Chapter 111: Do You Take Me for a Fool?

Qin Luo gave a bitter smile. Seeing the look of surprise on Li Qingcheng’s face—her small mouth slightly agape and her pupils dilated—he knew exactly what was running through her mind.

Why did this woman have to make her words sound so ambiguous?

"To be able to forgive such an outrageous thing"—that phrasing made it sound like there was something scandalous going on. It sounded as if he were a heartless cad who had abandoned her, and she, a magnanimous and forgiving wife, was letting bygones be bygones.

"Let’s go inside to talk. It’s tiring to stand here," Li Qingcheng said, casting a sideways glance at Qin Luo before gesturing for Wenren Muyue to follow.

Qingcheng International’s beauty salon was located in a bustling area. Having three such eye-catching luxury cars parked out front, guarded by a group of bodyguards in black suits and sunglasses, had already drawn a large crowd of onlookers.

Furthermore, this circle was filled with beauties; you could probably throw a brick anywhere and hit two of them.

Wenren Muyue nodded and began walking toward the entrance of Qingcheng International.

Qingcheng International served as a small social hub established by Li Qingcheng. Many clients came for beauty treatments, but even more came just to chat, drink tea, and pass the time. It had become a daily recreational gathering spot for them, much like a bookstore or a café.

For women who lived lives of leisure, free from the struggles of survival, time felt long and redundant; they always had to find things to occupy themselves.

When they saw Li Qingcheng approach, many of the guests wanted to call out and share a joke with her. However, upon seeing Wenren Muyue walking beside her, the words died on their lips.

Even as fellow women, there was an innate, bone-deep pressure radiating from Wenren Muyue.

Though these women weren't part of the top-tier circle in Beijing, they were millionaires in their own right, each with the connections to call upon formidable figures if trouble ever arose. Yet, with their sharp eyes, they could still tell that the woman before them was simply on a different level entirely.

Wenren Muyue’s bodyguards remained in the first-floor lounge to have tea, and only her assistant, Ma Yue, accompanied her upstairs.

Under Li Qingcheng’s personal arrangement, she was given the salon’s most luxurious VIP suite, complete with tea, fruit, and snacks. Only then did Li Qingcheng smile and say, "I won't disturb you. Have a good talk. If you need anything, just say the word."

With that, she gave Qin Luo an intensely suggestive look before closing the door and stepping out.

Qin Luo had eaten fried eggs and bread for breakfast. Although he had a glass of milk, he always felt that it didn't quite quench his thirst. He walked over, picked up a toothpick, and began eating some peeled, seedless yellow watermelon.

"Miss Wenren, where are you feeling uncomfortable today?" Qin Luo asked with a smile. During their last meeting, he had intentionally pretended not to know who she was to avoid trouble. Now, it seemed that tactic was useless, so he might as well lay everything out on the table.

"This time, I’ve come to propose a deal," Wenren Muyue said. She sat in her chair with elegant posture, watching Qin Luo eat the watermelon with keen interest.

"A deal? What kind of deal?" Qin Luo asked, looking puzzled. "Anything I have, you have. Anything you don't have, I certainly don't have either. What could you possibly want from me?"

"I do," Wenren Muyue stated.

"What?"

"The status of my fiancé," Wenren Muyue replied.

Caught off guard, Qin Luo accidentally swallowed a piece of watermelon he hadn't chewed yet, choking so hard that tears nearly welled in his eyes. He grabbed a glass and gulped down some lemonade before asking, "What do you mean? I don't understand."

"I’m saying that you can use your status as my fiancé to make this deal with me. From a standpoint of investment, the returns would be far greater than simply showing up to annul the engagement," Wenren Muyue repeated. She was truly business-like; there wasn't a trace of shyness or any other emotion on her face.

"But I’ve already gone to your family to call off the engagement. We shouldn't have any relationship left, right?" Qin Luo said.

"So what? Who would know?" Wenren Muyue said indifferently.

"What is the purpose of doing this?" Qin Luo retorted. To be honest, he was very wary of Wenren Muyue. He felt she was far too intelligent—to the point of being uncontrollable by anyone.

A predecessor once said: A woman with demonic intelligence either becomes a nun or someone else’s mistress.

Wenren Muyue certainly wouldn't be anyone’s mistress; with her family background, the average man couldn't afford to keep her. But... he couldn't just inexplicably become her "kept man," could he?

If he used his own intellect to spar with her, he’d likely be sold off and still be happily counting the money for her.

He was handsome, sure, but not *dazzlingly* so.

Qin Luo didn't have enough inflated self-confidence to think this woman had been floored by his dashing good looks and was now desperate to marry him. He remained highly vigilant regarding her two unsolicited visits.

"To resolve a nuisance once and for all," Wenren Muyue answered frankly.

