“Cough.”
“Cough cough, cough cough cough cough…”
The moment Jiang Mian opened her mouth, it was far too sudden. For a while, the others could not even react.
Yao Qi, who was closest to Jiang Mian and also her only target, took a direct hit from her barrage. He completely failed to hold it together, clutched his chest, and started coughing violently, as if his lungs were about to tear apart.
Heaven knew that before Jiang Mian spoke, in Yao Qi’s mind, she had been like a misty morning, a little milk deer hopping about in the forest, easily startled. Just looking at you with those watery eyes was enough to melt your heart completely.
But the moment she opened her mouth, smack, the little milk deer vanished, leaving behind a Siberian brown bear.
The shock this gave Yao Qi was no less than when he was thirteen and fell for a sweetly smiling transfer student from the class next door. He had gathered his courage to confess, only to discover that the other person was male and straight.
This time, at least the one he liked was a woman. But damn it, the moment she opened her mouth, she was more manly than a man. She… she even wanted to beat him up.
Yao Qi coughed while feeling utterly incredulous.
“Ah, sorry about that. My girl is still studying this year. She has not graduated yet and does not really know better. She speaks without much sense of propriety. I hope Second Young Master Yao will not take it to heart.”
Seeing this, Song Qichen smiled and stepped forward to smooth things over.
Yet off to the side, Jiang Mian’s mouth was still muttering merciless remarks like “That’s exactly what it is,” “I’ve never seen anyone this greasy,” “I’m about to puke up last night’s leftovers,” and other equally merciless remarks.
They were like one sharp arrow after another, striking straight into Yao Qi’s tender teenage heart.
Clutching a heart riddled with wounds, Yao Qi “retreated” in defeat, heavily injured.
On the other side, Song Xiguang, who had still been patiently waiting for the other party to stand up for him, watched as Yao Qi, this brainless fool, was actually driven off in just a few exchanges by a woman who had nothing but a pretty face.
She was just a pretty woman, that was all. So what if Song Qichen was backing her?
If he really went ahead and slapped her, he did not believe that Song Qichen, who only cared about money, would stand up for a woman who was all surface and no substance.
Song Xiguang cursed inwardly.
And it was a good thing Song Qichen did not know what his “good big brother” was thinking. Otherwise, he would definitely have sneered out loud.
‘Stand up for her? Ha. It would be sending you off to your grave.’
No matter what he was thinking inside, on the surface Song Xiguang still cast a worried glance at Yao Qi’s retreating figure. Then he turned his head and met Song Qichen’s deep, unfathomable gaze head-on.
The moment their gazes met, the corners of Song Xiguang’s mouth lifted into a gentle, refined smile. “Ah Chen, long time no see.”
“It hasn’t been that long. Three months ago, when you left Song Group, we met.”
‘Left Song Group!’
The words from this little bastard still sounded just as unpleasant, just as fond of poking at his old wounds.
Song Xiguang truly hated him for that.
Ever since Song Qichen returned to the Song family, no matter how much Song Xiguang tried to please him or help him, this man’s attitude toward him had never softened in the slightest.
Not only that, he would always look at him with those pitch-black eyes, as if they could see straight into the depths of his heart, as if under the gaze of those eyes, everything he had ever done would be laid bare, with nowhere to hide.
“Ah Chen, I’ve already left Song Group. From beginning to end, I never intended to compete with you for anything. So why do you have to be so aggressive… forget it. I know you must not mean it. You’ve always been straightforward like this, and I’m used to it.”
Though he said he was used to it, a trace of desolation inevitably crept into the man’s eyes.
It was enough to make the others who had come with him all cast somewhat dissatisfied looks at Song Qichen.
