Chapter 59

Qi Yuan found it somewhat unbelievable. She furrowed her brows slightly and moved her fingers, enveloping Shen Ke’s entire hand in her palm.

“What did you just say?”

The corridor bustled with people coming and going. She felt many gazes turning toward her. Shen Ke lowered her head and buried her face in Qi Yuan’s embrace, a bit embarrassed and annoyed. “I want to go to your house. You can’t refuse me.”

Qi Yuan parted her lips, pressed down on Shen Ke’s shoulders to push her away, then bent down. With a serious expression, she looked at Shen Ke. “Shen Ke, my home is very poor and very far away. The journey will be exhausting.”

Qi Yuan’s features, paired with her wheat-colored skin, gave her an exceptionally heroic air. When she stared intently at someone, she looked utterly sincere.

Shen Ke’s eyelashes trembled fiercely. She felt Qi Yuan was so close, and the breath from her words brushed across her face.

Shen Ke raised her hand and covered Qi Yuan’s mouth.

Qi Yuan’s gaze deepened. Shen Ke’s hand was very soft and fragrant, completely different from hers.

“I don’t care. I want to go!” Shen Ke said willfully.

Qi Yuan fell silent for a moment before finally nodding.

She hadn’t planned to go back anyway. She could use the monthly break for studying or part-time work.

But since Shen Ke wanted to go back with her, then she would make the trip.

However, even someone like Qi Yuan called it tiring, so the journey home really was exhausting.

Shen Ke followed Qi Yuan. They first took the high-speed rail, then transferred to a bus, then a long-distance coach, and finally rode a three-wheeler into the mountains.

Looking at the dense trees around them, Shen Ke’s face paled as she leaned against Qi Yuan.

“Qi Yuan, I’m never coming here again.”

She had already regretted it during the bus ride, but after several hours on the high-speed rail, turning back would mean enduring it all for nothing.

Shen Ke felt utterly depressed inside. She had thought “far” meant crossing provinces, which was bad enough with modern travel—planes made it quick.

But Qi Yuan had taken her on the high-speed rail for five or six hours straight.

By the time they got off, she was already throwing a tantrum. But once they boarded the coach, her temper vanished. Now, on this three-wheeler into the mountains, Shen Ke had no temper left at all.

Qi Yuan’s expression didn’t look good. Shen Ke’s face was too pale. She really should have refused.

How could someone so delicate endure this?

The sky had already darkened. Shen Ke gazed at the pitch-black forest and suddenly felt wronged.

Why had she followed Qi Yuan here? It was so far.

“Qi Yuan, how much longer?” Shen Ke’s voice carried a slight tremble.

Qi Yuan gently patted Shen Ke’s back. “Almost there. Look, you can already see the lights in the village.”

“Uncle Li, can you go any faster?”

The driver uncle up front said, “Little Sister Qi, don’t rush me. If I go any faster, we’ll flip over—what then?”

The driver was a local, so he spoke without reserve. He teased, “No rush, no rush, little classmate. We’re almost there. Don’t cry now.”

Shen Ke hadn’t felt like crying that much before. She was tired, but she’d insisted on coming.

But after the driver uncle said that, tears silently streamed down Shen Ke’s face. She cried without a sound.

With the sky already dark, Qi Yuan didn’t notice for a moment.

When they finally reached the village, Qi Yuan got off first. She stretched out her arms and said softly, “Shen Ke, come down. We’re home.”

Shen Ke silently wrapped her arms around Qi Yuan’s neck and buried her face there. Cool tears stained Qi Yuan’s neck.

Qi Yuan held Shen Ke and bid farewell to the driver uncle. Then she sighed. “Shen Ke, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought you here.”

Qi Yuan’s voice was gentle and steady. Shen Ke wiped her eyes and mumbled sullenly, “If you’d just yelled at me, I wouldn’t have come with you.”

If anyone else had said that, Qi Yuan would have laughed in exasperation. But coming from Shen Ke, it only softened her heart.

She gently set Shen Ke down and apologized again. “I’m sorry, but I won’t yell at you.”

Shen Ke stood on her own feet and said awkwardly, “Are you afraid I’ll get mad and bully you?”

Qi Yuan shook her head, wiped the tears from Shen Ke’s face, then took her hand and led her forward. “I’m not afraid of you bullying me. I’m afraid you’ll be unhappy.”

Her voice was magnetic and low, making the words sound like sweet nothings.

Shen Ke’s mood inexplicably improved a lot. She sniffled, then pinched Qi Yuan’s palm. “Hmph, you’re just coaxing me, aren’t you?”

Qi Yuan chuckled softly. “I’m not coaxing you. It’s the truth.” Shen Ke was so prone to tears and delicacy—if she scolded her even a little, she’d be upset for ages.

