Accidentally Pursued The Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 16
Seeing Shen Mian speechless, Xie Qiaoyu’s heart was filled with amusement, but her face pretended to show doubt. “Hmm?”
To Shen Mian, that doubtful expression carried a hint of coldness and an unreadable coercion.
Shen Mian was speechless.
She couldn’t possibly say, “Because your real age is older,” right? She had just praised the person for looking eighteen, and now saying something like that would make anyone unhappy, and they would also think the compliment was insincere…
Shen Mian swallowed, her eyes darting around. After a long pause, even after Xie Qiaoyu had put away her playful thoughts and was about to start reviewing, Shen Mian hesitantly uttered the name she had always wanted to call but never had, “Qiao, Qiaoyu.”
Xie Qiaoyu’s hand, which was about to pick up the exercise book, paused.
Seeing Xie Qiaoyu’s lack of reaction, Shen Mian started to make her calculations.
In her previous life, she had also called Xie Qiaoyu “Sister Qiaoyu,” but that was only because she would always secretly complain about Xie Qiaoyu in front of Lu Jingchen:
“Brother Jingchen, Sister Qiaoyu lost the ring you gave her. If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t lose it.” “Brother Jingchen, why did Sister Qiaoyu treat me like this? I just wanted to be friends with her, my heart aches so much…” “Brother Jingchen, Sister Qiaoyu inexplicably hit me just now, it hurts so much…” “Sister Qiaoyu, I truly wish you and Brother Jingchen well, so please stop speaking ill of me, okay?”
Shen Mian: “…” Her past self seemed like an idiot.
After calling it once, she wouldn’t stutter when calling it a second time. When Shen Mian looked up, her bright eyes met Xie Qiaoyu’s. Their eyes locked, and she said softly, “Qiaoyu.”
This time, Xie Qiaoyu responded, but it was only a soft “Mm.”
Judging by her expression, there was no anger, nor was there excessive happiness.
*Calling Xie Qiaoyu like this seems fine,* Shen Mian thought.
As Shen Mian let out a long breath and relaxed, Xie Qiaoyu picked up the cup that Aunt Wang had just brought over and took a sip of water. Her seemingly calm movements carried a hidden nervousness. When she put the water cup down, she even spilled water on the table, the water soaking a notebook Shen Mian had never used.
But Shen Mian didn’t see it.
She was afraid Xie Qiaoyu would find fault with her again. She was busy lowering her head, flipping through the book, trying to find a place she didn’t understand to ask for guidance, hoping to divert Xie Qiaoyu’s attention.
Shen Mian, with her head down, didn’t notice a hint of an inexplicable emotion in Xie Qiaoyu’s eyes as she looked at her after drinking the water.
*This little pet is truly adorable.*
It made her… irresistibly want to take her home.
••••
At six o’clock, Shen Xiu returned home on time.
The first thing he did upon arriving home was to go up to the third floor, knock on the study door, and ask if tutoring had ended.
The lesson had just concluded, and Shen Mian was tidying up the desk.
This lesson, as Xie Qiaoyu had said, was just a simple review, with nothing special happening. However, towards the end, she had acted coquettishly towards Xie Qiaoyu, saying she couldn’t bear to part with her, aiming to leave a good impression in Xie Qiaoyu’s mind.
And then… Xie Qiaoyu gave her a pen as a memento. Most importantly, this pen wasn’t an ordinary pen, but the love token Xie Qiaoyu gave Lu Jingchen in the original book…
Shen Mian was happily thinking about how she had vaguely managed to get her hands on the love token when she heard Xie Qiaoyu ask for a reciprocal gift.
Before Shen Mian could think of what to give, Xie Qiaoyu casually picked up a notebook from the table that cost no more than five yuan and said this would do. As Xie Qiaoyu put the notebook into her bag, Shen Mian vaguely saw that part of the notebook’s cover was wrinkled.
Looking down at the expensive custom-made fountain pen in her hand, and then thinking of the casually bought notebook, Shen Mian felt a pang of guilt. Seeing Xie Qiaoyu finish packing her things and bidding farewell, she called out to Xie Qiaoyu, “Sister Qiaoyu, why don’t you come out and hang out with us?”