“Song Qichen, don’t go too far! Yes, you’re smart and talented, and you’ve managed the company so well that even the elders praise you endlessly. But so what? During all those years when you hadn’t returned to the Song family, it was Brother Xiguang who managed the company in your place and showed filial devotion to your parents for you. Even if he didn’t have merit, he certainly endured hardship! Yes, it was tragic that you were accidentally lost as a child, but that wasn’t Brother Xiguang’s fault. Your biological parents’ accidental deaths and your being adopted by the Song family weren’t Brother Xiguang’s fault either. Later, when you were found and brought back, Brother Xiguang even contributed his own efforts. And this is how you repay him?”
One of them finally could not hold it in anymore and stepped forward to stand up for Song Xiguang.
“Enough, Xiao Li. Just take it as your brother begging you, okay? Stop talking. I know Ah Chen definitely didn’t mean it. He…”
“Tsk tsk tsk.”
Before Song Xiguang could finish speaking, a series of tongue-clicking sounds rang in everyone’s ears.
“What a strong smell. Song Qichen, can’t you smell it? That cheap white lotus stench is so heavy, it’s kind of burning my eyes.”
Jiang Mian raised her hand and waved it unceremoniously in front of her nose.
As she waved, her eyes met Song Xiguang’s. The corners of her mouth curved upward. “I’ve seen plenty of white lotuses, but someone this low, this is my first time seeing one.”
“What did you say, you stinking woman? I’m not Yao Qi. Don’t think I won’t hit a woma…”
The man who had just spoken up for Song Xiguang had not even finished the word “woman” when he suddenly felt something whiz past from one side of him. Immediately after, his scalp went cold, and a small clump of hair drifted lightly down from his head.
The man slowly and stiffly turned his head slightly, only to see a fork deeply embedded in the wooden wall panel directly behind him.
From the glass wall to the side, the man caught a glimpse that the hair on the left side of his head had been shaved clean by the fork into four distinct lines.
His hand instantly started to tremble.
“Oh my, Chenchen, I’m so scared. Look at him, he looks so fierce, like he’s about to hit me. I’m timid, my heart is pounding from fright…”
Jiang Mian clung to Song Qichen’s arm and began acting coy in an exaggerated, deliberately affected way.
Song Qichen: “…” ‘Speak properly. Don’t make me laugh.’
Song Xiguang and the others: “…”
Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit!!!!
What just happened?
That woman used a fork to give Li Li a haircut? A haircut???
!!!
Was this seriously not a martial arts movie being filmed?
By the dining table, a group of men all swallowed hard at the same time. The one who had just threatened Jiang Mian swallowed the most noticeably and quietly took a step back. Yao Qi, who was still recovering from his earlier “injuries” yet had witnessed the entire scene, shuddered with lingering fear.
So when that big sister said she wanted to beat him up earlier, she meant it.
Just a little bit more… and he would have been done for…
All the men present, including Song Xiguang, turned their gazes toward Song Qichen in that moment, their expressions filled with the most complicated emotions imaginable.
You really could not tell that what Song Qichen liked was actually this type. Come to think of it, Song Qichen and this… female hero probably never argued, but went straight to throwing hands instead.
Song Qichen, who instantly understood the looks in everyone’s eyes: “…” ‘Throw hands? Don’t make me laugh. I cannot beat her at all.’
The moment Jiang Mian made her move, not a single person present dared to speak again. Silence slowly spread in all directions.
In the end, it was Song Xiguang who recovered first. He gave a light cough and smiled. “Miss Jiang, you have impressive skills. May I ask how you and Ah Chen met? As Ah Chen’s family, we really haven’t heard a single word about you until now. Ah Chen, aren’t you being a bit unfair, hiding Miss Jiang so well like this?”
The corner of Song Qichen’s mouth twitched slightly.
‘Hiding her?’
Is this someone he could even hide?
Song Xiguang’s voice sounded again. “Alright then, today I’ll make the call as his older brother. In a week, it’ll be Aunt’s birthday. Bring Miss Jiang along as well and let the family meet her. You know, Father has always hoped you’d get a girlfriend, start a family, and build a career.”
Song Qichen: “…”
‘Start a family with her? If you want me dead, just say it straight. There is no need to beat around the bush.’
