"Then I'll ask Yanxi when he's free." Sheng Qianling's cheeks flushed red. Dad hadn't opposed her relationship with Jiang Yanxi, but she'd never actually brought Jiang Yanxi back to the Sheng house.
Now hearing Dad tell her to bring him home for dinner—this should be acknowledgment of Yanxi, right? Of course she hoped her biological father could approve of the person she liked.
Sheng Qianxue glanced at Sheng Qianling sitting in front, head lowered the whole time looking embarrassed. From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed A-Xin's calm and composed demeanor, as if nothing had happened. Her heart grew irritated. She elbowed A-Xin, and A-Xin turned to look at her.
"Qianxue, is something the matter?" A-Xin asked. Qianxue was a bit strange today.
Sheng Qianxue was going crazy inside, wanting desperately to grab A-Xin's shoulders and press her down. She laughed dryly, her gaze drifting elsewhere. "Actually, twenty really isn't young anymore, right?"
"Indeed not young." A-Xin agreed. "Does Qianxue have some plan? Didn't Uncle Sheng tell you to enter the company? Are you planning to make big changes as a new official?"
Make changes my ass!
Other people can already bring boyfriends home, so why aren't you confessing yet? Once you confess, you can openly, legitimately, permanently live at the Sheng house! No matter how much you eat, someone will pay for it. Never have to worry about starving again!
Sheng Qianxue clenched her fists hard to keep from saying these words aloud.
She wouldn't give up. Sheng Qianxue absolutely wouldn't give up. If she gave up, she wouldn't be Sheng Qianxue. She didn't believe it—if this continued, this Shorty could hold out!
"Fine, it's nothing."
A-Xin nodded thoughtfully, still suspecting in her heart that Qianxue was indeed a bit strange today.
After Sheng Qianxue said it was nothing, she discovered A-Xin really acted like nothing had happened. She almost fainted from anger. This wouldn't do—she needed to think of a way to make Shorty feel a sense of crisis. If she didn't confess soon, there'd be no chance later.
Sheng Qianxue pulled out her phone, planning to ask some of her good friends how to make someone who liked her confess. For this, she specially created a group chat and pulled in several people she usually chatted well with and who were quite nice.
When adding people, her hand almost slipped and added A-Xin. This bad habit was really scary. Fortunately, she controlled herself in the end.
A-Xin did notice Sheng Qianxue's abnormality. The other was sullenly fiddling with her phone, not knowing what she saw, then smiling happily. Sheng Qianxue would occasionally lift her head to glance at her, then continue staring at her phone screen, with that look of "you want to know but I'm just not telling you," making her laugh.
"Even if you smile at me, I still won't tell you." Sheng Qianxue said triumphantly, but her heart suddenly jumped. This Shorty was really something—one smile from her and she could barely contain herself.
When they first met, she knew the other was a girl with especially proper features who would definitely be beautiful when she grew up. It was also under her daily witness that the Shorty before her had grown so beautiful. Heaven knows how much self-control she needed every day facing such a person, to not do other things.
And this person was best at playing innocent. Clearly she liked her like crazy, but just refused to admit it to death.
So young, yet so scheming. If she weren't so clever, she definitely wouldn't have discovered these little secrets. If she really hadn't discovered them, maybe Shorty would have a secret crush on her for life. If she really fell for someone else and got together with them, would Shorty hide alone in a corner feeling sad and secretly wiping tears?
Friend 1: "Qianxue, all these years, have you rejected many pursuers without even looking at them?"
At this moment, there was a message in the group chat.
Seeing this message, Sheng Qianxue quickly replied, "Yes, I already have someone I like. How could I possibly be ambiguous with others? Anyone who pursued me, I rejected outright to avoid wasting everyone's time."
Friend 2: "No wonder..."
Sheng Qianxue: "No wonder what? Have you already figured out why the other person still hasn't confessed to me?"
Friend 3: "Qianxue, are you stupid? You reject other pursuers like this, obviously giving the other person no sense of crisis. You say you meet frequently—perhaps the other is used to this mode of interaction. So you need to break this calm before you can go further! Qianxue, I suspect you've read yourself stupid."
Friend 1: "I also feel you're not just a little stupid."