“We’re here. This is my home.” With that, Qi Yuan stopped.

Shen Ke looked ahead. It was her first time seeing a house like this—a somewhat rundown brick house surrounded by a crude wall.

The house wasn’t big. A single bulb hung at the door, casting a warm yellow light that illuminated the entrance.

Shen Ke’s eyes widened in surprise. She stood frozen in place.

Qi Yuan lowered her long lashes and watched Shen Ke’s profile. “Come on in.”

Her family was very poor. Shen Ke had probably never been to a place like this. It was only natural if she felt disdain now.

At that moment, the red brick house’s door opened. An elderly woman walked out holding a bowl.

Seeing the two at the door, the elderly woman called out loudly, “Yao Yao, why didn’t you bring your classmate inside?”

Qi Yuan smiled and said to the elderly woman, “Grandma.”

Shen Ke followed Qi Yuan into the house.

The space inside was small but very clean. One wall was covered with awards Qi Yuan had won from childhood to now.

This room seemed to serve as both living room and dining area. In the center stood a wooden table laden with steaming hot dishes.

The elderly woman’s face was etched with wrinkles, but her smile was kindly and approachable. Grandma Qi’s eyes fixed on Shen Ke without blinking, nodding occasionally.

Shen Ke inexplicably felt nervous. She sat on a stool, unsure what to do. The food smelled delicious, but she was too worn out from the trip to move.

Qi Yuan watched from beside her and picked up a piece of meat with chopsticks for Shen Ke. “Shen Ke, eat up. Don’t be afraid of my grandma.”

Though Grandma Qi was advanced in age, she wasn’t senile. Seeing Shen Ke’s refined and proper demeanor, she knew her presence was making the girl uncomfortable.

Grandma Qi didn’t linger. After finishing her meal, she fanned herself with a palm leaf fan and went back to her room.

Shen Ke stared at the food in her bowl without touching it. Qi Yuan pondered for a moment and asked, “Shen Ke, do you not like it here?”

“I’ve said it before—my home is very poor. If you don’t want to stay, I can take you to the city tomorrow.”

Shen Ke slammed down her chopsticks with a clack, lifted her head, furrowed her brows slightly, and looked displeased. “What are you saying? I’m just tired and want to rest a bit before eating.”

“Are you beating around the bush to chase me away?” Because she’d cried earlier, Shen Ke’s eyes were still a bit red. Her watery eyes sparkled beautifully under the flickering light.

Shen Ke huffed coldly. With no strangers around, her temper flared again. She glared fiercely at Qi Yuan and scolded, “Meanie!” She just wanted a short break, but Qi Yuan said things like that. She’d come all this way and hadn’t even had a bite of hot food yet—how could Qi Yuan want to send her off? So infuriating!

Qi Yuan stared at Shen Ke’s vivid expression and suddenly chuckled softly. Her refined brows and handsome features carried a heroic air, and her smile brimmed with intense indulgence, as if it could drown someone. “Shen Ke, I didn’t mean to chase you away.”

What was this? How could this person be so adorable?

Qi Yuan gazed into Shen Ke’s dark eyes. There was no disdain, no impatience—only annoyance at her earlier words.

She really needed to change her habit of always assuming the worst about Shen Ke.

Being prone to tears and delicacy didn’t mean she’d despise the poverty here.

Qi Yuan picked up another dish for Shen Ke with her chopsticks and looked at her sincerely. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things.”

“Eat up.”

Shen Ke glared at Qi Yuan and grumbled, “If you do that again, I’ll hit you.”

At the same time, the atmosphere in the Si Family had grown utterly silent.

Si Minglan pressed her forehead and sighed deeply. “We’ve found Keke. She’s with a student named Qi Yuan and went to Little River Village in Union Stream Town, K City.”

“Little Qing, I’m not trying to blame you, but Keke has always loved following you.”

“What did you do to make Keke go off with someone else alone?”

“You know how delicate and crybaby Keke is, Little Qing…” Si Minglan trailed off, unsure what else to say.

She pressed her temple. “I’ve already sent people after her. Keke took the high-speed rail—six hours—then transferred to a coach and even… a three-wheeler. The road was so bumpy. I don’t know how that child endured it.” These words rarely entered her ears, and even saying them felt jarring to Si Minglan.

Shen Ke had been with the Si Family since she was twelve—a tiny child who had grown into who she was now. This was her first time going so far alone with someone else, enduring those grueling modes of transport.

Si Minglan stood up and glanced at Si Qing, who sat with her head lowered, lost in thought. “Little Qing, you might think Mama favors Keke, but you’re my biological daughter. Don’t hate her or make things hard for her.”

“I have work to handle, so I’ll head back to the study. You just woke up from the hospital—get some early rest.”

