At the dinner table, Aunt Jiang wasn’t much of a talker.
She stuck to the old-fashioned rule of “no talking while eating, no chatting before bed,” which lent their family an air of proper decorum—at least on the surface.
The only thing she kept doing was reminding Qin Sheng to eat more.
In contrast, Qin Sheng was working overtime trying to keep the conversation alive.
“Auntie, did you go for your check-up yet?”
“No, not yet. I’d have to take a day off during the week, but tomorrow’s the weekend…”
Qin Sheng’s heart ached.
“But your stomach’s been bothering you. The longer you wait, the worse it gets.”
“What can I do? If I take a day off, I lose my full attendance bonus. Too much of a loss.”
“Your company’s inhuman!”
Aunt Jiang sighed.
“Aren’t all companies like this now? If you don’t do the job, someone else will.”
“They should be strung up on a lamppost,” Shen Wen muttered furiously.
“Always talking about ‘blessings’ and 996 work culture. Pretending to be civilized while speaking absolute garbage.”
“Why don’t you just go work at my dad’s company? The pay’s definitely better than where you are now!”
Aunt Jiang was momentarily stunned, then waved her hand with a bitter smile.
“That’s really not necessary. You’ve already done enough for me.”
Jiang Xi was a realist. She appreciated Qin Sheng’s concern, but she knew some favors came with weight.
The health check voucher was already a big enough gesture. Qin Sheng wasn’t going to use it, and rather than let the insurance company make money off it, it made sense for her to benefit.
But switching jobs?
That was a whole other matter. If Qin Sheng was the one arranging it… well, Jiang Xi didn’t care for herself—more money was always good.
Adults had to bow to reality; age didn’t mean a thing. But for Shen Xiyan, it was different.
They’d only known each other for two days, and she was already taking advantage of Qin Sheng’s connections?
If word got out, what would people think?
Isn’t this exactly what people mean when they mock someone as a “phoenix man”—a guy who marries up and takes advantage?
Qin Sheng glanced over, as if reading her mind. She smiled and said brightly, “Auntie~~ if you’re worried about owing a favor or feel awkward, don’t be.”
“Xiyan and I aren’t strangers… Switching to a better job means more income and more free time—for you and the kids.”
But Aunt Jiang politely declined again.
“It’s not that. I just think… if you help me get the job through your connections, and then I can’t handle the work—won’t that reflect badly on you?”
If Qin Sheng were the one in charge, Jiang Xi might’ve thickened her skin and accepted.
No one would know it was favoritism. But clearly, Qin Sheng would need to ask her parents.
Now that Jiang Xi understood her family situation, she could just imagine how the conversation would go.
Her dad would ask, “Who is she?” and Qin Sheng would answer, “My boyfriend’s aunt.”
Boyfriend?
Who’s your boyfriend?
The one who beat up Qin Ge?
This wasn’t just awkward—it was insane!
But as soon as she heard her aunt say that, Qin Sheng’s eyes sparkled with mischief, her whole face lighting up like a firework.
She chirped, “What’s so hard to explain? Just say I’m your niece’s boyfriend’s aunt! Xiyan and I haven’t done anything wrong—why should the good guys always be held at gunpoint?”
Shen Wen: 😶
Shen Xiyan: “Qin Sheng!”
He started to say something, but one look from Aunt Jiang made him bite his tongue.
“And the job I’m introducing you to? You can totally handle it. Even the same position pays differently at different companies…”
“How about this: I’ll make a detailed comparison chart for you. After you look it over, then decide?”
Jiang Xi frowned slightly, still skeptical.
“What exactly does your family do?”
“Just a small business. We made some decent money during a few good years… You’ll see when you get there—it’s not like the wild rumors going around school.”
“People are acting like I’m some billionaire’s daughter. If that were true, would I be going to high school here? I’d be off studying abroad in gold-plated dorms.”
Qin Sheng wasn’t one to flaunt her wealth. In her view, family background was just a label—not something to brag about.
If someday she really did become Shen Xiyan’s girlfriend, then maybe she’d allow herself a little swagger.
Why not? If she had to start over from scratch, she’d still win him over!
Even so, Jiang Xi could tell her background wasn’t average. Shen Wen had mentioned it too. And the clothes Qin Sheng wore today?