"What nuisance?" Qin Luo was full of curiosity. What could possibly trouble a woman like her?

"Suitors," Wenren Muyue said.

Qin Luo understood. Exceptionally gifted people always attracted attention—like him, like Wenren Muyue. They were both so outstanding, so elite. Naturally, they were surrounded by a crowd of followers. They could refuse to like others, but they couldn't stop others from liking them.

"I understand what you mean, and I can empathize with your situation. After all, I often face the same annoyance," Qin Luo nodded. "But what I don't understand is, you could ask anyone for this. Why me? As the eldest daughter of the Wenren family, what kind of man can't you find? Wealthy heirs, movie stars, business geniuses—aren't they all yours to choose from? I don't think I'm *that* outstanding."

Qin Luo said with self-deprecation. He had always suspected she was here for revenge—retaliating because he had taken the initiative to annul the engagement at her home, dealing a blow to her high-and-mighty ego.

So, she would pretend to make him her boyfriend, wait until she had found a way to take his body and steal his heart, and then kick him to the curb—that’s how it always played out on television.

The plan was undeniably vicious, and undeniably brilliant.

"But do you really think I’d fall for your trap?" Qin Luo sneered. "Impossible."

"True. I could indeed find wealthy heirs, movie stars, or business geniuses, if I wanted to. I could finalize a candidate within thirty minutes. Don't curl your lip; you should believe every word I say," Wenren Muyue stared at Qin Luo with her beautiful eyes, unblinking. "However, I don't want to."

"Have you fallen for me?" Qin Luo asked. He felt a bit embarrassed asking such a shameless question, but at this point, he had to get to the bottom of it.

"I simply don't dislike you," Wenren Muyue said. After a moment's thought, she added, "Sometimes."

"If that’s the case, what’s the difference between choosing me and anyone else?" Qin Luo countered.

"Because only you can help me reject that person," Wenren Muyue said.

She had arrived at this decision after careful deliberation.

Three days from now was the eightieth birthday of Qin Zongheng’s grandfather, Qin Ye. Qin Ye was very fond of her and had once expressed his hope that his grandson, Qin Zongheng, would take her as his wife.

Qin Zongheng already had a favorable impression of her, and to fulfill his grandfather’s wish, he would inevitably propose marriage soon.

If she could simply refuse, that would be fine. But recently, the Wenren family’s long-standing rival, the Bai family, had been stirring. Now was the time to maintain close ties with the Qin family to resist the enemy together. She didn't want to suffer a huge loss for her family due to her personal romantic affairs. That wouldn't align with her pursuit of perfection.

As it happened, Qin Luo appeared like a ray of bright dawn.

The fact that he had gone to her family to annul the engagement would surely reach Qin Zongheng’s ears through her foolish younger brother.

As long as he knew about that, as long as he knew of Qin Luo’s existence—if Qin Luo were willing to cooperate, she could walk out holding his hand and declare that this was the man she loved.

Even someone as strong and arrogant as Qin Zongheng would likely have nothing to say then. After all, the engagement had been made many years ago. Did he want the Wenren family to lose face?

As for what would happen to her relationship with Qin Luo later, she didn't want to dwell on it. Why overthink? If one had to calculate even matters of the heart, then life would be truly joyless.

"Who is that person?" Qin Luo asked. A man who could cause a headache for Wenren Muyue certainly had to be someone significant.

"You probably don't know him. His name is Qin Zongheng," Wenren Muyue said. If it were anyone in their circle, the name would be like thunder to the ears. But for an ordinary person, they likely hadn't even heard of him.

He was smart, proud, and understood restraint. He knew which occasions to steal the spotlight and draw a crowd, and he knew when to lower his head, burying it in the dirt so that irrelevant people wouldn't understand his true nature.

Those who constantly exposed themselves to the media were foolish. If they didn't even understand the principle of the "nail that sticks out gets hammered down," how could they ever hope to roam the world and remain undefeated?

Qin Luo didn't know that he had already met Qin Zongheng at the socialite gathering. He certainly didn't know that his name was already on Qin Zongheng’s radar.

He shook his head and said, "I really don't know him. Is he very powerful?"

"Very powerful." As the leader of the new generation of the Qin family, known as the 'Wise Young Master,' did he not deserve the label of 'powerful'?

"Is his backing very strong?"

"You could say that." The Qin family had 'three scholars in literature and three generals in martial affairs.' If that didn't count as strong backing, what did? Even among the hidden families of China, few could surpass them.

Qin Luo grew angry. He pointed at Wenren Muyue and scolded, "Do you think I’m an idiot? That rival is powerful and has strong backing. If I fight him for a woman, I wouldn't even know how I died. Whoever wants to do such a foolish thing can go right ahead. Regardless, I won't do it."