After the meal, Shen Xiyan immediately noticed that Wenwen was acting strange; her small face was flushed and burning hot.
When he asked her what was wrong, she waved her hand exaggeratedly, insisting she was fine.
It was baffling.
The weather after the rain was especially fresh.
As they stepped out of the elevator, Shen Xiyan grabbed Lin Ci and bent down in front of her.
“Get on!”
“Carrying me again?” Lin Ci was stunned for a moment.
If Shen Xiyan carried her in front of their classmates, wouldn’t they all think the two of them were an item?
There were already many girls teasing them, implying that Shen Xiyan was getting the better end of the deal.
A pure young girl would never want to be misunderstood like that!
Still, she was about to lean on him.
But Shen Xiyan thought Lin Ci was reluctant, so he glanced back at her: “Or do you plan to hop all the way there?”
Lin Ci froze midway, forced to be modest: “But people will see.”
Looking at his sturdy, broad shoulders, Lin Ci recalled the happiness of leaning on him just yesterday. A rosy blush spread across her cheeks like cherry blossoms blooming wildly on the mountain.
Her two small hands nervously tugged at…
If Shen Xiyan kept being this good to her, she might just get pregnant.
Whether it would be a natural birth or a C-section, she had no idea—her expression was complicated.
“Your foot’s like this, who would still misunderstand?” Shen Xiyan was a bit dumbfounded hearing that. He straightened up: “At worst, I’ll just carry you to near the school and put you down…”
“Alright then~~”
You all saw it—Shen Xiyan insisted on carrying her; it wasn’t her choice.
She was very reserved.
So Lin Ci lightly leaned on him, her body stiffened for a moment.
Noticing the brief stiffness, Shen Xiyan cheerfully comforted her:
“It’s a bit awkward, sure, but don’t worry. First time’s awkward, second time you’ll get used to it, and by the third or fourth time, you’ll climb on yourself…”
“???”
“Are you ready?”
“Mm.”
Lin Ci obediently pressed close to him, then rubbed her little head against his neck in agreement.
A kind of electric shock ran from her head through her neck and heart all the way to her toes. Her cute toes curled up tightly; she wanted to bite his earlobe.
“Let’s go.”
Shen Xiyan completely ignored the teasing looks from the neighbors.
But Lin Ci felt embarrassed. At least when it was raining earlier, the umbrella had shielded her face, but now everyone’s eyes were on her—wondering whose daughter was so shameless.
The attention was 100%.
So she buried her head deep against Shen Xiyan’s back like an ostrich, too shy to raise it and be seen.
Her eyes only saw the wisps of hair at Shen Xiyan’s nape—so adorable.
She had once thought that romance in dreams should be sunset glow, roses, fireworks, starlight, and vows…
But now, it seemed that none of that compared to the peaceful moment of leaning on his back.
“Lin Ci, want some candy?”
Just as she was lost in thought, Wenwen pulled two lollipops from her backpack, tore open the wrappers, and handed one to her.
Lin Ci accepted it and popped the candy into her mouth, visibly in a better mood as the lollipop swayed.
Shen Xiyan also received a lollipop from Wenwen and suddenly remembered a serious question, asking, “By the way, Lin Ci, what will you do if you need to go to the bathroom at school? Squat? Hop? Or yell for Wenwen to help?”
Lin Ci blushed fiercely and smacked his head: “I just can’t walk, not that I can’t squat. What are you talking about?”
“Oh…”
Shen Xiyan pictured Lin Ci hopping on one leg, which seemed pretty challenging.
Like a little dog peeing… kind of embarrassing.
It was Qin Sheng who really couldn’t squat.
***
As they passed through the Community Gate, a figure quickly hopped over from the roadside.
Wenwen spotted her first and waved from afar: “Qin Sheng?”
Shen Xiyan: “???”
Qin Sheng’s previously bright expression darkened the moment she saw Shen Xiyan carrying Lin Ci.
