Chapter 33 Pomelo Martini You mean, when there are fewer people, I…
"Sister-in-law, isn't this game just..."
Before Jiang Wanqi could finish speaking, there was a knock on the door.
"I'll go see who it is."
Jiang Wanqi opened the door, and Jiang Shiyu was standing outside. She was about to ask Jiang Shiyu if he had come to see Shen Cen when she saw Jiang Shiyu gesture for her to shut up immediately, then he closed the door and pulled her away.
Shen Cen didn't see who knocked on the door. Seeing Jiang Wanqi leave, she assumed it was Fu Cheng looking for her.
She took out her phone again, ready to read the announcement carefully once more.
Actually, soliciting marriage proposal ideas from players at this time is both reasonable and logical. In the side story update two weeks ago, the male protagonist had already had a more in-depth conversation with her.
Although the plot was presented subtly, the tender and romantic atmosphere still made Shen Cen blush.
Now that the relationship has stabilized, the next step is to get married, which is why the official team of "Summer Echoes" released this announcement at this time.
While Shen Cen was still looking at pictures of marriage proposals posted online, Jiang Wanqi returned. Her eyes held a slight surprise, as if she hadn't yet recovered from her confusion, and her expression was quite serious.
"Wanqi, what's wrong? Who was looking for you just now?" Shen Cen asked with concern.
Jiang Wanqi has always been lively and cheerful, and this is the first time Shen Cen has seen her like this.
Jiang Wanqi shook her head, her expression returning to normal: "It's nothing, sister-in-law. I just dealt with some things, just a few small matters."
Actually, it was Jiang Shiyu who called her over and told her that Shen Cen didn't know her true identity.
Jiang Wanqi's reaction was similar to Cheng Jingyan's. Her pupils widened, and she was almost about to reach out and touch Jiang Shiyu's forehead to see if he had a fever: "Brother, are you crazy?"
Jiang Shiyu said calmly, "I have my own plans. Just be careful not to give anything away in front of your sister-in-law."
It seemed that Jiang Shiyu had no intention of telling her the reason, and Jiang Wanqi knew that she couldn't possibly get it out of him.
The brother and sister walked onto the balcony, and Jiang Wanqi's gaze towards her brother became complicated.
She remembered that time in New York, when Jiang Shiyu had called her back from afar just to pick out a birthday present for Shen Cen. At that moment, she knew that her brother, who had always been so indifferent to women, was completely and utterly infatuated this time.
She had heard rumors about the background of "Summer Echoes" a long time ago, but she didn't believe them at all before. After the incident in New York, she became skeptical. But after returning this time and seeing Jiang Shiyu's series of actions, she realized that this was not the brother she remembered.
What a romantic!
"By the way, brother, I saw sister-in-law playing 'Summer Echoes'," Jiang Wanqi reminded him.
“I know.” Jiang Shiyu was not surprised.
He already knew about it when Shen Cen accidentally sent him a screenshot of the game's male protagonist.
For Jiang Shiyu, restoring the two retracted text messages was a piece of cake.
"So, that rumor about the game, is it true?"
"What do you think?" Although it was a rhetorical question, Jiang Shiyu's tone clearly indicated an admission.
“My Jiang family has never produced a romantic in generations, but I never expected that two of them would suddenly appear in our generation.” Jiang Wanqi clicked her tongue twice. “So you had a crush on your sister-in-law when you were in school?”
"Even earlier."
Jiang Wanqi couldn't help but cough: "Alright, brother, stop talking. Sometimes knowing too much isn't a good thing; it makes it easier to give yourself away."
Jiang Shiyu didn't speak, but opened his phone and tapped something on the screen.
Half a minute later, Jiang Wanqi's phone rang, showing that she had received a remittance of two million.
"Is the hush money enough?"
Jiang Wanqi was pampered and spoiled since childhood. Her parents gave her the best of everything, so two million yuan could not buy her over.
