Chapter 16: She is laughing, she is crying

“Do you think you’re being funny?”

“What I said is sincere. I want to have an… improper relationship with you.”

Qin Sheng looked completely at ease.

Whenever she was with Shen Xiyan, a soft smile always lingered on her lips.

Sometimes, Shen Xiyan would get momentarily lost in that smile, feeling as if the whole world had gone silent around him.

Shen Xiyan: “Forget it—let’s just deal with the issue at hand. How could I let you get expelled?”

As she spoke, Qin Sheng pushed open the office door without waiting for the principal to speak.

“Uncle Zhao,” she began cheerfully, “I was the one who kissed him yesterday. It had nothing to do with Shen Xiyan—he was the victim.”

The principal was stunned for a long moment. He wanted to explode in anger, but when he saw Qin Sheng’s bright, smiling face, the fire just fizzled out.

“…Qin Sheng, what did you just say?”

“I said I kissed him. He even pushed me away afterwards—plenty of classmates saw it. If anyone’s at fault, it’s me. Shen Xiyan did nothing wrong!”

“??? Shen Xiyan, is it?”

The principal clenched his fists, assuming this was just a coordinated act. Glaring at Shen Xiyan, he snapped, “You made a mistake and now you’re hiding behind a girl? Is that how a boy should behave?”

Shen Xiyan: “What I said is the truth! There should be surveillance footage at the school gate. Uncle Zhao, please don’t blame an innocent person…”

“You!”

Calling him “Uncle Zhao” so sweetly—he was practically choking on his own frustration.

He opened his mouth, hesitated, then sighed heavily and waved Shen Xiyan away.

“Get out. Qin Sheng stays.”

Qin Sheng noticed the direction of Shen Xiyan’s gaze—as if she could read his mind.

Her smile softened, full of charm and comfort.

“Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

In this life, Qin Sheng had chosen to take a bold, risky step.

She couldn’t stand to repeat the slow, cautious love story of her past life.

Back then, even a first kiss had taken months.

But this time, she wanted to give Shen Xiyan her best.

Getting everyone to assume they were a couple was just the first step.

Once the rumor became accepted as fact—even if Shen Xiyan resisted inwardly—could he really withstand the pressure of perception?

People are social creatures, and Shen Xiyan cared a lot about how others saw him.

To Qin Sheng, idle gossip might mean nothing. But when you hear the same thing over and over, how long before it starts to feel true?

Once that illusion took root, Qin Sheng wouldn’t need to do anything more.

Shen Xiyan would begin convincing himself: Maybe dating Qin Sheng isn’t such a bad idea…

And that would be when he truly fell.

Once he got used to her looks, her personality, her touch—he’d be lost in her tenderness for good.

That was Qin Sheng’s plan.

A man who acts shamelessly might be thrown in jail, but a beautiful woman like her playing the same game?

Shen Xiyan would only be envied by the world.

All she had to do was play the perfect girlfriend—Slowly, patiently wearing down his defenses.

Let him grow used to her, bit by bit.

As for all those suitors buzzing around like flies…

Much as she hated to admit it, she couldn’t deal with them the way she did in her past life.

She couldn’t afford to repeat her old tragedy.

This second chance—she couldn’t make even one mistake.

“Qin Sheng, since we’re in private, let me be frank,”

The principal’s tone had softened. His anger had faded, replaced by helplessness.

“Your father entrusted you to me, so I have to take responsibility. I’ve already done all I can for you. You barely attend classes—maybe once a semester—and now you’re in a relationship?”

“How am I supposed to explain this to your father?”

If she were dating outside school, it wouldn’t matter.

To be blunt—even if she died, it wouldn’t be his concern.

But dating a classmate, under his nose, as the school principal—he couldn’t just look the other way.

And of all people, her father was a total daughter-con.

If he found out someone had kissed his precious little girl…?

That would be trouble.

“To be honest… it was love at first sight. It’s normal if you don’t understand.”

