Chapter 205: Chapter 205: You Can Have It Too

Zhang Yuqing had already taken the liberty of sending everyone away. Asking Xu Qingsui’s opinion now was clearly just lip service.

Xu Qingsui was not one to lack tact, so she could only shake her head. Of course, she also understood that it wouldn’t be convenient to talk with others present. Right now, she was extremely curious about why Zhang Yuqing had gone to such great lengths to put on this show. The woman’s constant appearances were becoming quite a headache. If they could clear the air today, she wouldn’t have to keep dealing with Mrs. Shen popping up out of nowhere.

Seeing that Xu Qingsui understood her intentions, Zhang Yuqing smiled. She loved dealing with smart people.

"Qing Sui, these dishes are fresh from the kitchen. Try them while they’re hot—this is when their texture and flavor are at their absolute best."

Even with all the idle staff dismissed, Zhang Yuqing didn’t get straight to the point. Instead, she picked up the serving chopsticks and personally served Xu Qingsui some food.

This constant guessing game was far too uncomfortable. Unwilling to drag it out any longer, Xu Qingsui dropped the pleasantries and spoke up. "Mrs. Shen, I believe you invited me here for more than just a meal, didn’t you?

"This table full of exquisite dishes is certainly pleasing to the eye, but if you don’t tell me why you brought me here, I really wouldn’t dare touch them. Even if I did, the food would just taste like ashes in my mouth."

Zhang Yuqing’s hand paused midway through serving a dish. She then looked at Xu Qingsui with a smile.

"I just love how straightforward you are, Qing Sui. No hidden agendas, no guessing games.

"As for why I invited you to dinner, it’s mostly because I was craving the food here and wanted someone agreeable to keep me company. You were just the right person. I also wanted you to have a taste and experience the atmosphere."

While Zhang Yuqing spoke, Xu Qingsui kept a close eye on her expression, determined to catch even the slightest shift in her demeanor. But from start to finish, Zhang Yuqing’s expression remained perfectly composed. She even looked directly into Xu Qingsui’s eyes, as if to prove she had nothing to hide.

Unable to discern anything amiss, Xu Qingsui swallowed her lingering doubts and decided not to press the issue.

Zhang Yuqing picked up her chopsticks again, and Xu Qingsui followed suit. However, under such circumstances, even the most delectable feast tasted as bland as sawdust.

During the meal, Zhang Yuqing fell into a rare silence. It wasn’t until they both put down their chopsticks that she finally spoke again.

"Qing Sui, how did you find the food?"

"It’s quite exceptional," Xu Qingsui replied with an awkward smile. Since the other woman was treating her, she could hardly admit that she hadn’t tasted a single bite.

"Qing Sui, you know the current state of the world. Just having a proper meal like this has become a luxury. So many people would thank their lucky stars just to have a single bite of food to survive. An occasion like this is something they wouldn’t even dare to dream of."

As Zhang Yuqing continued, her smiling facade finally slipped, replaced by an unmistakable air of superiority. She didn’t even need to do anything; the sheer aura she exuded was enough to prove her extraordinary status and power.

Xu Qingsui stared back, realizing the older woman was finally getting to the point.

"Qing Sui, please don’t take offense, but I’ve had someone look into your background. You have to believe me when I say I meant absolutely no harm. I merely wanted to confirm that you were a clean, respectable girl."

Xu Qingsui furrowed her brows. Zhang Yuqing told her not to take offense, but realistically, she should have at least feigned a sliver of guilt to prove her sincerity. Instead, her current attitude was completely nonchalant. She clearly didn’t think invading someone’s privacy was a big deal, nor did she care how wildly disrespectful it was.

Her utter lack of remorse made one thing blatantly obvious—she looked down on Xu Qingsui and assumed she wouldn’t dare kick up a fuss over something like this.

Feeling the naked disrespect radiating from the older woman, Xu Qingsui’s expression darkened. Zhang Yuqing’s behavior had been rubbing her the wrong way from the start, but since the woman was Shen Yan’s mother, she had tried her best to remain polite. But now that Zhang Yuqing had completely dropped the act, there was no need for her to keep up appearances either.

"Mrs. Shen, investigating my personal affairs without my consent is incredibly disrespectful. And for you to admit it so openly—do you think I’m a total pushover?"

Xu Qingsui had hit the nail on the head regarding Zhang Yuqing’s thoughts, but Zhang Yuqing had severely misjudged her. So when Xu Qingsui spoke up with icy eyes, Zhang Yuqing was momentarily stunned.

But the shock only lasted a second before she regained her composure. There might be a few outliers in this world, but in the face of absolute power and status, everyone ultimately had to compromise.

"Now, now, Qing Sui, there’s no need to speak like that. You’ll understand me someday. When you’re in my position, there are simply things you have to do. You can’t just pick any random person off the street to entrust with your responsibilities."

Xu Qingsui raised an eyebrow, utterly baffled by Zhang Yuqing’s words.

Zhang Yuqing offered a gracious smile and quickly elaborated. "I brought you here today so you could experience the kind of lifestyle someone of my status enjoys. Now that you’ve had a taste, I want you to know—you can have all of this, too!"

Now it was Xu Qingsui’s turn to be stunned. What on earth did Zhang Yuqing mean? She was only getting more and more confused.

"Qing Sui, I knew about you long before you even entered the Safe Zone. I must say, you’re quite capable to have successfully soothed Shen Yan!"

Xu Qingsui narrowed her eyes. Did this woman have some sort of twisted obsession? Had she been sending people to spy on Shen Yan this whole time?

"Since you appeared, Shen Yan has changed drastically. Most notably, he actually took the initiative to seek out Liang Xiaoxiao and clear the air. He wants to cut ties with her completely!

"As his mother, I know Shen Yan better than anyone. You hold an incredibly important place in his heart. In all his years, you are the very first woman to have this effect on him."

Xu Qingsui’s frown deepened. Zhang Yuqing’s motives were impossible to read. Until she heard the woman out, she wouldn’t be able to figure out what game she was playing.

"Shen Yan is getting older. It’s time for him to settle down and start a family. When you suddenly appeared in his life, I, as his mother, naturally had to vet your background for him.

"That was why I had my people look into you. Like I said, I meant absolutely no harm."

Xu Qingsui began to piece together what she meant, though her expression remained icy. Setting aside the fact that there was absolutely nothing going on between her and Shen Yan, even if there were, this level of intrusion was wildly out of line.

"Although your background makes you unworthy of our Shen family, however..."

As Zhang Yuqing kept speaking, Xu Qingsui figured out exactly what she was about to say and immediately cut her off.

"Mrs. Shen, Mr. Shen is a young, talented man from a prestigious family. I certainly don’t match up to him. So, please rest assured—I harbor no improper intentions toward him, and you don’t need to go to such great lengths to play these little mind games."

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