“That video was just a misunderstanding, made by some silly netizen. I just clicked on it randomly, since I was busy dealing with Qin Sheng.”
“I really wasn’t paying attention—no matter how desperate I was, I wouldn’t possibly watch that kind of thing in a movie theater, right? Don’t you trust my character?”
“Lin Ci?”
Shen Xiyan found Lin Ci’s dazed expression a little cute.
Instinctively, she reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind Lin Ci’s ear. It wasn’t until she caught the look of shock in Lin Ci’s eyes that she realized what she was doing.
She coughed awkwardly and withdrew her hand, glancing away before continuing, “Did you hear me? I’m innocent! I’ve never watched those little videos, my thoughts are pure!”
Lin Ci was still basking in the joy, but when she heard Shen Xiyan say that, her expression turned blank for a moment, then she came back to her senses.
She didn’t know how Shen Xiyan had figured it out, but…
Lin Ci snuck a glance at Qin Sheng, the corners of her lips curving up ever so slightly.
“Oh…”
Qin Sheng was absolutely fuming!!!
From Lin Ci’s eyes, she saw pride, smugness, disdain, contempt… and a whole lot of other emotions.
It was me, I was first, I was the one who came first in everything…
Whether it was kissing, hugging, or even falling for that person.
So why am I the loser now?
Isn’t this just a slap in the face?
No!
Cheating! This is cheating!
Lin Ci, I’m going to destroy you!
“Xiyan! Look at her! She’s showing off to me!” Qin Sheng charged over angrily, pointing at Lin Ci and complaining.
Lin Ci looked all docile and innocent.
Shen Xiyan glanced over and frowned, “Nonsense. What bad thoughts could Lin Ci possibly have?”
Lin Ci:
She stole a sidelong glance at the fiercely glaring Qin Sheng, feeling quite pleased with herself inside.
She just loved seeing Qin Sheng grind her teeth in frustration but still be powerless to do anything about it.
She was so cocky just a moment ago—now she’s tripped over her own feet, hasn’t she?
Oh well!
It’s a pity there wasn’t a bet, otherwise Qin Sheng’s expression would be even more spectacular.
That’s what you get for ‘bullying’ me in the screening room!
Wait, why am I thinking like this?
Lin Ci, calm down, calm down.
“I’m telling the truth! I’ve never lied to you. Look, look, she’s giving me that look again—this little wretch!”
So Shen Xiyan turned her head to look again.
Lin Ci smiled sweetly.
“Enough! Stop talking nonsense!”
When it came to character, Shen Xiyan certainly trusted her childhood friend more than the mischievous Qin Sheng.
She had no idea that, at this moment, the tables had turned, and Qin Sheng had dug her own pit to fall into.
“Let’s go…” Shen Xiyan quickly walked away.
Qin Sheng grabbed Lin Ci, glaring as she demanded, “What did Xiyan just say to you?”
“Mm… It’s a secret~~”
Lin Ci nodded, adopting a pitiful, delicate attitude: “I think you were right. Don’t listen to what a man says, look at what he does. Just now, Xiyan came straight for me… What should I do? Hohoho…”
Qin Sheng: (Haaahhhh!!!
This little wretch even dares to imitate my laugh?
I’m going to explode!!!
Just as she was about to go settle things with Shen Xiyan, she heard someone calling her name from behind.
Qin Sheng turned her head and saw Su Jin from “Daluo Fancheng”.
The energetic guy next to her was probably the younger brother she always complained about, and there was a couple with them, surely their parents.
“Qin Sheng!!!” Su Jin waved enthusiastically.
Qin Sheng pretended not to see.
Su Hao poked Su Jin, frowning as he asked, “Sis… are you sure you two are really good friends?”
“I’m sure.”
Su Jin looked a bit embarrassed, but she forced herself to act calm. “Dad, Mom, you two should head home. I ran into some friends, so I won’t be joining you.”
With that, she hurried off.
But…
Su Hao said goodbye to their parents and quickly followed after her. “Sis! Are you sure you two are good friends?”
Su Jin’s freshly smoothed brows furrowed again as she turned and asked, “Why are you following me?”