“What are you two doing?!”
Lin Ci was completely intimidated by Qin Sheng’s fierce aura and tapped Shen Xiyan’s shoulder, signaling him to put her down.
Shen Xiyan didn’t want to comply at first, but Lin Ci looked so scared he had no choice: “Can’t you see? Her foot’s injured too.”
“That’s my line!!”
Qin Sheng was nearly losing it.
She’d been standing guard here all morning just to “play hard to get.”
As long as she admitted her mistake sincerely, even if Shen Xiyan remained cold, he wouldn’t yell at her again like that day. At worst, they could start over.
A higher difficulty was no problem; she had already cleared it once. The second round on hard mode was only natural.
“She stole my idea!”
Shen Xiyan was expressionless: “You did it on purpose, she didn’t. Can that be the same?”
“How do you know she didn’t?”
“I saw it with my own eyes… Are you okay? If so, we’re going to school.”
“I want to go to school too!”
Qin Sheng grabbed Lin Ci’s arm and looked at Shen Xiyan: “Are you going to carry her or carry me today?”
Shen Xiyan sighed and coolly stood between them:
“Are you done? Don’t you have to look after Auntie? Why do you have to come here and make your presence felt? You can’t even use the school bathroom… Can’t I miss you?”
Qin Sheng’s mood soured.
Not because of Shen Xiyan’s words or actions, but because she realized how fast Shen Xiyan and Lin Ci’s relationship was heating up.
The proof was Shen Xiyan positioning himself between them, with his back to Lin Ci and facing her—a subconscious move to protect the former.
If it were yesterday, Shen Xiyan would at least face both of them, not show such bias.
If you’re too afraid to confess, then just leave already. Why cling on?!
Shen Xiyan glanced around impatiently: “Where’s Song Wan? Would she really let you come alone?”
“Xiyan…”
Qin Sheng’s tone suddenly softened.
With her head lowered, Shen Xiyan couldn’t see her expression.
But the sunlight shone down, backlighting her, the strands of hair near her ear glowing gold, making her little ears look pink and tender.
“Sorry, I was wrong before.”
Qin Sheng looked up at him, biting her lip, and extended a finger like a fresh bamboo shoot after the rain—tender and tempting: “Will you forgive me this once? I promise I won’t dare again! Really!”
Faced with her apology, plea, and coquettishness, Shen Xiyan was almost overwhelmed.
She seemed born to “please him,” especially with those big watery eyes that seemed to constantly say “I’m sorry.”
He nearly agreed, but the sunlight suddenly flashed in his eyes, snapping him awake.
He pulled out his phone: “Song Wan definitely wouldn’t let you sneak out alone. Be honest—did you sneak out?”
“… No.”
“Don’t forget, your apology was ‘I definitely won’t dare next time.’”
“It really wasn’t me. I already promised you. How could I lie?” Qin Sheng casually pointed in one direction: “She’s having breakfast next door…”
Perhaps it was the unspoken understanding between sisters.
When Qin Sheng pointed, Song Wan also looked up. As their eyes met, she wiped her mouth and stood.
“Are you done arguing? If yes, we’ll go. If not, keep at it…”
Shen Xiyan raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why did you bring Qin Sheng here?”
“… Otherwise, she never lets it go.”
First love was always interesting—usually full of timidity. Once that vague feeling was exposed, the people involved might deny it themselves and back off.
But Qin Sheng wasn’t like that; she was shameless and only got happier the more others teased her.
Correspondingly, the more proactive she was, the less positive feedback she got from Shen Xiyan.
Although she cried hard yesterday, scaring Song Wan, Song Wan thought about it afterward and figured this kind of thing was just a habit. She couldn’t always be doting on Shen Xiyan.
The more they prevented Qin Sheng and Shen Xiyan from meeting, the more rebellious Qin Sheng became.
Just wear her down gradually…