“You’re just a kid. Do you even know what ‘love at first sight’ means?”

Qin Sheng nodded with unwavering conviction.

“I saw him. I liked him. That’s love at first sight.”

“Then you just like his face. And it’s not even that good-looking! With your background, you could date celebrities! Why the rush? You don’t even know what kind of person he is. This is just self-sabotage. If you keep this up, I’ll have to call your father.”

“Go ahead.”

Qin Sheng’s tone was exceedingly respectful: “You’re my elder—you see the big picture.
I’m just a girl.

My vision is short. Short enough that all I can see… is him.”

They say you should never provoke children or women.

Qin Sheng, unfortunately, was both.

“Green snake’s tongue, yellow wasp’s sting; neither poison matches a woman’s heart.”

The principal was suffocating.

Qin Sheng’s words were infuriatingly sweet, but he couldn’t bring himself to lash out.

Because she’d made it clear: the blame was hers.

If he got angry now, it would only make him look powerless.

And what could he do—expel her?

But if he didn’t get angry, her honeyed sarcasm might just give him an ulcer.

No wonder people warned him that she was a handful.

He hadn’t believed it. She seemed sweet enough in pictures.

But in person?

Completely spoiled. Utterly uncontrollable.

“So there’s no need to trouble Shen Xiyan, Uncle Zhao. I’m still trying to win him over. If you make too big a fuss, you’ll just make it harder for me~”

The principal was rendered completely speechless.

There was just no dealing with this slippery, smiling little snake.

So it’s true—soft blades cut the deepest.

“But don’t worry, Uncle Zhao. I won’t do anything like that in public again. That should be enough, right?”

“Your father, though…”

For some reason, the principal let out a breath of relief.

Maybe because Qin Sheng had been so relentlessly bold from the moment she walked in—this small concession felt like a face-saving gesture.

Given the school’s strict reputation, things could’ve gotten complicated.

“Tell him whatever you need to. Otherwise, you’ll be in a tight spot when the truth comes out, right?”

“You’re really not afraid?”

Was this girl insane?

“There’s only one thing I’m afraid of,” Qin Sheng said softly.

“What’s that?”

“I’m afraid… he won’t like me.”

The principal: “…”

***

Outside, Shen Xiyan was still dazed.

Qin Sheng stretched lazily, arching her back just enough to make her chest stand out beneath her soft shirt.

She turned to him with a grin.

“Xiyan! Have you been waiting long?”

“…What do you think?”

She beckoned him over, her expression gentle and cautious.

When he didn’t respond, she leaned in to whisper.

He pushed her away. She leaned back in.

He pushed again. She pressed even closer.

“Can you stop already? Do you not understand human language?”

“I just wanted to whisper something. It’s too embarrassing to say out loud…”

Qin Sheng showed no shame.

No matter how harshly Shen Xiyan spoke, she acted like she didn’t hear a thing.

It was summer, and both their faces were slick with sweat.

When their cheeks touched, their sweat mingled.

Just as Qin Sheng was about to speak, a mischievous impulse struck.

She lightly bit his earlobe and murmured:

“Husband?”

“!!”

That single word hit Shen Xiyan like a bolt of lightning.

His heart jolted violently, dragging up memories he was desperately trying to forget.

Smack.

“Hahahaha…”

Qin Sheng burst into laughter at the sight of Shen Xiyan’s red face.

“Just kidding! We’re safe now! Surprise~?”

“I’m amazing! I deserve a reward!”

Before Shen Xiyan could react, she darted in front of him.

On tiptoe, she threw her arms around his neck—Until their tongues brushed.

But she’d moved too fast.

Their teeth clashed—Hard.

It hurt.

Furious, Shen Xiyan shoved her away—this time with more force than the day before.

Qin Sheng slammed into the wall with a thud, pain flaring in her back.

At that moment, both of them noticed the door opening.

The principal stood there.

Qin Sheng covered her mouth, half-laughing, half-crying.

“See? That’s exactly what happened yesterday…”