Among this group of kids, the one wearing glasses was the savviest.
“Sis, I’m sorry… This kid didn’t mean it. He just got too impulsive and accidentally pushed you down. Look, we’re all just children. You’re the adult here—why don’t you be the bigger person and let it go…”
Trying to guilt-trip me with the kid card? Liang Sheng bit back a retort. Hah, as if I’d fall for that. There’s free money on the table—only an idiot would pass it up!
“Actually, I’m not the type to hold a grudge,” Liang Sheng said, raising a hand to cover her mouth. “It’s just… wah, you guys need to buy me dinner. I’ve spent all my money, and I don’t have a penny left on me. With injuries this bad… how am I supposed to go to the hospital without cash for treatment?”
Ah… The glasses kid got it instantly. Embracing the “money talks” philosophy, he rounded up the kids behind him and collected all the cash they’d used to buy their tickets, ready to hand it over to Liang Sheng.
“Liang Sheng, I’ve got money. Let me take you to the hospital?” He Wennuo chimed in suddenly, even patting her shoulder.
What the hell? Liang Sheng whipped her head around with a ferocious glare, startling He Wennuo.
Why did this dimwit always have to butt in? Couldn’t he see the negotiations were going peacefully? They’d practically reached a consensus, and now he jumps in playing the good Samaritan.
“No need, thanks~” Liang Sheng said with a beaming smile as she viciously pinched the back of He Wennuo’s calf.
“Hiss~” He Wennuo nearly yelped, but with Ye Yuzhe right beside him, he swallowed the sound to avoid embarrassment. Glancing at Liang Sheng’s look, he caught on quick. Good grief, this girl was black-hearted—scamming kids out of their money.
“Eh?” He Wennuo patted his coat pockets theatrically, then spread his hands. “Huh, nothing in my pockets. Looks like I forgot my wallet.”
He could tell what was happening, and so could Su Ze, who was watching Liang Sheng with a cold sneer. But the remaining little girls and Ye Yuzhe? They had no clue she was faking it and hovered around her worriedly.
“Ahem.” Su Ze cleared his throat lightly. “Mr. He, that parka of yours doesn’t even have pockets, does it?”
Liang Sheng wanted to cry and laugh at the same time—what a bunch of useless teammates she had.
“Uh…” He Wennuo rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, sneaking a peek at Ye Yuzhe. He caught the other boy stifling a laugh, probably at his own goofy antics. Far from annoyed, He Wennuo felt delighted—his “goddess” was smiling because of him. With that thought, he grinned like an idiot too.
Tch. Su Ze scoffed. Disgusting. This blondie was a real pervert, crushing on a guy like that. If it weren’t for the System forcing him, he wouldn’t even glance at a dead pansy like Ye Yuzhe. What nonsense about wanting to become a girl—born a boy, so act like one. Utterly twisted.
The kids had perked up when He Wennuo mentioned having money, only to slump again when he said he didn’t.
Eh? Liang Sheng eyed the little girls on the verge of tears and felt a twinge of pity. Hateful as those bratty boys were, these cute girls were innocent bystanders.
“Alright,” Liang Sheng waved a hand. “Just give me Little Fatty’s money. I won’t take yours. Payback’s a dish best served to the culprit—I’m not that petty, okay!”
Wow~ Am I ever cool, dropping lines like some gallant hero. Liang Sheng squinted smugly to herself, feeling pretty pleased.
Hearing that, the kids finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Little Fatty’s eyes brimmed with tears. With trembling hands, he handed over the two hundred-yuan bills to Liang Sheng. She tucked them into her waist pouch. Seeing this, Little Fatty’s heart shattered, and he burst into loud wails.
Oh yeah? Think you can out-cry me, punk?
“Waaaah! Waaaah!” Liang Sheng didn’t just cry—she howled, bellowing at the top of her lungs. “My leg! My leg! It hurts so much agaaaain! Sob sob sob… Waaaah!” (Omitted: ten thousand words of wailing, sobbing, and whimpering.)
The trick worked like a charm. Liang Sheng’s outburst left Little Fatty dumbfounded mid-sob. His tear-streaked face had snot dangling halfway down to his lip, frozen stiff by the cold wind. He stood there, staring at Liang Sheng bawling in the snow like a dog.
The glasses kid tugged at Little Fatty’s sleeve, his eyes urging him to run. But Little Fatty was too spooked to move, frozen in place.
“Go, go, go!” The glasses kid shoved him. Little Fatty lost his balance and toppled straight into the snow.
The icy flakes smacked his face, snapping him out of it. Shivering, he scrambled up and bolted off with his classmates, vanishing in a puff of smoke.
Good enough. At least she’d broken even on two hundred yuan—call it compensation for the three hundred she’d shelled out.
“Sister Liang Sheng, are you okay?” Liang Jin hadn’t realized it was all an act. She crouched in front of Liang Sheng, concern etched on her face.
Song An’an scooted closer too. “A-Sheng, should we take you to the hospital? Where does your leg hurt? Your ankle or your knee?”
“Wah wah wah.” Liang Sheng kept up the pretense, wiping at fake tears. “It still hurts a little, but it’s better now. Probably just twisted a muscle or something. That first wave of pain was killer, though.”
“Um, um.” Liang Jin reached out to help her big sis up. “Sister Liang Sheng, let me help you stand?”
“A-Sheng!” Song An’an volunteered eagerly. “I’ll help too. I don’t think Little Sister Liang Jin can manage alone.”
The nerve, calling me Little Sister Liang Jin. Who’s your sister? I’m half a head taller than you, you pink-haired shorty. Liang Jin rolled her eyes. Who are you putting on this show for? Oh, right—of course, for her most adorable, beautiful, gentle, and gracious (wait, adorable and beautiful, sure, but gentle and gracious—what the heck?) Sister Liang Sheng. What a pristine little white lotus.
She wanted to snap back, but Liang Jin held her tongue. After all, this was her big sis’s good friend. If she came off rude, Sister Liang Sheng might think she was an ill-mannered kid and dock her points. So Liang Jin swallowed her fiery temper and endured it.
“Mmm.” Liang Sheng leaned bonelessly against Liang Jin, clutching Song An’an’s soft little hand tight. The moment gave her a thrill—like lording over a harem of three thousand beauties.
“Let’s try standing. I feel better, but it still hurts a bit. If I yell in pain, let go quick, okay?” Liang Sheng said weakly.
