Chapter 12 So Good
Wen Ling couldn't help but laugh.
But she didn't dare to be too blatant. She curled her lips into a smile, took a bite of steak, and reminded herself to stay calm.
The next second, the person next to her suddenly leaned closer. Before she could react to what he was going to do, Wen Ling was so frightened that she cried out.
Shang Chen used his strength to miraculously turn her around, chair and all, so that they were face to face. Wen Ling was so shocked that she forgot to chew her steak, which was stuck in her mouth.
Shang Chen placed his hands on either side of her chair, completely encircling her in his arms. His face was still a little red, clearly showing some shyness, but when he spoke, he pretended to be fierce: "Forget everything that just happened, and don't tell anyone else."
Wen Ling came to her senses.
She blinked, her brows furrowing slightly, and cooperated perfectly: "...Wh-what is it? I don't know."
Her reaction was both expected and somewhat beyond his expectations. Shang Chen thought she would honestly assure him that she wouldn't tell anyone, but he didn't expect this kind of answer.
He stared at her for a long time, noticing her still teary eyes, reddened corners of her eyes, flushed cheeks, puffed-out cheeks, and slightly parted cherry lips—every part of her exuded innocent cuteness.
The shame quietly faded away, replaced by her appearance filling his heart. Shang Chen smiled gently and suddenly patted her head: "Good girl."
"..."
Just like her brother, she likes to pat her head and praise her, and sometimes she will pinch her cheeks. However, now that she has grown up, her brothers have become more restrained and will no longer rub her cheeks, so all that is left is the action of patting her head.
She had been about to tease him about whether it was the rabbit, but his sudden action made her swallow her words. Wen Ling's heart started racing. She stood up, turned her chair around, and focused intently on eating her steak.
After a while, the door to the private room opened.
The waiter brought in the dessert—blueberry dessert. Wen Ling loved blueberry-flavored cakes, but she didn't remember ordering them.
"...Did you order this?" Wen Ling asked Shang Chen, her eyes sparkling. "You like blueberry sweethearts too?"
"no."
Shang Chen said to her bluntly, "I ordered this for you. Do you like it?"
He asked the question knowing the answer, but Wen Ling felt that Shang Chen understood her very well. Sure enough, there was a reason why she liked being with him.
“I like it, but…” Wen Ling touched her slightly full stomach, “I can’t eat it right now. Can I take it back and share it with my roommate?”
"It's up to you to decide."
The original plan was for Wen Ling to treat Shang Chen to a meal, but it inexplicably turned into a trip to an amusement park. Even the meal was paid for by Shang Chen, so it wasn't her turn to pay the bill. Shang Chen acted too quickly.
As Wen Ling stepped out of the private room, she was still a little confused. Did she still consider this a way of repaying his favor?
As she reached the door, Wen Ling suddenly remembered something. She turned around and almost bumped into Shang Chen behind her.
He was holding the cake in his hand: "What's wrong?"
Wen Ling glanced at the chair where Shang Chen had been sitting, where the rabbit hat was still draped. She walked over and draped the hat and scarf over her arm.
Shang Chen: "..."
He deliberately didn't remind her.
I'm afraid that if she takes it back and sees this hat, she'll be reminded of the embarrassing things he's done.
Seeing that he was staring at her as if he wanted to snatch her away, Wen Ling gripped her even tighter and reminded him, "This is a gift for me, it's mine now."
Shang Chen rubbed his nose helplessly, making a last-ditch effort: "When you get back, you're not allowed to complain about this to Wen He. No, you're not allowed to mention it to anyone."
They would occasionally video chat or call each other in the dormitory, talking about everything. Shang Chen always felt that one day, Wen Ling would unintentionally mention this matter when chatting with Wen He.
He didn't want to be laughed at, especially by Wen He, whom he disliked.
Wen Ling nodded, raising three fingers to swear: "I, I really—"
Before she could finish speaking, Shang Chen pressed her hand down: "I understand, I believe you."
…
Around three or four in the afternoon, Wen Ling was still out shopping when she kept receiving messages from Wen He.
When asked when she would return, and inquiring whether Shang Chen had done anything strange to her, Wen Ling answered all her questions.
Even so, Wen He was still worried and urged her to come back soon, probably because he was afraid that if she spent too much time with Shang Chen, Shang Chen's sweet words would win her over.
Wen Ling: [You don't know yet? What's wrong? Is there something you need?]
Wen He, upon seeing this, was so angry she almost vomited blood: "What's so fun about being with him? I'll drive you out for a drive next week."
Wen Ling tentatively suggested: 【Okay, but I feel Shang Chen is a pretty nice guy. Is there some misunderstanding between you two? Why don't you try shaking hands and making up? ^_^】
Wen He: "..."
Wen He coldly typed a few words: "Choose him or me."
Wen Ling hadn't expected him to be so resistant: 【You, you, you, I won't say anymore!】
Then she sent another message: 【I'm going back now, don't worry.】
They didn't do much in the afternoon, just wandered around. The two didn't talk much, mostly remaining silent. Wen Ling was indeed a bit tired from walking around, and after a moment of hesitation, she tugged at Shang Chen's sleeve and said, "Now... let's go back?"
"Don't want to shop anymore?" Shang Chen looked at her. "Tired?"