Si Minglan left, leaving the vast living room with only Si Qing sitting there in a daze on the sofa.

Though Si Minglan said she wasn’t blaming her, every word carried reproach.

But Si Qing didn’t blame her. She blamed herself—even hated herself was more accurate.

She resented her frail body, her unstable emotions, and the words she couldn’t control.

If she had kept her emotions in check back then, Shen Ke wouldn’t have gotten angry and left.

If her body weren’t so weak, if she hadn’t fainted, she might have stopped Shen Ke.

But there were no “ifs” in the world.

She didn’t dare imagine what would happen if something happened to Shen Ke.

Si Qing slowly clenched the black brooch in her hand. Her heart ached terribly.

Si Minglan’s words pierced like needles from her ears into her brain, making her whole body hurt.

She was going mad with frustration. Shen Ke had run off to such a distant place.

Shen Ke was hers—she shouldn’t be following someone else.

Si Qing’s frail body began to spasm. She gripped the sofa tightly and covered her mouth, dry-heaving.

Her body was too weak—disgusting. Why was she such a useless waste? Even intense emotions made her head spin.

That night, in Qi Yuan’s home.

Qi Yuan’s room was very small: a desk, a chair, a bed, and a small wardrobe—that was the entire space.

Shen Ke lay on the bed, with Qi Yuan lying beside her.

The room was too cramped for a floor mat, so Shen Ke reluctantly let Qi Yuan share the bed.

She hadn’t brought a change of clothes. After showering, she wore Qi Yuan’s.

Qi Yuan’s clothes were too long, covering her bottom completely, and the pants were too long too. Finding them a hassle, Shen Ke just wore one of Qi Yuan’s shirts.

The chirping insects outside kept Shen Ke from sleeping. She was exhausted today, but after the shower, she felt wide awake.

This was her first time coming so far alone—no Si Qing, no Si Minglan, just her.

Shen Ke rolled over and poked Qi Yuan’s back. In a small voice, she asked, “Qi Yuan, are you asleep?”

Qi Yuan slowly opened her eyes. Her magnetic voice sounded especially alluring in the darkness. Shen Ke propped herself up and sprawled over Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan’s body tensed abruptly, her breathing quickening slightly.

Shen Ke didn’t notice anything unusual. She tugged at Qi Yuan’s ear. “Qi Yuan, your grandma is so tall too. Are all your family members tall?”

Qi Yuan hummed in response, her voice already a bit hoarse.

Shen Ke was too close. She caught the fragrance from Shen Ke’s body and felt her warmth.

Qi Yuan looked at the moonlight spilling through the window and said in a low voice, “Shen Ke, time to sleep. It’s late.”

Shen Ke released Qi Yuan’s ear and started playing with her cheeks.

Qi Yuan’s face was slim. Shen Ke had thought it would feel taut, but it was actually soft.

Looking at Qi Yuan’s profile, Shen Ke suddenly recalled that time in the bathroom when she’d heard noises with Qi Yuan.

Shen Ke’s cheeks flushed. Her fingers slid to Qi Yuan’s lips, and she whispered, “Qi Yuan, have you ever kissed anyone?”

Qi Yuan’s breath hitched, her eyes darkening instantly. She grabbed Shen Ke’s mischievous hand, rolled over, and in an instant, pinned Shen Ke beneath her.

Shen Ke was still a bit dazed, her expression blank.

Qi Yuan pursed her lips, a flicker of emotion in her eyes that Shen Ke couldn’t quite read.

Shen Ke asked, “Qi Yuan, what are you doing?”

Qi Yuan brushed the stray strands of short hair behind her ear and looked at Shen Ke with a hoarse voice. “Want to try it?”

“Kissing.”

In an instant, Shen Ke’s eyes widened, her face flushing completely red.

Moonlight spilled onto Shen Ke’s beautiful face, letting Qi Yuan see every detail of her expression clearly.

The blush spreading to the corners of her eyes made Shen Ke’s gaze alluring to the extreme.

Qi Yuan reached out and covered Shen Ke’s eyes. “Sorry, I said the wrong thing.”

Darkness enveloped her vision, sharpening Shen Ke’s other senses.

She felt the weight and heat of Qi Yuan’s body, heard her rapid breathing and heartbeat.

Shen Ke’s body trembled. She pulled away Qi Yuan’s hand from her eyes, bit her lip, her gaze drifting. “Y-Yes.” Her voice was too soft, and Qi Yuan didn’t catch it.

She leaned in closer. “Shen Ke, what did you just say?”

Shen Ke’s eyelashes quivered fiercely. Her rosy lips parted slightly as she lifted her head and gently nipped Qi Yuan’s nose tip, her voice soft and coquettish. “You’re so dumb. I said yes.”

“Yes, to trying a kiss.”