C14 I Am Very Lowkey!

Shi Qian was holding a skewer of chicken wings, glancing across at Jiang Ci. "By the way, how did you end up clashing with Sheng Xu and Lu Sizhe?"

Jiang Ci grabbed a skewer of meat and responded, "Clash with him? I was just teaching him a lesson."

He paused, then raised his eyes to Shi Qian. "You didn't have any run-ins with those two at Emperor University, did you?"

Shi Qian shook her head. "No, I've kept a low profile."

Jiang Ci gazed at her striking face, which was hard to ignore.

With a face that could cause such turmoil, staying under the radar seemed unlikely!

He felt a bit concerned.

He continued, "Good. Just a heads-up, keep your distance from those two. They're bad news. Make sure you set clear boundaries, got it?"

"Do you have some beef with them?" Shi Qian inquired.

Just then, Huo Fei chimed in, "No, Ms. Qian. It's Sheng Xu who's been provoking our Mr. Ci."

"So there is bad blood!" Shi Qian said, her lips curling into a smile that hinted at her interest in the juicy details. "Could it be... you two were romantic rivals at some point?"

Jiang Ci scoffed. "As if! I'm nobody's love rival with him!"

Huo Fei gave Shi Qian a smile. "Love rivals? Hardly. Since high school, Mr. Ci has only had eyes for..."

He was cut off by a sharp look from Jiang Ci, and Huo Fei quickly clamped his mouth shut.

Shi Qian's curiosity was piqued. "Only had eyes for what?"

Huo Fei chuckled. "It's nothing. Definitely not what you're thinking."

After a brief pause, he deftly changed the subject. "So, how about a beer?"

Shi Qian gave him a look. "I've got to drive later. Why would I drink?"

"Why not call your driver?"

Shi Qian laughed. "Sorry, I'm not as well-off as you, Young Master Huo. I don't have a driver."

Huo Fei grinned. "Ms. Qian, there's no need to be so humble, is there?"

Jiang Ci cast a sidelong glance at him. "Enough already. Eating won't shut you up."

Huo Fei let out a sigh. "Man, this is dull."

Midway through their meal, Shi Qian's phone suddenly rang, the screen flashing the words "Monstrous Boss."

Shi Qian tensed up instantly!

Master Zhan!

She quickly looked up at Jiang Ci and Huo Fei, pressing her finger to her lips in a gesture for silence.

She answered the call briskly. "Hello, Master Zhan."

The deep, magnetic voice of the man on the other end filled her ear. "Where are you?"

"Um... I'm out having dinner."

"With whom?" Shaang Sizhan inquired.

Shi Qian glanced at her companions and replied truthfully, "With Jiang Ci and Huo Fei."

There was a pause on the line, a heavy silence filling the air.

Just then, her phone buzzed with a new message.

[Qian, Master Zhan seems to know you went racing. Hurry back!]

Reading the message, Shi Qian felt a knot form in her stomach. She quickly added, "But I've finished eating. I'm heading back right now."

"Good," came the terse reply from Shaang Sizhan after a moment's silence.

After ending the call, Shi Qian stood up and addressed her friends, "You guys finish up. Master Zhan seems to have found out I went racing, so I need to head back immediately."

Without waiting for a response, she grabbed her car keys and hurried out.

Jiang Ci watched her leave, annoyance in his voice. "Damn, she's gone just like that! Xiaoqian, you're something else!"

Huo Fei turned to Jiang Ci. "Mr. Ci, how about we get some drinks?"

Jiang Ci replied, "Let's do it!"

Huo Fei called out, "Hey, boss, bring us some beer!"

Shi Qian drove back swiftly to Monarch Garden.

The courtyard was bathed in starlight, all aglow.

Shaang Sizhan sat on a white wicker chair by the pool, his inscrutable gaze fixed on Shi Qian as she approached from the direction of the garage.