Accidentally Pursued The Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 12
The clock on the table ticked away, second by second. Time slowly passed with Xie Qiaoyu’s clear explanations, and in the blink of an eye, it was dinner time.
The two went downstairs and happened to see Shen Tianrong standing in the living room, neatly dressed, also looking like he was about to go out.
Shen Mian walked forward and hooked her arm through Shen Tianrong’s, asking sweetly and playfully, “Dad, where are you going?”
Xie Qiaoyu stopped, quietly observing Shen Mian’s interaction with Shen Tianrong.
Shen Tianrong was fifty years old, with faintly graying hair and glasses. His perpetually stern face looked as if others owed him billions.
But this serious face softened into a benevolent smile when he saw Shen Mian.
Shen Tianrong displayed a doting father’s smile. “Going to Uncle Zhang’s place for dinner with your mom. Do you want to come along?”
Shen Mian shook her head, refusing. “I’m going out with Sister Qiaoyu.”
Only then did Shen Tianrong shift his gaze to behind Shen Mian, extending his hand to Xie Qiaoyu. “Excuse me, I’m Shen Tianrong.”
It seemed a little unbelievable, because Shen Tianrong usually went out fishing or playing ball with friends every day, rarely staying idle at home. Xie Qiaoyu had tutored Shen Mian for so long, yet this was the first time she had met Shen Tianrong in person.
Xie Qiaoyu raised her hand and shook Shen Tianrong’s, her demeanor polite and gentle. “Hello, Uncle Shen. My name is Xie Qiaoyu.”
Shen Tianrong: “I know, Xie Yangzheng’s daughter…”
He had learned about Xie Yangzheng bringing his son to their house to slander his precious daughter during his trip a while ago.
At that time, he had called his eldest son to clarify the situation.
He, Shen Tianrong, had seen many games among the wealthy, but this was the first time he encountered someone drugging their own daughter.
Upon hearing that Xie Yangzheng had originally intended to drug his own daughter, he was instantly furious. He immediately thought about what if Shen Mian had also been… But thankfully, his precious daughter was clever and astute. Not only did she see through Xie Yangzheng’s scheme, but she also made them suffer their own consequences.
While praising Shen Mian, Shen Tianrong also felt pity for Xie Qiaoyu, having such a scumbag for a father.
Shen Mian, standing to the side: You can feel pity, but can you please not bring up sore subjects?
Seeing the temperature on Xie Qiaoyu’s face drop instantly, Shen Mian tugged at Shen Tianrong’s arm, hinting for him to stop talking.
Shen Tianrong did indeed stop speaking, but then turned to Shen Mian. “Why are you tugging at me?”
Three vertical lines appeared on Shen Mian’s forehead.
Her father’s blabbermouth truly hadn’t changed a bit.
Xie Qiaoyu’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Only in the past.” Her tone was calm and composed, without a trace of fluctuation.
It was in the past, it wasn’t now, and it wouldn’t be in the future.
The moment she moved out of the Xie family, she severed her father-daughter relationship with Xie Yangzheng.
Shen Tianrong was momentarily stunned by Xie Qiaoyu’s words. “Is that so?” Then he laughed heartily. “Young lady, you have a future.”
Liang Minzhen finished changing upstairs and came downstairs, just in time to hear her husband praising Xie Qiaoyu.
She had met Xie Qiaoyu multiple times and considered her an acquaintance. Walking up to the three of them, she took Xie Qiaoyu’s hand and patted the back of it. “Thank you for taking care of Xiao Mian these past few days. You’ve gone to a lot of trouble.”
Shen Mian suddenly interjected, “Mom? What you’re saying will make Sister Qiaoyu think I’m stupid.”
Liang Minzhen released Xie Qiaoyu’s hand, tapped Shen Mian’s head, and playfully retorted, “Aren’t you?”
While Shen Mian was talking to Liang Minzhen, the ignored Shen Tianrong started chatting with Xie Qiaoyu.
After asking about Xie Qiaoyu’s major and what she wanted to do in the future, Shen Tianrong said, “Oh right, I heard you used to be a surgeon?”
Xie Qiaoyu softly replied, “Yes.” Her voice was steady as she spoke, and there was no unusual expression on her face.
But Shen Mian, who had been eavesdropping from the side, cried out inwardly.
“Why didn’t you continue to be a doc—”
Xie Yangzheng had paid to suppress the matter of Xie Zhi slandering Xie Qiaoyu, so Shen Tianrong didn’t know about it.
“Dad!” Shen Mian cried out, interrupting Shen Tianrong. She hooked an arm around each of them, leading them outside as she said, “Uncle Li seems to have already driven the car out and is waiting for you two. Hurry up, it wouldn’t be good to be late.”
Shen Mian didn’t know why Shen Tianrong, who usually only cared about flowers, birds, fish, and insects, had become so gossipy tonight, with every question digging into Xie Qiaoyu’s scars.
