Chapter 284: Can’t Afford Your Fee

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Qin Siyu took a sip of water and put down the glass before she said, “I can’t be bothered to take a picture. Moreover, it’s more meaningful to have my portrait drawn.”

This reasoning was solid.

Xu Youyou looked around the shop before she asked, “Then, where do you want to me draw?”

“Over there,” Qin Siyu said as she pointed to the area near the cash register, “Oh, right. You don’t need me to sit here the entire time, right? I can’t sit here for a few hours straight.”

Xu Youyou shook her head. Then, she brought her bag to the place where Qin Siyu had pointed out before she brought her drawing board out. She said, “Do you what you need to do. Don’t mind me.”

This was in line with Qin Siyu’s thoughts.

Xu Youyou found a chair and brought out the tools she needed. She used a pencil to sketch first before she slowly filled her sketch with colors.

Meanwhile, Qin Siyu tinkered with her perfumes. To her, every bottle was a treasure of its own.

Soft music was played in the shop, and a faint fragrance permeated the air.

The duo did not speak, and there was no customer.

The atmosphere was quiet and harmonious.

…

Fu Jianchen was annoyed, but he still could not help but make his way to Qin Siyu’s shop after a while. Through the glass, he saw Xu Youyou sitting in front of a drawing board.

Xu Youyou’s expression was very serious, and her bright eyes were focused. Her fingers held the pencil, and each of her strokes was precise and beautiful.

Fu Jianchen’s frown slowly eased. After a moment, he brought his phone out and took a picture of her through the glass window. He looked at the picture on his phone, and his finger gently stroked the screen. He felt like an obsessed fan who had secretly taken a photo of his or her idol. He could not conceal the obsession in his eyes at all.

‘If only she’d paint with me…’

Fu Jianchen was so engrossed in looking at the picture that he did not realize that Qin Siyu had been standing at the entrance and looking at him for a long time.

Qin Siyu crossed her arms in front of her and said with a half-smile, “Young Master Chen, you have your escape room and art gallery so why are you standing guard at my shop? I can’t afford to pay your fee.”

Fu Jianchen returned to his senses and quickly put away the dazed expression on his face. He said icily, “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Qin Siyu closed the glass door behind her so Xu Youyou would not be disturbed. Then, she said with a faint smile, “Young Master Chen, the person behind me is married. I advise you to dismiss your covetous thoughts. Otherwise, you might not be able to bear the consequences.”

Fu Jianchen’s eyes shifted from Xu Youyou in the shop to Qin Siyu before he said with a sneer, “Why are you so sure I won’t be able to bear the consequences?”

Qin Siyu raised an eyebrow. Then, her smile deepened as she said, “I’m sure you already know. I think both Mrs. Fu and Chairman Mo won’t want you to have too much contact with her…”

Fu Jianchen did not say anything this time. His hands at the side were tightly clenched, and his eyes were extremely dark. He took another long look at Xu Youyou before he finally turned around and left.

Qin Siyu’s fake smile faded from her face as she turned around to enter the shop.

Meanwhile, Xu Youyou was completely immersed in her work. It was as though nothing existed at this moment except for her art.

Qin Siyu did not disturb Xu Youyou and continued to do her own things.

…

Two hours later.

Fu Jianchen returned to the shop.

Qin Siyu walked out again, but before she could say anything, Fu Jianchen stuffed two cups of warm milk tea into her hands and said, “She forgets everything when she draws and paints. Remind her to drink something.”

Qin Siyu was surprised and speechless. She had already said so much to him, but he still did not give up.

Fu Jianchen, who was in the midst of walking away, suddenly turned around and said, “Don’t tell her I bought it. Just say that you ordered takeout.”

Qin Siyu’s interest was piqued.

It was nothing that two incompatible people were attracted to Xu Youyou at the same time, but Qin Siyu was surprised that Xu Youyou was able to make someone unruly like Fu Jianchen buy milk tea for her. Moreover, Fu Jianchen was so humble that he did not even dare to let Xu Youyou know that he had bought the milk tea.

‘What kind of magic does Xu Youyou have?’

When Qin Siyu returned to the shop, she handed the milk tea to Xu Youyou and said, “Take a break before you continue to draw again.”

Xu Youyou finally returned to her senses. She accepted the milk tea and rubbed her sore neck as she said, “Thank you, beautiful sister!”

“You can just call me Sister Siyu like Qianqian did,” Qin Siyu said. She was trying to lose weight so she did not drink the milk tea and only put it aside.

Xu Youyou looked puzzled. “Qianqian?”

“My employee from earlier,” Qin Siyu explained.

Xu Youyou nodded. Then, she took a big sip of the milk tea.

Qin Siyu sat behind the cash register. She rested her chin on one hand and tapped the counter lightly with her other hand as she asked casually, “How do you know Fu Jianchen?”

“Previously, I went to the escape room with my friends and met him at the art gallery…”

At that time, Qin Siyu had yet to open her shop.

“Are you close to him?”

Xu Youyou thought about it for a moment before she said, “I can’t say that we’re close, but I can’t say that we’re not close either.”

‘Moreover, Mr. Bai doesn’t want me to be friends with him…’

It was clear to Qin Siyu that the naive and simple Xu Youyou had yet to realize Fu Jianchen’s feelings for her. She asked, “Do you know who he is?”

Xu Youyou shook her head. She drank her milk tea as she studied Qin Siyu’s face before looking at her drawing.

After a moment, Qin Siyu asked again, “Have you heard of the Fu family in H City?”

Xu Youyou shook her head. At the same time, she remembered she went to H City on the first day of the lunar new year last year.

“The An Sheng Group in H City is owned by Fu Anbang and Fu Dongsheng, who are brothers. The An Sheng Group contributes 50% of H City’s GDP. It’s ranked among the best even in the entire country,” Qin Siyu explained, “Fu Jianchen is Fu Dongsheng’s son. Since Fu Anbang only has a daughter and no son, many people like to say that Fu Jianchen is the heir of An Sheng Group.”

Xu Youyou blinked. After thinking for a moment, she asked, “Then, why is he in Mo City?”

Qin Siyu could not help but laugh before she said, “Perhaps, every family of capitalists would have an idealistic family member who thinks nothing of his or her wealth.”

Xu Youyou thought of Fu Jianchen’s art gallery and asked, “So he has no interest in the family business and likes art?”

Qin Siyu nodded. “A few years ago, he had a big fight with his family because he wanted to pursue art. After that, he came to Mo City.”

“Then, I think he’s quite amazing…”

Qin Siyu choked on her words. ‘Is this the point?’

Qin Siyu inhaled deeply and rubbed her temples before she said, “Youyou, what I want to say is that you should stay away from Fu Jianchen if you really love Mo Shenbai.”

Qin Siyu knew that if Xu Youyou got close to Fu Jianchen, it would be no different from stabbing Mo Shenbai’s heart with a knife.

Xu Youyou said clearly without hesitation, “Of course, I really love Mr. Bai! I can’t and won’t love anyone other than Mr. Bai!”

Qin Siyu looked at the confident expression on Xu Youyou’s face and wondered if she had been worried for nothing. After all, the person who successfully caught Mo Shenbai’s attention would not be easily seduced. In the end, she decided it was best for her to stay out of this matter. She had already said what needed to be said.

“Alright. You can continue drawing. I won’t disturb you.”

Xu Youyou threw the empty cup away before she picked up the palette and brush, filling her drawing with colors.

Xu Youyou had only started painting for a few minutes when the windchime at the entrance rang.

“Welcome…” Qin Siyu said instinctively. She stopped speaking abruptly when she looked up.