Qin Shi’s brows drew together at once. “How did he get your WeChat?”
“I gave it to him.”
“When?”
She’d been right under his nose the whole time. When could she have had the chance to exchange contact information with Xue Yuan?
Sheng Qing answered frankly, “When I gave his riding crop back just now, I asked him for his WeChat at the same time.”
Qin Shi: “…”
In that brief moment when he wasn’t watching her, she’d gone and asked another man for his number?
“Do you like that kid?”
Sheng Qing thought about it. “He seems all right. Pretty honest.”
For some reason, Qin Shi felt a little irritated. “You’re a kid. What do you know? There’s no such thing as an honest man.”
Sheng Qing found that funny. “Second Brother, you’re a man too. You’re insulting yourself.”
Qin Shi raised a hand and swatted at her.
Sheng Qing covered her head and yelped. “What are you doing? You can hit me while you’re driving? Your arms are so long. Are you a monkey or a gibbon?”
“…”
Qin Shi was so angry he almost laughed. That brat—besides being a handful, she had a sharp tongue, too.
Her phone went “ding.” Someone had sent her a message, and she went back to playing on it.
She was still muttering complaints about him, though.
Qin Shi shot her a sidelong glance, but couldn’t see a thing.
He grew more and more irritated, tugging impatiently at his tie. “Did you fall in love with him at first sight?”
“Not really. It’s only the first time we’ve met. I just think he seems pretty honest, and since you brought him along, Second Brother, his character should be all right.”
As she spoke, Sheng Qing glanced at him. “I think I could give dating him a try.”
Since he wanted to introduce her to a boyfriend, she couldn’t let his good intentions go to waste.
She would be good and listen to him. Whatever he wanted her to do, she would try.
Qin Shi had no idea what she was thinking. He only thought she’d taken an interest in that Xue kid.
Kids really were kids. The day before, she’d been refusing to eat over a breakup; today, she was already eager to fall in love again.
Getting her past the breakup and helping her forget that scumbag Lu Yun’an should have been a good thing.
So why did it bother him so much?
Especially the way she held her phone, chatting away happily. The longer he looked, the more it grated on him. “Quit playing on your phone in the car. Sit still.”
Sheng Qing was bewildered. “I’m not the one driving. I’m allowed to use my phone.”
“Under traffic regulations, a passenger who interferes with the driver can face criminal charges in serious cases. You’re affecting me by playing on your phone.”
Sheng Qing stared at him, stunned. “…”
She wasn’t playing a video game or anything. How could she be interfering with him?
“Not going to listen?”
The rising note at the end of his question carried a hint of danger.
“I’ll listen. I’ll do whatever you say.” Sheng Qing put her phone away, still muttering under her breath.
Listening closely, he could just make out what she was saying: “Old men are so big on safety. I’ll humor him, or his fragile heart might shatter into pieces.”
“…” Qin Shi’s back teeth hurt from clenching them. That little thing was really asking for a beating.
**
When they got back, Qin Zhen was in the living room reading the newspaper.
“Brother-in-law,” Sheng Qing greeted him.
“Mm. Have fun?”
“Second Brother took me horseback riding. It was really fun. Are you interested, Brother-in-law? We should go together sometime.”
Qin Zhen thought the girl was so much cuter when she was lively and spirited like this. She looked far better than she had yesterday, all droopy and listless.
It seemed Qin Shi was right: to help her get back on her feet, she needed to stay away from trash.
“Next time, bring your sister along. We’ll go together when we have time.”
“Sure. Where’s my sister?”
“In her room. Go see her.”
Sheng Qing nodded and went upstairs.
She happened to see Steward Zhong and quietly tugged at his sleeve. “Uncle Zhong, did anyone come to the house today?”
Steward Zhong thought for a moment. “Yes, several groups came by.”
Sheng Qing’s heart tightened.
“They’d come asking the General for help,” Steward Zhong continued. “They were stopped outside the gate. They didn’t even get inside.”
Sheng Qing: “…”
He’d left a long pause before finishing. He’d nearly scared her to death.
“Did any police officers come by?”
“Police? No. Why do you ask all of a sudden?”
“Nothing. Just curious.”
Sheng Qing was puzzled.
Had Lu Yun’an not called the police after she pushed him into the water?
…
In the living room downstairs, Qin Shi had dropped her off and was getting ready to leave.
Qin Zhen called him over and pointed at the sofa. “Sit down.”
“Something up?”
“The girl seems to be in a good mood. You said you’d look for a boyfriend for her. Have you found anyone promising?”
Qin Shi leaned back on the sofa and gave a casual “Mm.”
“You really found someone she likes? What’s he like? Which family is he from?” Qin Zhen perked up.
Qin Shi frowned. “She’s only a little interested. He’s hardly the man of her dreams.”
“If she’s interested, why doesn’t that count? Things might work out between them. He could end up marrying into the Qin family.”
Qin Shi stared at his elder brother. “Absolutely not.”
