Who would have thought that a perfectly normal statement would make the woman instantly blow up?
Her willow brows arched high, eyes glaring as she snapped at Shen Ci:“What do you mean by that? Are you saying I’m making things up? Haven’t you ever seen shoes that cost two yuan a pair?”
Her hostile gaze swept up and down Shen Ci and Shen Li, and the sisters’ youthful beauty only stoked her jealousy. She gave a derisive snort through her nose.“You two still look like college students. Call your parents to pay for the damage, otherwise I’ll call the police.”
Shen Ci couldn’t hold back a cold laugh.
The woman’s face darkened. “What are you laughing at?”
“Are you deaf?” Shen Ci’s patience was gone. At first she’d thought since her sister was at fault, being polite and discussing compensation would suffice. But this woman’s twisted logic made it clear she couldn’t understand plain words.
So Shen Ci’s tone turned icy:“Even if the shoes cost twenty or two hundred yuan, I can pay. But I need to see the order or the official price. That’s a reasonable request. Why are you barking like a dog?”
“You—who are you calling a dog?!”
The woman’s eyes widened as if she’d suffered unbearable humiliation, her hand already lifting to strike. Luckily, the man beside her grabbed her quickly.
“Come on, it’s not a big deal. She already said she’d compensate you.”
“You’re useless! She just insulted me to my face and you’re holding me back instead of helping!” The woman struggled in his arms, pounding her fists against him, her shrill voice grating on everyone’s ears.
Around them, other diners turned with displeased expressions. Only then did the waiters and manager rush over.
At a corner table, two young men had already noticed Shen Ci.
“Qu Yang, isn’t that Shen Ci?” one of them whispered.
The boy named Qu Yang had noticed long ago, but said nothing, quietly cutting into his steak.
“You weren’t on campus yesterday, so you don’t know. Shen Ci returned all the gifts Li Xiao gave her. They probably broke up.”
Qu Yang’s hand stilled on his knife. He looked up at his friend Shao Yu. “They broke up?”
“Yeah, that’s what everyone’s saying. Strange, right? Just the day before, Li Xiao was flaunting their relationship in the dorm. The next day, they split. Who knows what happened?”
Finally, Qu Yang raised his eyes toward Shen Ci.
In the soft, dim lighting, her porcelain skin glowed with a warm radiance, softening her delicate features.
His mind flashed back to the summer of freshman year—on the basketball court, sweat dripping, he’d looked up to see her sitting quietly on the steps, lost in thought, the afternoon sun lighting her face like it was glowing.
That game, he’d been completely distracted.
The second time, he saw her on the school forum. Someone had posted a candid photo, and it had stirred a huge commotion.
After that, she became his roommate Li Xiao’s girlfriend.
“She looks like she’s dealing with trouble. Should we help her?” Shao Yu asked.
Qu Yang set down his knife and fork, about to stand—when Shen Ci suddenly smiled.
Holding up her phone, she said coolly to the troublesome woman:“So it’s a two-year-old model. No wonder I couldn’t find it on the official site.”
The woman’s face flushed with shame. “So what? The price is still 1.9888 yuan! Didn’t you say you could pay? Hurry up!”
Shen Ci’s voice was calm, almost bored:“You say it’s your first time wearing them, yet they’re two years old. I won’t press the point. I won’t even deduct depreciation. Just show me your payment code.”
Her words weren’t sharp on the surface, but every sentence pierced the woman’s pride. Her indifferent attitude made the woman look all the more like an unreasonable shrew.
The woman opened her mouth to curse again, but the man beside her wilted under the stares of the restaurant patrons. Embarrassed, he pulled out his phone. “Here’s my code. Just transfer it.”
Shen Ci had no objection. She sent 1.9888 yuan directly.
As soon as the transfer succeeded, the man dragged the woman away without another word, abandoning their dinner.
Shen Ci’s expression was calm again. So many odd encounters today—must’ve left the hotel on the wrong foot.
The restaurant manager came over to smooth things over, even sending them a complimentary salmon salad.
“It’s fine. Let’s keep eating,” Shen Ci said softly to her sister, smiling to ease her nerves.
It was just a small hiccup.
Shen Li, though still shaken, relaxed at her sister’s composure. She nodded and quietly resumed eating.
Sensing someone’s gaze, Shen Ci turned her head—and locked eyes with Qu Yang.
She froze slightly. Qu Yang?
She didn’t know him personally, but she knew of him.
Not only was he Li Xiao’s roommate, but also the vice president of the basketball club, a well-known figure on campus.
Thick brows, dark skin, tall—about 1.85 meters. The type many girls admired.
Even Wang Hou, her otaku roommate who spent all day watching BL dramas, often ran to the courts just to see him play.
He had probably recognized her, that’s why he was watching. Shen Ci thought nothing more of it, turning back to smile and chat with her sister.
“Did you hear that? Shen Ci just compensated that woman with two yuan!” Shao Yu whispered. “But isn’t her family supposed to be poor?”
Then his eyes widened, as if struck by revelation. “She and Li Xiao broke up. Could it be… she found herself a rich sugar daddy?”
Qu Yang’s expression darkened. He looked up sharply. “Don’t spout nonsense without evidence. Are you eating or not? If not, we’re leaving.”
“Eat, eat, of course.” Shao Yu hunched his shoulders, laughing nervously. “Anyway, thanks to you we get to enjoy this fancy place. Later when I stream, just sit behind me again—viewers love it when you appear. Bet I’ll get more gifts.”
That evening, after dinner, Shen Ci dropped her sister back at school, waiting until she disappeared into the dorm before leaving.
Back at her hotel, she took a bath, then lounged on the sofa, idly scrolling through DouDou videos.
Soon, she stumbled upon a livestream—from Li Xiao’s dorm.
Shao Yu sat in front of the camera, while Qu Yang sat in the back, silent as a mannequin.
The chat was flooded with people fangirling over Qu Yang, gifts pouring in. Shao Yu grinned so wide his face nearly split.
Qu Yang just sat there, blank and emotionless, like a handsome model.
Shen Ci chuckled to herself, then casually topped up her account with ten yuan and sent twenty Carnival gifts in a row.
(End of Chapter)