“Where are we going next?”
“The shops are open now, where do you want to go?”
Shen Xiyan caught a glimpse of Qin Sheng’s sly smile and sneered, “Why aren’t you still crying?”
“…You already coaxed me. Why would I keep crying?”
So self-assured?
“I should’ve steeled my heart and ignored you earlier, you drama queen!”
“What? Did you just ask me to absorb your… essence? You beast!” Qin Sheng covered her mouth, looking shocked.
For a moment, Shen Xiyan really wanted to just give up all pretense—drag her straight into the alley and plug this little vixen’s mouth with his eighteen-centimeter Magic Pestle.
Qin Sheng saw the look in his eyes and instantly cowered, grabbing his hand, her voice soft and sweet: “Come on, go with me to buy a phone~~”
“Your phone’s broken?”
“I’ll tell you after I buy it.”
They’d been together for ten years.
Shen Xiyan knew her depths; she knew Shen Xiyan’s limits.
She knew that Shen Xiyan was completely defenseless against her acting cute. As long as it didn’t cross any lines, whenever she whined and acted adorable, Shen Xiyan would always give in.
“Buying a phone, and you’re still being so secretive…”
“I am! So what! Hmph~~”
Where did she pick up this habit of acting spoiled at the drop of a hat?
In their past life she hadn’t been so clingy. Everything now felt so inexplicable.
“Let’s go~~”
***
Ordinary people window-shop for hours and buy nothing.
But little rich girls like Qin Sheng kept it simple: walk in, pick, swipe the card, and out they go.
At checkout, even when the price hit ten thousand yuan, she didn’t so much as blink.
“Now will you tell me why you’re buying a phone?”
“Wenwen’s birthday is during summer break. I’ll keep it for her and give it to her then.”
“Huh???”
Qin Sheng ignored Shen Xiyan’s astonished look and went on, “As for your birthday present… I actually really wanted to get you something, but with your attitude, you wouldn’t accept it even if I bought it. So forget it, I’ll just be your birthday gift. Take it or leave it. Who’s spoiling you?”
Shen Xiyan didn’t bother with himself, grabbing Qin Sheng by the ear. “Are you crazy? Why are you buying Wenwen a phone?”
Qin Sheng winced, pulling free from Shen Xiyan and rubbing her reddened ear. “What kind of old-people phone are you two using now? It lags like crazy, doesn’t it?”
“Just for calls and texts, it’s fine. Why need anything better?”
“Vanity, of course!”
“I really want to slap you.”
“Oh….”
With that, Qin Sheng tilted her face, offering her fair, pretty left cheek. “Wanna try giving me a good slap?”
Shen Xiyan grew angry. If the tiger doesn’t bare its fangs, am I HelloKitty?
He raised his hand.
Qin Sheng tilted her head slightly, her bright, black eyes calmly watching him, as if asking: “Are you really going to hit me?”
Shen Xiyan put his hand down and huffed, “Not going to argue with you. I appreciate the thought, but Wenwen doesn’t need the phone. Keep it for yourself… or take it back and return it.”
“What do I need another phone for? As for returning it… sorry, I can’t afford to lose face like that!”
“???”
“Besides, why do you keep making decisions for Wenwen? She hasn’t said if she wants it or not. When her classmates all pull out their phones at school, and she’s the only one with nothing, how do you think she feels?”
Shen Xiyan sighed, “You don’t understand Wenwen. She has self-respect, but she’s not vain.”
“You don’t understand girls!” Qin Sheng corrected. “You think everyone’s like Wenwen? There are plenty of petty, selfish girls out there… I absolutely will not allow anyone to look down on her! Absolutely not!”
“That’s even more reason—Wenwen never plays on her phone at school.”
“Which is exactly why you should give it to her before anyone finds out.”
“Find out what?”
“Find out about your family’s situation!” Qin Sheng glared. “Tell me, doesn’t your school have Poverty Student List spots?”
“You and Wenwen qualify, don’t you?”
Shen Xiyan seemed to realize what Qin Sheng was getting at and shook his head in silence.
“You and Wenwen are both orphans, and your grades are excellent. Why wouldn’t you qualify? As long as you apply, you’d be selected instantly. Unless you haven’t applied…”
Shen Xiyan frowned. “Did Aunt tell you?”
