Pampered by Short-Lived Bigshot

Inside the watch store

Shen Shuci didn't understand watches. Money was never an issue for the Shen family, and the elders had provided her with so-called luxury items. For example, when she came of age, the old lady had bought her a pair of expensive high heels. She slightly bent down, eying a watch inside the counter—worth several hundred thousand—but she really couldn't see what made it worth that price.

Outside, she was really clueless.

"If you find something you like, I can take it out for you to have a look," said the employee on duty at noon, smiling at her.

"No need, I'm just looking around."

Inside the glass counter, the lights cast a thin halo on the watches, making them look high-end and imposing, but also faintly projecting the shadow of a person.

People were moving around in the shopping mall, and Shen Shuci didn't notice someone approaching from behind.

Not until she saw a cluster of shadows in the glass, almost right next to her, did she suddenly straighten up and look up, only to collide with the deep eyes of a man.

"Mr. Huo? What are you doing here?" Shen Shuci was somewhat surprised to see him.

Huo Qinqi hadn't expected to bump into her here either. "Looking at watches. You should be at work now."

"I came out to help you fix your watch," Shen Shuci said directly, "It was agreed that I would pick it up, but the old master went to lunch. He should be back soon."

"Hmm."

"Like that watch?" Huo Qinqi glanced at the counter she was looking at.

"I'm just looking around. What about you? Buying one for yourself?"

"Yanting is getting married soon."

Shen Shuci nodded. For a close friend's marriage, it indeed made sense to give a special gift. She wasn't very familiar with Jiang Yanting and his wife, so preparing a red packet would suffice.

There were many watches in the store. Shen Shuci initially thought he might take a while to choose, but within two or three minutes, he had selected a watch—a couple's set that was just perfect for a husband and wife.

"This is a classic model. Moreover, the ladies' model is adorned with some small diamonds, very eye-catching. The men's model is relatively understated…" the employee kept pitching to him, "You can try it on and see. There's a bit of a discount if you purchase now, really a good deal."

The employee talked for a while, but seeing his stern expression, unswayed, she couldn't tell if he really wanted to buy or not.

In the past, she could always read some information from the client's expression, but him…

Nothing at all.

"Sir, if you don't trust me, you can let your friend try it on. This lady would look absolutely stunning," the employee persisted, pulling Shen Shuci over.

Shen Shuci had been sitting in the store for a long time, being kindly offered tea and water. Now asked for help, she couldn't refuse but helped by walking over.

The employee, who had been wearing gloves all the while, took out the ladies' watch, ready to help her wear it herself. "You can see how it looks…"

But just as the watch was taken out from the counter, it was intercepted halfway.

Huo Qinqi took the watch, glanced at it, and just as Shen Shuci had stretched out her hand, thinking it was the young lady behind the counter who would help her put it on, it turned out to be him holding her hand…

At this moment, the Huo family were waiting in the mall parking garage, as he had come shopping with several people, which was too conspicuous.

"Grandpa has been out for quite a long time."

Huo Qinqi always worked swiftly, picking quickly and paying without hesitation or delay.

"It has been a bit long."

"He might have gone to the restroom."

"…"

And right now, he was holding Shen Shuci's hand, placing the watch on her wrist. His palm was dry and warm, the rough calluses rubbing against the palm of her hand, bringing a slightly prickling tingling sensation.

He moved quickly, fastening it and continued holding her hand while inspecting it.

Despite her practice in some martial arts, her fingers always felt delicate and tender compared to his. Shen Shuci felt the palm of her hand getting hotter and hotter. She moved her fingers slightly, the tips gliding across the center of his palm...

There was a tingling sensation.

"Mr. Huo, what do you think?" Shen Shuci saw he wasn't speaking, so she took the initiative, looking up at him.

Their eyes met, and his voice was deep:

"It looks good."

His gaze was deep, almost like a dark vortex, seeming to drown someone in it. Shen Shuci withdrew her hand, took off the watch, and handed it to the employee.

"It is really beautiful, and since it's a classic model, it won't go out of style…" the employee was still selling.

"This one then." He prepared to pay, while Shen Shuci sat down on the other side, feeling her hand, which he had touched, still burning...

Quite hot.

