Chapter 26 still pretends he knows how to manipulate her, and knows everything about her...
For the next few days, Qin Man did not go to the study room to study.
She avoided Jiang Xuchi, and he wouldn't shamelessly come to see her.
On the surface, everything seemed peaceful, but in reality, Qin Man had already received her fourth package from her dressing room.
All of these were jewelry and ornaments given to them by Jiang Xuchi.
Every time Qin Man saw that velvet box with the logo engraved on it, she would leave it untouched, close the door after changing her clothes, and not touch it.
However, its numbers are increasing.
One box after another, stacking higher and higher.
Speechless.
Qin Man couldn't help but seek out Jiang Xuchi.
It was just lunchtime, and Qin Man went around to the back playground and found Jiang Xuchi on a bench along the sycamore-lined avenue of the school.
"Here you go, I don't need it." Qin Man threw all the boxes at herself.
Jiang Xuchi leaned back in his chair, sitting loosely, and took a box from his pocket, asking her, "Don't you like it?"
Qin Man remained silent.
She doesn't lie; she's loved this brand of jewelry since she was little, so how could she stop liking it just because of Jiang Xuchi?
“That’s what it means to like someone,” Jiang Xuchi said with a smile.
"I hate you," Qin Man said. "You're not allowed to send me anything anymore."
After Qin Man finished speaking, she turned and left.
Jiang Xuchi looked at the boxes in his arms, then irritably swept them all onto the floor. Some jewelry boxes were opened, and sparkling diamonds scattered all over the floor, covered in dust.
He stared at it for a while, then slowly picked it up from the ground and wiped it clean.
Dazzling jewels should not be tarnished.
Just like Qin Man, she shouldn't be plain.
He wouldn't allow it.
...
These past few days, Qin Man hasn't gone to the study room after school.
Qin Chen said he would pick her up from school, and he really did, but this time it was just that older sister.
Gu Lingqing, driving, asked, "Manman, what would you like to have for dinner?"
Where is my brother?
"Your brother? Who knows where he went? He just told me to take you out for a nice meal and that he wanted to bring Auntie along, but she seems to be very busy lately."
Qu Lan has been busy with company matters lately, but Qin Chen hasn't been of much help since he came back.
Qin Man was not happy. "My brother is such a good-for-nothing. He doesn't help Mom at all."
Gu Lingqing smiled and, unusually, said something nice about Qin Chen: "Actually, your brother is also very worried about you. He's in New Zealand, and he answers every call you make, but he keeps everyone else's phone on silent."
Qin Man pursed her lips and didn't say anything more.
Gu Lingqing led Qin Man to a private house. Just as they reached the door, several girls suddenly greeted Gu Lingqing.
"Lingqing!"
"Qingqing, what a coincidence! Are you also craving this restaurant's red wine beef?"
Gu Lingqing smiled and replied, "No, I brought my sister here for dinner. I drove, so I don't drink."
Several girls went to see Qin Man and then exclaimed "Wow!"
"What a cute girl."
"She looks just like a doll."
"How come your parents are so good at having children? How did they manage to have such a beautiful little sister?"
Qin Man discovered that someone with Gu Lingqing's personality would also have a group of particularly enthusiastic and outgoing friends. She didn't feel embarrassed, but she just didn't feel like talking much.
Gu Lingqing waved her hand, "That girl just finished class and is starving. Let's go order some food first."
As it happened, the group ended up sitting together at adjacent tables.
Gu Lingqing smiled apologetically at Qin Man, "My girlfriends are just like that, don't mind them."
He then handed the menu to Qin Man.
The menu didn't list prices, only set meals. Normally, you need to make a reservation for this kind of restaurant, but Gu Lingqing didn't. Whenever she came to eat, a chef would cook for her, and a table would always be reserved for her.
Qin Man ordered what she wanted to eat and sat silently to the side.
The restaurant's lighting was exquisite, making the jewelry on Gu Lingqing and the others sparkle. Their attire was very sophisticated, even though it seemed casual.
One of my friends suddenly asked, "Little sister, your earrings are so pretty, they suit you so well."
Today, Qin Man is wearing a pair of earrings she had a long time ago. They're not a new style for the season, and the design is a bit outdated, but they're glamorous enough for Qin Man to pull off.
That's why Gu Lingqing's sisters noticed her.
Most people can't pull off such an old style.
Qin Man smiled slightly but didn't say anything.
Another older sister sighed, "It's so good to be young."
Gu Lingqing laughed and said, "You're not allowed to say that. You're making me sound old."
“It’s clearly Manman who looks great in this kind of jewelry,” Gu Lingqing turned to Qin Man, “Let’s go shopping together sometime. The new V brand piece will definitely suit you.”
Qin Man: "No need, sister, I also..."
She wanted to say that she buys things herself every month, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Gu Lingqing realized something and gently added, "It's okay. You know, when Qin Chen accompanied me to pick out jewelry, he would always tease me, saying that it didn't suit me and that my sister should wear it instead. He's so annoying."
Qin Man forced a smile, but found herself unable to manage it.
Even though Gu Lingqing was talking about other topics, her girlfriends would occasionally chime in with a few words.
