Chapter 94: Retribution

Qin Sheng sat at the bedside, her fair and tender calves dangling in the air, small feet crossed, swinging back and forth.

Jiang Xi sat cross-legged behind her, helping her with a beautiful hairstyle.

This intricate braid style gave off a delicate and elegant vibe.

“Aunt, you’re amazing…”

Jiang Xi smiled as she finished tying the last knot, then patted Qin Sheng’s butt and sent her over to a small bed nearby. “You might not believe it, but Xiyan actually taught me this.”

“Really?!” Qin Sheng played along with a bewildered expression.

“I don’t have time to do this kind of hairstyle myself,” Jiang Xi chuckled.

“It all started when Wenwen was watching anime and thought the heroine’s hair looked like a little princess’s. She kept nagging to have her hair done that way, so Xiyan learned it online, and then I thought it looked nice too, so I tried it.”

Usually, styling this kind of braid on herself was really impractical—it definitely required someone’s help.

“Is he really that doting on Wenwen?”

Jiang Xi’s tone was matter-of-course: “Their parents are gone. It’s just those two kids relying on each other. How could he not be doting?”

… Oh.

Qin Sheng lowered her head and fiddled with her hands, her expression complicated.

If in her past life Aunt hadn’t had an accident, Wenwen would have had two relatives, wouldn’t have been so clingy to Xiyan—and how could she have held back then?

“What’s wrong?”

Qin Sheng shook her head. “Nothing. You’ve done such a pretty job with my hair, wouldn’t it look even better if Xiyan did it?”

“If you get the chance, you can ask him to help…”

“Mm!” Qin Sheng nodded firmly, a smile tugging at her eyes and brows.

Her ten delicate toes moved happily.

“Feeling good today?”

“I’m going shopping this weekend~~”

“Then why are you happy now?”

Jiang Xi calculated the days—it was still several days away.

“Xiyan promised to go with me!”

“Oh… no wonder!”

Whenever Qin Sheng spoke of Xiyan, she always smiled, her big eyes narrowing into crescent moons.

Sometimes, if Jiang Xi wasn’t paying attention, she’d find herself unconsciously drawn to Qin Sheng’s smile, as if the world around them quieted down.

“A date?”

Qin Sheng blushed, shyly waving her hands. “No, just a casual stroll… Aunt, you don’t mind, do you?”

“Me?”

Jiang Xi thought for a moment. The most heart-stirring kind of love was hidden in glances and actions, so she replied, “Why would I mind?”

“No finishing homework means no going out to play, too young for early romance…” Qin Sheng counted off the ten sins of early love on her fingers, looking adorably cute.

“You…” Jiang Xi laughed, about to say something when she suddenly stopped.

She was going to say, “Your family doesn’t mind, so why should I?” but then she thought about Qin Sheng’s family situation—it might just be rubbing salt into the wound—and changed her words.

“As long as you’re happy. Staying in the hospital all the time will just make you depressed…”

“Well, Aunt, do you know what Xiyan likes? Like where he likes to go, what he likes to do?”

“That’s probably him indulging you, right?”

Qin Sheng didn’t care and couldn’t hide her excitement in her voice, like a lark singing: “If he doesn’t want to, then I just have to put up with him!”

Jiang Xi suddenly thought dating Qin Sheng was really wonderful.

Xiyan wouldn’t have to worry about where to take her to play, what to eat at lunch, or dinner, because she’d take the initiative to decide where to go, what to eat, even where to sleep.

Shen Xiyan didn’t even have to think—just bring her along.

“That doesn’t matter. As long as you’re there, it should be fun.”

Adults had very simple standards for happiness; a small hotel room was enough.

Shen Xiyan and Qin Sheng were no exception—just holding hands and spacing out together was sweet.

After all, early love… when stripped down, was just about these little things.

Then Jiang Xi’s mind wandered to imagining Shen Xiyan and Lin Ci together.

When those two were little, Jiang Xi had fantasized about them growing up as childhood sweethearts and eventually getting married.

There were many advantages to that. After all, childhood sweethearts knew each other’s personalities, characters, and families well, and both sets of parents liked each other… well, that part was debatable.

But they wouldn’t have to worry about typical couple troubles like fighting, cheating, or breaking up.

They wouldn’t even dare, since shameless as they might be, they wouldn’t disrespect their elders.

But compared to Qin Sheng, Lin Ci seemed much more reserved.

Qin Sheng could forcibly kiss Shen Xiyan—could Lin Ci?

Outsiders might think the boy should be the initiator, but since she was part of his family, she’d naturally be biased toward Shen Xiyan.

That’s why Qin Sheng’s personality was especially fitting—boys and girls should complement each other.

Just as Jiang Xi was thinking this, Qin Sheng grabbed her arm, shaking it excitedly: “No, no, Aunt, just tell me please”

“Alright, alright!”

Jiang Xi recalled Shen Xiyan’s instructions, struggled for a few seconds, then “reluctantly” betrayed him.

Actually, Qin Sheng knew Shen Xiyan’s preferences better than anyone, but she needed a reasonable explanation.

After what happened last time, she was genuinely a bit scared. It turned out the “butterfly effect” was real.

In her past life, she had caused trouble, but Shen Xiyan mostly bore it helplessly and never got that angry.

“So what do Xiyan and Wenwen like? Their birthdays are coming up, and I want to give them a little gift.”

“They…”

“I’m definitely giving them something!” Qin Sheng emphasized.

Jiang Xi sighed deeply.

“Wenwen likes things that girls generally like—something like a dress is fine and not expensive. As for Xiyan, I really don’t know. Since I started raising him, he’s been indifferent to everything.”

This “indifferent” was a negative.

Most children are sensible—they see something they like but restrain themselves.

Xiyan knew Aunt cared for them, so he never showed anything. Even after all these years, Jiang Xi still couldn’t figure it out.

When he was little, at least she could buy a few toys, but now? What toys? Inflatable dolls? Or something else?

“Well, I’ll just figure it out myself… Hopefully Xiyan will like it… Then maybe watch a movie, have a meal or something.”

Qin Sheng preemptively gave Aunt a heads-up.

They definitely had to go to the cinema—once the lights went out, two people snuggling in the seats could make anyone feel relaxed. The dark environment naturally brought out some warmth and intimacy.

Why was the cinema always part of a normal date?

Because if you just went shopping and ate, then went straight to a hotel, it felt like you were going to the hotel just for the sake of it.

But if you added a cinema visit, warming up together in a public dark space before going to the hotel—that was love.

Qin Sheng’s mind wandered, but she knew well that going to a hotel now was unrealistic.

Just occasionally getting to kiss was enough.

Thank heavens!

Luckily, she was a girl and pretty, so Shen Xiyan was always tolerant of her.

If she were a guy, no matter how handsome, doing the same things would land him straight in jail.

If she had to keep holding back, she’d go crazy!

“Aunt~~”

“Hmm?”

Qin Sheng blinked shyly. “I’m definitely going to marry into your family someday! For sure!”

“Ah? Oh…” Jiang Xi panicked for a moment.

Wasn’t she the adult here?

Why did she feel so flustered?

“Hehe.”

Qin Sheng giggled like she’d fallen into a honey jar mixed with wine, burying her face in the blanket.

Just then, Jiang Xi’s phone vibrated a few times.

She glanced at it, covered her mouth, and gasped in surprise.

Qin Sheng looked up, her big eyes spinning. “Aunt, what is it?”

“That Huang Zhen who came before… had a car accident. It seems pretty serious. He’s in the ICU, and our company group is sending representatives to visit him.”

Qin Sheng covered her mouth. “Ah… maybe this is karma…”