“Oh right, speaking of birthdays, the last time Aunt celebrated hers, what you gave her was actually handmade soap you made yourself. I’m not saying…”
Before Song Xiguang could finish his green-tea, roundabout jab, Jiang Mian, who was still holding onto Song Qichen’s arm, immediately cut in. If she let this man keep spouting lotus nonsense any longer, she really would not be able to control herself.
“Oh my god, Chenchen, you can even make soap? That’s amazing. I like gardenia scent. Can you make a bar for me?”
Song Xiguang: “…” ‘Was I trying to praise him? I was trying to take the chance to mock him for being stingy and cheap.’
The corner of Song Qichen’s mouth lifted slightly. “Alright.”
Song Xiguang: “Cough. After that argument with you last time, Father ended up being hospitalized. I know you’re busy with work, but you can’t just not go see him. He’s been talking about you for days…”
Jiang Mian continued to jump in. “Chenchen, I didn’t expect you to love your work this much. I’m getting to know you all over again. I think I love you even more now!”
Song Xiguang: “…” ‘Was I trying to say he loves his work? I was trying to diss him for being an unfilial son!’
Song Qichen held back a laugh. “Is that so?”
Song Xiguang: …
Song Xiguang found himself unable to go on. With this woman’s boyfriend filter this thick, how was he supposed to say anything?
Just as that thought crossed his mind, Song Xiguang seemed to recall something. A flicker of darkness flashed through his eyes. “Oh right, Ah Chen, isn’t Actress Jiang Ying about to return from Country E? I heard that this time her red carpet look went viral overseas. Will you be welcoming her back then? After all, before she went abroad, there were still rumors about her and you. You…”
At this point, Song Xiguang suddenly looked flustered as he glanced at Jiang Mian sitting opposite him. “Wait, was I not supposed to say something like this? Miss Jiang, I didn’t mean it that way. I meant that Jiang Ying has always had feelings for Ah Chen, and Ah Chen also… I… forget it. Sorry, I’m probably not feeling very well today. I’ll take my leave first.”
Before leaving, Song Xiguang, who had only made things worse the more he explained, still cast an apologetic look toward Song Qichen.
This time, Jiang Mian did not speak up to refute anything Song Xiguang said. From beginning to end, she merely watched Song Qichen with a smiling, narrowed gaze.
After Song Xiguang and the others left, Song Qichen felt a gaze from his side. He subconsciously turned his head and met the teasing look in Jiang Mian’s eyes.
“Oh, Jiang Ying…”
That single “oh” was drawn out by Jiang Mian with endless twists and turns.
Song Qichen: “…”
“Don’t listen to his nonsense. Jiang Ying is just a contracted artist under an entertainment company. As for me and her…” ‘we have only met twice.’
Before Song Qichen could finish his explanation, Jiang Mian, who had not listened to a single word, looked at him and suddenly went full drama mode.
“Oh my god, oh my god, brother, I came out with you to attend a tea gathering. Big sister won’t get angry, will she?”
Song Qichen: “…” ‘Huh?’
Before he could even react, Jiang Mian continued her steady performance and picked up the teacup Song Qichen had just drunk from, taking a sip.
In the post-apocalyptic world, supplies were scarce. Sharing a bottle of water was nothing unusual.
Jiang Mian herself did not react much, but when Song Qichen saw her action, his heart inexplicably lurched. Before he could figure out where that sudden turmoil came from, he saw Jiang Mian very theatrically half-cover her lips, her brows knitting slightly.
“Ah, brother, I just drank from the same cup as you. If big sister finds out, won’t she get jealous?”
Song Qichen: “…”
“Brother, brother, you rode the same motorcycle with me earlier. If big sister finds out, won’t she beat me up?”
“Oh heavens, big sister is way too scary. Not like me. I only know how to dote on brother~~~”
Song Qichen: “…”
“…………”
‘Enough. Just stop already.’