Their circle is extremely exclusive. If the other person can join in the conversation, they are considered one of their own; if they can't, it's considered shameful.
Qin Man can pretend that because she is a child, she can also pretend that she doesn't understand anything.
But when they asked her about herself, Qin Man realized that she had fallen far behind.
So they remained even more silent.
The meal was eaten very quickly.
Before leaving, Gu Lingqing went to pay the bill, with her friends standing nearby. When Gu Lingqing returned, one of her friends pulled her aside and whispered something:
"Take your sister to buy some new clothes. Don't be so stingy. This isn't like you."
In other words, it refers to Qin Mantu.
Qin Man could hear it.
Qin Man was already feeling awkward during the meal, unable to keep up with their conversation, and Gu Lingqing was also mindful of her reserved nature.
Everyone seemed unhappy.
At this moment, her pride was amplified to an extreme, hanging in mid-air, and was directly ignited by her friend's words.
She walked over, her face bearing the innocent smile typical of a student.
"Auntie, you're right."
Qin Man directly removed her earrings and threw them into the trash can in front of them.
Then he turned and walked out.
She was young and impetuous, valuing vanity above all else, but you can't blame her. She's always been pampered since childhood, so how could she bear such humiliation?
Those friends all fell silent.
Gu Lingqing took a breath and shook her head. Qin Man's actions reminded her of Qin Chen, and she didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.
She turned to the group of women and said, "Don't come to this store again. I will contact the manager to cancel your memberships."
After that meal, Gu Lingqing didn't mention the matter at all and took Qin Man home.
But as Qin Man got out of the car, Gu Lingqing couldn't help but say:
"I wish your brother hadn't changed like you."
Qin Man looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Gu Lingqing smiled and waved her hand, "What happened today won't happen again."
...
Even though Gu Lingqing told her not to worry about it, this matter still became a thorn in Qin Man's side.
She never imagined that an earring, a necklace, a bracelet—jewelry imbued with illusory meaning—would become so crucial, impossible to ignore or disregard.
Qin Man's pride cannot be broken, so she must make a choice.
After school, Qin Man opened the cabinet and saw that there were twice as many jewelry boxes as a few days ago, even filling half of the cabinet.
Her back began to feel numb.
She thought she had been clear, decisive, and ruthless enough. Any normal person with self-respect would have stopped bothering her after hearing that.
But Jiang Xuchi is not a normal person.
When he's not talking, no one knows what he's thinking. His classmates are afraid to be cold to him or say anything in front of him because of his family background, so he has no friends.
He had no friends, no one knew his past, and no one understood him.
But Qin Man knew.
Jiang Xuchi actually understands her very well.
He knew how to manipulate her and knew all her weaknesses.
Qin Man couldn't resist opening a jewelry box. Inside lay a pair of beautiful snowflake earrings, their extravagant, full-diamond style perfectly complementing Qin Man's features.
In the past, everyone praised her, saying that her eyebrows and eyes looked best when adorned with jewelry.
From a young age, her mother and father loved to buy her jewelry. Even Qin Chen, with his foul mouth, would compliment her on her birthday, saying how beautiful she looked in the princess crown.
Qin Man opened one, and couldn't help but open a second one.
Then they opened them one by one and tried them on one by one.
The classroom was empty. She sat alone in her seat, looking at herself in the mirror, admiring the jewels shimmering in the sunset light.
Her glorious and carefree past, that exquisite life that has vanished.
Just like these jewels, they belonged to her all along.
Qin Man ultimately took them back and put them in her jewelry box. Then, the next morning, she chose one of them to wear.
Before the school bell rang, Qin Man was surrounded by a group of her friends.
Someone recognized her earrings and exclaimed, "Manman, you look so good in G's new designs, they're so beautiful!"
Qin Man looked up and smiled.
As a result, she met the gaze of Jiang Xuchi, who had just entered the classroom.
Qin Man's smile froze, her fingers slowly clenched, and she felt inexplicably guilty.
But Jiang Xuchi gave these to her willingly, so why should she be so nervous?
Qin Man looked displeased and looked away from him, so she didn't see the smile on his lips.
The school bell rang, and everyone scattered.
Jiang Xu slowly walked past Qin Man.
Qin Man rested her chin on her hand and heard him say in a low voice, "It's very beautiful."
You don't need to tell me.
Qin Man couldn't help but roll her eyes.
*
A corner of the study room after school.
Qin Man was pinned to the table by Jiang Xuchi, who gently patted her waist and whispered in her ear, "I told you long ago, you're just suited to these sparkly things."
Qin Man leaned against the hard tabletop, which was a bit uncomfortable.
She tilted her head, pointed the earring at him, and said with a hint of pride, "Of course."
Arrogance was the barrier she built, but Jiang Xuchi not only failed to break it down, but instead made it even stronger.
Because Jiang Xuchi likes her like this.
I only like her like this.
“Then why were you pretending a few days ago?” Jiang Xuchi said.
Qin Man: "..."
She's just pretending; she's simply given up.
From that day on, Jiang Xuchi sent more and more gifts, becoming increasingly unrestrained, almost filling Qin Man's jewelry table.
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