Qiao Mei: "........."
She glanced at Ao Cang subconsciously, then lied with trembling eyelashes, saying, "Well, I had some things to take care of before I came, so I went to bed a little late last night."
The merchant's mother didn't think much of it and was just about to ask Qiao Mei some more questions when Shu Qingqing arrived at the destination.
Like Qiao Mei, Shu Qingqing was Shang Duojin's classmate and good friend. With her coming over, Shang Duojin had a reason to take her away first to pick up Shu Qingqing, so that she wouldn't have to continue to be "interrogated" by Shang's mother.
Shang's mother understood Shang Duojin's meaning and gave him a reproachful look, clearly wanting to say something.
But because Qiao Mei was there, she could only let him go.
Leaving the merchant's living room, Shang Duojin let out a heavy sigh and looked at Qiao Mei, saying, "Sister Qiao, my mother just likes to ask all sorts of questions, please don't mind her."
The Shang mother couldn't see anything unusual about Qiao Mei, but Shang Duojin was definitely capable.
He knew about Qiao Mei and Ao Cang's relationship, and he also knew that the two were already living together.
He only glanced at the way Qiao Mei had looked at Ao Cang earlier, and he guessed the general reason.
I never expected that Ao Cang, who seemed so gentle and obedient, would be so skilled in that area.
"It's nothing, but when exactly is your childhood sweetheart arriving? How can we help you then?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Duojin coughed lightly, looking a little embarrassed.
"Well, we'll talk about that after we pick up the bad woman."
Qiao Mei had no objections, but she felt that Shang Duojin seemed a little strange.
Today, because she was visiting a wealthy merchant's home, Shu Qingqing dressed differently than usual. She wore a rather formal violet dress, her chestnut-colored short hair was braided, and she wore a matching violet necklace.
Her face, which usually had a somewhat world-weary and lazy look, now seemed a bit aloof.
If she doesn't speak, it's easy for people to get the impression that she's unapproachable.
Upon discovering that Qiao Mei had arrived before her, she quickly took out the grape-flavored lollipop hanging from her mouth and waved to Qiao Mei.
This action immediately lowered her previously aloof and pretentious image by several degrees, making her seem much more down-to-earth.
"Qiaoqiao, you're here so early!"
Shu Qingqing walked up to Qiao Mei in her low-heeled leather shoes and looked at Qiao Mei's outfit today.
He noticed that she was also wearing a dress, but the color was different from hers; it was pomegranate red. He narrowed his eyes, took out a box from his smart bracelet, and handed it to her.
“This is a ruby brooch that I saw when I was choosing jewelry yesterday. I thought it would suit you perfectly, so I brought it with me today.”
Qiao Mei opened the box and looked inside. The brooch was quite small, with a ruby carved into the shape of a pomegranate fruit. It matched her red dress perfectly.
“Yes, I knew it would suit you.” Shu Qingqing nodded and noticed that Shang Duojin was staring at her resentfully. Even without saying anything, she could guess what he meant.
After being speechless, he took out another box from his smartwatch and tossed it to him.
"Oh right, and there's yours, Boss Shang. But this is a free gift from the jewelry I bought, so just make do with it. Anyway, you're a rough old man, there's no need for you to dress up too nicely."
Although he said it was a gift, Shang Duojin still saw its original price tag after opening the box.
The original price was 3,000 Star Coins. If it were really given away for free, it certainly wouldn't be that expensive.
Inside the box lay a pair of blue and white earrings, clearly chosen carefully according to his preferences.
Seeing this, Shang Duojin's lips unconsciously curved into a smile, but when Shu Qingqing looked over, he still crossed his arms arrogantly and snorted, "You have the nerve to give away freebies? But since you even brought them along, I'll reluctantly accept them!"
Shu Qingqing's face darkened instantly: "If you don't want it, just give it back. Why are you being so picky?"
Seeing that the two were about to start fighting again, Qiao Mei interrupted them and got down to business.
"Mr. Shang, please tell us how you want Qingqing and me to help you."
Once an arranged marriage has been made, it probably won't be easy to cancel it.
Shang Duojin adjusted the small blue and white striped bow tie on his shirt and coughed lightly:
"Well, that's easy. When that woman shows up, find an opportunity to call her aside and talk to her alone. Tell her that I have many suitors in the academy, and that I've already fallen for one of them. Make her give up, so that even if she gets my body, she won't get my heart!"
Qiao Mei was a little speechless: "Boss Shang, aren't you exaggerating a bit too much? If people want to verify the truth, they can find out as soon as they investigate."
She didn't know how many suitors he had, but there were plenty of people who thought he wasn't very bright.
Shu Qingqing couldn't hold back her laughter any longer: "Oh, Young Master Shang, Qiao Qiao is right. Before you brag, you should at least do your research! Besides, your childhood sweetheart isn't necessarily going to be with you. If you don't want to be with her, I have a pretty good idea."
The continuous mockery made Shang Duojin's ears burn red, and he subconsciously looked at Ao Cang, who was the last one who had not yet commented on his plan.
That look seemed to say, "He probably won't be like Shu Qingqing and the others, right?"
Ao Cang understood his meaning, patted him on the shoulder, and said tactfully, "How about we listen to Shu Qingqing's thoughts first?"
The implication was that his somewhat outlandish plan was indeed unlikely to work.
Seeing this, the little green snake Thunder wanted to join in the mockery, but it still gave Shang Duojin some face and forced itself to agree: "Yes, Master, if there is a better plan, you will definitely be the one who benefits. There's nothing wrong with us listening first."
Shang Duojin has no choice but to step down now, though he still looks a bit depressed.
He took Qiao Mei and Shu Qingqing back to his bedroom, and while sitting on the balcony enjoying the breeze and drinking coconut water, he listened to Shu Qingqing's plan.
"Instead of saying that, you might as well just tell her that you will never like women. That way, she will understand immediately."
After hearing what Shu Qingqing said, Qiao Mei almost choked on the coconut water. After coughing several times, she was about to ask if it was inappropriate.
But on second thought, it is indeed a very good idea.
If it's just that you don't like the part about your arranged marriage partner, or that you already have another girl you like, then at least you're leaving some room for maneuver.
But if you say he doesn't like women, then there's really nothing you can do about it.
We can't exactly ask our childhood sweetheart to change his/her personality, can we?
Shang Duojin felt that this would damage his image and initially refused to agree.
But Shu Qingqing said that compared to his image, which would he choose: a fiancée he didn't like at all?
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