Sheng Qianxue didn't quibble with them about whether she was stupid or not. What she most cared about now was, "How do I break this calm? Sisters, give me some ideas. Once it succeeds, you can have lipsticks in all colors, complete makeup sets—whatever you want."
Friend 3: "Actually there's one simplest method."
Sheng Qianxue: "What method?"
Friend 2: "Find a romantic rival for the other person. Let them understand that if they don't confess, you'll leave with someone else. If they truly like you, they'll definitely rush to confess, stop you from interacting with others, and can't help showing hostility when facing a rival."
Sheng Qianxue's eyes brightened. That made some sense.
Soon she felt troubled again. "But I clearly rejected everyone who pursued me back then. These years they've gradually all gotten girlfriends, and some have married. I estimate in this circle, there are few people who dare approach me."
Friend 1: "Qianxue, have you been abroad so long your brain's gone wooden? You've rarely been in the country these years. You've had little time meeting them, and this circle keeps expanding. Just in the few groups I know, many people are discussing you now. Everyone knows you don't have a boyfriend. Those men really wish they could be chosen by you."
Friend 3: "Recently people have been asking me about you. Could I possibly tell them? Really naive."
Friend 2: "You know about the Jiang family, right? Ever since Jiang Yanxi emerged years ago, other Jiang family members of his generation have only been oppressed by him. However, his siblings aren't pushovers either. Many have now united, preparing to push him down."
"I know, but what does the Jiang family have to do with me?" Sheng Qianxue was confused for a moment, then quickly reacted. "Don't tell me someone from the Jiang family has designs on me?"
"Exactly! Jiang Yanxi's several half-brothers who aren't married all broke up with their girlfriends a few months ago. I heard they're preparing to try their luck with you."
Friend 3: "Also, Qianxue, I heard that Jiang Yanxi and that... Sheng Qianling are boyfriend and girlfriend. Is it true?"
Sheng Qianxue truly hadn't expected that after just one holiday away, the Jiang family had gotten to this point. She still answered, "Should be. I just heard my dad tell her to bring him home for dinner."
Friend 1: "Qianxue, you'd better be careful. That Jiang Yanxi isn't simple. Good thing you came back. He's under a lot of pressure now. This time he'll probably accept your family's invitation. Your Sheng family is a prize catch in the Jiang family's eyes."
Sheng Qianxue fell into thought. "Okay, I understand. We'll talk later."
After putting away her phone, Sheng Qianxue took the initiative to speak with Sheng Qianling. "Sheng Qianling."
"Ah? Qianxue, are you calling me?" Sheng Qianling thought she was hearing things. Turning back, she saw Sheng Qianxue was indeed staring at her. Sheng Wenbo also looked over, afraid the two would start fighting.
Sheng Qianxue didn't care about all that. She just asked, "You've never brought Jiang Yanxi home?"
"No, no I haven't." Sheng Qianling lowered her head embarrassedly. "Dad said he wouldn't stop us. We were still in high school before, so it always felt inappropriate. Now we're in university and Dad has mentioned it twice, but Yanxi refused both times."
"Qianxue, why are you asking about this?" Sheng Wenbo was curious.
Sheng Qianxue leaned lazily against the chair back, speaking casually, "Just asking. After all, won't there be one more person at home in the future?" She glanced at the still somewhat uncomfortable Sheng Qianling. "Then just ask him if he wants to come over for dinner."
"Ah? Now?" Sheng Qianling was completely at a loss. This time Sheng Qianxue had really initiated conversation with her, leaving her completely unprepared.
No matter what, being able to communicate was still a good thing. She quickly nodded and pulled out her phone to call Jiang Yanxi.
A-Xin grabbed Sheng Qianxue's arm and asked in a low voice, "What made you think of this?"
"I just heard from friends that the Jiang family's been making big moves lately." Sheng Qianxue leaned close to A-Xin's ear, her voice only audible to the two of them. Actually, she could completely have chatted via messages without being heard by Sheng Wenbo and Sheng Qianling.
Using this method meant she could openly get close to Shorty and be intimate with her. Her lips were almost touching the other's earlobe. Smelling the fragrance emanating from the other's body, she was reluctant to leave.
