Zhou Shanshan looked as if she had seen her savior. “Beicheng, you’re finally here…”
After Gu Beicheng got to the bottom of what had happened, he suppressed the urge to shove her away. “You hit someone?”
Zhou Shanshan sobbed softly. “It really wasn’t my fault. You know I’m timid. I was riding my horse just fine when she suddenly charged at me. I was scared to death and almost fell off…”
Gu Beicheng did indeed dote on her, but only on the condition that she was obedient and sensible, and didn’t cause him trouble.
But instead, the first time she came out with him, she had hit one of Qin Shi’s people.
Zhou Shanshan clutched her waist with a wronged expression. “And Second Master Qin kicked me for no reason at all. It hurts so much, boohoo…”
Ji Ziming thought: Holy crap, this is beyond stupid! If I had a girlfriend like this, I’d definitely go jump in the sea!
What kind of brain would come up with the idea of complaining about Qin Shi right in front of Gu Beicheng?
“Shut up!” Gu Beicheng’s face darkened. “What, do you want me to get justice for you?”
Zhou Shanshan bit her lip and said matter-of-factly, “I’m your girlfriend. If I’m being bullied, shouldn’t you be on my side?”
Gu Beicheng laughed in exasperation. “Do you think I’d side with you over Qin Shi?”
Zhou Shanshan froze, then her face went pale.
If he chose her, he’d definitely offend Qin Shi.
And she didn’t have the confidence to believe that Gu Beicheng would turn against his childhood brother for her sake.
But she refused to accept it.
At the very least, she was the girlfriend Gu Beicheng had acknowledged.
What was Sheng Qing?
She was nothing but an outsider living under the Qin family’s roof.
If this matter was just dropped today, where would her pride go?
With that thought, Zhou Shanshan said directly, “I won’t hold a grudge against Second Master Qin for kicking me. As long as Sheng Qing apologizes to me, we’ll call it even.”
Gu Beicheng felt like beating her to death.
Not holding a grudge against Qin Shi?
What right did she have to not hold a grudge?
Anyone with half a brain wouldn’t have said something like demanding an apology from Sheng Qing.
Had he been out of his mind when he pursued her?
Gu Beicheng shoved her aside and said directly to Qin Shi, “Second Brother, you handle it however you see fit. I won’t say a word.”
That was his way of drawing a line between himself and Zhou Shanshan.
Zhou Shanshan was dumbfounded, unable to believe it. “You’re not going to stand up for me?”
Gu Beicheng sneered. “You’re too much for me. I can’t handle you.”
Zhou Shanshan could obviously hear the sarcasm in his words. Her face flushed white, then red.
Gu Beicheng then looked at Sheng Qing. “You’re Qin Shi’s sister, so that makes you my sister too. This is my fault today. As your older brother, let me apologize to you.”
Zhou Shanshan was stunned.
He was even apologizing to Sheng Qing?!
Sheng Qing naturally couldn’t blame him. She could only count herself unlucky. “I’m fine.”
“How are you fine?” Qin Shi lifted her chin and examined her face from side to side. “Besides your face, where else did she hit you?”
Being held by the chin and scrutinized in front of everyone made Sheng Qing a bit uncomfortable. “Nowhere else…”
Qin Shi grabbed her arm and pulled her back in front of him. “Stand still. Don’t fidget. Does it hurt or not?”
Sheng Qing felt a little helpless. “It really doesn’t hurt.”
“She hit you, and you didn’t know to dodge?”
“I’ll know next time.”
“Next time?” Qin Shi seemed irritated. “You’re hoping there’s a next time?”
Sheng Qing quickly explained, “I was just speaking casually.”
Qin Shi said coolly, “You’re right. If we don’t teach her a lesson this time, the next blind fool who dares to mess with you will think twice.”
A cold glint flickered in his eyes. “However they bullied you, you hit back just the same.”
Zhou Shanshan’s face instantly turned deathly pale. She had assumed Sheng Qing was just an outsider in the Qin family.
She never expected Qin Shi to defend her so fiercely.
Everyone around held their breath.
Qin Shi had a fearsome reputation—at just twenty, he’d already picked up a gun and killed men on the battlefield.
Unlike them, who at most chased girls and flaunted their wealth, living like aimless, spoiled rich kids.
When Qin Shi got angry, he meant business.
And when he wanted to teach someone a lesson, he went all the way.
Sheng Qing was stunned.
She hadn’t expected him to be this furious.
She didn’t quite understand—it wasn’t him who got hit, so why was he so angry?
At this point, logically speaking, Qin Shi shouldn’t have any fondness for her. If anything, he probably disliked her a little.
His fierce protectiveness now caught her completely off guard.
Sheng Qing let out a soft sigh and tugged at his sleeve. “Second Brother, let it go.”
Qin Shi frowned. “What, afraid I can’t have your back?”
“No, look—I’m perfectly fine.”
He was tall; standing beside him, she only reached his chest.
Every time she spoke, she had to look up at him. “Nothing happened to me. Why make a scene out of it?”
Zhou Shanshan was, after all, still Gu Beicheng’s girlfriend.
