Accidentally Pursued The Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 21
“Huh? Oh, okay.”
Shen Mian, dazed, got out of the car as per Xie Qiaoyu’s instruction, but she didn’t go find Yi Nian. Instead, she stood still, staring at the rear of Xie Qiaoyu’s driving car, lost in thought.
*Sure enough, Xie Qiaoyu had indeed noticed that she had forgotten about her and was preparing to leave with Yi Nian.*
Shen Mian sighed, then thought of the indistinct smile on Xie Qiaoyu’s face when she turned around. This made her even more certain that Xie Qiaoyu was angry.
And it was very serious, the kind that couldn’t be appeased!
Just as Shen Mian was zoning out, Yi Nian’s voice rang out from behind her. “Xiao Mian, why did you get out of the car? And why did Miss Xie leave?”
Shen Mian turned to look at Yi Nian and chuckled wryly. “Sister Qiaoyu said she had something to do, so she left first.” Shen Mian felt that being kicked out of the car was a bit embarrassing, so she fabricated a smoothly phrased excuse for Yi Nian.
Yi Nian glanced at the exit, then retracted his gaze and asked casually, “Oh, I see. Shall I take you home then? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Aunt and Uncle, and your brothers.”
Shen Mian: “Oh, okay!”
Yi Nian smiled faintly, turned, and led Shen Mian towards his car.
“How did you meet Miss Xie?”
Hearing Yi Nian’s question, Shen Mian suddenly recalled the scene when she first met Xie Qiaoyu: a person sitting alone in a corner, seemingly solitary yet more free than the bustling socialites at the banquet.
“At a banquet,” Shen Mian said with a smile. “I thought Sister Qiaoyu was beautiful, so I wanted to be friends with her.”
Yi Nian nodded, his lips pressed tightly. After a few seconds of hesitation, he asked, feigning casualness, “Oh, by the way, do you still like Lu… Lu Jingchen?”
Only when Yi Nian asked did Shen Mian remember that after she fell for Lu Jingchen, she had told Yi Nian everything. She had told Yi Nian all her thoughts about Lu Jingchen. Yi Nian was like her exclusive emotional radio station, diligently listening and advising her on what to do.
After Yi Nian asked the question, he seemed to feel it was inappropriate and quickly added, “I mean, I recently heard he apparently has a fiancée. If you…”
“No,” Shen Mian interrupted Yi Nian, turning to meet Yi Nian’s surprised gaze. “Liking him was when I was young and foolish. Now that I’ve grown up, my aesthetic has changed. Who would still like such an ugly person?”
“Ugly?” Yi Nian’s eyebrows shot up, startled by what Shen Mian said.
“You think he’s handsome? But Da Nian, how do you know Lu Jingchen has a fiancée?” *She hadn’t heard Yi Nian mention it in her previous life.*
Yi Nian lightly coughed. “I heard it from my dad. It just suddenly came to mind.”
Shen Mian nodded. Although she still had doubts in her heart, she didn’t ask further.
The car started and headed towards the area where the Shen family villa was located.
••••
By the time Xie Qiaoyu arrived home, the supermarket delivery personnel had just arrived.
Ten minutes later, the formerly empty living room was filled with stacked cardboard boxes. Xie Qiaoyu sat alone on the sofa. Although her gaze was fixed on the boxes, her vacant eyes indicated that Xie Qiaoyu was lost in thought.
Ever since she learned that Shen Mian had helped her at the banquet, Xie Qiaoyu had felt grateful towards Shen Mian. So, when Shen Zhixing asked her to tutor Shen Mian, she agreed without a moment’s hesitation.
As they spent more time together, Xie Qiaoyu thought her feelings for Shen Mian were a friendship she regretted not finding sooner, so her concern and care for Shen Mian grew increasingly.
But only today, when Xie Qiaoyu saw Shen Mian rapidly run away from her towards someone else, and even saw Shen Mian hugging Yi Nian tightly and heard that they were childhood sweethearts who grew up together, did the bitterness in her heart tell her that this was not friendship.
It was another kind of emotion, overflowing with possessiveness.
After clarifying her feelings for Shen Mian, the moment Shen Mian turned to look at her, Xie Qiaoyu unconsciously smiled at Shen Mian.
