Marrying the Ugly Woman of a Rich and Powerful Family - Chapter 21
Shen Qingyuan felt her limbs stiffen, as if a fixed point had been tapped, and her bl00d had stopped flowing. She wished she could find a hole to crawl into. Her hands, which were on her hips, slowly dropped and hung obediently by her sides.
All that was in her mind was: How could Cang Yan be here!
Shen Qingyuan was about to shamelessly smooth the matter over. Anyway, she had already lost all face in front of Cang Yan. However, when she turned to look, not only was Cang Yan behind her, but next to Cang Yan stood a tall woman with slightly darker skin than hers, deep facial features, and a slight upward curve at the corner of her mouth, radiating a natural warmth and approachability.
Shen Qingyuan already had a basic understanding of the aesthetic of this world. In the eyes of this world, this woman was undoubtedly beautiful. Although she didn’t quite fit Shen Qingyuan’s aesthetic, her temperament was exceptional.
The realization that not only had she failed in her big talk but that a stranger had also heard it made Shen Qingyuan’s face, which had been barely composed moments ago, suddenly flush red.
“Was it satisfying?” Cang Yan repeated expressionlessly, her tone faint, but with no discernible emotion.
She only wore suits when she went out, making her look very ascetic. Coming from her mouth, the question sounded like an interrogation.
“Big Sister, I was wrong,” Shen Qingyuan immediately admitted her mistake. She was close to tears. The blush on her face was no longer feigned shyness but genuine shame.
“What could you possibly be wrong about? Look at your dark circles. You were clearly satisfied,” Cang Yan remained expressionless, but her tone inexplicably carried a hint of ambiguity.
Shen Qingyuan: “…”
She swore never to let her mouth run away with her again.
A moment of big talk feels good, but being caught is a crematorium.
Shen Qingyuan lowered her head listlessly, sinking her hands into her pockets, trying hard to minimize her presence. She silently chanted, If I’m not embarrassed, others are the ones who are embarrassed.
However… it was still so awkward.
Why did she have to talk to Tang Zijing?
Tang Zijing hadn’t expected Shen Qingyuan to be so favored. Every time she tried to cause trouble for Shen Qingyuan, Cang Yan would appear just in time to help her.
To her, Cang Yan’s “Was it satisfying?” sounded like flirting, confirming Shen Qingyuan’s earlier words that Cang Yan was indeed very good in bed.
Tang Zijing had only happened to overhear Shen Qingyuan and Li Xinyan mentioning Mo Ze, and since the two of them were always at odds, she wanted to mock Shen Qingyuan.
After all, everyone knew Cang Yan was physically weak, and there was even “insider news” that Cang Yan’s S sessions were group activities, with her directing and others executing.
Unexpectedly, she failed in a verbal spat with Shen Qingyuan. Before, Shen Qingyuan would have just jumped up and hit her. That’s why she often intentionally provoked Shen Qingyuan to strike first, leading everyone to believe Shen Qingyuan was unreasonable.
Tang Zijing’s family situation was slightly better than average but not top-tier. She had some understanding of young talents and immediately recognized the tall woman standing next to Cang Yan as Lin You, the second daughter of the Lin family.
Fearing that Cang Yan would come after her, she turned to leave.
Cang Yan glanced at the feigning-death Shen Qingyuan, then looked at Tang Zijing’s forced-calm back, and said, “Student Tang.”
Her voice was neither loud nor soft, carrying a hint of coldness.
Tang Zijing was terrified but stopped in her tracks.
A trace of contempt flashed in Cang Yan’s eyes: “Student Tang has repeatedly sought trouble with Qingyuan. Someone who didn’t know would think you like her, wouldn’t they? Rushing to ask about someone’s bedroom matters, if it’s not harmonious, are you offering to help?”
These words were harsh, suggesting she was trying to seduce Shen Qingyuan. A chill ran down Tang Zijing’s spine, and she hastily distanced herself, saying, “How could I possibly like her!”
Only a pervert like you would like her.
Cang Yan said unhurriedly, “It’s best if you don’t. Since Student Tang likes to be nosy, you should go catch mice instead of spreading rumors about our bedroom affairs.”
Tang Zijing’s face turned green upon hearing this.
Cang Yan was implying she was a busybody, a dog meddling with mouse business.
She wanted to snap back at Cang Yan but knew she couldn’t afford to provoke her. Clenching her fists, her eyes reddened, and she ran away in a fit of pique.
Cang Yan stood there unfazed, not feeling at all that she was bullying the young. The image of Shen Qingyuan just now popped into her mind. At first, she was a proud and arrogant steel rooster, shamelessly letting her mouth run away, but the moment she saw Cang Yan, she instantly turned into a little rabbit.
Satisfying.
She liked seeing Shen Qingyuan taken down a peg.
Cang Yan couldn’t help but curve the corners of her mouth up, then quickly suppressed it.
“Qingyuan, I think I just heard Tang Zijing’s voice, and Cang Yan’s too, did you…” Li Xinyan came out after submitting her materials, not expecting the people outside to have increased from one to three.
Shen Qingyuan was drooping her head dejectedly, Cang Yan stood with her arms crossed and an impassive face, and next to her was a great beauty.
Li Xinyan was too shocked to speak, standing rooted to the spot.
Lin You turned to look at Cang Yan and said softly, “A’Yan, I’ll go find Principal Li first. You can wait for me in the car.”
“Mhm,” Cang Yan nodded faintly. She glanced out of the corner of her eye and saw Shen Qingyuan still hanging her head, looking like “I am dead.” She didn’t know whether to be angry or amused.