"Whether or not there's hush money is irrelevant, but I need your help with something."
"To set you up with Fu Cheng?"
"That's right!"
Jiang Shiyu hesitated for a moment, then thought, "Fine, what's wrong with selling out my brother for my wife?" He nodded, "Okay, but don't blame me if it doesn't work out."
"Don't curse me! When you go out in the next few days, you and your sister-in-law will be together. Brother Fu Cheng definitely won't abandon me then, so I'll just naturally go with him."
Jiang Shiyu chuckled softly: "Jiang Wanqi, even if I don't help you, I will always stay with your sister-in-law."
"Okay, it's settled then." Jiang Wanqi waved her phone. "I'll gladly accept this pocket money."
The brother and sister came out from the balcony, and Jiang Wanqi still kindly reminded Jiang Shiyu: "Brother, although I don't know why you don't tell your sister-in-law your true identity now, I still have to remind you that if she finds out about this before you confess, you may have gone too far, and she may be angry."
Jiang Shiyu paused for a moment, then nodded: "Understood."
However, despite Jiang Wanqi's efforts to calm herself down before entering the room, the incident still had a significant impact on her. Upon seeing Shen Cen, she felt inexplicably guilty, and her demeanor became unnatural.
Shen Cen didn't suspect anything after Jiang Wanqi said she was fine.
While Jiang Wanqi was away, Shen Cen suddenly remembered that Fu Cheng was the president of Guangyi. Since Jiang Wanqi was pursuing Fu Cheng, she must have followed Fu Cheng's news a lot over the years, and naturally she would know about Guangyi's dating simulation game.
"Wanqi, you were just saying that 'Summer Echoes' is a game from Fu Cheng's company, right? I almost forgot, Fu Cheng is the president of Guangyi."
Jiang Wanqi was just wondering how to smooth things over after saying that, but when she heard Shen Cen's words, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes! Sister-in-law, that's exactly what I was thinking."
However, Jiang Wanqi sensed that Shen Cen seemed to mistakenly believe that Fu Cheng was the president of Guangyi Technology. In order to pave the way for Jiang Shiyu's later confession, she paused for three seconds before speaking: "Sister-in-law, but Guangyi is not Brother Fu Cheng's company."
"Not Fu Cheng's company?"
"Yes, Brother Fu Cheng is only the vice president. The president of Guangyi Technology is someone else, but that person is quite mysterious."
When she said the word "mysterious," Jiang Wanqi's tone was drawn out, with a hint of sarcasm.
"So that's how it is." Shen Cen felt relieved. If that's the case, then the person she has secretly loved for many years is not Fu Cheng, which is a good thing for Jiang Wanqi.
-
The next day, the four of them went to the beach near their guesthouse.
Star Bay Island is most famous for the jelly-like seawater on this beach.
The azure sea shimmered with tiny sparkles in the sunlight, and one could vaguely see the crystal-clear waves and foam churning in the water, a scene as beautiful as an oil painting.
As soon as they got out of the car, Jiang Wanqi grabbed Fu Cheng's arm, "Brother Fu Cheng, let's go over there!"
Only Jiang Shiyu and Shen Cen remained.
"Shall we go for a walk?" Shen Cen asked Jiang Shiyu. Jiang Shiyu hadn't expected Shen Cen to ask him, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his face, but he still pretended to be calm.
The two walked side by side on the beach, their arms accidentally touching. They both pretended nothing was wrong, but in reality, each touch was an accelerator of their heartbeats.
The two of them remained silent, strolling quietly along the beach, enjoying the sea breeze ruffling their hair.
The most beautiful scenery is right in front of him, and the person he loves most is right beside him. In Jiang Shiyu's view, this is already better than any love words.
However, this tranquil scene did not last long. Shen Cen suddenly tripped over a stone and staggered.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Shiyu quickly squatted down to check if Shen Cen had twisted his ankle. It was a completely subconscious reaction before his brain could even process what was happening.