Shen Mian still wasn’t used to calling her “Qiaoyu.” After suggesting to Xie Qiaoyu that she switch to calling her “Sister,” to Shen Mian’s surprise, Xie Qiaoyu only paused for a few seconds before agreeing.
Xie Qiaoyu stopped in her tracks, looked at Shen Xiu’s face, which had fallen the moment Shen Mian finished speaking, and smiled, shaking her head in refusal. “No, I have something to do later.”
Shen Mian’s guilt hadn’t dissipated, and she pressed, “What do you have to do?”
Xie Qiaoyu noticed Shen Mian’s unusual behavior; normally, she wouldn’t ask so precisely. But Xie Qiaoyu merely smiled and said, “Dining with a client.” Her gentle demeanor showed no objection to Shen Mian’s abruptness.
Client?
Shen Mian understood. Besides teaching her, Xie Qiaoyu must be busy with other things.
Shen Mian nodded obediently to show understanding, then asked pitifully, “Then, can I send you WeChat messages to chat?”
Xie Qiaoyu was amused by her series of transformations. She raised her hand and ruffled Shen Mian’s soft head. “Of course.”
Shen Xiu, who had been leaning against the doorframe, felt a surge of jealousy upon seeing Xie Qiaoyu’s action. He quickly took a step forward, squeezing between the two of them. “Xiao Mian, Teacher Xie is very busy.”
Then he turned and waved goodbye to Xie Qiaoyu. “Goodbye, Teacher Xie. I’ll see you downstairs.”
Shen Xiu had been used to acting as he pleased since childhood and completely failed to notice that he looked like he was rushing someone out.
Shen Mian was afraid that Shen Xiu would push Xie Qiaoyu away the next second. She slapped him on the back. “Brother, go change your clothes. I’ll see Sister Qiaoyu out.”
Shen Xiu was still wearing his formal attire for the event, which was splendid yet cumbersome.
Hearing Shen Mian’s words, Shen Xiu said goodbye to Xie Qiaoyu and turned to walk towards his room.
Going downstairs, Shen Mian was afraid Shen Xiu would leave a bad impression on Xie Qiaoyu, so she explained, “Sister Qiaoyu, please don’t mind it. My brother doesn’t understand these social niceties.”
Xie Qiaoyu smiled faintly. “Mm.”
“Comparatively speaking, Mr. Shen is much more steady.” Xie Qiaoyu suddenly thought of Shen Zhixing’s way of handling things and blurted it out.
Mr. Shen?
Her elder brother?
Why would Xie Qiaoyu suddenly bring up her elder brother?
Wait!
*It couldn’t be like what I thought a few days ago, could it?! Could Xie Qiaoyu actually… have fallen for my elder brother?!*
Shen Mian didn’t recover from this news until Xie Qiaoyu had left.
If Xie Qiaoyu really became her sister-in-law…
Then… then wouldn’t every day be a good day for her?!
The female lead falls for a male supporting character, the novel’s plot changes, and Lu Jingchen loses his wife. And without her help, Lu Jingchen wouldn’t be able to easily acquire the Shen family. She could also give Shen Zhixing many tips to deal with Lu Jingchen. This way, Lu Jingchen wouldn’t be able to do anything to the Shen family!
*Hmm! This is the ending Shen Mian wants to see!*
*Or… should I help Xie Qiaoyu?* Shen Mian pondered how to set up Xie Qiaoyu and Shen Zhixing.
••••
Shen Mian pulled Shen Xiu to the night market. Brother Wang’s stall had already moved into a small shop by the night market street, not big but not small either.
It was funded by Shen Zhixing.
After Shen Zhixing ate the fried skewers that night, the next day he heard Shen Mian say she was going to help Brother Wang on Saturday and Sunday. Afraid that Shen Mian wouldn’t be safe at night, Shen Zhixing simply got Brother Wang a small shop, so Shen Mian wouldn’t need to help out.
Shen Xiu had no self-awareness of being a celebrity. He walked out with Shen Mian wearing only sunglasses, which resulted in the two of them being spotted by fans and surrounded before they even reached Brother Wang’s fried skewer shop.