"What kind of moves?" A-Xin lifted her head. In that instant, their eyes met. Sheng Qianxue stared straight at A-Xin like this. A-Xin also looked at her without shifting her gaze. The two gazed at each other for about half a minute. Sheng Qianxue was the first who couldn't hold out—her ears turned red and she quickly looked away.
Shorty was too much of a rule-breaker.
How could she be so good-looking? Pretty eyes, pretty eyebrows, pretty nose, pretty face, pretty lips—really pretty... wanted to kiss her so badly.
"Supposedly Jiang Yanxi has performed very well and is much favored by his father Jiang Chongjun. If there are no accidents, he could very likely become the Jiang family heir. But Jiang Chongjun has especially many children. They're all dissatisfied with Jiang Yanxi and are now planning to unite against him. His position is very awkward now. In just a few years, what kind of power base could he develop? According to age, he's only just graduated university—still green. He definitely needs to find some external help to continue standing firm."
A-Xin understood. She moved close to Sheng Qianxue's ear and lowered her voice. "You mean if he comes this time, he might have ulterior motives?"
"Mm."
Of course Sheng Qianxue didn't mention that Jiang Yanxi's other brothers might come looking for her. She rather wanted to see who dared come find her. Before she'd felt using an innocent pursuer was unethical, but if it was Jiang family people like this, she wouldn't be polite. Who told them to harbor ill intentions first?
"So what do you plan to do?"
A-Xin asked. From Sheng Wenbo's actions these years, it wasn't hard to see he planned to have Qianxue take over the company. No matter how capable Jiang Yanxi was, he couldn't change Sheng Wenbo's mind. Sheng Qianling didn't have any desire to compete—she just wanted to properly live her own simple life. The only worry was whether Jiang Yanxi would use other methods to gain Sheng Wenbo's support.
Right now, Sheng Qianxue hadn't yet taken over the company. Company matters were still Sheng Wenbo's decision. So if Jiang Yanxi had this plan, what method would he use? A-Xin fell silent for a moment, then her eyes brightened. She'd thought of it.
"Shorty?" Sheng Qianxue's palm rested on the back of A-Xin's neck. "What did you think of?"
"What are you two whispering about?" At this moment, Sheng Wenbo interrupted them. When Sheng Qianling was on the phone, these two had been whispering in back. He couldn't hear clearly at all, and his curiosity was piqued.
Sheng Qianxue dismissed the idea of asking A-Xin. "Nothing, just us girls' stuff. You wouldn't understand even if I told you."
Stuff like girls dating girls!
"Yanxi said he has time this Saturday to come visit Dad." Sheng Qianling hung up the phone and said somewhat nervously, "Dad, is Saturday okay?"
Sheng Wenbo nodded with a smile. "Of course it's okay." As he'd expected, Jiang Yanxi had indeed agreed. If this time that boy was just making a simple visit, perhaps he could feel at ease letting the two interact. If there were other purposes, no matter what, he'd have to be the villain. Just that Qianling was so pure—she probably wouldn't agree.
Sheng Wenbo had another headache.
His daughters weren't fighting anymore, but these evil wolves outside made him especially annoyed.
In front of Sheng Qianling, he didn't show it. After returning to the villa, he called Sheng Qianxue over. "Qianxue, come with me to the study."
Sheng Qianxue pinched A-Xin's slim waist. A-Xin's expression remained calm, completely unaffected by the waist pinch. Somewhat annoyed, "Ah, Shorty... what are you doing?!"
She just felt her waist tickle and quickly dodged, rubbing her numb waist and glaring at A-Xin. "Don't randomly touch my waist."
A-Xin smiled faintly, looking straight at her, and said in a low voice, "But you touch mine every day."
"I'm used to it. Besides, we have such a good relationship—what's wrong with touching? It won't break anything. Just joking around." Who told this Shorty to be so weird? Being ticklish on the waist should have her reaction, okay?
"That's right, our relationship is so good." A-Xin made to pinch Sheng Qianxue's waist again. Frightened, she quickly ran upstairs, turning back to warn fiercely, "Do it again and you're done for. Better lock your door tonight when you sleep."
Otherwise, she might make a mistake.
Sheng Qianling stood to the side, very envious of their relationship. After Sheng Qianxue entered the room, she said to A-Xin, "Your relationship is really good."
