“Didn’t expect it? Then why even bother asking.”
Shen An broke character in an instant, his laughter shattering the night’s silence.
“What are you laughing at!! Stop laughing!!”
Wang Yuqiong’s face changed in a flash. She raised her little fist, determined to make him beg for mercy and yield.
Her graceful figure pursued him relentlessly. Her jet-black hair fluttered in the wind, blending seamlessly with the darkness of night. Only her fair skin gleamed brightly, accentuated by the pure moonlight. The enchanting perfume trail left in her wake seeped quietly into that moonlight glow. Even this chase born of embarrassed fury took on a vivid, captivating beauty.
Shen An dragged two suitcases behind him, dodging this way and that as they played around, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
After a while of fooling around, the two of them arrived in the South District once more.
Shen An’s hair was a mess, his clothes disheveled, and clear pinch marks dotted the exposed skin of his arms. His face bore an utterly defeated expression.
In stark contrast to his bedraggled state stood Wang Yuqiong at his side.
She stood with her hands on her hips, smug as could be—like a triumphant rooster. No, more like a little hen!
Clearly, Wang Yuqiong had gotten her revenge on Shen An good and proper.
Once they got out of the car, she shot him a glare. “We’re here!”
Shen An replied weakly, “Oh.”
“Oh, what? Hurry up and fix yourself. You look like a total slob,” Wang Yuqiong huffed coquettishly.
Faint red blushes still lingered on her cheeks, a sign that her embarrassment hadn’t fully faded.
Sure, she’d gotten even with him, but she hadn’t emerged unscathed herself~
Still, she didn’t mind. She didn’t even object to his bold teasing and little moves from earlier.
Chasing each other under the moonlight? On second thought, it was downright romantic.
Shen An remained unmoved. “I’m too tired.”
“Then just wait and get laughed at. I’m not fixing you up,” Wang Yuqiong huffed proudly, striding off toward the streets of the South District.
She glanced back, only to see Shen An not bothering to tidy up at all. He just trailed after her, dragging the suitcases.
A wave of exasperation and helplessness washed over her. Walking side by side like this—what would onlookers think?
With no other choice, Wang Yuqiong turned back. “Hold on!”
Shen An stopped immediately, the corners of his mouth twitching upward in a faint, smug smile.
Wang Yuqiong sighed and reached out with her small hand to straighten his hair—mussed by her own hands—and smooth the wrinkles from his clothes.
“You’ve got no shame, but I do.”
“I knew you’d come back to fix me. Don’t look so pleased with yourself!”
As she carefully tidied him up, Wang Yuqiong once again channeled the fighting spirit of a little hen.
Shen An shrugged. “You’re the one who messed me up.”
“Shut it!”
Wang Yuqiong glared at him. Once she finished, she gave his shoulder a solid thump.
“Hiss.” Shen An pretended to wince, smacking his lips. “Be honest with me—are you some kind of hidden violent maniac? Why do you love throwing hands so much?”
“As if you’re any different!”
Wang Yuqiong shot back instantly, but after she did, the blush on her pretty face deepened in a heartbeat.
“Hey, don’t falsely accuse me. I was just counterattacking under duress, and I was holding back, too. Unlike some people, who went all out like they were trying to squeeze out every last drop of strength. Trying to kill me or what?”
Shen An grinned cheekily.
Wang Yuqiong puffed out her cheeks, realizing arguing with him was a waste of energy. “Nonsense.”
“Have you decided what you want to eat?”
“Not yet. Let’s take a look first. No rush.”
“?” Shen An hoisted the suitcases. “Little miss, I’m still lugging two suitcases here.”
“Oh, it’s not like I’m carrying them.”
A sly glint appeared in Wang Yuqiong’s eyes. “And who’re you calling little miss? Watch your mouth, or I’ll cut your tongue out!”
Shen An muttered under his breath, “Violent maniac confirmed.”
“Hm?”
“Nothing. Let’s go—I’m starving.”
“Starving ghost reincarnated!”
“Yes, yes, whatever you say, Boss.” Shen An chuckled.
Wang Yuqiong opened her mouth, then closed it again. Fine, fine—she wouldn’t stoop to his level!
After scouting around the South District, Wang Yuqiong compared options and settled on a Western restaurant.
“Western food?” Shen An objected. “Will it fill me up?”
As expected, his only concern was whether he’d be full.
Wang Yuqiong scoffed lightly. “I’ll make sure you’re full. Just shut up and behave.”
When the boss was treating, the boss’s word was law.