Upon seeing Yi Nian behind Shen Mian, alarm bells rang in Xie Qiaoyu’s heart. A practical yet unavoidable question surged into her mind: *How could Shen Mian like her?*
Xie Qiaoyu was plagued by this question. She barely paid attention to what happened next, only knowing that Shen Mian introduced Yi Nian to her.
Back in the car, within the confined space of the vehicle, the milky sweetness of Shen Mian’s scent directly enveloped Xie Qiaoyu, disturbing Xie Qiaoyu’s already chaotic mind.
Hearing Shen Mian continuously talk about her and Yi Nian, Xie Qiaoyu’s heart grew more and more sour, and she blurted out words to get Shen Mian out of the car.
After Shen Mian got out of the car, Xie Qiaoyu didn’t even have time to regret it. She drove away in a panic.
Xie Qiaoyu looked at the car keys in her hand, silently mocking herself.
In all these years, this was the first time she had been so flustered.
It was also the first time she knew what jealousy tasted like.
Her attention finally shifted to the boxes. Xie Qiaoyu opened the carefully wrapped boxes one by one, taking out the contents and placing them in their designated spots.
After all the items were organized, Xie Qiaoyu checked the receipt and found that two pots had not been delivered. She called the supermarket, and the supermarket said the delivery person was on the way.
Hanging up the phone, Xie Qiaoyu folded the cardboard boxes.
The living room, which had just been filled, suddenly became empty again. The only changes were a few more throw pillows in the corner of the sofa and a few more cups on the table.
The green cup was particularly eye-catching.
Just as Xie Qiaoyu was about to place a coaster under the cup, she saw the necklace she had taken out earlier to give to Shen Mian.
The box was not closed, and the chain inside shimmered with silver light under the illumination.
Xie Qiaoyu held the box. After a few seconds of thought, she covered it tightly and placed it on the coffee table.
The doorbell rang. Xie Qiaoyu thought it was the delivery person.
But when she opened the door, she saw Shen Mian standing there, carrying several bags filled with vegetables and meat. The moment she saw Xie Qiaoyu, she muttered:
“Sister Qiaoyu, didn’t we say we’d have hotpot together? Did you make me get out of the car because you were afraid I wouldn’t wash the dishes after eating?”
Xie Qiaoyu blurted out, “Xiao Mian?”
Xie Qiaoyu hadn’t expected Shen Mian to return to her house. While tidying up earlier, she had been wondering how to explain to Shen Mian why she had made her get out of the car.
Unexpectedly, Shen Mian had come to find her herself. Her inner worry was replaced by a secret delight. Xie Qiaoyu controlled the corners of her lips, which were about to curl up, and looked at Shen Mian with a poker face.
“Xiao Mian, I’m sor—” *ry for making you get out of the car just now.*
Xie Qiaoyu’s words were cut off by Shen Mian.
Shen Mian heard Xie Qiaoyu call her, and the expression on her face changed abruptly. Frowning, she exclaimed, “Quick, quick, quick! Sister Qiaoyu, let me in! These bags are going to break my hands!”
As she spoke, Shen Mian squeezed her way into Xie Qiaoyu’s house. Although her demeanor suggested she was anxious to put down the bags, she mostly seemed afraid that Xie Qiaoyu wouldn’t let her in.
As the main culprit for making Xie Qiaoyu unhappy, Shen Mian was well aware of her own situation.
After Yi Nian took Shen Mian home, she thought it over and over. Taking advantage of her parents’ distraction chatting with Yi Nian, she had Butler Li drive her to the market, and then had Li drive her to Xie Qiaoyu’s apartment complex.
Placing the bags on the ground, Shen Mian said ingratiatingly, “Sister Qiaoyu, I just bought a few random things. See if there’s anything you like? If not, I can have Uncle Li buy some more and send them over.”
“Enough.”
“Huh?”
“It’s too much to finish.” Xie Qiaoyu looked at the bags. She wanted to say that even these two wouldn’t be able to finish. Xie Qiaoyu suspected Shen Mian had moved the entire vegetable market.
