C13 I Respect Your Courage

Holding a glass of champagne, the man approached Miss Wang with deliberate grace. He lifted his glass in a toast, "Miss Wang, this one's for you."

Despite the man's inscrutable moods, even seasoned business magnates showed Shen Qingli deference. Miss Wang, who had secretly admired him for so long, couldn't find a reason not to reciprocate the respect.

She quickly mustered a smile and raised her glass of red wine. "Thank you, Young Master Shen. May I ask what this toast is for?"

"It's in recognition of your audacity," he replied.

Miss Wang's smile instantly petrified on her face. What was he implying?

Without offering her an explanation, Shen Qingli's lips curled into a smirk as he lifted his hand, and the untouched champagne drenched Miss Wang from head to toe.

"Splash!"

Soaked in the icy champagne, the once impeccably dressed heiress, who had been parading in her custom gown and flawless makeup before Fu Yunyi, now stood bedraggled before the crowd.

The lively club fell into a hushed silence in a heartbeat.

Fu Jianing clapped a hand over her mouth in shock, grateful that she hadn't been the one to strike Yunyi. The thought of the humiliation she would have faced...

Amidst her relief, resentment festered. What spell had Yunyi cast over Mr. Qingli to compel him to such lengths on her behalf? Did she even deserve it?

Miss Wang, unable to believe what had just happened, opened her damp eyes. "Young Master Shen, I..."

"Shh, don't speak," Shen Qingli interrupted, arching an eyebrow. "Your apology should be directed to my wife, not me."

Leaving her with those words, he smiled and gently toyed with Yunyi's hair in his embrace. "Do as you please, say what you wish. I've got your back, and I'm curious to see who would dare lay a finger on you."

Though Shen Qingli's final words were spoken with tenderness, they struck a chord of fear in the onlookers, more terrifying than the devil himself.

Perhaps another socialite would have let the incident slide.

But Fu Yunyi was no ordinary woman. She lived by the creed 'If someone stabs me, I repay it a thousandfold.' She was not one to forgive and forget easily.

Her alluring red lips curved in satisfaction. "Really?"

"Absolutely."

Fu Guoyi, noticing the look on Fu Yunyi's face, furrowed his brows and reprimanded, "Yunyi, Miss Wang has already... enough with the antics!"

"Father-in-law—"

Before Fu Yunyi could respond, Shen Qingli cocked his head and inquired, "This Miss Wang, she wouldn't happen to be your secret child, would she?"

"Qingli, why are you joining in on this nonsense? How could that be?"

"If she isn't your secret child, then why defend her?" The man's tone, though casual and teasing, carried an undeniable gravity. "Let everyone here take note."

"Anyone who tries to prevent my wife from dealing with the Wang family's daughter is openly challenging me, Shen Qingli."

His statement was unequivocal. Fu Guoyi bit back a retort and chose to stay quiet.

Fu Yunyi flexed her wrist, her smile radiant. "Miss Wang, did you consider the turn of events when you struck me earlier?"

"Fu Yunyi, what... what are you planning to do?"

"An eye for an eye, as they say. What do you think I intend to do?"

Her exquisite features twisted into a dangerously seductive smile as she approached Miss Wang without hesitation and delivered a sharp slap.

"Smack—"

Miss Wang crumpled to the floor, clutching her face, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. She remained silent, acutely aware of Shen Qingli's presence.

Sweating profusely, Fu Guoyi barked out an order, "Quick, get Miss Wang some medical attention!"

The servants, sensing the gravity of the situation, quickly assisted the fallen woman out of the room.

Shen Qingli took pleasure in witnessing Fu Yunyi's unrelenting slap.

"Smart enough to hit back when you've been struck. Not foolish at all." He stroked her soft hair as one might pet an animal. "If I'm not around next time, do the same. I've got your back."

Fu Jianing shot a jealous glance at Fu Yunyi. What enchanting potion had this woman fed to Mr. Qingli?

Nevertheless, the woman was shrewd. She quickly moved to affectionately wrap her arms around Shen Qingli's, pouting, "Brother-in-law, don't waste your anger on those women. It's not worth upsetting yourself over."

"My mom went out of her way to cook for you today. You must be hungry by now, right?"

Fu Yunyi's eyes landed on the woman's hand wrapped around the man's arm, her voice dripping with irony. "A moment ago, you claimed to be such good friends, and now you're turning your back on her?"

"Fu Yunyi, you—"

Fu Jianing was so incensed she was at a loss for words. Was this woman born to cause her trouble?

"Alright, what's the point of fighting on such a good day?" Fu Guoyi interjected quickly. "It's already noon. Young Master Shen, let's go have lunch first."

Otherwise, if this kept up, there was no telling what Shen Qingli might do.