Shen An obediently clamped his mouth shut and followed Wang Yuqiong into the Western restaurant.
After some inquiries, the suitcases’ wheels scraped along the corridor. Once inside the private room, Shen An set them aside on either side and sighed in relief.
Wang Yuqiong eyed him disdainfully. “Spineless.”
Shen An just smiled without replying and promptly grabbed a menu once seated.
But after a moment, he handed it over to Wang Yuqiong without hesitation—after all, she was paying.
“Hm, do you want steak?”
Wang Yuqiong glanced over the menu and asked softly.
Shen An nodded.
“Then let’s get three set meals—you can have two! And since you love seafood so much, how about some caviar too?”
Shen An nodded again.
“What do you want to drink?”
Shen An pointed to the cola at the bottom of the menu.
“Are you mute now?” Wang Yuqiong frowned.
Shen An crossed his fingers over his mouth, signaling that he’d kept it shut.
Wang Yuqiong rolled her eyes. “You can talk now!”
“Oh~”
“Oh, my ass!”
“We’ve already picked everything, haven’t we?” Shen An looked at her with mock grievance.
Wang Yuqiong took a deep breath, silently reminding herself not to get mad easily—it’d make her age faster!
The server nearby ducked their head, trying to hide a smile.
“That’s it, then.” Wang Yuqiong handed the marked-up menu to the server.
“Got it.”
The server took the menu and left the room.
Shen An glanced around, his gaze wandering everywhere except toward Wang Yuqiong.
The sudden quiet made Wang Yuqiong uncomfortable. She stared straight at him, annoyance building in her beautiful eyes.
“Shen An!”
“Here, Boss.” Shen An chuckled lightly.
“What kind of mischief are you up to now?”
“I’m just following your orders—talking as little as possible.” Shen An propped his cheek on his hand. “You say I always piss you off with my chatter, but even when I shut up, you still get mad.”
Wang Yuqiong faltered, then muttered, “So you’re just gonna come eat and do nothing but eat?”
“What else is there to do when you come to eat?” Shen An countered.
Wang Yuqiong couldn’t help slapping her forehead. “What kind of karma did I rack up to end up with a guy like you?”
“Hey, hold it!” Shen An said warily. “Don’t talk like I’m your boyfriend.”
“Heh.” Wang Yuqiong laughed out of sheer annoyance. She crossed her legs and shot back indignantly, “What? You think you’re the one losing out?”
“It’s not about losing out or not. I just don’t want any misunderstandings.”
Shen An grew serious. “I’m not saying you lack charm or anything—you’re absolutely the dream girl for the masses.”
His attempt at damage control couldn’t erase the initial slight.
But Wang Yuqiong was more interested in probing his romantic status—or rather, she was curious.
She pursed her lips casually. “So, you have someone you like?”
Shen An blinked in surprise. “Where’d that come from?”
“Then what are you afraid of being misunderstood about?”
Wang Yuqiong said coolly, “People usually avoid that stuff when they already like someone.”
“Tch, not necessarily. If it’s someone you don’t like much, you’d avoid it too.”
Shen An chuckled.
Wang Yuqiong arched a brow, her eyes flashing with rising anger.
What was that supposed to mean?
Shen An cleared his throat. “Don’t overthink it—I’m not saying I don’t like you.”
Hm?
Wang Yuqiong switched expressions again, her eyes gleaming with teasing. “So, what you’re saying is—you like me?”
“Of course I like you.”
Shen An flashed a smile as sincere as could be.
Wang Yuqiong froze. She hadn’t expected him to admit it so straightforwardly, without a hint of pretense!
Thump thump thump…
Staring at his utterly genuine smile, the blush that had faded from Wang Yuqiong’s cheeks surged back—more intense than ever before!
This was probably the most direct confession she’d ever heard.
“You…”
She shyly lowered her head, her heart racing with a flutter that left even her usual composure rattled and flustered.
Should she say yes?
No way!
They’d only known each other a few days… They needed more time together at least.
And she had to polish him up properly—make him rein in that awful temper of his!!!
Otherwise, being with him would mean getting pissed off every single day.
Shen An’s smile remained bright and sincere as he added, “Who wouldn’t like a generous boss?”
The shy anticipation curving Wang Yuqiong’s lips froze solid. Her pounding heart turned into an engine of pure fury.
Boom boom boom—it hammered away relentlessly!
But Shen An didn’t give her a chance to vent. He followed up immediately. “Hey, your face looks a bit off. Did you overthink it again?”