The feet are a sensitive area, and as soon as Jiang Shiyu's hand touched them, Shen Cen took two steps back in surprise: "I didn't twist it."
Jiang Shiyu ignored her and stubbornly reached out to pinch her ankle. Shen Cen was very thin, and Jiang Shiyu could encircle her with just one hand.
Her face flushed instantly, and the blush didn't completely fade until Jiang Shiyu was sure she hadn't sprained her ankle and got up.
Do you want me to carry you on my back?
"No, no, there are too many people here!"
Shen Cen was very sensitive about his image and dared not make such intimate gestures in public.
“Alright,” Jiang Shiyu didn’t insist. He looked up at the road ahead, drawing out his words slowly, “But this road is quite long. I wonder how many times Teacher Shen will trip. Shall we count?”
Shen Cen: "..."
Jiang Shiyu actually dared to laugh at her!
She decided to ignore Jiang Shiyu, turned her head away, and strode forward alone, with Jiang Shiyu immediately following.
"If you won't carry me, then I can hold your hand, right?" he said, tightly wrapping his arm around Chen Cen's hand.
Shen Cen wasn't really angry. She slowed her pace, letting Jiang Shiyu hold her hand, a hint of a smile spreading across his eyes. The two resumed walking side by side as before.
This time, however, their fingers were intertwined, filling the gaps between them.
“Chen Cen”.
Hearing Jiang Shiyu suddenly call her name, Shen Cen looked up at him and asked, "Hmm?"
Jiang Shiyu seemed to be savoring something. He raised his chin, and his slightly upturned peach blossom eyes shone with a star-like brilliance. "You mean, when there are fewer people around, I can carry you on my back?"
Shen Cen: "...I didn't!"
-
On the other side.
Jiang Wanqi wore a yellow tulle mini dress today, and her carefully curled hair was adorned with a starfish hair clip in the same color, making her look energetic and lively.
Jiang Wanqi was very satisfied with her outfit today. Humming a sweet little tune, she walked to Fu Cheng's side, hooked her arm around his, and said, "Brother Fu Cheng, you can play beach volleyball over there. Let's go play together."
Fu Cheng calmly withdrew his arm: "Okay, let's go take a look."
Jiang Wanqi stood rooted to the spot, pouting, her large, round eyes instantly brimming with tears: "Brother Fu Cheng, you..."
Seeing that Jiang Wanqi was about to cry, even the usually mature and composed Fu Cheng panicked, "Xiaoqi, don't cry."
“But when we were little, you still made me hold your hand. Brother Fu Cheng, do you have someone you like, so you want to keep your distance from me?” Jiang Wanqi said, tears streaming down her face.
No.
Hearing Fu Cheng say that he didn't have anyone he liked, Jiang Wanqi's tears stopped, and her face instantly brightened. Fu Cheng took a tissue from the pocket of his white shirt and wiped away Jiang Wanqi's tears.
Jiang Wanqi stood obediently as Fu Cheng wiped away her tears, her heart already bursting with joy. Alice was right; to win over a man like Fu Cheng, being charming and coquettish was the most effective method.
If she doesn't want to hold hands, then she doesn't. She'll just pretend to twist her ankle and ask Fu Cheng to carry her on his back. Fu Cheng definitely won't refuse!
-
Shen Cen watched the two playing beach volleyball from afar.
Jiang Wanqi stood in the front row. When she caught the ball, she would jump up with a scream and high-five Fu Cheng behind her. When she missed, she would show an unhappy expression, her little mouth almost pouting to the sky, making no attempt to hide her little emotions.
She turned her head, grabbed a handful of sand, and let it slip through her fingers. She clapped her hands clean and said to Jiang Shiyu, who was staring at her intently, "Sometimes I'm quite envious of Wanqi."
Perhaps not expecting Jiang Shiyu's gaze to be so intense, she paused before speaking.
Jiang Shiyu slightly averted his gaze and asked, "What do you envy about her?"