“Didn’t you say you and Qin Sheng are good friends?”
Earlier, Su Hao was half-convinced.
Now, he was completely suspicious.
He wasn’t stupid—if they were really friends, would Qin Sheng just walk off without even replying when Su Jin called out? Even strangers would at least ask, “How do you know my name?”
Su Jin’s treatment here was even worse than a stranger’s, and she still had the nerve to say she and Qin Sheng were good friends?
“What does that have to do with you?”
Su Jin waved him off disdainfully. “Go, go, go, head home with Mom and Dad.”
Then she hurried a few steps and clung to Qin Sheng’s arm.
Qin Sheng was just about to latch onto Shen Xiyan’s arm when she was pulled away, and instantly got mad.
“What are you doing?!”
Why is everyone against me today?
I’m going to throw a tantrum!
I’m going to throw a tantrum!!!
“Help me out. My parents are here. It’s an emergency.”
Qin Sheng struggled to pry her hand off. “Are we that close? Let me go! I want to find Xiyan!”
“I’ll help you find her later.”
“I’d be grateful if you and Song Wan just stayed away from Xiyan!”
“Come on! Can’t you sympathize with me? Shopping with them is torture!”
All they ever thought about was what their son lacked.
Their daughter?
Just an accessory.
They’re a family, aren’t they? Never mind if they’re willing to buy things or not, but not even letting her tag along shopping—that’s too much.
“Who wants to sympathize with you?” Qin Sheng glared. “When you and Song Wan ganged up to tie me up, did you think about sympathy then?”
“Didn’t you cooperate? If you hadn’t, how could I have tied you up like that?” Su Jin shot straight through her little scheme.
“You must’ve been thrilled when Shen Xiyan untied you, right? Coming to your rescue despite the odds…”
“I wasn’t! I didn’t! Stop talking nonsense!”
Shen Xiyan, hearing the commotion, was puzzled to find that Su Jin had joined the group. She slowed her pace to join in the fun.
Lin Ci and Wen Wen followed closely behind.
“What happened?”
“Help me out,” Su Jin frantically signaled with her eyes.
Shen Xiyan peeked behind and saw Su Jin’s younger brother watching, with a couple—presumably the parents—not far off, all three of them murmuring about something.
“Family outing, huh… how ‘harmonious.'”
“Get lost!”
Su Jin wanted to smack Shen Xiyan, but her family was still watching, and that didn’t fit her “gentle,” “timid” persona, so she just grabbed Qin Sheng and sped up.
“Let’s go, let’s go. As long as we shake them off, I won’t need your help anymore…”
Even if she didn’t go back to the rental later, she could righteously say she was staying at a classmate’s house.
So many girls, all dressed well-behaved—what’s there to worry about?
“I refuse!”
Qin Sheng stopped in her tracks. “You help Song Wan but not me, so we’re enemies. Have you ever seen someone help the enemy in a war?”
Su Jin: “…”
She looked to Shen Xiyan for help.
Shen Xiyan thought for a moment, then grabbed Wen Wen by the collar and shoved her forward.
“Let Wen Wen help out. She teaches me how to write novels, so I owe her a favor. Brother’s debt, sister repays—makes perfect sense.”
“Oh…”
It was just arm-linking, not like it was with a boy—Wen Wen didn’t even hesitate to agree.
Besides, every time Su Jin dropped by at noon, she brought them treats. Wen Wen had a pretty good impression of this big sister. Even if they didn’t talk much, at least she was generous.
Lin Ci stopped Wen Wen. “Forget it, I’ll do it. You definitely don’t look like someone our age.”
“What does this have to do with you?” Qin Sheng glared. “Husband’s debt, wife repays! Let me!”
With that, Qin Sheng took Su Jin’s arm and marched away.
Just as Shen Xiyan was about to speak, Lin Ci chuckled softly. “See? Isn’t that settled? Did you or Wen Wen even need to worry?”
Shen Xiyan: “???”
From confusion, to shock, to sheer incredulity…and finally acceptance.
As expected: sweet on the outside, dark on the inside.
The pinker, the blacker.
What?
You say Lin Ci doesn’t have pink hair?
Please, is that something you can just say about Lin Ci?