two ice-cream cones in his hands. This visual impact managed to disrupt even Shen Qinglan, who could usually keep her cool. She looked away. What an eyesore!
“I don’t like sweet food.”
“Try it once in a while,” Fu Hengyi passed her the ice-cream so that it was next to her mouth, motioning her to take a bite.
Around them, the people’s gazes fell on them, intentionally or not. Feeling a little embarrassed, Shen Qinglan bowed her head and quickly took a small bite of the dessert. She expected it to be very sweet, but the cold touch at the tip of the tongue mixed with sweet buttery creaminess was actually quite good.
Shen Qinglan reached out, grabbed the cone and began consuming the dessert.
Fu Hengyi was satisfied to see the expression on her face that resembled that of an ordinary girl. He also took a bite of his ice-cream, but immediately frowned. He really did not like sweet stuff, but he had just told Shen Qinglan to try it once in a while. Even if he found it unpalatable, Fu Hengyi kept his poker face and finished the cone in a few mouthfuls.
After devouring that, Fu Hengyi was completely disgusted with this kind of food that exuded thick creamy sweetness.
Shen Qinglan thought it tasted great. But she was only halfway done when the ice-cream in her hand was snatched away by Fu Hengyi. “Girls shouldn’t eat too much cold food. Getting a taste should be enough.”
Shen Qinglan regretfully glanced at the ice-cream in his hand, but did not persist. She had little in her life to persist for. To eat or not to eat, she did not care.
The two went for dinner. This was their second time having a meal together outside. Fu Hengyi brought her to a Chinese restaurant.
The food in the restaurant tasted great too. Before leaving, Shen Qinglan glanced at the name of the store. She could bring Yu Xiaoxuan here to eat next time. That girl certainly loved trying out good food.
“What are we doing next?” They had gone shopping, had their dinner, and even watched a movie. Perhaps it’s time to go home? Shen Qinglan thought as she looked up at the darkening sky.
“Not yet. There’s a place I want to take you.”
Shen Qinglan did not ask where. He could not possibly sell her off, anyway.
“This is where you want to take me?” Shen Qinglan looked up at the name of the store: Charm.
If she remembered correctly, this was the most famous high-end club in the capital, and the biggest gambling den. The people who would come here were either rich or powerful.
Fu Hengyi embraced her by shoulder and smiled without a word. He handed a card to the porter, who made a gesture of welcome respectfully.
Shen Qinglan was actually not a stranger to this place. Shen Junyu was a member. He brought her here before.
Fu Hengyi took her directly to the innermost booth on the fifth floor.
There were people playing mahjong in the booth. The occupants stopped what they were doing when the couple entered. Their gaze fell on Shen Qinglan.
Shen Qinglan did not feel uncomfortable at all with so many eyes on her. She even had the mood to survey the people there. Besides Han Yi, she had not met the other three.
Still embracing Shen Qinglan, Fu Hengyi made introductions. “This is my wife, Shen Qinglan. And this is Han Yi. You’ve met before.”
He was pointing at Han Yi, whose eyes flashed. Fu Hengyi surely took quick action. The last time he said he was not interested in Shen Qinglan, and yet here he was, officially her husband. What happened to ‘not interested’?
“Good day, missus,” Han Yi greeted them cheerfully, his eyes sparkling with charm.
Shen Qinglan nodded, “Mr Han, we meet again.”
Fu Hengyi pointed to a young man sitting on the left of Han Yi. There was a gentle look about him. Overall, his whole person gave off a bookish appeal. He looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. “This is Jiang Chenxi.”
Jiang Chenxi smiled and called her “missus”.
“Then we have these two. The younger one is my aunt’s son, Gu Yang, and the one next to him is Gu Kai, his paternal cousin.”
Gu Yang and Gu Kai also called her “missus” simultaneously.
“Bro, when did you get married? Why didn’t I know about it?” Anxiously, Gu Yang could not help himself and asked.
The rest focused their attention on Fu Hengyi.
“A month ago. We’ve received our certificate,” Fu Hengyi’s reply was concise.
“That’s where your mistake lies, bro. Why wasn’t there a wedding?”
“The wedding will be held after Shen Qinglan graduates,” Fu Hengyi explained.
Gu Yang’s eyes widened. “Missus, you’re still studying? Doesn’t that mean you’re young than I am?” He said, horrified.
Shen Qinglan was rendered speechless.
Anyone with eyes can tell the difference. Do I really look that old?
“These are my pals. When I’m not around, you can ask them for help,” Fu Hengyi explained to Shen Qinglan. That was the reason he brought her here.
“Hengyi, when would we ever get a turn to intervene in her matters? If anything were to happen to her, that brother of hers, Shen Junyu, would have rushed to the forefront,” Han Yi said, forcing a smile.
“Hmm? What does Brother Shen have to do with the missus? They share the same last name, does that mean…?” Gu Yang looked surprised.
“It means exactly what you think it does. The missus is that sly fox Shen Junyu’s precious little sister. He adores her so much he never shows her off to the public eye.”