Chapter 286
Chapter 286
"Eldest Miss Li, there is no need to be so polite with me." Cheng Qingli waved her hand; she had always been informal and unbothered by trivialities.
The reason she had changed into men's clothing before going out today was simply for convenience.
However, she had not expected to run into Xu Heming at this ready-to-wear clothing shop.
And Xu Heming had even given her such a big surprise.
"Are you free right now, Second Miss Cheng?" Xu Heming thought that since he had originally intended to introduce the two of them, there was no time like the present. Since they had met today, they might as well sit down and have a good chat.
Perhaps Cheng Qingli and Li Zhiwei could even reach a cooperation in the future.
As for whether Li Zhiwei would be at a disadvantage, Xu Heming figured that as long as he kept a close eye on things, she likely wouldn't suffer any losses.
"I am. Since Prince An is inviting me, I am naturally free. How could I not be?" Cheng Qingli smiled with utter smugness.
"Since Second Miss Cheng is free, why don't we go to Qingyu Pavilion!" Xu Heming nodded and stated directly, without even asking for Li Zhiwei's opinion.
Xu Heming felt that since Qingyu Pavilion was Cheng Qingli's territory, it would be much more convenient for them to discuss matters there.
Li Zhiwei was somewhat surprised. She had heard of Qingyu Pavilion before.
It was a famous teahouse in the capital. Although Qingyu Pavilion was a teahouse, it was not a place just anyone could enter at will. One had to make a reservation in advance and draw lots. If selected, a guest could not only enjoy free tea and pastries at Qingyu Pavilion...
...but also receive a piece of fine calligraphy or painting as a gift.
If not selected, then apologies, dear customer, please come back another day.
Because of this very reason, the nobles in the capital were incredibly enthusiastic about visiting Qingyu Pavilion.
Unfortunately, the spots at Qingyu Pavilion were extremely limited.
It could be said that a ticket was hard to come by. If one drew a spot and was willing to transfer it, they could earn a handsome sum of money.
Li Zhiwei didn't think that Xu Heming lacked the connections to visit such a teahouse. Rather, she felt that it was somehow awkward for Xu Heming to invite her to drink tea together with another young woman. No matter how she looked at it, it felt a bit strange.
"Pretty Sister, there is nothing fun at Qingyu Pavilion. Let's not go, okay?" Xu Qingshi looked at the cross-dressing Cheng Qingli with a face full of wariness.
In Xu Qingshi's eyes, this person was up to no good.
Besides, what was so fun about Qingyu Pavilion?
He didn't like it at all.
"Your Highness, if you and Second Miss Cheng have matters to discuss, why don't I take Qingshi back first?" Li Zhiwei had no desire to be a third wheel, so she thought it would be better to just leave and spare herself the sight.
"I say, His Highness Prince An, since Eldest Miss Li wants to go back, let her and Qingshi go back first!" A teasing smile played at the corners of Cheng Qingli's mouth.
"Stop messing around!" Xu Heming naturally saw that Cheng Qingli's bad habit of teasing people was acting up again.
But Xu Heming was not just anybody; he would not indulge her.
Furthermore, what if Li Zhiwei misunderstood him?
However, Li Zhiwei heard a hint of doting in Xu Heming's words.
She thought to herself, this Second Miss Cheng is probably the person in Xu Heming's heart, right?
But, if Prince An truly loved the person in front of him, why didn't he marry her?
Nowadays, in the capital, there shouldn't be anyone capable of stopping Xu Heming from marrying the girl he fancied.
"Let's all go together." Xu Heming did not notice the change in Li Zhiwei's eyes.
He was only thinking about letting the two of them discuss things to see if they could reach a cooperation.
"Father, you don't want to marry her, do you? I don't agree!" Xu Qingshi anxiously blocked Li Zhiwei, terrified that she would be bullied by Cheng Qingli.
"Little Qingshi, you are not being a good boy. It's one thing not to greet your auntie when you see her, but you are actually cursing me in your heart!" Seeing Xu Qingshi's small face that closely resembled Xu Heming's, Cheng Qingli couldn't resist reaching out to pinch it.
Truth be told, pinching Xu Qingshi's chubby little cheeks felt exactly as satisfying as she had imagined.
Cheng Qingli couldn't help but pinch them a few more times.
"Let... me... go... mmph!" Xu Qingshi tried to break free from Cheng Qingli's demonic clutches as he spoke, though his words came out somewhat muffled.
"Second Miss Cheng, you've pinched Qingshi's face red!" Seeing how red Xu Qingshi's face had become, Li Zhiwei quickly intervened.
After speaking, she looked at Cheng Qingli with some dissatisfaction.
"Oh my, I'm sorry. The texture was just too good, I lost track of myself for a moment. Little Qingshi, you don't mind, right?" Cheng Qingli squatted down, looking at Xu Qingshi with eyes full of laughter.
"Go away!" Frightened, Xu Qingshi quickly hid behind Li Zhiwei, cursing inwardly: Female demon!
It seemed the Third Prince was right. The woman before him was not only a female demon but also a lunatic.
"Little Qingshi, are you cursing me?" Seeing that Xu Qingshi was guarding against her just like the Third Prince did, Cheng Qingli couldn't help but think to herself that kids nowadays were too sharp and not easy to fool at all.
"Let's go." Xu Heming didn't say anything more and instead urged them on.
"Prince An, I'll wait for you at Qingyu Pavilion!" After Cheng Qingli said this, she turned and left first.
"Don't mind her. That's just her personality, but she's not a bad person." Xu Heming waited until Cheng Qingli had walked far away before saying this to Li Zhiwei beside him.
"Mhm!" Li Zhiwei felt a little unhappy in her heart, but after all, the other party hadn't done anything too excessive to her.
She couldn't say much either. After all, the one who suffered the most was his son.
"Father, Pretty Sister, um, you guys go ahead. I won't go." Xu Qingshi rubbed his face. He never wanted to face that Cheng Qingli again.
"I'll have Qingsong take you back first." Xu Heming had no objections to this. In fact, he felt that having this little sunbeam, Xu Qingshi, around was just getting in his way.
"No need, I can go back by myself!" As soon as Xu Qingshi finished speaking, he tried to run.
"Qingsong, take him back!" After the incident at the Grand Princess's estate, Xu Heming was not at ease leaving the boy unattended. He directly grabbed Xu Qingshi by the collar and tossed him into the arms of Qingsong, who was waiting by the road.
"Yes!" Qingsong hurriedly caught his little master and prepared to take Xu Qingshi back.
"Ouch, my father is truly ruthless! He tosses me away just like that!" Xu Qingshi shouted in dissatisfaction.
Immediately, quite a few people around them gathered to look.
Li Zhiwei only felt a bit embarrassed.
However, she thought that Qingsong probably knew his limits and certainly wouldn't hurt Xu Qingshi.
But then she wondered, was Xu Heming so eager to send Xu Qingshi back because he was afraid the boy would interrupt his rendezvous with Second Miss Cheng?
Thinking of this, Li Zhiwei wondered if she should also find an excuse to leave.
Then, she thought of the inescapable marriage contract between the two of them, and a sour feeling rose in her heart.
If this man truly had a sweetheart, he should have said so earlier. Why did he have to put on an act of being affectionate toward her?
Due to her experiences in the Marquis of An's estate in her past life, Li Zhiwei had originally let go of her grudges and intended to live a good life with Xu Heming in the future. But today, the appearance of this Cheng Qingli made Li Zhiwei hesitant once again.