"Come on, stop talking about me. You're the main character today. Let's go. I'll take you shopping first!" Lu Wenxi parked the car and pulled Qingmian into the mall.
"I don't really want to buy anything. Don't waste your money—"
"Qingmian?"
Qingmian's words were interrupted by a female voice.
Lu Wenxi and Qingmian followed the sound and saw An Ya sitting in a wheelchair. The man pushing the wheelchair behind her was Chen Yu'an.
The moment she saw Chen Yu'an, Qingmian was stunned for a moment, but quickly regained her composure. Her voice was calm, "Brother."
Chen Yu'an didn't expect to meet Qingmian here. The hand pushing the wheelchair froze, and the shock in his eyes was perfectly masked. "Why are you here? Isn't it the opening ceremony today? Didn't Chi Yu take you to school?"
So it was really Chen Yu'an's arrangement for Chi Yu to take her home last night.
He casually sent her abroad three years ago, and casually sent her to a man's house three years later. He was really a great brother, Qingmian thought self - deprecatingly.
Also, without Chen Yu'an's permission, how could Chi Yu have taken her home.
She thought Chen Yu'an still had some old feelings for her since she hadn't been sent away this time when she came back. But it turned out that the affection between them had long disappeared because of the incident back then.
Looking at the affectionate couple in front of her, Qingmian felt as if thousands of ants were crawling in her heart. It was painful and itchy, but there was nothing she could do.
Chen Qingmian, what are you still expecting? Look forward.
When she raised her eyes again, there was no emotion in them. Her expression when looking at Chen Yu'an was also a bit indifferent. "It's over. I'm out here to have dinner with Wenxi."
Chen Yu'an's gaze fell on Lu Wenxi beside Qingmian. He instructed, "Erbao has a weak stomach. Don't take her to eat spicy food, and cold food is also off - limits."
Lu Wenxi deliberately swiped her phone as if she didn't hear Chen Yu'an's words, but secretly complained in her heart.
Where were you before? Why are you pretending to be kind now!
Chen Yu'an turned his gaze to Qingmian. "You don't have classes today, right? Go home early after shopping. I'll be waiting for you at home."
As soon as he finished speaking, An Ya's fingers tightly grabbed the corner of her clothes. She didn't even notice the pain when her newly - done nails dug into her flesh.
She must not let Chen Yu'an go home early!
Qingmian glanced at An Ya in the wheelchair. An idea came to her mind. She hooked the corner of her mouth into a smile, and said sweetly to Chen Yu'an, "Got it, brother. You should also go home early. Let's have dinner together tonight."
The smile on her face coincided with the person in Chen Yu'an's memory at this moment.
He stood still for a moment.
Before she turned eighteen, Qingmian used to smile at Chen Yu'an almost every day. But after she turned eighteen, she seemed to put on a protective shield. She didn't like to smile or cry, and she no longer showed any emotions towards him.
"A Yu, didn't you say you were going to have lunch with my dad this afternoon..."
An Ya's voice pulled Chen Yu'an back to reality.
Before she could finish her sentence, she heard Chen Yu'an say gently to Qingmian, "Okay, let's have dinner together."
...
After Chen Yu'an pushed An Ya away, Lu Wenxi rolled her eyes and said, "That scheming bitch. Why didn't she fall to her death? She's still out wandering around like that. I'm really convinced."
Qingmian didn't say a word. Since An Ya could go out with injuries, she must have something important to do and wanted to dress up nicely.
Combined with what she said just now, it meant that Chen Yu'an and her father must have a dinner today. Qingmian just wouldn't let her have her way. She was no longer the kind of person who would just let things go with a smile when it came to those who framed her.
An Ya owed her, and she would make her pay back a hundred or a thousand times.
The more An Ya wanted something, the more Qingmian would destroy it.
"Are you really going back to have dinner with that old fart Chen? That's so unappetizing!" Lu Wenxi was always sharp - tongued. Qingmian felt a strange sense of pleasure when she heard her call Chen Yu'an an old fart.
She smiled and looked at Lu Wenxi sideways. "There's nothing I can do. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Once I find a part - time job and save some money, I'll find a chance to move out of there."
Lu Wenxi stopped in her tracks and pulled Qingmian back. Qingmian stopped and looked at Lu Wenxi in confusion. "What's wrong?"
"You're going to find a part - time job?" Lu Wenxi looked at Qingmian with heartache, and her voice rose an octave. "Doesn't Chen Yu'an give you money? He's such a jerk! I mean, what the hell! Don't go looking for any part - time jobs! I'll give you money!"
After Lu Wenxi said this, her eyes suddenly turned red, and the hand holding Qingmian trembled slightly.
She could clearly feel that Qingmian's palm was covered with fine calluses, which were the result of long - term abrasion.
Lu Wenxi didn't dare to think or ask what kind of life she had lived in the past three years.
She was afraid of hearing that she had a hard time. She felt sorry for her and didn't want Qingmian to recall bad memories.
Seeing Lu Wenxi suddenly lose control of her emotions, Qingmian comforted her in a hurry, "I don't care who you are! Get off our Wenxi right now, or I'll be rude!"
Lu Wenxi was stunned for a moment. After realizing what was going on, she suddenly burst out laughing. She reached out and gently pushed Qingmian's shoulder, crying and laughing at the same time. "Where did you learn all this nonsense?"
"Just tell me if it works or not."
"It does work, but don't use it next time. It feels a bit creepy when you think about it." Lu Wenxi tilted her head to wipe away her tears.
When she looked at Qingmian again, her tears had stopped. She held her hand and walked into the mall.
"Is my makeup okay..."
"Yeah, your beauty is still intact."
"I find you've become a smooth - talker. You've gone bad, haven't you?"
"Just tell me if you like it, Ms. Lu Wenxi."
"It's a bit domineering... but it suits my taste..."
"You like this type? Then is Brother Jibai quite domineering?"
"Stop, stop, stop!"
...
It was already 4 p.m. when the two came out of the mall.
Qingmian checked the time. "Don't see me off. I'll take a taxi. You should hurry up and go find Brother Jibai."
Lu Wenxi's cheeks blushed slightly. Jibai had called her countless times while they were shopping. If she didn't show up soon, that guy might come directly to find her.
"Then I won't see you off. Be careful on your own. Remember to call me when you get home."
Qingmian nodded. "Got it. Hurry up."
After seeing Lu Wenxi off, she took out her phone and opened the ride - hailing app.
"Beep—beep—"
Suddenly, a horn sounded in front of her. She looked up and bent down to see the person in the driver's seat. It was Chen Yu'an's assistant.
Tan Si rolled down the window. "Miss, the gentleman asked me to pick you up and take you home."
After saying that, he pressed the unlock button. Qingmian opened the car door and bent down to get in.
The car slowly started.
Qingmian's gaze fell on the man in the driver's seat and she asked, "Assistant Tan, how did you know when I'd finish shopping?"
Tan Si was confused about why Qingmian would suddenly ask such a question, but he still answered honestly, "Miss, I've been waiting for you in the parking lot."
"Okay."
She was like a caged bird raised by Chen Yu'an, constantly being monitored.