"Qianxue should be talking with Dad for a long time. I had Auntie Chen prepare food that will be brought out soon. You should be hungry."
"Thank you." A-Xin resumed her bland expression. Sheng Qianling was already used to it.
Regarding Ye Xin, she'd initially thought the other was very pitiful. There were also several times she'd made some clumsy and ridiculous gestures. Later she discovered the other got along with Qianxue calmly and naturally, as if they were originally from the same circle. Only then did she truly understand that Ye Xin didn't need her help at all. They both had poor backgrounds but different personalities. She had some inferiority in her bones, while Ye Xin's aura had always been confident.
Ye Xin was only different in front of Qianxue. In front of everyone else, she was like now—giving people a feeling of distance and unfamiliarity, even a sense of being out of place with this world.
"Wait a moment."
Sheng Qianling remembered something and quickly ran to the kitchen. Soon she came out carrying a plate of desserts and placed it before A-Xin. "These are desserts I made myself. Try them and see how they are."
She hesitated. "If you're afraid Qianxue will be angry, then forget it. Actually I just want you to evaluate the taste of these desserts—whether selling them at the shop would make people like them. I feel you should be more expert about food."
She glanced at A-Xin's slim waist, thin arms, and long legs, inwardly impressed. Eating so much every day yet still having such a good figure—there really weren't many people like that. A bit envious—she didn't dare eat so freely.
A-Xin laughed. "It's fine, I'll try. Qianxue won't be angry."
"She's different from before." A-Xin scooped up a spoonful of dessert and put it in her mouth. Under Sheng Qianling's nervous gaze, she spoke. "Not bad. A bit sour but not too sour, a bit sweet but not cloying. Should be quite popular."
"That's good."
Getting a foodie to say it was delicious put her at ease.
"Then when you have time, come to my shop for desserts. I'll also give you flowers."
This time A-Xin didn't nod. She said, "I'll talk to Qianxue about it later and ask if she's interested."
"Ah, okay, no problem."
When Sheng Qianxue came out of the study and saw the two chatting happily, she quickly ran down and sat beside A-Xin. "What are you talking about?" Smiling on the surface, but actually one hand had already grabbed A-Xin's waist. "Chatting about what so enthusiastically? Shorty."
Sheng Qianling was already used to Sheng Qianxue's possessiveness toward Ye Xin. She knew Ye Xin had ways to keep Qianxue from getting angry, so she wasn't as nervous as before. She quickly said, "I asked Ye Xin to help me taste some desserts and invited her to the shop, but she said she had to wait for Qianxue's agreement."
"Oh, I see." Sheng Qianxue glanced at A-Xin. "Is that so? You have to wait for my agreement before going to her shop?"
After getting A-Xin's confirmation, Sheng Qianxue felt delighted inside and said to Sheng Qianling with a smile, "Then fine, when we have time, we'll go take a look."
Sheng Qianling: Qianxue smiling and talking to her—truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. All thanks to Ye Xin's blessing.
On Saturday, Jiang Yanxi came to the Sheng house.
Sheng Qianling actually rarely saw Jiang Yanxi in a full suit. It must be said this Jiang Yanxi was indeed very handsome. When he smiled, there was some wicked edge—quite different from his former sunny smile. This slight difference was ignored by her.
"Actually you didn't need to dress so formally. Dad said coming here is just like being at home."
Jiang Yanxi, his arm held by Sheng Qianling, smiled lightly. "Today is my first time at your home. Of course I should be more cautious. It's also respect for you."
Whether these words were true or false, Sheng Qianling's heart felt especially comfortable. So she could ignore some of Jiang Yanxi's obvious changes.
"Dad, Yanxi is here."
Sheng Wenbo came downstairs and met Jiang Yanxi face to face. Jiang Yanxi smiled politely at Sheng Wenbo. "Uncle, hello." Then he presented some gifts. Sheng Wenbo looked—they were all bought according to his preferences, each one worth quite a bit.
"It's just a casual meal. Young Jiang, you're too polite."
"Today is my first day at Uncle's home. I can't embarrass Qianling." As he spoke, he swept his gaze over Sheng Qianxue and A-Xin. "Actually, this time coming here, I have a very important matter I want to discuss with Uncle."