Although Gu Beicheng had made it clear he wouldn’t get involved, if they actually went after Zhou Shanshan, he’d definitely feel uncomfortable about it.
She didn’t want to cause friction between the brothers over her.
Sheng Qing rose slightly on her tiptoes, closing the distance between her and Qin Shi, and whispered by his ear:
“Gu Beicheng is your good friend. He’s given you plenty of face by not defending Zhou Shanshan. Don’t embarrass him in front of all these people because of me.”
Qin Shi felt a warm breath brush past his ear, and something in his chest seemed to be tickled by a feather.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he looked down at the girl who was almost in his arms.
Honestly, if she’d used this opportunity to make a scene and pulled the Qin family’s connections to teach Zhou Shanshan a lesson, Qin Shi—out of pity for her—would have stepped in for her.
But his opinion of her would have dropped considerably.
After that, he probably wouldn’t have gotten too close to her either.
But instead, she did the opposite.
She stood from his perspective, urging him to let things go.
That gave Qin Shi a different feeling entirely.
It was as if she’d become part of the Qin family, acting and thinking from the family’s standpoint.
Qin Shi’s eyes deepened. “Sure you don’t want to teach her a lesson and get it out of your system?”
Sheng Qing thought about it seriously, then shook her head. “Let’s just drop it. I don’t want to bite back and end up with a mouthful of fur.”
Surprise flickered in Qin Shi’s eyes, followed by a low chuckle.
Zhou Shanshan’s face was a picture of mixed emotions—there was no way she missed that Sheng Qing was calling her a dog.
But how could she dare to snap back now?
With Qin Shi backing her, who would dare touch Sheng Qing now!
Qin Shi raised a hand and ruffled her hair. “Since you say you won’t hold a grudge, then we’ll let it go.”
Sheng Qing breathed a sigh of relief.
Good—he hadn’t made a big fuss.
“Still want to hang around?”
Sheng Qing shook her head. “No, I’m tired. I want to go back.”
“Then let’s go.”
Since Qin Shi, the “host,” was leaving, the onlookers gradually dispersed as well.
Sheng Qing thought of something and suddenly said, “Second Brother, you go ahead. I’ll catch up in a minute.”
Qin Shi was just about to ask what she was doing when he saw her run off without looking back.
The direction she ran off in was toward that kid Xue Yuan.
“…” Qin Shi felt a sudden tightness in his chest.
He ground his molars. This damn kid—once she had a love interest, she completely forgot about everyone else.
Who was it that stood up for her just now?
Not only did she not thank him, but she went running off to someone else right under his nose.
The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became.
**
Sheng Qing had found Xue Yuan to return his riding crop.
This equestrian center wasn’t open to the public, and all the riding equipment was custom-made. The crop in her hand had Xue Yuan’s name engraved on it.
Xue Yuan hadn’t expected her to come looking for him, and couldn’t help feeling pleasantly surprised: “You could have just given it to one of the staff.”
“I borrowed it from you, so it’s better to return it to you in person.” Sheng Qing smiled and handed him the crop. “I should get going. See you around.”
Xue Yuan felt a pang of disappointment. “Alright, hopefully we’ll meet again sometime.”
Sheng Qing turned to leave, took two steps, then stopped.
She looked back at him. “That’s it? You don’t have anything you want to say to me?”
Xue Yuan was taken aback. “Huh?”
What a dullard.
But dull was fine. In her last life, she’d been schemed against by Lu Yunan. In this life, finding someone simple wasn’t a bad thing.
She pulled out her phone and waved it. “Want to add each other on WeChat?”
Once it sank in, Xue Yuan’s eyes lit up with barely concealed joy. “Can I?”
“Don’t you like me? How are you going to pursue me without adding me on WeChat?”
Xue Yuan’s face flushed bright red, flustered and nervous but also excited.
So his feelings had been that obvious?
Come to think of it, there had been plenty of people at the equestrian center, but he hadn’t spoken to any of them—he’d only gone to teach her how to ride.
His intentions were plain as day.
And she’d taken the initiative to add him on WeChat… did that mean she… liked him too?
On the way back, Xue Yuan couldn’t resist opening Sheng Qing’s Moments.
She rarely posted—just a few entries here and there, mostly casual photos of food.
Xue Yuan thought for a moment, then sent Sheng Qing a message: “I know a private home-style restaurant with really good food. Would you like me to take you there sometime?”
At that moment, Sheng Qing was sitting in the passenger seat.
Qin Shi had one hand on the steering wheel, driving.
The car was quiet. When the message notification chimed, Sheng Qing pulled out her phone.
After reading Xue Yuan’s message, she typed back: “Sure.”
Then added: “How did you know I like eating?”
Xue Yuan: “I looked through your Moments. I wanted to see what you usually like.”
Sheng Qing couldn’t help but smile, thinking to herself that this guy really was honest.
Qin Shi glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “What are you smiling about?”
Sheng Qing replied to the message while answering him: “I’m chatting with Xue Yuan. He knows a good private restaurant and wants to take me out to eat.”