13. Second Master’s Doubt: Is the Little Girl Disliking Him for Being Old?
[Si Zhanhan, why did you buy me such expensive clothes? Xiaomin said this single piece costs over a million. I can’t accept it.]
[These clothes can’t be returned. If you don’t want them, little girl, just throw them away.]
Throw them away…
Ling Qing Ruan looked at the beautiful clothes before her and hesitated again. These were all styles she liked – she couldn’t bear to discard them.
Wu Xiaomin had already picked one up to compare against herself, though the size was far too small. It was Ruan Ruan’s size – she couldn’t wear it, otherwise she might have gotten one to wear.
[Then I’ll keep them, but don’t send me anything else in the future. I have my own money.]
[So eager to cut ties with me, huh?]
[You already have a fiancée. From now on, we shouldn’t contact each other anymore.]
Ling Qing Ruan sniffled pitifully, her eyes reddening again. Si Zhanhan was nothing but a complete liar – she would never believe him again.
[Little girl, that woman isn’t my fiancée. I have no relationship with her whatsoever. Still angry?]
Si Zhanhan sat on the sofa in his black suit, legs crossed.
He truly couldn’t understand why this seemingly soft and gentle little girl was so stubborn, refusing to believe his explanations no matter what.
“Mu Yun, haven’t I been good to that young girl?”
“Second Master, you’ve been exceptionally good to her.”
“Then why does she want to leave? Does she think I’m old?” Si Zhanhan slightly furrowed his brows.
“Second Master, you’re only 28 – how could you be old? Men are still in their prime at thirty. Even if you were over thirty, you wouldn’t be old.”
“Then what’s the reason?” Si Zhanhan leaned back on the leather sofa, supporting his forehead with one hand, completely baffled.
He had never had a girlfriend before and didn’t know how to coax girls.
Especially one so much younger than him.
Ling Qing Ruan casually placed the clothes Si Zhanhan had sent her in the closet. Hearing that the temperature would drop tomorrow, and not having had time to prepare warm clothes yet, Si Zhanhan’s prepared garments came just at the right time.
Actually, this old man was still somewhat useful.
Just as Ling Qing Ruan was about to go wash up, her phone rang – the contact showed “Mom.”
Ling Qing Ruan hesitated for a moment before answering the call.
“Ruan Ruan, do you have any money right now? Can you lend Mom tens of thousands? I just lost some money playing mahjong.”
Ling Qing Ruan lowered her gaze. As expected, her mother was just like before – only contacting her when she needed money.
“Mom, I don’t have much money right now either – just a few thousand in scholarship money that needs to cover my living expenses.”
“Don’t you have that wealthy boyfriend? Now that you’ve grown up, you won’t even give your mother some money when she asks?”
Ling’s Mother’s tone instantly turned aggressive.
“Mom, I’ve already broken up with him.”
“What? You broke up with him? How could you break up with him? What about our family’s villa? Will he take it back? And the 5 million in my hands…”
Ling’s Mother was horrified, harshly scolding Ling Qing Ruan over the phone and insisting she must reconcile with Si Zhanhan no matter what.
Ling Qing Ruan put down her phone, tears streaming down her face. Other mothers cared so much about their children – why was her mother different?
“Don’t cry, Ruan Ruan darling. She’s just that kind of person. Don’t go home from now on – come live with me.” Wu Xiaomin wiped away Ling Qing Ruan’s tears.
Ruan Ruan was truly a pitiful little thing—unloved by her father and uncared for by her mother, frequently driven out of the house, surviving on scraps in their neighborhood since childhood.
“Thank you, Xiaomin.”
Ling Qing Ruan buried herself in Wu Xiaomin’s embrace, crying even more miserably, dampening her clothes once again. Her eyes were red and swollen, resembling a little rabbit—utterly pitiful.
Early the next morning, dark clouds gathered, and a fierce wind swept up fallen leaves from the ground.
Ling Qing Ruan was awakened by her alarm clock, her bleary eyes slowly opening. Several messages from Si Zhanhan lit up her phone screen.
【Little one, it’s getting cold. Remember to dress warmly.】
【Drink more milk in the morning to grow taller.】
…
Ling Qing Ruan scanned through the messages. Anyone unaware would think a father was lecturing his daughter.
【Got it.】
She replied with just three words.
After washing up and changing into fresh clothes—a stylish sweater paired with a short skirt, white shoes, a pink hat, and a small backpack—Ling Qing Ruan felt renewed.
Si Zhanhan had good taste; the clothes he picked were truly lovely.
(´｡• ᵕ •｡)
“Ruan Ruan, darling, this outfit is so pretty—so milky! I just want to snuggle with you.”
Wu Xiaomin hugged the sweet, soft girl tightly, nuzzling against her. Why was their Ruan Ruan so incredibly soft?
She even carried a unique milky fragrance that grew more delightful the more one smelled it. If Wu Xiaomin were a man, she’d sweep her off her feet right then and there.
Ling Qing Ruan, nearly suffocated from the snuggle, gently pushed Wu Xiaomin with her small hands. Her strength was too feeble to be noticed, and Wu Xiaomin continued hugging her affectionately.
At the dance studio, the moment Ling Qing Ruan entered, she captured the attention of nearly everyone present.
“So beautiful! Ling Qing Ruan looks even more stunning today.”
“Brother Lu, look! The goddess is here. Her outfit today is gorgeous too—so soft, like a little bunny.”
Lu Jinnian, wearing a white shirt under his jacket, possessed a fair and refined complexion—the epitome of a clean-cut young man.
His gaze settled on Ling Qing Ruan, a flicker of admiration passing through his clear eyes.
“Miss Gu, Ling Qing Ruan’s clothing brand seems to be the same as yours.”
“What? How could Ling Qing Ruan afford such an international luxury brand? You must be mistaken!”
Gu Qianyan cast a disdainful glance at Ling Qing Ruan. A fake young lady like her was obviously wearing counterfeits.
“They’re fakes. No need to speculate—every single item on Ling Qing Ruan is counterfeit.”
“Oh.”
The crowd nodded in agreement.
“Fakes? Gu Qianyan, what gives you the right to claim our Ruan Ruan is wearing counterfeits?” Wu Xiaomin stepped forward defiantly.
Gu Qianyan retorted, “I can tell at a glance whether they’re fake.”
“Then come and see for yourself whether they’re real or not.”
Gu Qianyan strode over and inspected the label on Ling Qing Ruan’s clothes. To her shock, they were genuine. How could this pitiful, delicate girl afford authentic CC?
Ling Qing Ruan edged closer to Wu Xiaomin, grasping her hand. “Xiaomin, let’s go over there.”
Gu Qianyan’s face darkened, but she dropped the subject to avoid further humiliation.
The dance class focused on flexibility assessments. Ling Qing Ruan passed with ease, having originally entered the dance department as the top-scoring candidate.
Gu Qianyan, however, struggled significantly. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t meet the standard, her face flushing with frustration. She finally succeeded after immense effort, collapsing exhaustedly onto the floor.
Ling Qing Ruan must be too thin and frail, which is why it’s so easy… yes, that must be the reason.
After class ended around 4 PM, Ling Qing Ruan and Wu Xiaomin left Imperial University together, planning to enjoy a proper meal outside since cafeteria food becomes tiresome after eating it for too long.
A black car passed in front of Ling Qing Ruan, through the window she could vaguely make out the handsome outline of a man inside.
Through the window, Si Zhanhan watched Ling Qing Ruan standing by the roadside – dressed in pink autumn attire with a hat, looking utterly milky and adorable.