Chapter 11

◎Did Liang Shi just call me ‘tea’?◎

Liang Shi cleared her throat softly, glancing at Xu Qingzhu first. Seeing her expression remain indifferent and unbothered, she finally answered: “I didn’t hear you.”

Lin Xingcan wore an orange Lolita dress with a wide pannier, her cheeks flushed with matching orange blush. Loose twin braids hung over her shoulders. The first impression was undeniably cute.

She pouted, her tone laced with grievance. “Fine, I forgive you.”

Liang Shi: “…”

Oh.

This little princess had a bit of princess syndrome?

Just a guess.

“What are you doing here?” Lin Xingcan asked.

Liang Shi answered curtly: “Handling some things.”

“What things?”

Liang Shi: “…”

She almost lost her composure.

But she managed to keep it together. “Just some family stuff.”

The way she said it made it clear she didn’t want to be pressed further, but Lin Xingcan just laughed. “What family stuff could you possibly have that I don’t know about? You didn’t just go and get married and cut me out, did you? I grew up with you!”

Liang Shi sighed helplessly, offering a faint smile. “It’s really not something I can talk about.”

Afraid Lin Xingcan would keep pushing, she waved a hand. “I’m heading off.”

She reached for Xu Qingzhu’s hand.

She didn’t grip too tightly, even shifting her hold slightly toward the wrist.

After years in the entertainment industry, she had the essence of manner hands down.

Given her own orientation, she tended to be cautious around many female actresses too.

“Lion.” Lin Xingcan called out while reaching for Liang Shi, but Liang Shi easily dodged. She turned back. “What else?”

“I just wanted to ask if you’re free? Let’s grab a coffee together.” Lin Xingcan smiled, revealing a row of perfectly even teeth. “I just finished a photo shoot and I’m a little thirsty. There’s a café up ahead.”

Confirmed.

This girl had princess syndrome.

She had a doll-like face, and when she smiled, she looked innocent and sweet.

Liang Shi had never been fond of that type.

Sun Chengcheng, the one who’d gotten her cyberbullied before, had the exact same look.

It was hard not to project some personal feelings onto this.

“No thanks.” Liang Shi declined. “My wife and I have things to do. We’ll be on our way.”

She pulled Xu Qingzhu closer, making the gesture look intimate and affectionate.

“Huh?” Lin Xingcan’s eyes went wide, her face falling with regret. “I didn’t even notice Miss Xu was here.”

She rapped her knuckles against her own head. “Look at my memory, I even forgot what you look like. You remember me, right? I attended your wedding. That night, I helped Lion into the room. You should remember, right?”

Terrified that Xu Qingzhu might deny it, she stared at her intently.

Xu Qingzhu met her gaze without a hint of intimidation, then lowered her eyes as though recalling something amusing. A soft laugh escaped her.

Lin Xingcan immediately grew displeased. “What are you laughing at?”

Xu Qingzhu smoothed her expression, her voice light. “I remember. The little heiress of Shengmao Group, Liang Shi’s childhood sweetheart, the person with ninety-nine percent pheromone compatibility with her. Right?”

“Mm.” Lin Xingcan nodded emphatically, then clicked her tongue. “Still a pity though. Lion ended up marrying you.”

She kept tossing out the affectionate “Lion” at every turn.

A nickname she had given Liang Shi.

A name belonging to her alone.

Xu Qingzhu saw right through her little tricks but couldn’t be bothered to expose them.

Even if she did, Liang Shi would say she was judging a noble heart by a petty mind’s measure, that Lin Xingcan wasn’t nearly as bad as she thought, not manipulative at all.

A female Alpha failing to see through another omega’s scheming was understandable.

But Liang Shi could spot other green tea manipulators a mile away.

At the end of the day, she simply valued Lin Xingcan more, trusted her more.

Xu Qingzhu used to be hurt by things like this, but now she couldn’t care less.

She smiled faintly. “You two go get your coffee. I’ll go find my sister.”

“I’ll come with you.” Liang Shi grabbed her hand.

Xu Qingzhu’s gaze swept over Liang Shi’s wrist and settled on her eyes. Their gazes locked.

Liang Shi offered a very gentle smile.

Ever since waking up, this Liang Shi seemed to love smiling.

She was always sending out signals of goodwill.

Xu Qingzhu looked at her hand again. The feeling that the person in front of her wasn’t Liang Shi grew stronger.

But she couldn’t figure out who else this could be, if not Liang Shi.

What method could have swapped the original Liang Shi away?

As she was pondering, Liang Shi looked toward Lin Xingcan. “Xingcan?”

Her tone rose, but carried a note of distance.

Lin Xingcan’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled innocently. “I’m here. What’s up?”

Liang Shi’s voice was steady, but if you listened carefully, it was cold and detached. “I don’t think you should drink coffee.”

“Huh?” Lin Xingcan was caught off guard. “What do you mean?”

Liang Shi smiled. “Yingshan Cloud-Mist and West Lake Longjing both suit you quite well. You should give them a try.”

Lin Xingcan: “?”

“My marriage to my wife is something worth celebrating, and very lucky at that,” Liang Shi said. “I don’t think it’s a pity at all. What about you?”

Lin Xingcan: “…”

“We’ve got things to do. We’ll be on our way.” Liang Shi said as she led Xu Qingzhu off. After a brief pause, she added: “Enjoy your tea.”

Lin Xingcan: “…”

Shit.

It wasn’t until the two of them had crossed the street that Lin Xingcan snapped out of it. She pointed at her own nose in disbelief and asked, “Did Liang Shi just call me ‘tea’?”

The friends who had been watching the whole thing first shook their heads, then nodded.

“What does that mean?” Lin Xingcan snapped.

“She seemed to be…” The friend couldn’t win against Lin Xingcan and could only brave the truth, “subtly calling you a green tea manipulator.”

Lin Xingcan hurled the lipstick in her hand onto the ground. “What the hell? Has Liang Shi lost her mind?”

“Is there any chance…” one friend muttered quietly from the side, “that’s not Liang Shi?”