“What’s wrong? You seemed fine this morning,” Jiang Xi glanced at Qin Sheng, who was sitting on the small bed, poking at her hands and silent.
From her angle, she could just see Qin Sheng’s long eyelashes, the high and straight bridge of her nose, and her well-defined lips.
Although Qin Sheng kept her head down, she could still feel the intense gaze from across the room.
Not knowing how to respond, she reached out to cover her delicate white face, hiding herself like a child plugging her ears, and whispered, “Aunt… please don’t be angry when I tell you.”
“Go ahead! Why would I be angry with you?”
Jiang Xi herself didn’t understand why, after only knowing each other for a few days, their relationship had turned into this kind of “whispered secret” bond.
So strange… isn’t she supposed to be Xiyan’s aunt?
Qin Sheng then repeated everything she had done, word for word.
Because there was nothing she’d done wrong to Shen Xiyan, naturally, there was nothing to hide. But after listening, Aunt’s expression shifted completely.
“Oh my goodness… how could you be so foolish?”
Jiang Xi was at a loss for words.
She had been about to say, “How could someone like Qin Sheng fall down?” only to realize it was herself who had fallen!
Sure enough, the Animal World analogy was spot on. When it’s Breeding Season, the males pull out all the stops to compete for mating rights.
Well… since Qin Sheng is female, that analogy doesn’t quite fit.
Any classmates who raise cats would know that when a female cat is in her Estrus Period, she’ll start meowing nonstop.
If you don’t keep her indoors, she’ll be gone all night, looking for a tomcat, eventually returning with a big belly.
Isn’t Qin Sheng kind of like that?
“You must be in a lot of pain, right?” Jiang Xi couldn’t help but sigh.
“It’s okay. It hurts more when Xiyan is mad at me,” Qin Sheng twisted her hands together, bowing her head, her silky hair falling naturally to cover her face, her body slightly hunched, trembling as she waited for Jiang Xi’s scolding.
But the storm she expected never came.
The room was silent for a full ten seconds before Qin Sheng couldn’t help but look up to see what Aunt was doing, only to find her poised like a hunter, poking her forehead hard twice.
“You… I don’t even know whether to scold you or scold Xiyan.”
Jiang Xi had never been in love herself, so she felt awkward speaking about it.
“Just scold me then…” Qin Sheng said quietly.
Maybe it was her first time facing such an awkward situation. She didn’t dare meet Aunt’s eyes, fiddled nervously with her fingers, cheeks flushing a soft red, which only made her look all the more endearing.
“Xiyan’s not at fault, but I just can’t help it. The more he ignores me, the more I want him to notice me.”
Girls naturally mature faster than boys.
That created two extremes: when single, she seemed rational, but once things got complicated, it was like her personality flipped.
“Let me think it over,” Jiang Xi said thoughtfully.
In other families, a kid this age helping with chores might be called sensible.
But Shen Xiyan clearly went beyond sensible. He took on all the adult responsibilities, and only after finishing them would he sit down at his desk to study, behaving like a proper student.
So you can’t treat him like an ordinary kid.
Qin Sheng shrank her neck. “Aunt, I’m counting on you. I really regret it now…”
If Shen Xiyan were here, he’d see right through Qin Sheng’s act.
Regret?
At most, she regretted being caught!
But Jiang Xi didn’t know Qin Sheng that well, and with the “niece-in-law” filter, the soft light glowed on her skin, giving it a tender, almost powdery texture—if you could pinch it, it would feel wonderful.
That was exactly how Jiang Xi felt now.
At first, seeing Qin Sheng’s swollen, red eyes, she thought it was from pain, but it turned out to be heartbreak.
What Jiang Xi didn’t know was that this was exactly what Qin Sheng intended.
At first, Qin Sheng had been quite downcast, but on the way here, she realized what Shen Xiyan truly cared about. Her spirits lifted.
To earn Aunt’s sympathy, she even put on a sickly makeup look in the car, counting on Aunt’s dim vision at night.
Just then, Nurse Aunt Wang came in carrying a bucket of freshly made soup.
Qin Sheng took it and poured a bowl for Aunt. “Let’s eat first, Aunt…”
Coincidentally, a tear fell into the soup bowl.
Jiang Xi:
So they ate while thinking.
Seeing Qin Sheng distracted, Aunt put on an episode of Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf. It might be childish for a middle schooler but was just right for them.
After the meal, Qin Sheng rubbed her eyes and looked at Aunt expectantly. “Aunt, have you thought of a plan yet?”
“…Almost, don’t rush. Xiyan’s sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. Didn’t you say he’s mad because you hurt yourself?”
“Yeah… definitely! Xiyan still cares about me,” Qin Sheng deliberately misled Aunt, taking a sip of water.
Her small mouth puffed up, her thin face almost translucent. Seeing Aunt strategizing for her, she smiled slyly like a little fox.