Shen Mian let out a long breath. She had thought Xie Qiaoyu was telling her that she had had enough. Patting her hands, Shen Mian said, “Alright then. I asked Aunt Wang, and she said we need to wash the vegetables before putting them in the pot, so I’ll go wash the vegetables now.”
After saying that, Shen Mian picked up the bags and instinctively headed towards the kitchen. But the next second, the weight in her hands disappeared, and then she heard Xie Qiaoyu say, “I’ll do it.”
Shen Mian stood still, watching Xie Qiaoyu walk towards the kitchen, muttering in her heart: *She… she’s not angry anymore, right?*
Far from not being angry, in a place Shen Mian couldn’t see, Xie Qiaoyu secretly smiled.
It was the joy and surprise of a lost pet returning home on its own.
Twenty minutes later, the pot was gurgling with bubbles, and amid the steaming heat, Shen Mian swiftly picked up and dropped a few slices of meat with her chopsticks.
Xie Qiaoyu had gone to do something and wasn’t at the dining table. Shen Mian called out, “Sister Qiaoyu, the meatballs are cooked, come eat quickly.”
“Mm.”
Shen Mian then realized that Xie Qiaoyu was by the coffee table behind her. She saw Xie Qiaoyu coming over with a box, and as she walked, she took something out of it and placed it in front of Shen Mian.
Xie Qiaoyu said softly, “I want to put this on you.”
Shen Mian looked up. Dangling before her eyes was that limited edition necklace.
Suppressing the excitement that made her eyes sparkle, Shen Mian feigned modesty and asked, “Sister Qiaoyu, are you really giving this to me?”
Seeing Shen Mian’s expression, wanting it yet pretending not to, Xie Qiaoyu held back her laughter and nodded. “Mm.”
Saying that, Xie Qiaoyu unfastened the necklace clasp. The chain wrapped around Shen Mian’s neck, and her bent fingers brushed against Shen Mian’s delicate skin. When the necklace was fully on Shen Mian, the light in Xie Qiaoyu’s eyes became resolute.
*Love and dislike, how could Xie Qiaoyu herself define them? Didn’t all this have to be decided by Shen Mian herself?*
When Xie Qiaoyu withdrew her hand, her fingertips instinctively brushed Shen Mian’s nape. Staring at the connection point of the necklace, Xie Qiaoyu thought to herself: *Let’s just leave it at this for now. Keep her close, and take it slowly.*
Shen Mian touched the object on her neck and said joyfully, “Sister Qiaoyu, you’re too good to me! Don’t worry! I’ll definitely help you pursue my brother! Even if he doesn’t agree, I’ll tie him to your bed…”
Shen Mian realized after speaking that in her excitement, she had exposed her inner thoughts. She quickly covered her mouth as if she hadn’t said anything.
But she still heard Xie Qiaoyu ask, “What did you say?”
Shen Mian chuckled, stirring the pot with her chopsticks, and changed the subject. “Sister Qiaoyu, hurry up and sit down to eat. The meat will get tough.”
Shen Mian felt her chin being held, and then her head slowly turned backward with the hand of the person behind her.
Their eyes met. Looking at Shen Mian’s pouting lips, Xie Qiaoyu released her hand and whispered:
“Don’t change the subject.”
Seeing Xie Qiaoyu’s serious and earnest expression, Shen Mian put down her chopsticks, her eyes flickering. “Uh, well, it’s like this, I said I would definitely help you, Sister Qiaoyu, pursue my brother.”
Remembering she had two brothers, Shen Mian added, “Not Shen Xiu, but my eldest brother, Shen Zhixing.”
Xie Qiaoyu didn’t speak.
Glancing at Xie Qiaoyu’s face and finding no signs of anger, Shen Mian continued:
“Sister Qiaoyu, are you very curious about how I knew? Hahaha, it’s actually very easy to find out. If it weren’t for my brother begging you, how could you possibly be my tutor?”
“After all, someone as amazing as you would be too good for my tutor position.” Shen Mian gave a timely compliment.
“Sister Qiaoyu, don’t be shy. I actually quite like you. Once you become my sister-in-law, we can be together every day.”
Xie Qiaoyu’s eyelids twitched wildly.