Chapter 290: Chapter 290
The man bent down and picked up the porcelain cup that had rolled to his feet.
"Seems I must look rather frightening, to the point that Mr. Liu loses composure upon seeing me." Discover more novels at n0velfire.net
The girl’s voice was not melodious; it carried the chill of a snowstorm in winter, piercingly cold, making one shiver from head to toe even in the warming indoor air.
As her words fell, the porcelain cup was placed back before him, and the girl calmly took her seat.
Outside the window, the fog was so thick that a layer of frost had formed on the glass.
Among the rising mist of tea, her ice-pure, jade-like features emerged faintly visible.
Before him sat a girl who was indeed very slender, her pale skin exuded an impression of frailty and weakness.
Her sharp features and slightly chubby cheeks softened her cold, mature air, leaving her with the demeanor of a youthful girl.
A nose as elegantly sculpted as distant peaks and eyes like clouds hidden within thousands of valleys—behind the perfect shield of gold-rimmed glasses lay a mystery, obscuring everything but the mist-draped landscape of her gaze.
Liu Qingfeng had interacted with countless people, from sly old foxes to cunning figures, but this youthful girl alone gave him the sense that he couldn’t see through her.
Talented individuals abound in this world, but this girl carried an inner cosmos.
Helian Yu’s shallow eyes... never mind discussing them.
Liu Qingfeng withdrew his gaze — it was impolite to stare at a young lady for too long.
He picked up the teapot, poured tea into the porcelain cup, and slid it across the table to her.
"Shen, your grace surpasses the ordinary and transcends the world; such jokes should not be made lightly."
The girl gently pinched the rim of the cup with her slender jade fingers, lifted it, and took a light sip. A faint smile spread across her brows and eyes.
"Yunfeng Longjing, crafted through intricate processes with a limited annual yield. A single tael is worth a fortune. It seems only by basking in Mr. Liu’s generosity can one taste such exceptional tea."
Was she mocking him for corruption?
Clearly, there was still resentment within her heart.
"I’m already aware of the incident at the auditorium this morning. My wife’s remarks were inappropriate and caused Shen harm on a psychological level. Allow me to apologize on her behalf. Such matters will not happen again."
The man’s steady voice was resolute and firm.
Shen You’an froze momentarily, then looked up abruptly.
She met the man’s warm, smiling gaze directly.
He bore a fifty to sixty percent resemblance to Liu Runxi in appearance — evidently father and son. In his youth, he must have been a dashing gentleman; age, coupled with his long-standing position of authority, had lent him a more imposing presence. When expressionless, he could still be intimidating.
Yet when he smiled kindly at someone, he resembled a gentle and affectionate elder.
Looking at him, Shen You’an suddenly saw an image of Liu Runxi twenty years in the future.
Helian Yu’s brazenness—clearly, it stemmed from his influence.
As the saying goes, husband and wife are one; should he not reclaim face for his wife? And yet, here he was apologizing to her instead.
Before coming, she had thought this was a feast filled with hidden danger, given the rumors of this couple’s strong relationship.
Could it be... the strategy was to act gracious before striking later?
Seemingly noticing the caution in her eyes, Liu Qingfeng chuckled and shook his head.
"If you think I’m deceiving you, that’s fine. Time will prove everything."
Liu Qingfeng picked up the tablet used for ordering dishes and slid it across to Shen You’an. "Choose whatever you like. Uncle’s treating today."
Shen You’an raised an eyebrow — fine, then she would take things as they came, meeting force with resilience.
After selecting the dishes, Liu Qingfeng took the tablet, placed the order through the system, and the kitchen staff received it in real-time.
Setting the tablet aside, he smiled and said, "I’ve heard that you and Runxi get along quite well?"
Shen You’an replied coolly, "We’re alright, I guess."
Liu Qingfeng folded his hands on the table and, after a moment of contemplation, spoke with a solemn tone. "As a father, I earnestly hope you won’t distance yourself from Runxi because of my wife’s bias."
Shen You’an glanced at him briefly.
"Of course, this request might be particularly presumptuous, but I hope you’ll let me finish."
The other party’s demeanor was exceedingly courteous, prompting Shen You’an to adopt an attentive posture, as though listening intently.
"In your view, what kind of person is Runxi?"
Shen You’an responded without hesitation, "Shen is kind-hearted, gentle, and courteous, a person of outstanding character and academic excellence. He is truly one in a million."
Liu Qingfeng’s gaze brightened slightly — it appeared she held Xixi in high regard.
Immediately following, Liu Qingfeng sighed deeply, a trace of sorrow flashing in the depth of his eyes.
"But you’ve never seen Xixi as he once was, have you?"
Shen You’an shook her head.
To be fair, Liu Runxi was indeed an excellent friend, and Shen You’an had never considered blaming Liu Runxi for Helian Yu’s mistakes.
He was himself, and his mother was herself.
The man across the table spoke slowly, "When Xixi was a child, he almost received a diagnosis of high-functioning autism. Because of this, his mother and I held him tightly and traveled through nearly every child psychiatry clinic across the country and abroad, consulting experts in the field."