But Shen Xiu had thought that the ‘delicious food’ Shen Mian spoke of was an elegant restaurant with excellent privacy, so he had gone out openly without any disguise. But how could he have imagined that the place Shen Mian took him to was a bustling street…
An hour later, Shen Mian pulled Shen Xiu, breaking through layers of fans, and escaped back into the car.
The two sat in the car, panting. After a few minutes of catching their breath, Shen Mian spoke, “Brother, I’m sorry, I didn’t expect…”
Shen Xiu interrupted Shen Mian. “Didn’t expect your brother to be so popular?”
Shen Mian nodded vigorously in agreement. “I really didn’t expect it.”
“Hmph, besides you, no one sees me without screaming.” Shen Xiu proudly lifted his head. If he had a tail, he would definitely be fanning it out now.
Shen Mian: “Sister Qiaoyu didn’t scream when she saw you either?”
*Indeed, that teacher named Xie Qiaoyu didn’t seem excited when she saw me.* Shen Xiu lifted his eyelids, blew a puff of air towards his bangs, and lightly hummed twice before his bangs fell back down. The sound carried a hint of despondency, suggesting Shen Mian’s disagreement affected him.
Seeing Shen Xiu’s ‘tail’ close up again, Shen Mian chuckled softly. “Call brother and ask him if he has time to come out for dinner. Let’s the three of us get together.”
Shen Mian had wanted to have a meal with her two brothers for a long time. She wanted to thank them for their care and love in her previous life and now.
After Shen Mian finished speaking, she opened the car door, poked her head out left and right. Seeing no signs of fans, she got out of the car. “I’ll go buy you something delicious. Brother, stay in the car, don’t get out.”
Watching Shen Mian walk away alone, Shen Xiu felt helpless about being a celebrity for the first time; he couldn’t even accompany his sister to buy things.
He took out his phone and, following Shen Mian’s instructions, dialed Shen Zhixing’s number. It rang three times before being picked up.
“Brother?”
“Mm,” Shen Zhixing replied.
Shen Xiu cut straight to the chase, “Do you have time? Want to have dinner together?”
“You’re back?”
It seemed no one knew about Shen Xiu’s return except his fans. When he got home in the afternoon, even his parents looked surprised to see him.
Shen Xiu felt a little helpless. “Mm.”
Shen Zhixing flipped through the documents on his desk, refusing, “No time.”
“Alright, then I’ll tell Xiao Mian you don’t have time…”
Shen Xiu’s words were cut off by Shen Zhixing. “Give me the address.” Upon hearing Shen Mian’s name, Shen Zhixing immediately retracted his previous decision.
Shen Xiu smiled. He knew that mentioning his sister’s name would always work.
Before hanging up, Shen Xiu remembered something and said, “Oh right, Brother, let me ask you something.”
A soft hum came from the other end of the phone.
Shen Xiu frowned and asked, “In these two months I wasn’t here, how did you bully my sister? How did she become so obedient? Do you know what Xiao Mian went to do? She said there was something super delicious, and then she went to buy it for me.”
Shen Zhixing: “Didn’t bully her. She’s also my sister. She grew up overnight.”
Shen Xiu questioned, “Can someone grow up overnight?” He didn’t believe Shen Zhixing’s nonsense; he must have done something to Shen Mian.
There was no reply from the other end, only the rustling sound of papers being turned.
Shen Xiu parted his lips slightly, hesitated for a few seconds, then said, “Xiao Mian… hugged me and cried today.”
This was the first time his sister had hugged him since she grew up, and she even shed tears because she missed him so much. Shen Xiu’s heart was melting.
Shen Xiu’s heart swelled with warmth, but the next second, Shen Zhixing poured cold water on him. Shen Zhixing’s voice was clear as he asked, “Are you being an ass again?”
“…” *He shouldn’t have been emotional with Shen Zhixing!* Shen Xiu said indignantly, “Remember to be on time. Hanging up.”
After Shen Xiu hung up, Shen Zhixing, who had just finished signing the last contract, told his assistant that there would be no meeting tonight, then got up and left the office.