The best way was to quickly separate the two of them.
Shen Tianrong valued punctuality. Hearing Shen Mian say they would be late, he composed himself, pulling Liang Minzhen as he walked out. “Then Mom and Dad will leave first.”
Shen Mian waved and instructed, “Okay, tell Uncle Li to drive slowly.”
After seeing her parents off, Shen Mian walked to Xie Qiaoyu, her eyes smiling. “Sister Qiaoyu, let’s go too.”
••••
They decided to eat French cuisine, but Shen Mian had only been to that restaurant once, so she wasn’t very familiar with the way.
Shen Mian sat in the passenger seat, inhaling the sweet, non-cloying perfume scent in the car, and opened her phone to navigate the route for Xie Qiaoyu.
Just as she entered the destination, she heard the person beside her call out, “Xiao Mian.”
Shen Mian was confirming that she hadn’t made a mistake in typing the place name, so she didn’t look up, asking with her head down, “What’s wrong?”
When she didn’t get a reply for a long time, Shen Mian straightened her neck, intending to turn and ask Xie Qiaoyu what she wanted to say.
But just as she was about to move, she heard two words, not too soft nor too loud.
“Thank you.”
Xie Qiaoyu had seen everything Shen Mian had done tonight.
She truly didn’t want to answer some of Shen Tianrong’s questions. But because he was Shen Mian’s father, an elder, she had no choice but to reply.
But fortunately, before she could speak, someone had built a wall for her, shielding everything.
Shen Mian gave a dry laugh. “Everyone has things they don’t want to be mentioned. I can understand that, just like how I don’t like my mom calling me stupid.”
Xie Qiaoyu thought of Shen Mian’s interactions with Liang Minzhen, warm and lovely. A smile played on her lips. “You are very smart.”
Shen Mian accepted the compliment. “Thanks for the praise.” She crossed her index and thumb fingers, making a heart shape for Xie Qiaoyu.
The navigation route was found. Just as Shen Mian was about to set her phone on the car’s dashboard, she heard Xie Qiaoyu ask, “Have you ever been to a bar?”
A bar?
Too familiar.
Asking if she had been there, was it… going to a bar?
Thinking carefully, she hadn’t been to one since her rebirth. She suddenly felt a bit nostalgic.
Shen Mian was about to nod when she heard Xie Qiaoyu deny herself:
“Forget it, you’re still too young.”
Shen Mian: ……
She was already twenty! She had been an adult for two years! Her soul was even twenty-three!
Where was she small?!
Shen Mian exited the navigation, slapped her thigh, and asked, “Want to drink? How about I accompany you until we’re drunk? Now’s a good time, the bar just opened.”
Xie Qiaoyu tilted her head and looked at Shen Mian.
Under the setting sun, the sparkle in Shen Mian’s eyes was fully captured by Xie Qiaoyu, and her fluttering, beautiful eyes even made Xie Qiaoyu’s heart tremble.
She quickly turned her head, frantically avoiding Shen Mian’s starlight-like gaze.
In the process of trying to evade, Xie Qiaoyu vaguely agreed to go to the bar with Shen Mian for an all-night chat and to drink merrily.
••••
The drinking spot was chosen by Xie Qiaoyu. When Shen Mian got out of the car and saw the bar’s name, she froze completely.
In her previous life, she frequented all kinds of bars, whether it was a quiet bar or a nightclub, her presence was always there.
And the only one she had never been to was this one.
It wasn’t because this place wasn’t good or anything else. On the contrary, this was the best and most popular one in the entire city.
And the reason Shen Mian didn’t come here was: Her! Brother! Was! Here!
Whether Shen Zhixing was discussing business or simply relaxing, he wouldn’t go anywhere else but this one bar for entertainment.
Therefore, the probability of Shen Mian running into Shen Zhixing here was 100%.
Standing in front of the door, Shen Mian chickened out.
Xie Qiaoyu noticed her hesitation and asked with a slight smile, “Shall we go for French cuisine instead?”
“No, I want to drink tonight.” Shen Mian said, then stepped forward. Xie Qiaoyu stared at the back of Shen Mian’s head for a moment, then also lifted her foot and followed.
Sitting at the bar, Shen Mian suddenly thought of something. “Sister Qiaoyu, you didn’t get drunk here last time, did you?”
“It was here.” Xie Qiaoyu pointed to the bartender in the distance and said to Shen Mian, “Wait for me.”
Shen Mian knew she was going to get a drink and gestured “okay.”
After Xie Qiaoyu left, Shen Mian lowered her head and opened Shen Zhixing’s WeChat. She was going to probe his whereabouts. If Shen Zhixing was here, she needed to be ready to retreat at any time.
After sending the message to Shen Zhixing, Xie Qiaoyu returned with a glass of wine.
Shen Mian rubbed her hands together, ready to go all out. But who knew Xie Qiaoyu would bring her a glass of orange juice?!