"I envy her for being able to openly express her emotions."
I envy Jiang Wanqi for being able to act like a little girl.
But she couldn't. From a very young age, she was forced to be a sensible child. The little girl inside her seemed never to have been satisfied, never to have grown up.
When she came to her senses, Jiang Shiyu was already sitting in front of her, his gaze fixed on her, and he said earnestly, word by word:
"Chen Cen, you can do it too."
“But I…” Shen Cen opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
She once asked Fu Meihua for something she had liked for a long time, but all she got in return was, "Do you still think of yourself as a child?"
Over the years, whenever she saw those little things that girls liked, she would subconsciously say this to herself. Eventually, she would put them down.
Correspondingly, she gradually became afraid to express her emotions, and many people called her the "Iceberg Goddess," but she did not want to be that iceberg.
She wanted to be a sun. When she was in a good mood, she could shine her light; when she was in a bad mood, she could hide in the clouds and not come out all day; and when she was feeling terrible, she could cry and make it rain.
Jiang Shiyu could see it too.
He will always remember something that happened during a break in his second year of high school.
He had just finished his PE class and went with Cheng Jingyan to buy water at the convenience store near the school gate.
He took a bottle of Ramune soda from the freezer by the door and went inside, wanting to see if the new cards for a certain game had arrived. But suddenly, he heard a familiar voice, and he stopped in his tracks, looking towards two girls in first-year high school uniforms in the accessories section.
"Xiao Jie, I'd better not buy it."
“CenCen, my darling, believe me, this butterfly rhinestone hair clip looks really, really good on you.”
Jiang Shiyu's gaze shifted to the pink rhinestone hair clip on the girl's head.
His first thought was that it was truly beautiful, not just the hair clip, but the girl wearing it. If he could, he would buy all the beautiful hair clips in the world for her to wear, so she could have a different one every day.
She deserves all the good things in the world.
The two girls were still standing in front of the small mirror. He saw Shen Cen hesitate for a moment before taking off the hair clip: "My mom will definitely scold me if she sees this, and I don't think this hair clip suits me, so forget it."
"Okay, but I still think this hair clip looks especially beautiful on you. If you style your hair in a princess updo, it would be absolutely gorgeous... But if you don't want to buy it, then I won't force you. I'll treat you to ice cream!"
The two girls left hand in hand. At the very last moment, Shen Cen glanced back at the hair clip, but only for a fleeting instant before turning away and leaving again.
Jiang Shiyu remained lost in thought for several minutes, his feet unconsciously leading him towards the jewelry section. He picked up the pink rhinestone hair clip and examined it for a long time, not even noticing when Cheng Jingyan stood behind him.
Cheng Jingyan's face was full of disbelief: "Brother Yu, do you know what you took?"
Jiang Shiyu snapped out of his reverie and said calmly, "A hair clip."
"Holy crap? You have someone you like, or are you planning to go cross-dressing? But based on what I know about you, Brother Yu, the latter is more likely."
Countless girls from the International Department sent love letters to Jiang Shiyu, but he ignored them all. Cheng Jingyan even wondered if he was completely uninterested in girls.
Jiang Shiyu ignored him, paid for the hair clip and Ramune soda, and walked out of the shop.
When school ended that evening, Jiang Shiyu went to the regular high school section and put the hair clip in Shen Cen's drawer. Before leaving, he saw a piece of paper torn from a notebook on Shen Cen's desk. The paper had dates written on it, with a small emoticon after each date.
He noticed that the emoticons recorded later today were crying faces.
After pondering for an unknown amount of time, he suddenly picked up the black pen on the table, unscrewed the cap, and wrote down tomorrow's date on the next line.
They even drew facial expressions on the back.
It's a smiling face.
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Author's Note: [Crying uncontrollably] Mr. Jiang, you really are something else! I'm so upset! Xiao Cen will be so happy when she receives the hair clip the next day!!
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