“Why not?”
“Nothing’s even started yet. Stop worrying about all this nonsense.”
“What do you mean, nonsense? Are you still prejudiced against her?”
Ever since the two sisters had joined the Qin family, Qin Shi hadn’t liked either of them.
Over the past few years, Sheng Qing had caused trouble, rebelled, and refused to listen to anyone. Qin Shi had found her more and more irritating.
Qin Zhen lowered the newspaper. “She may not have the Qin surname, but her sister will spend the rest of her life in the Qin family. I intend to treat her like my own younger sister, too.”
“Your own younger sister?” Qin Shi laced his hands behind his head and drawled, “If she were your real sister, then you sleeping with Sheng Xue would be incest, wouldn’t it?”
Qin Zhen flung the newspaper at him.
Qin Shi turned his head and dodged. The paper landed on his shoulder.
He gave a soft “tsk.” “Old men are so fragile.”
Qin Zhen: “…”
Old man?
Bullshit. At his age, he was in the prime of manhood!
The prime!
Qin Shi stood and tossed the newspaper onto the coffee table before striding toward the door.
“Did you hear what I said?”
That kid had always been stubbornly independent. Unless Qin Shi took Sheng Qing under his wing, he wouldn’t treat her well.
…
A few days later, Sheng Qing received a message from Xue Yuan.
He asked if she was free and said he wanted to take her out.
Sheng Qing thought it over, then replied yes and accepted his invitation.
After breakfast, she told Qin Zhen, “Brother-in-law, I have a date tonight.”
“A date?”
“His name is Xue Yuan. I met him at the riding club a few days ago. Second Brother knows him, too. I might be back a little late tonight.”
Qin Zhen remembered. “Good! Young people—especially girls—should date more. The more men you meet, the broader your horizons will be, and the less likely you are to get fooled by a scumbag.”
“If Xue Yuan doesn’t measure up, dump him. Don’t be upset about it, either. Your brother-in-law and Second Brother know plenty of men you can choose from.”
Sheng Qing was both amused and at a loss for words.
He made it sound as if she were picking men for a harem.
…
After school, Xue Yuan came to pick her up.
As soon as she walked out of the school gate, she saw him standing in front of a black BMW in a suit and tie, looking especially formal. He looked like he was about to propose, and he was holding a bouquet of flowers.
Sheng Qing turned and walked away.
“Huh?” Xue Yuan froze, thinking she hadn’t seen him. He hurried after her. “Sheng Qing, I’m over here.”
Sheng Qing covered her face. “Don’t talk to me. Keep your distance. Pretend you don’t know me.”
Xue Yuan grew nervous. “What’s wrong? Did you run into an enemy or something?”
How did his imagination manage to be even wilder than a black hole?
Sheng Qing walked faster. “No. I’m embarrassed to be seen with you.”
Xue Yuan: “…?”
Only after they’d left the school grounds did Sheng Qing slow down. “It’s your first date with a girl and you’re dressed like a groom. Are you going to propose on the second date?”
Xue Yuan finally caught on, his face flushing. He hurried to explain, “N-no. I just wanted to make it special… If you don’t like it, I’ll dress more casually next time.”
As he spoke, he started to drop the flowers into a trash can.
Sheng Qing took them from him and sniffed. “How much did they cost?”
Xue Yuan scratched his head. “Not much. 1,199. They’re from a popular brand right now. I thought you might like them.”
The shop assistant had said the flowers symbolized lasting love. Xue Yuan had paid on the spot. He hoped his relationship with Sheng Qing would last, too.
Sheng Qing held the bouquet against her chest. “You gave them to me, so they’re mine now. That means I can do whatever I want with them, right?”
Xue Yuan looked curious. “What do you want to do?”
“I don’t like flowers. Carrying them around is awkward. I could throw them away, but that would waste your thoughtfulness. Better to sell them and recycle them.”
Xue Yuan: “…You’re the first girl I’ve ever met who says she doesn’t like flowers.”
“I think I’m special, too. No wonder people like me.”
She arched her delicate brows, a little smugness in her eyes.
Xue Yuan felt like he liked her even more.
“But flowers don’t sell for much on the street. A bouquet that cost 1,199 might not find any buyers.”
Sheng Qing gave a light laugh. “Is that so?”
There were plenty of commercial buildings along the street, full of business owners and office workers.
She spotted a wealthy-looking couple and went over with the bouquet. “Sir, flowers for a beauty. Why not buy your lady a bouquet?”
“Not 999, not 888—just 99! No loss, no risk. Buy my flowers and you two will stay together forever—happily ever after!”
She had a bright smile, and her words were sweet. The flowers were from a well-known brand, too. Only a fool would pass up such a bargain.
Sheng Qing held up the hundred yuan she’d made and grinned at Xue Yuan. “Couldn’t sell them, huh?”
Xue Yuan’s eyes narrowed.
The smile on her face was so dazzling it seemed to shine straight into his heart.