He glanced at the time subconsciously; it was only four o'clock. He had originally planned to have dinner together some more, but seeing the weariness in Wen Ling's eyes, he didn't try to persuade her any further: "Okay, let's go back."
I got back into the car and turned on the heater.
Wen Ling took off the scarf, then suddenly remembered something, and looked at him hesitantly while still holding the scarf.
Shang Chen was constantly paying attention to her situation.
He noticed the complexity in her eyes and took the initiative to ask, "Is there something you want to say?"
"Hmm..." Although she knew he probably wouldn't tell, she was still a little worried. She lowered her head and twirled her fingers as she spoke, "Can I not mention to Wen He about being tricked today? I'm afraid he'll worry."
This matter can be known to anyone in the family, except Wen He. He won't care about the 20,000 yuan he was cheated out of; he'll only care about her feelings after she's been cheated. Once she finds out, he'll definitely beg his older brother and the others to find that person's address, and then rush over to teach him a lesson himself.
Shang Chen raised an eyebrow: "Why do you think I'll tell him?"
Wen Ling hesitated, "...Just in case, it's better to remind you."
After all, they're in the same dorm, they see each other every day, and they might start chatting about it one day, and then, in a moment of excitement, they might unintentionally reveal it to others.
It's clear that Wen Ling is really worried that Wen He will find out.
Shang Chen gripped the steering wheel tightly, feeling genuinely... envious and jealous!
Even if that person was her younger brother, with whom she had lived for over a decade and who was related by blood.
She knows him so well and always considers him in everything she does.
When will Shang Chen receive the same treatment from her?
"No." Shang Chen stared blankly at the road ahead, his tone flat and indifferent. "I won't tell him. I'm even a little looking forward to his reaction when he finds out we have a secret."
Wen Ling: "..."
For a long while, Wen Ling couldn't close her mouth.
It shouldn't be that they'll actually fight, right?
…
Whether they would fight or not is unknown, but Wen Ling almost got into a fight with Wen He. She had just gotten off the bus at the school gate when Wen He, who had been waiting for a long time, suddenly jumped out from some corner.
Like going through a security check, he thoroughly checked her from head to toe, front to back and left to right. Only after confirming that she was alright did he breathe a sigh of relief, put his arm around her shoulder, and was about to leave gracefully.
Shang Chen was still giving some instructions to his driver behind him.
Wen Ling felt it would be impolite to leave like this, so she pushed him away, saying, "Not yet, say goodbye to him."
Wen He pouted: "There's nothing to say."
"Wen...He!"
Normally, Wen He would have obediently let go.
But the other person was Shang Chen, and he wasn't happy to listen. He jokingly took the bunny hat from her hand and changed the subject: "Did you buy this while shopping? It's quite cute. Here, sis, let me put it on you—"
I turned my head and met a face devoid of any emotion.
Wen He immediately felt guilty, released his grip on her hands, and hummed, "Go on, go on, I'll wait for you."
Wen Ling then smiled, snatched the hat back, and emphasized to him, "This is a gift that Shang Chen won for me; you can't buy it."
Wen He: "..."
He roared furiously at Wen Ling's retreating figure, "What's so great about you? I can win a hundred back for you!"
Wen Ling curled her lips and ignored the childish girl.
Outside of school holidays, when driving into the school is not allowed, Shang Chen would park his car at the gate and have the driver who arrived earlier drive it back, while explaining some details about how to maintain the car.
Even though he didn't have eyes in the back of his head, Shang Chen heard Wen He taking the people away. He only glanced back at their playful backs before quickly accepting the fact.
Although I didn't say goodbye to him, I felt a little bittersweet.
But it's okay, he can always cheer himself up.
After the driver drove away, Shang Chen stood there for a while. When he was about to leave, he suddenly realized that he hadn't given her the blueberry cake he was carrying. He was just relieved that he had another reason to see her.
He turned around and saw Wen Ling standing in front of him.
She tilted her head, a faint smile on her lips. In Shang Chen's eyes, she seemed to be glowing, and his heart pounded rapidly.
He remained remarkably calm: "Why are you back again?"
Sensing a hint of resentment in his words, he coughed, gently shook the cake in his hand, and smiled, "You forgot to bring this, didn't you?"
“No…” Wen Ling shook her head, “I came to say goodbye to you.”
She smiled and looked at him earnestly: "Shang Chen, thank you. I had a lot of fun today."
Shang Chen couldn't take it anymore, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
Wen Ling continued, "Although there was a little...trouble, I still feel very happy."
Wen He behind her was still impatiently urging her on. She stuck out her tongue and shook her head helplessly: "Then... I'll go first."
"good…"
Shang Chen handed her the cake.
But she couldn't bear to let go. Wen Ling couldn't take it, so she hummed in confusion.
Shang Chen's voice was a little hoarse again: "Can I ask you out again next time?"
Shang Chen knew perfectly well that today's date was because of his help that day. If he asked her out again without a good reason, Wen Ling wouldn't agree. But he didn't want the two of them to lose contact like that.
“…Hmm, it’s not clear yet.” Wen Ling didn’t give a definitive answer. “It might… depend on the situation.”
I'm already quite satisfied that I didn't directly reject him. (Author's note:)
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