“Why would I need her to tell me? Every time the list is posted, I never saw your name.”
“You even paid attention to that?”
“None of your business!”
Qin Sheng shot him a glare, not letting him probe further, or she’d give herself away in a second. “Why do you think Aunt never lets you two apply? Isn’t it to protect your dignity?”
Qin Sheng had always thought the “Poverty Student List” was the stupidest thing ever.
It was just to satisfy some people’s need for photos, to show off how “charitable” they were.
Disgusting!!
In their eyes, once the poor students got money, they should be grateful beyond words.
But on the contrary, poor students were often fragile inside, and it was painful to stand under that spotlight.
But it couldn’t be helped—the higher-ups needed those photos.
In her past life, it was only this year that Qin Sheng fell for Shen Xiyan. After learning about this, she had Song Wan help her out.
Not willing? No problem.
She simply spent money to buy hot search rankings, spreading word that this year the school had reformed, treating poor students with great care—putting money straight on their meal cards, distributing Subsidy one-on-one in private, and so on.
The Comment Section on Weibo was full of praise, and after that, no one could change it even if they wanted to.
It cost a lot, but if it meant Shen Xiyan and the others could get an extra ten thousand yuan out of nowhere and accept it willingly, and Aunt didn’t have to feel bad, and nobody found out—that was perfection.
“Like at parent-teacher conferences, doesn’t Aunt always say your parents are busy? Otherwise, besides the teacher and Lin Ci, no one would know you’re orphans, right?”
“Aunt has worked hard to create a normal family environment for you. If she had more money, would you be using that kind of phone? Even old grandpas and grandmas don’t use those anymore!”
“…But this phone is too expensive.”
Shen Xiyan was instantly persuaded by Qin Sheng.
He wanted to do something for Wenwen, but for now, he just couldn’t.
Qin Sheng didn’t care at all.
“It’s not for you anyway. I’ll talk to Aunt… If you really feel bad, just write me an IOU. You already owe me enough, one more won’t matter.”
“Aren’t you writing novels? Write! When you make money, what’s ten thousand yuan?”
“Just kidding…” Qin Sheng nudged his shoe with her toe. “Every time I do something out of kindness, you always have to put a price on it. Sometimes, you have to have a thick skin. Anyway, it’s all for…”
“If you really feel guilty, just be a little gentle with me today. You know, your tiniest bit of gentleness is worth more than gold to me…”
Though Shen Xiyan insisted this wasn’t a date.
But both of them knew perfectly well—this was a date.
After she finished, Qin Sheng once again naturally looped her arm through his. Shen Xiyan felt the soft touch on his arm, and even through the fabric, his mind began to wander.
Her skin was cool, her hands soft and cold, like jade—smooth and comfortable to the touch.
He glanced sideways, peering through her loose collar.
Even the most beautiful winter scenery in the world paled in comparison. Luckily, he didn’t catch sight of those two red plum blossoms.
“Your body temperature is a little cold…”
“That’s how girls are. I heard it rises if you’re pregnant. Want to help me with that?”
“With a figure like mine—full chest, round hips—I’d be great at having babies. I could give your Shen Family a pair of Dragon and Phoenix Twins~~”
Shen Xiyan wore a helpless expression. “Do you not feel embarrassed saying things like that?”
“Not at all! Having your babies is my dream. What’s there to be embarrassed about?”
“Wait here!”
Shen Xiyan left Qin Sheng and went next door to the pharmacy, coming back with a bottle of Wind Oil Essence, twisting the cap open as he walked.
“Dumb as a pig. Bitten by mosquitoes and didn’t even put anything on, just scratched? Look at what you’ve done! Doesn’t it hurt and itch?”
Qin Sheng was quiet for a moment, biting her lip, then whispered, “Xiyan, did you know, when blood flows out, it doesn’t hurt at all. It just feels itchy, and cold, and I just want someone to hold me…”
“Huh?”
“…I’ve never once regretted it.”
Shen Xiyan studied her closely, trying to find something in those “determined” eyes.
But he failed.
Qin Sheng repeated once more: “I’ve never once regretted it!!”
“Strange.”
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