Liang Jin and Song An’an had gotten Liang Sheng’s permission, so they hurriedly and carefully began to help her up.
Liang Sheng had planned to just let them assist her to her feet and call it done, but when she looked up, she met Su Ze’s suspicious gaze. Suddenly embarrassed, she yelped “Ow!” and shouted, “Stop!!”
Then…
Thud! Liang Sheng plopped right back down onto her butt in the snow.
The two girls had already hoisted her halfway up, so her cry of “Stop!” gave them both a start. They suddenly remembered what she’d said earlier: “When I say stop, you let go.” And so, the moment they heard “Stop,” they really did release their grip.
The inevitable result? Liang Sheng lost her balance completely and tumbled back into the snow.
“You two little lasses, what was that! Letting go all of a sudden—you trying to kill me or what?!” After the fall, Liang Sheng felt her backside burning like fire, her bones starting to throb with a dull ache.
This was bad. She’d been fine before, but now she might have actually hurt herself. Liang Sheng pulled a miserable face. Was it true that no harm was intended but caution was wise? Heavens above, had she been wrong to tease the kids like that earlier?
“A-A-Sheng!” Song An’an went pale with fright and threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around Liang Sheng’s waist as she cried out, “A-Sheng! Are you okay? Don’t scare me like this!”
Pfft! Liang Sheng nearly spat out a mouthful of blood from the girl’s ferocious pounce. This kid would survive the fall only to get crushed by the hug.
Catching her breath, Liang Sheng patted the top of Song An’an’s head where it nestled against her. “Let go first—I can barely breathe… uh…”
Song An’an reluctantly released her hold on Liang Sheng. Liang Jin watched from the side, her eyes nearly bulging out of her head. Hmph, that vixen! Daring to hug my cousin! She nearly bristled like an angry cat, itching to scratch Song An’an a few times, but reason held her back.
“Sister Liang Sheng, let me help you up by myself,” Liang Jin said, flashing Song An’an a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “After all, we’re family. Who knows what outsiders might be thinking.”
What was that supposed to mean? Song An’an sneaked a glance at Liang Jin—A-Sheng’s cousin. There was a barb hidden in those words, wasn’t there? Implying she was an outsider, someone untrustworthy? Did she mean A-Sheng’s fall was because she’d let go?
The thought made Song An’an clutch the hem of her clothes tightly.
A-Sheng wouldn’t believe that, would she?
“Liang Jin, cut the nonsense—what do you mean ‘outsider’?” Liang Sheng jumped in to smooth things over. “You’re my sister, and An’an’s my super close friend. You’re both family to me! No fighting among family—harmony brings wealth, harmony brings wealth, hee hee…”
Ding~ Favorability increased.
“Song An’an’s Favorability Toward Liang Sheng: 118”
Hee hee! She knew her A-Sheng really cared about her after all~ Song An’an ducked her head, her cheeks turning a rosy pink. She lifted a hand to gently smooth her wind-tangled bangs, suddenly shy.
“Hmph.” Liang Jin snorted. Song An’an’s bashful expression only fueled her irritation, but for Liang Sheng’s sake, she held her tongue and turned her head away, ignoring the other girl.
Song An’an had no attention to spare for bickering anyway. She was lost in her own happy fantasies and one-sided daydreams.
“Sister Liang Sheng,” Liang Jin spoke up again, “let me help you up. You can’t just sit in the snow forever—you’ll catch a cold.”
“No, no need—stop, don’t move, stay back!” Liang Sheng panicked. She had zero interest in repeating that painful tumble.
Liang Jin immediately deflated, looking deeply wounded as she hung her head and shuffled to the side.
Pfft. Rejected by A-Sheng. Seeing Liang Jin eat dirt like that made Song An’an a little happy… okay, fine—a lot happy! Happy enough to soar!
“A-A-Sheng, let me help you.” Song An’an stepped forward, bending down to assist her beloved A-Sheng.
“Stop, stop, stop—no, no, no! You stay put over there too!” Liang Sheng flailed her hands in a frenzy. You’re another little ancestor I can’t handle!
“Oh…” Song An’an adopted the exact same pitiful expression Liang Jin had worn moments before, standing forlornly to the side.
Hahaha, now it was Liang Jin’s turn to gloat. See? Sister Liang Sheng still didn’t trust that Pink Hair Shorty—not letting her lay a finger on her anymore, ha!
Self-reliance it was, then. Liang Sheng struggled painfully to her feet, her face twisted in genuine agony. That fall courtesy of Liang Jin and Song An’an had really done a number on her.
Trembling unsteadily, she finally stood—and promptly started playacting again.
“Let’s head home. I think my butt… pfft, I mean, my leg really hurts.” Liang Sheng’s hand, which had been rubbing her backside, belatedly shifted to her thigh.
Who could ignore a plea like that? The girls adored her, Ye Yuzhe and He Wennuo were grateful to her, and Su Ze… well, Su Ze wanted chances to bond with the girls, so he had no choice but to tag along reluctantly.
The whole boisterous group prepared to make their way home.
“Nuo-ge, why don’t you take Yuzhee back?” Liang Sheng winked at He Wennuo, hinting that it was a prime opportunity to play the gentleman.
President He caught on in a flash, grasping her good intentions. He nodded, took hold of Ye Yuzhe’s hand, and headed for the car.
This time, Ye Yuzhe said nothing—no mention of Su Ze. Perhaps the guy simply wasn’t as important to him anymore.
“An’an, Liang Jin—let’s go home.” Liang Sheng took one of their hands in each of hers. “As for Su Ze… well, you get it. Us three girls need to chat about our little secrets. Sure, you live in the same neighborhood, but with a guy around, us besties just can’t speak freely.”
Surely Su Ze would take the hint now. No way he’d have the gall to cram into their taxi.
Su Ze gritted his teeth behind a forced smile. “You’re right, Liang Sheng. In that case, I’ll just…”
“Yuzhee! Mr. He Wennuo!” Su Ze suddenly called out to He Wennuo, who was heading for the driver’s seat.
“Since Yuzhee and I are in the same neighborhood, mind giving me a lift too?” Su Ze delivered the line with shameless ease.
People need face as much as trees need bark, but Su Ze had tossed his out the window. Liang Sheng gave him a once-over of pure disdain. Tsk tsk—what a revelation about the so-called “righteous, proud, and brave” male lead from that brainless harem novel~
He Wennuo’s expression darkened instantly at the words.