Jiang Xi had only seen those in glossy fashion magazines.
She figured Qin Sheng was deliberately downplaying everything—to avoid making them feel pressured.
***
After dinner, Shen Xiyan stood to take the dishes to the kitchen.
“Xiyan! Want me to help?”
“No need.”
“But I want to!”
Qin Sheng cheerfully started clearing the table and tidying the kitchen.
Shen Xiyan watched with narrowed eyes and “kindly” advised, “Auntie can’t see in here. You could just pretend to be tired when you go back out—why bother doing it for real?”
Qin Sheng blinked.
“Why do you think I’m that kind of person?”
He let out a cold laugh.
“Aren’t you?”
“That was just for fun! I’m not actually that lazy…”
She grabbed Shen Wen’s apron and put it on. While Shen Xiyan did the dishes, she wiped down the counters, sinks, and all the greasy corners with methodical focus.
She actually looked… kind of professional.
“You’ve done chores before?”
If he remembered correctly, she only started learning after dating him.
“It’s not that hard. Just don’t be afraid of getting dirty.”
She scrubbed the counter and sink with a scouring pad and dish soap. Even though she wore rubber gloves, a few flecks still splashed onto her bare arms.
But she stayed focused. Those little splashes didn’t bother her. Shen Xiyan, however, had the sudden urge to wipe them off for her.
“Forget it. Just tell me where you want things. I’ll take care of it.”
“I’ll do it~~”
“I said I’ll do it!”
He domineeringly tugged off her gloves—her soft, delicate hands already pruney from the steam and soap.
The frustration on his face…
Qin Sheng covered her mouth and giggled. “You feel guilty, don’t you?”
She looked him up and down with a sly, foxy grin.
“That’s right. I planned this. You’re hard to win over, I get it. But Auntie? She’s easy mode. And honestly, with the kind of family you have, her opinion probably matters more than yours.”
“So it’s fine if you don’t like me yet—I’m just gonna stick around. I might not win, but I’ll never lose!”
“Do you have to say it out loud like that?”
“I don’t want to hide anything this time! This is the real me!”
Qin Sheng’s flushed face glowed even brighter, her playful eyes glinting like she’d had a bit too much to drink—sweet, alluring, irresistible.
This was just her usual way of teasing—it was their little game. Every time she left Shen Xiyan speechless and flustered, she felt utterly triumphant.
And it helped her reclaim the upper hand in their delicate relationship.
The two of them worked side by side for twenty minutes, scrubbing the kitchen until it sparkled.
Then—click!
A sharp camera shutter sound behind them.
A camera shutter?
What the hell?!
Shen Xiyan spun around to see Qin Sheng leaning against the doorframe, calmly slipping her phone into her pocket.
“What are you doing?”
He said nothing, just reached for her pocket.
Qin Sheng instantly clutched her “private garden,” turning sideways and pressing the phone side against the wall. Her expression was exaggeratedly shocked and shy.
“Y-You’re trying to feel me up? We just washed dishes! What if you get an infection… H-Hey! Give me back my phone!”
Shen Xiyan pinched her chin and unlocked her screen.
Her skin was warm to the touch—girls really were all softness and curves.
He easily found the photo: Qin Sheng, grinning at the camera with a peace sign, looking absolutely radiant. In the background—his back.
“What’s this supposed to be?”
“Documenting life!” she said, eyes darting everywhere.
“Heh. You think I don’t know what you’re up to? Post this to your Moments and by tomorrow, people will think we’re living together.”
He tugged her glistening earlobe.
“Ow ow ow! I didn’t post it! See for yourself!”
He opened her feed. Sure enough—nothing posted. He let go.
Qin Sheng pouted and rubbed her ear.
“You wouldn’t even hold my hand earlier, and now you’re all over me!”
“Huh?”
“What? Am I wrong? You think you can just grab a girl’s ear like that?”
She glared at him like she was trying to shoot lasers with her eyes. Too bad she had no superpowers—and she couldn’t bear to hurt him anyway.
She puffed out her cheeks and turned away sulkily, refusing to look at him.
Ugh, Shen Xiyan is the worst. Doesn’t he know girls’ ears are off-limits?
If you’re gonna grab something, at least pick somewhere better…
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