But just then, Aunt happened to glance her way. She panicked and looked away, swallowing the water in her mouth—but choked, spraying it out with a sudden cough.
Qin Sheng awkwardly wiped her mouth and clothes, grabbed some tissues, and cleaned the spill on the floor.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine… just choked a little.”
Qin Sheng was terrified; she nearly blew her cover again.
The revolution is not yet successful; comrades must keep striving!
This “trump card” from Aunt had to be tightly held—no room for mistakes.
After a while, seeing Aunt still deep in thought, Qin Sheng couldn’t wait any longer. She suddenly clapped her hands, eyes wide with realization.
“Aunt! I’ve got an idea.”
“What is it?”
Qin Sheng clasped her pinky finger, speaking with exaggerated humility, “Aunt, if Xiyan knew I’m here keeping you company, would he forgive me a little? Just a tiny bit, like the size of this pinky.”
“Forget it, forget it, that would make me seem so scheming, which I’m definitely not!” Qin Sheng immediately rejected her own idea.
Listening to her, Jiang Xi felt something was off but couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Girls are actually simple. When they like someone, they believe everything that person says, and they lie to themselves.
Even now, Qin Sheng’s image in Jiang Xi’s mind was so good that she automatically overlooked those suspicious parts.
“You mean a ‘self-inflicted injury’ trick?” Jiang Xi realized belatedly.
“Not exactly…” Qin Sheng thought about how to phrase it to sound more noble.
“Xiyan doesn’t really hate me. What’s missing is just a step down from him. If I give him that step, won’t the conflict naturally dissolve?”
“…I don’t quite get what you mean.” Jiang Xi struggled to keep up with Qin Sheng’s pace.
“No need to get it! Watch me perform.”
After years of dating, Qin Sheng understood one truth:
When apologizing, you must stand in the other person’s shoes, guessing what they want to hear and the attitude they want to see. You can’t stand in your own shoes.
If you do, you lose.
For example, from Qin Sheng’s perspective, she wants Shen Xiyan to give in to all her requests and share everything with her, and in return, she’ll give back her all.
But if she said that, Shen Xiyan would explode.
From Shen Xiyan’s perspective, what does he want to hear? What attitude does he want?
Qin Sheng took a photo of Aunt.
Qin Sheng: 【Aunt’s here with me, don’t worry…】
Shen Xiyan: 【Why are you still there?】
Qin Sheng: 【I promised to take care of Aunt…】
This one sentence was the key.
Never say anything like “What’s wrong with that?” or “What am I doing here?” — anything that doesn’t sound humble.
Just plainly state the fact, then end with an ellipsis. Xiyan would fill in the guilt himself.
After being scolded so harshly, yet still caring for Aunt.
If Shen Xiyan had any conscience, he wouldn’t be mad anymore!
Shen Xiyan: 【Qin Sheng!!!】
Qin Sheng: 【Don’t worry, I’ll do what I promised…】
A few seconds passed…
Shen Xiyan: 【Come home! Now! Immediately! Right away!】
The gloom in Qin Sheng’s heart suddenly cleared, and she seriously read the message several times, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her eyes and mouth.
She stood up.
“Aunt… Xiyan really cares about me. He wants me to come home early. You rest now; I won’t bother you today. I’ll come see you tomorrow…”
“Don’t come tomorrow!”
“Then won’t that mean you’ll be bothered again? I’ll help cover for you!”
“…Then be careful on the way.”
Jiang Xi mainly felt reluctant about this month’s salary.
Even if she quit, she had to give a month’s notice. If she angered Huang Zhen, it’d be awkward going to work later. This month would be wasted, putting more strain on an already struggling family.
“It’s fine, I have a driver.”
“…”
Aunt choked on her words, rarely so helpless.
After leaving, Qin Sheng walked to the window and took a photo of Huang Zhen leaving downstairs, capturing his face and license plate.
Then she dug out her long-uncontacted father’s number and spun a lie.
She claimed she was being harassed by him at the hospital and thoughtfully gave his company’s information.
Her father wasn’t stupid; he’d know she was exaggerating.
But what did it matter?
Isn’t he holding “A Clear Official Can’t Judge Family Affairs” in one hand and “Owe” in the other, with “Daddy’s Girl” stamped on his forehead?
Dare to harass Aunt… he’s asking for death!
As for why she hadn’t said anything in the ward…
Of course not!
How could naive, innocent her do something so “bullying with power”?
If that happened, Aunt’s first reaction wouldn’t be gratitude but pressure.
She thought troublesome things were just a phone call away—what a show!
Why pretend with Aunt?
Better to solve it quietly, don’t shoot, and then “accidentally” let Xiyan know, making him feel “grateful” and “guilty.” Then “accidentally” let Wenwen find out and have her relay it to Aunt.
Lose?
How could she lose?
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