Chapter 16: A mouth that can’t hold its own

After buying the clothes, Lin Jianqing was already exhausted, but Shen Huaixue clearly had no intention of letting him off.

She took him to several more stores and bought shoes, accessories, and even some small items that Lin Jianqing had no idea how to use.

By the end of it all, looking at the growing number of shopping bags in the salesclerks’ hands, Lin Jianqing finally couldn’t help asking,

“Exactly how much are you planning to buy?”

Shen Huaixue thought for a moment.

“A week’s worth.”

“A week’s worth?”

Lin Jianqing stared at her, his voice changing.

“You plan on making me wear something different every day?”

Shen Huaixue asked back,

“Isn’t that okay?”

“Of course not.”

“Why?”

“Because… I… my dorm room can’t fit this many clothes.”

Shen Huaixue nodded thoughtfully.

“I’ll prepare a room in my house specifically for you. Just for storing clothes.”

Lin Jianqing closed his eyes.

He had no idea how to argue with Shen Huaixue anymore.

“Alright, we’ve already bought everything, so stop being upset. I’ll take you somewhere nice for dinner tonight. How about it?”

Seeing the slight irritation on his face, Shen Huaixue smiled calmly.

“Now that’s more like it.”

Dinner was at a restaurant on the top floor of the mall.

The atmosphere was quiet, with warm lighting, and green plants and decorative screens separated each table, providing excellent privacy.

After sitting down, Lin Jianqing finally felt like he had escaped disaster.

Unfortunately, the feeling didn’t last long.

Because when Shen Huaixue handed him the menu, she said,

“Order whatever you like. Don’t worry about the price. Eat whatever you want.”

Lin Jianqing looked at her suspiciously.

“You’re certainly generous. Then again, after buying that many clothes without even blinking, I guess that’s expected.”

Shen Huaixue looked him up and down.

“Of course I have to be generous, especially when it comes to food. Lin Jianqing, you’re too skinny. There are a lot of outfits I like that you simply can’t fill out properly.”

Lin Jianqing:

He shouldn’t have asked.

When ordering, Lin Jianqing really did order a lot.

As for the price, he naturally didn’t care.

He wasn’t the one paying.

Besides, after being dragged around all day, a good meal wasn’t asking too much.

When the dishes arrived, Lin Jianqing originally intended to maintain some restraint.

But he quickly gave up.

Because the food was genuinely delicious.

Ever since his family went bankrupt, Lin Jianqing had rarely eaten anything this good.

As the hot food entered his stomach, the hollow emptiness inside him was gradually filled, and even his mood improved considerably.

Shen Huaixue sat across from him, quietly watching him eat.

Lin Jianqing rarely talked while eating.

His cheeks occasionally moved as he chewed.

His expression was still somewhat indifferent, but compared to his usual guarded look—as though he might flee at any moment—he was far more pleasant to look at.

Suddenly, Shen Huaixue felt as though she had discovered a way to make him quiet down temporarily.

Feed him?

He seemed especially interested in food.

The moment the thought appeared, even she found it amusing.

Lin Jianqing noticed her gaze and looked up.

“Why are you staring at me?”

“You look like you’re enjoying the food.”

Lin Jianqing paused immediately and slowed down.

Seeing his reaction, Shen Huaixue’s smile deepened.

“What? One comment from me and you stop eating?”

“No.”

“Afraid I’ll laugh at you?”

“No.”

“Then eat more.”

Shen Huaixue pushed a dish closer to him.

“Stop looking so tense all the time, Lin Jianqing. Right now, you really do look like I’m bullying you.”

Lin Jianqing raised his head and looked at her.

“Aren’t you?”

Shen Huaixue’s smile froze slightly.

A moment later, she returned to her relaxed expression.

“I don’t think so. I only know that you’re eating very happily right now.”

The two stared at each other for several seconds.

In the end, Lin Jianqing was the first to look away.

Forget it.

Shen Huaixue was his Financial Backer.

At most, he could act dissatisfied on the surface.

He genuinely didn’t dare disobey her.

***

After dinner, the sky had completely darkened.

The glass walls outside the mall reflected the city’s lights, while streams of traffic resembled a slowly flowing river of light.

Shen Huaixue had the driver send the purchases away first, while she and Lin Jianqing waited for the car outside the mall.

The evening breeze carried a hint of early summer coolness.

Looking down at his shadow, Lin Jianqing suddenly felt that these past few hours with Shen Huaixue had been rather strange.

He had originally thought it would be unbearable.

Yet after actually experiencing it, it wasn’t nearly as bad as he’d imagined.

Though Shen Huaixue was much more terrible than he expected.

And her mouth was indeed sharp.

She also loved teasing him about wearing women’s clothing.

But at least today, she hadn’t done anything more excessive.

They had simply shopped, eaten, and bought things.

Silently, Lin Jianqing categorized the day as work.

There were a few employee benefits involved.

Though there was also a high risk of being flirted with by the boss.

Standing beside him, Shen Huaixue suddenly spoke.

“You did well today.”

Lin Jianqing didn’t look at her.

“Then do I get a bonus?”

The moment he said it, even he froze.

He had been teased so many times today by Shen Huaixue that he had unconsciously fired back.

Shen Huaixue was clearly surprised as well.

Then she laughed.

This wasn’t her usual teasing smile.

She genuinely found it amusing.

“Sure.”

Lin Jianqing immediately turned toward her.

“I was joking.”

“I’m not.”

Shen Huaixue looked at him.

In the night, her gaze seemed especially deep.

“Whatever you want, you can tell me.”

The bit of ease Lin Jianqing had just begun to feel slowly sank away again.

He seemed to understand the meaning behind her words.

‘If you take my benefits, then you have to obediently listen to me.’

Something along those lines.

“No need.”

The smile on Shen Huaixue’s face faded slightly as she looked at his profile.

“Rejecting me again?”

“I just don’t think it’s necessary.”

“Lin Jianqing, sometimes you’re really bad at reading the situation.”

“I’m just highly cautious toward unfamiliar things.”

Shen Huaixue was momentarily speechless.

Then she couldn’t help laughing again.

“Your courage is a little bigger than yesterday.”

Lin Jianqing said nothing.

It wasn’t that he had become braver.

He had simply realized that if he completely went along with Shen Huaixue, she would only push further and further.

So occasionally talking back made him feel a little better.

Whether it actually helped was another matter.

Soon, the car stopped in front of them.

Just as Lin Jianqing was about to get in, Shen Huaixue suddenly called out to him.

“Lin Jianqing.”

He turned around.

“What?”

Shen Huaixue looked at him, her tone light and casual.

“Remember to wear women’s clothing to work tomorrow.”

Lin Jianqing fell silent.

A moment later, he slowly replied,

“N-No. Absolutely not.”

The moment he heard her words, his mind instantly cleared.

Wasn’t that basically social death?

Looking at his reaction, Shen Huaixue merely found his flustered expression adorable.

“I was joking. If I ever need you to dress up, I’ll notify you in advance.”

Seeing the pleased expression on her face, Lin Jianqing suddenly felt that the little bit of relaxation he had experienced tonight really had been an illusion.

This woman truly had an awful personality.

Was that cold CEO aura from yesterday completely fake?

Listen to only half of what she says.

Pretend not to hear the annoying parts.

Remember the excessive parts.

As for everything else…

Consider it mental compensation.