Looking at the pulp in the juice, Shen Mian froze for a second.
Then she looked up at the wine in Xie Qiaoyu’s hand, then down at the full-bodied juice.
Xie Qiaoyu took a small sip, seeing Shen Mian looking at her incredulously, and said, “One of us has to be sober, otherwise what if we get taken away by bad people?”
Shen Mian pointed to her own glass, then to herself. Meaning, I can drink, you drink juice.
“I’m an adult, so I’ll drink alcohol, and you drink juice.” Xie Qiaoyu ruthlessly rejected the suggestion.
Shen Mian’s mood instantly soured.
She was being treated like a child by Xie Qiaoyu.
Yet in her previous life, Xie Qiaoyu had even told her, “I overestimated Miss Shen. I didn’t expect Miss Shen to be less scheming than I imagined.”
Why wasn’t she overestimating her now?
Miss Shen, in a bad mood, deliberately looked for trouble. “Why is there juice here?”
Before Xie Qiaoyu could reply, a male voice rang out from behind the bar. “As long as you have money, you can have anything you want.”
It was a familiar voice.
Shen Mian followed the sound, and when she saw the speaker’s face, the drink she had just taken into her mouth almost sprayed out.
“Ji Jie?!”
“Miss knows me?”
Hehe…
How could she not know him?
Besides the male and female leads, and the white lotus female supporting character, what else was missing from the novel?
That’s right, the *lovesick male second lead*.
Ji Jie, the lovesick male second lead in “Overbearing Doting.”
A perfectly good PhD who returned from overseas, he didn’t go to research. Just because Xie Qiaoyu often went to a certain bar to drink, he resigned from his promising future and went to work as a bartender at the bar.
Presumably, this juice… was what he used to mix drinks?
To be honest, Shen Mian admired Ji Jie.
The novel stated that Ji Jie silently accompanied Xie Qiaoyu until her marriage before finally letting go.
But more than admiration was… dislike.
In her previous life, she had a lot of contact with Ji Jie when she caused trouble for Xie Qiaoyu out of jealousy.
She had been messed with by Ji Jie quite a bit.
Shen Mian took another sip of juice. As the fruit pulp burst in her mouth, Shen Mian cupped her hands together and said, “Heard a lot about you.”
Shen Mian rolled her eyes where the two couldn’t see. She was polite to Xie Qiaoyu because she was the female lead. But Ji Jie, a tragic male second lead… Shen Mian simply didn’t bother to disguise herself at all.
Ji Jie was amused by Shen Mian’s actions. He looked at Xie Qiaoyu, raised an eyebrow, and asked, “Your friend?”
“My student.”
“So you changed careers to be a teacher?” Ji Jie: “You haven’t been to the bar recently. Is this you leading by example?”
“Something like that.”
Ji Jie looked at Xie Qiaoyu. The woman’s picturesque eyebrows and eyes made him unable to tear his gaze away. Just as he was about to say a few more words to Xie Qiaoyu, a glass suddenly appeared in the space between him and Xie Qiaoyu.
Shen Mian tapped the counter, tilted her head, met Ji Jie’s gaze, and said, “Refill.”
Her attitude was arrogant and domineering, like a little punk.
Ji Jie looked at Xie Qiaoyu, then glanced sideways at Shen Mian, asking incredulously, “You taught her that?”
Xie Qiaoyu looked at the little hedgehog bristling with thorns beside her and, in a good mood, smiled and nodded. “Mm, I taught her.”
After three rounds of juice, Shen Mian returned from the restroom, and Xie Qiaoyu took her place and went to the restroom.
Leaving Shen Mian sitting alone at the bar. She looked around and saw that only Ji Jie remained.
The man was about 1.87 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a strong chest, looking very reliable. If… Xie Qiaoyu and Ji Jie were together… what would happen?
This thought was quickly extinguished by Shen Mian. In her previous life, Ji Jie had accompanied Xie Qiaoyu for seven or eight years, but he still didn’t manage to win Xie Qiaoyu over.
Shen Mian’s gaze towards Ji Jie suddenly became pitiful: Kid, you’re no good.
Ji Jie felt his back tingle from Shen Mian’s stare. He shifted a few steps to the left, moving away from Shen Mian, before feeling better.
Shen Mian found Ji Jie’s action amusing and was about to tease him when her heart began to pound violently.
Amidst the thumping, a steady male voice echoed in the quiet environment.
“Ji Jie.”
Shen Mian clutched her chest and turned to look behind her. The newcomer was Lu Jingchen.
As Lu Jingchen approached, Shen Mian’s heart rate accelerated, and her face turned crimson.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Ji Jie high-fiving Lu Jingchen, and only then did Shen Mian realize why Lu Jingchen had called Ji Jie.
She had forgotten.
Ji Jie and Lu Jingchen were brothers.