Chapter 29 - 28: Xie Qingshi the Person, Shaoyuan Continues to Compete
Chapter 29: Chapter 28: Xie Qingshi the Person, Shaoyuan Continues to Compete
Xie Qingshi turned his head slightly and saw two high school girls standing at the intersection about three meters away. Both wore school uniforms and had backpacks slung over their shoulders. Their long hair was tied into high ponytails, exuding a vibrant and lively energy unique to their age.
His assistant sighed. "Getting out of class after ten o’clock? They must be high school seniors. It’s really tough on them." He kept his voice very low, clearly not wanting anyone nearby to recognize Xie Qingshi and cause unnecessary trouble. This was partly because Xie Qingshi was currently at the peak of his popularity, and partly because he had a quiet, indifferent temperament and disliked noise.
A faint smile surfaced in Xie Qingshi’s aloof eyes. "Yes, it’s a crucial year. I hope they both have a bright future ahead of them."
As the crowd grew, he pulled the brim of his hat lower and left the bustling intersection with his assistant.
Lu Mi had no idea she had just brushed past her idol. She continued to chatter incessantly, "He won another award this year! He might even aim for an international award next year. What do you think, Yingying?"
Shi Changying gave a lazy hum of agreement. "He’s very impressive, and also very lucky."
Lu Mi paused. "Lucky?"
Shi Changying said mildly, "He’s not blind."
Lu Mi suddenly realized. "Yingying, you’re thinking about Xie Qingshi again."
Shi Changying didn’t answer. As if catching the scent of some food, she turned around.
Lu Mi also turned her head. When she saw who was approaching, she looked surprised. "Young Master? Didn’t you already leave? What’s..."
She silently stared at the fried chicken bucket in Shaoyuan’s hand, feeling an overwhelming sense of incongruity. Those hands looked perfectly suited for playing the piano, practicing calligraphy, boxing, or playing sports, but it was truly impossible to imagine him using them to buy fried chicken.
He handed the bucket of fried chicken to Shi Changying.
Shi Changying took it. "Thank you, kind soul."
Shaoyuan raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with her response. "Why didn’t you tell me that my doting on you wasn’t in vain today?"
When he spoke, his gaze clearly didn’t land on anyone other than Shi Changying. However, Lu Mi felt like she was being singled out. She pinched the hem of her shirt, feeling a bit guilty. "I suddenly... suddenly have something urgent to do. Yingying, Young Master, see you tomorrow!"
As soon as the light turned green, she ran off with her backpack.
Shi Changying glanced at Shaoyuan. "You scared Xiao Mi."
Shaoyuan let out a sudden chuckle and leaned lazily against the wall. "If I didn’t scare her a little, how would I find out what else you’ve learned from her?"
Shi Changying recalled the new high-emotional-intelligence phrase she had learned from Lu Mi today.
"Yingying, we don’t say ’good morning’ anymore."
"Then what do we say?"
"You have to say, ’A day of loving me has begun.’ It sounds much more high-end and sophisticated! ’Good morning’ is completely outdated!"
Empress Taichu felt that this alternative to "good morning" indeed demonstrated very high emotional intelligence. She took the lesson to heart.
The light turned green again. Shi Changying didn’t look back at Shaoyuan. She simply said, "See you tomorrow, kind soul." It was too late today; she planned to test it out tomorrow morning.
It was almost eleven o’clock by the time Shi Changying returned to the Old Xu Mansion with the bucket of fried chicken. At this time yesterday, only a few lights had been left on in the estate, but now it was brightly lit.
Shi Changying took a leisurely bite of the crispy fried chicken, completely indifferent to the pitying looks the servants cast her way. When she stepped into the living room, everyone sitting on the sofas looked toward her. Old Sir Xu and Old Madam Xu had stern expressions, while Meng Shuyan’s gaze was dark and malicious.
Shi Changying raised an eyebrow. A joint tribunal? To interrogate her? How interesting.
"Shi Changying, I don’t know why you didn’t appear on the surveillance footage and managed to fool everyone else." Meng Shuyan glared at her menacingly. "Yes, I tore up your dad’s book. I apologize for that. But do you know that a case can only be filed if the property damage exceeds five thousand yuan? I could call the police and have you arrested right now, believe it or not."
Contrary to Meng Shuyan’s expectations, the girl’s face didn’t show any sign of fear. Was she really not afraid at all?
"Oh? File a case." Shi Changying repeated the words, her tone rising at the end.
It seemed like a good idea. At Ming Chengli’s strong insistence, she had already finished reading the Criminal Law. The biggest taboo in doing things was being an armchair strategist; she needed practical experience.
"Shuyan!" Xu Zhao Yu immediately scolded him, then said apologetically, "Changying, I’m sorry. The boy has been spoiled by me. Aunt Zhao Yu apologizes to you on his behalf."
"Zhao Yu, you did nothing wrong. Why are you apologizing?" Old Madam Xu couldn’t bear to see the apple of her eye acting so submissively, and her dissatisfaction with Shi Changying grew.
Xu Zhao Yu frowned. "Mom, I still stand by my opinion. Changying wouldn’t lay a hand on Shuyan."
"She wouldn’t?" Meng Shuyan took a deep breath. "Mom, there’s something I haven’t told you all. The very first time she met me, she pushed me straight to the ground."
Xu Yunfan looked at the 1.8-meter-tall Meng Shuyan, then looked at Shi Changying, who was holding a bucket of fried chicken bigger than her head. One was tall and robust, while the other looked malnourished. It was obvious at a glance who was weaker.
Xu Yunfan found it unbelievable. Even if he was indeed biased toward Xu Zhao Yu’s family, how was he supposed to believe Meng Shuyan? Would he have to dig his own brain out, throw it on the ground, and stomp on it a few times to believe that?
Meng Baizhou’s expression also turned cold. "Shuyan, what has Dad taught you? Tell the truth, and don’t exaggerate!"
"I’m not exaggerating!" Meng Shuyan felt incredibly wronged. He pulled up his sleeve. "Look, I still have a bruise here!"
Old Madam Xu’s heart immediately ached for him. "Have you applied any medicine? How did it swell up like this?"
"I did, Grandma. But it’ll take some time for the swelling to go down," Meng Shuyan said resentfully. "Do you believe me now?"
Shi Changying remained unhurried. "You came all the way to Class 17 just to see me, so why would I push you? Are you going to blame me for an injury you got from falling on your own?"
"How should I know?" Meng Shuyan sneered. "You should ask yourself why you’re naturally violent!"
Shi Changying offered a half-smile. "It’s because you knew you offended me, and you have a guilty conscience."
"I offended you? I have a guilty conscience?" Meng Shuyan’s anger was ignited once more. "Are you talking about yourself?"
"Shuyan!" Xu Zhao Yu scolded again. "Don’t talk to Changying like that."
Meng Shuyan felt even more stifled. "She’s not my—"
Before he could finish his sentence, he was cut off by his own voice. The voice came from Shi Changying’s phone and was extremely clear.
"I don’t know how much money Grandpa and Grandma spent or how many strings they pulled to stuff you into Jianghuai High School. But since you’re already in, you better know your place and behave. Don’t you dare disturb Shuyu’s studies.
"If I find out you’re causing trouble for Shuyu or trying to steal her things, it won’t matter even if you are Grandpa and Grandma’s biological granddaughter."