“I… I didn’t overthink anything!”
Wang Yuqiong forced the anger back down her throat.
If she blew up now, wouldn’t that just confirm she’d been all flustered?
“Good, then. I was really worried you’d think I was confessing.”
Shen An let out a sigh of relief, clutching his chest with a touch of lingering fear. “We’re better off just being good bros.”
“You think so, right?”
Wang Yuqiong forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Right. Absolutely right.”
“And you don’t need to go out of your way to explain. As if I’d ever take a liking to you.”
“I feel exactly the same—because I don’t like you either.” Shen An showed no sign of anger. On the contrary, he nodded vigorously in agreement.
Wang Yuqiong closed her eyes. Beneath the table, her small hand clenched and unclenched.
“Hey, don’t get mad. Maybe I phrased it poorly, but it’s all true.”
Shen An leaned in closer, playfully twirling a strand of her silky hair.
“Enough.”
Wang Yuqiong truly wished he would just shut up!
He shouldn’t say a word!
“No, no, you’ve still got it all wrong.”
Shen An persisted with his explanation. “Our personalities just don’t click. It’s totally normal for us not to like each other.”
“Think about it—every time we’re together, it’s one clash after another, bickering nonstop. If we actually got together? Forget it.”
“A little spat every three days, a big blowout every seven. Who could put up with that?”
Wang Yuqiong’s anger boiled over. She snapped open her beautiful eyes and glared at him. “And whose fault is that if not yours for always provoking me!”
“Hey…”
Shen An blinked in bewilderment. “Is it?”
Wang Yuqiong laughed, more out of fury than mirth. “What do you think?”
Shen An sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Yeah, guess it is. I just… sometimes I can’t help myself.”
“As the saying goes, you’re least guarded around the people you know best—and that’s when it’s easiest to hurt each other.”
“I really need to work on controlling it.”
The people you know best…
Wang Yuqiong raised her small hand and gave him a light thump by way of reprimand.
“I just told you—talk straight with me. I’m not some powder keg ready to blow at the slightest spark.”
“But half the time, I am talking straight.” Shen An’s expression was deadly serious, his confusion plain as day.
The corner of Wang Yuqiong’s mouth twitched. “Fine, fine. It’s my narrow mind, my wild imagination. Happy now?”
“Oof, not this self-deprecating bit again.”
Shen An pulled a long face. “You can’t keep putting yourself down like that.”
“Though, to be fair, you do tend to overthink. All that sensitivity’s no good for you.”
Wang Yuqiong: …
She clutched her forehead in agony…
What kind of karma was this? Or had she picked the wrong approach?
If things kept going like this, she really wouldn’t be able to take much more.
Seeing her like that, Shen An sobered up. He propped his chin on his hand and smiled faintly. “But sometimes, when a confession doesn’t get an instant reply, it just comes off as a clumsy cover-up that only draws more attention.”
Wang Yuqiong froze.
“See, no response to a confession means they’re not into you. Push it, and it gets awkward—for both sides. You might not even stay friends.”
“So to keep the awkwardness from snowballing, you cut your losses quick.”
“And confessions tossed out as jokes? Those are usually the real deal.”
Wang Yuqiong pouted. “Can’t a girl take a minute to think?”
“Think? Ha. Thinking means you’re hesitating.”
Shen An shrugged. “Needing time to mull it over before deciding to be together? Sure, call it ‘being cautious’ if you want. It still means your heart’s not in it.”
“You can think rationally about anything…
except love.”
“Because love is pure emotion. Irrationally so.”
“If someone confesses to you one day and you say yes without a second thought—that’s how you know you like them back.”
Wang Yuqiong’s gaze flickered. She turned her head slightly. “Not always.”
“Oh?”
“Spur-of-the-moment ‘yeses’ aren’t always sincere.”
Her voice softened. “And sometimes it’s not hesitation at all. Sometimes a girl’s just so thrilled she can’t think straight.”
“Because she likes you that much.”
“Besides, is your kind of affection that overbearing? Not even letting someone take a breath after confessing?”
Shen An’s lips quirked up. “Guess there are a lot of ways to look at it.”
“Of course there are.”
Wang Yuqiong lifted her chin, her tone grave. “A relationship deserves careful thought to start—and to end. No rushing into it.”
“You take that stuff pretty seriously, huh.”
“Who doesn’t?” Wang Yuqiong shot back.
“Plenty do.”
Shen An pointed at himself. “Like me, for example.”