Meanwhile, Tang Wan and Jiang Jinsang had left the restaurant and were heading to a nearby shopping mall.

"Xixi, are you okay?" Tang Wan had also received a call from Ruan Mengxi.

"Pretty... pretty good."

"You're not hurt?"

"No."

"You've got some guts…"

…

What Tang Wan said next was not quite clear to Ruan Mengxi as she sat in the car, with Qi Zeyan sitting beside her, staring straight at her.

**

Rewinding the events by more than ten minutes, Ruan Mengxi had not expected Qi Zeyan to witness the scene.

When You Congrong lunged at her, she was utterly dumbfounded; she had only fought with some cousins when she was a kid, and that was just for fun. She really hadn't actually fought anyone before.

Even slapping someone was a first for her today!

Though she was good at hurling insults, she really didn't know what to do when it came to physical confrontation.

Just like how she could analyze certain matters for Tang Wan, talk the talk, even taking her for a high-speed car ride, she, the supposed old driver, had never actually driven herself...

So when You Congrong pounced, Ruan Mengxi was a bit stunned, but when You Congrong grabbed her clothes, it was as if some mechanism inside her had been triggered...

She fought back entirely on instinct!

The crew, upon seeing them actually start to fight, hurried over to break them up. If they had been any later, You Congrong might have been beaten to death.

In the chaos, naturally, nobody noticed Qi Zeyan had arrived.

With many people in the crew holding back the two women, everything seemed under control.

"Alright, stop fighting!" Everyone was dumbfounded. It was one thing for Ruan Mengxi, but You Congrong, an artist in her own right, completely disregarding her public image.

You Congrong's clothes were torn, her hair was a mess, her face bore the imprint of a hand, her lip was split, and her lipstick smeared across half her face. She hardly maintained any semblance of her image.

Ruan Mengxi was in better shape, only her clothes were severely pulled, and her hair was a bit messy, but otherwise, she was fine.

You Congrong had offended too many people; just now, during the chaos, several took the chance to hit or kick her while pretending to separate them. She didn't realize who was scheming against her from behind, only felt that it was all Ruan Mengxi's doing.

Ruan Mengxi raised her hand to tidy up her clothes, glaring at You Congrong, "You're insane!"

But then, with an unknown burst of energy, You Congrong suddenly broke free from the people restraining her on both sides and lunged at Ruan Mengxi again…

"You…" Ruan Mengxi glanced around, her eye catching something resembling a stick, just as she was about to grab it, someone yanked her arm. Stumbling, she was pulled to the side…

Her body swayed, and her shoulder crashed into the person's chest. She instinctively grabbed his clothes, leaning into his embrace.

You Congrong naturally lunged at empty air.

Xiaozhu, standing behind Qi Zeyan, was dumbstruck…

The boss just pulled you aside, and now you're cuddling him?

Ruan Mengxi's breath hitched, still not catching her breath when she heard a familiar voice above her head, "Can you get up?"

Looking up, he was also looking down at her.

Qi Zeyan possessed a unique pair of eyes, upturned yet not flirtatious, but rather exuding arrogance. Clad in a sharp suit and a neatly parted slick hairstyle, always the look of an arrogant heir.

"Boss?" Ruan Mengxi didn't need to think to know how disheveled she appeared, she immediately straightened up, subconsciously tidying her hair.

Qi Zeyan surveyed the entire set and adjusted his clothes…

Sleek, graceful.

Once he arrived, the set became completely quiet.

"Mr. Qi!" Seeing Qi Zeyan, You Congrong's expression was more adoring than if she had seen her own mother, itching to throw herself at him but reluctantly maintaining her distance.

"You're finally here…"

"You don't know, these people were all kicking me when I was down, how they bullied me."

You Congrong's voice choked as she began to complain, while Ruan Mengxi stood aside, took a deep breath—how could this woman be such a bitch!

Qi Zeyan squinted, sizing her up. You Congrong's makeup was already ruined, and as she cried miserably now, instead of the poetic "beauty with tears like pear blossoms in rain," her face resembled a smeared palette, ghastly and somewhat grotesque.

Thinking her savior had arrived, eagerly awaiting Qi Zeyan to champion her cause, she did not expect that after a long gaze, he would only say three words.

"Who are you?"