After Teasing the Heroine and Running Away, I Was Forced into Love - Chapter 19

Shi Qing had friends, though not many.

But quality trumps quantity.

“Shi Qing, you must be so busy. How did you find time to meet me today?”

Qin Wenlu’s family had a modest surplus of wealth. Nearing graduation, she wasn’t in a rush to find a job.

She had often helped Shi Qing financially, but Shi Qing’s family was a bottomless pit. Even with her best efforts, she could only occasionally alleviate their financial strain.

Despite this, their friendship remained strong.

“I quit my job,” Shi Qing said softly, bracing herself for her friend’s explosive reaction. True to form, Qin Wenlu let out a sharp, piercing shriek.

“Ah!”

“You… how could you quit your job?!”

Shi Qing’s mother relied on her meager wages to stay alive. Shi Qing’s resignation could only mean one thing.

“Does this mean your mother…”

Before Qin Wenlu could finish, Shi Qing clamped her hand over her mouth. They had just reached the city center mall, where Shi Qing had come with a specific mission in mind.

Shi Qing undoubtedly knew what her friend wanted to say. The only thing that could make her quit all her jobs was her mother’s passing.

But that wasn’t the case. Heaven never closes all doors; as long as you’re ruthless enough and willing to humble yourself, there’s always a path forward, even if it’s strewn with thorns.

“My mother is fine. It’s just… I’ve chosen a path I shouldn’t have taken…”

Shi Qing hated lying to her friend.

“Wen Lu, will you think I’m disgusting?”

“I’ve become a woman’s mistress.”

Shi Qing was always honest. As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Wenlu nearly crashed into the mall’s sliding glass doors. To be honest, the shock was no less than when Shi Qing had first told her she was considering selling her kidney!

As the saying goes, even a hero can be brought down by a single penny.

When Shi Qing had been truly desperate, she had considered such a drastic measure, but Qin Wenlu had managed to talk her out of it.

“You have to think of your mother, Shi Qing… If she knew you were degrading your body like this, it might worsen her condition.”

It was precisely this line of reasoning that had initially prevented Shi Qing from doing something reckless.

From that moment on, their relationship became even closer than that of ordinary friends.

“Thank goodness… thank goodness it wasn’t some balding, middle-aged Mediterranean type.”

Shi Qing had expected her friend to look at her with disdain, but instead, Wen Lu patted her chest, looking immensely relieved.

“Wen Lu, shouldn’t you be scolding me?” Shi Qing asked as she pushed open the door. The mall specialized in high-end fashion, filled with wealthy customers dressed in luxury brands.

“Why would I scold you?” Wen Lu replied. “It’s better than selling a kidney.”

Qin Wenlu chuckled and patted Shi Qing’s shoulder, relieved that her friend had finally emerged from her pessimism.

“So, you brought me here to pick out clothes?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Shi Qing’s cheeks flushed slightly. Having braced herself for a scolding, she felt strangely disoriented by the lack of one.

“To curry favor with that rich woman?”

“She’s not quite at the old lady level yet.”

Shi Qing gently shook her head. There was something she had never confessed to her best friend: she had felt a tiny spark of attraction toward He Roushuang.

But she didn’t want to admit it aloud, because once she fell for her, she knew she would only end up getting hurt.

(So, Shi Qing, just focus on doing your part. Don’t let yourself feel anything extra. Falling for a woman you shouldn’t love will only bring you pain.)

“She’s very beautiful,” Shi Qing said, taking a deep breath. She could feel her lungs trembling along with her heart.

“Even more beautiful than me.”

Insecure people often envy those who are radiant and confident. No matter how beautiful a face may be, staring at it in the mirror tens of thousands of times can make it seem dull.

That’s why, in Shi Qing’s eyes, He Roushuang’s beauty far surpassed her own.

Shi Qing was undeniably the campus beauty during her university days. Qin Wenlu couldn’t imagine anyone being more beautiful than her—it would have to be someone truly extraordinary, at least celebrity-level gorgeous.

“Who is she?”

“My family has connections. I know most of the wealthy and influential people in this city. If she can really afford to support you, I should be able to guess who it is.”

“He Roushuang,” Shi Qing said. She knew she couldn’t hide this from her best friend, nor did she intend to. In fact, she wanted Qin Wenlu to keep a close eye on her, to ensure she never lost sight of her true self.

“He Roushuang…” Qin Wenlu nearly bit her tongue in shock. She recalled the recent news frenzy about the siblings who had fought tooth and nail over the same woman, leaving each other bloodied and bruised. Her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

“Shi… Shi Qing, are you that top-tier beauty who has the He siblings completely obsessed?”

“Mm, but it’s not as dramatic as the news makes it out to be,” Shi Qing nodded.

They stopped in front of several clothing boutiques.

“I usually prefer simple clothes, but I can’t do that anymore. To win my sister’s attention, I need to change my wardrobe.”

“He Roushuang favors elegant and intellectual styles. Wen Lu, could you help me pick out a few outfits?” Shi Qing believed Qin Wenlu had a better sense of fashion and coordination than she did. Besides, she needed someone to keep her in check. To achieve the exact same style as the woman in the photos, she needed guidance.

“Alright, consider it done!” Qin Wenlu declared.

Qin Wenlu nodded, secretly pondering that she had only recently learned He Roushuang was attracted to women.

No wonder she never dated before. So that’s why.

Qin Wenlu helped Shi Qing choose several outfits. After trying on multiple sets, they finally settled on the ones to buy. While waiting for the shop assistant to pack the clothes, Qin Wenlu turned to Shi Qing.

“What’s it like being with a woman?” she asked, genuinely curious. To her knowledge, Shi Qing had no romantic experience, having been trapped in her family’s quagmire.

“It feels… very comfortable,” Shi Qing replied with a nod.

“Really?” Qin Wenlu’s eyes lit up. She leaned closer, nudging Shi Qing with her shoulder. “Then Miss He must be really skilled, right? You lucky girl!”

Shi Qing’s face flushed uncontrollably again. Even with He Roushuang, she needed to muster immense courage. Though she could relax a bit more around her best friend, such bold remarks still left her flustered.

“No, Miss He doesn’t touch me,” Shi Qing quickly added, fearing Qin Wenlu’s vivid imagination might run wild. “And she doesn’t let me touch her either.”

“Ah…”

Qin Wenlu blinked, utterly baffled. How could He Roushuang, who craved beauty, never actually possess it? What kind of behavior is that?

“That’s why I want to keep her.”

Not just for Miss He’s money, but also for her gentleness.

Shi Qing was an intensely selfish person. Once she felt a ray of sunlight, she refused to let go, clinging to it desperately, absorbing every last bit.