She was thankful that Shen Qingyuan had portrayed her as mighty and strong, and also very capable in bed.
“Qingyuan,” Li Xinyan poked Shen Qingyuan’s arm.
Shen Qingyuan didn’t want to talk right now and lowered her head even further.
Cang Yan walked out without even looking at Shen Qingyuan, preparing to wait for Lin You in the car. To her surprise, Shen Qingyuan followed her closely like a little tail.
She hadn’t forgotten that they were currently in an argument. Coming here today was completely unexpected, and she didn’t want to talk to Shen Qingyuan yet.
“Don’t follow me,” Cang Yan warned in a cold voice.
“Big Sister,” Shen Qingyuan looked at her with wide eyes.
“I’m not good in bed, and I can’t satisfy you, so you don’t need to follow me anymore.” Cang Yan was looking for an opportunity to properly snap at Shen Qingyuan a few times. Shen Qingyuan was thick-skinned and a good actress anyway, so her current pitiful look was just an act.
Cang Yan satisfied her urge to speak, and her mood improved greatly. She took a step to leave, but unexpectedly, Shen Qingyuan’s mouth immediately puckered, looking very upset. She suddenly stepped forward and hugged her.
“Shen Qingyuan, let go!” Cang Yan struggled fiercely, annoyed that Shen Qingyuan always hugged her without warning. Didn’t she know Cang Yan was physically frail? Each time, she was crushed unexpectedly.
However, her shoulder suddenly felt wet. Cang Yan froze, her eyes widening slightly.
Shen Qingyuan was crying?
She thought Shen Qingyuan was incapable of shame.
Shen Qingyuan had never been this embarrassed. Yet, Cang Yan deliberately reminded her and ridiculed her, so she cried first as a sign of respect.
Cang Yan was completely flustered. Shen Qingyuan was taller and sturdier than her. Now, with her head buried in Cang Yan’s neck, Cang Yan felt a heavy burden on her shoulder.
How could Shen Qingyuan be so sensitive? Crying at the drop of a hat! Cang Yan hadn’t even felt wronged when she was falsely accused of being excellent in bed!
“Hmph, I didn’t realize you were so… so emotional.”
Cang Yan had originally wanted to say “so concerned about appearances,” but on second thought, she decided not to add fuel to the fire, or things would get worse for both Shen Qingyuan and herself.
Shen Qingyuan didn’t make a sound. Cang Yan felt that she was crying silently, without any strange sniffling noises, so she was benevolent enough not to push her away, but her face was visibly uncomfortable.
As more and more people walked by, Cang Yan felt it was truly strange. Why was she indulging Shen Qingyuan’s crying? And she didn’t even understand why Shen Qingyuan was crying.
She hardened her heart, pinched the soft flesh on Shen Qingyuan’s waist, and said coldly, “Let go of me!”
Stung by the pain, Shen Qingyuan immediately sprang back, looking at Cang Yan with bloodshot eyes, her eyes misty, looking extremely pathetic.
Cang Yan stared at her wet eyelashes for a while and actually felt Shen Qingyuan was charmingly vulnerable. Terrified, she quickly put away her merciful heart, instantly adopting her usual cold-hearted expression, and frowned, saying, “So annoying.”
She walked straight out, ignoring everything.
Shen Qingyuan followed behind her like a meek wife.
Li Xinyan stood dumbfounded in place, completely bewildered.
What just happened?
Why were these two crying and hugging?
The car was parked in the spot right outside the teaching building. Cang Yan got into the back seat, and Shen Qingyuan followed suit. The enclosed space finally made her feel less embarrassed.
She swore never to speak carelessly again.
Cang Yan squinted at her, seeing that she was no longer on the verge of tears. She said speechlessly, “You were the one who said it was satisfying, and you’re also the one who’s crying. Why are you so unreasonable?”
Shen Qingyuan said dryly, “Don’t mention it.”
“Oh, now you know how to be shy?” Cang Yan slowly fastened her seatbelt. When she heard it earlier, she was shocked. She hadn’t expected Shen Qingyuan to speak so unrestrainedly, even praising her so much that Cang Yan almost believed she was capable.
Shen Qingyuan automatically ignored any words related to that previous incident. After adjusting her emotions, the tears finally stopped welling up.
She asked curiously, “How did you end up here?”
If any outsider had been present, she wouldn’t have been so embarrassed as to wish for instant death. But Cang Yan was present. They were probably destined to clash.
Cang Yan was startled, then put on an expression that clearly said, don’t overthink this: “Relax, I didn’t come specifically to see you.”
At most, it was a convenient detour.
Shen Qingyuan said faintly, “Okay.”
She knew Cang Yan wouldn’t come specifically to see her.
Cang Yan was surprised that Shen Qingyuan didn’t even press her, even though Shen Qingyuan was clearly shocked to see her. Now she didn’t even ask.
She said irritably, “I came with Lin You to see Principal Li, just as a change of scenery. It has nothing to do with you.”
Shen Qingyuan nodded gracefully. Remembering how Lin You spoke to Cang Yan in a soft voice, she asked, “So the big sister just now is called Lin You. Is she your friend?”
“Why do you call everyone ‘Big Sister’?” Cang Yan said displeasedly. She didn’t even know how many people Shen Qingyuan had called ‘Big Sister’.
Shen Qingyuan felt Cang Yan was being unreasonable. She said, “You won’t let me call you Big Sister, so you won’t even let me call others Big Sister?”
Cang Yan thought to herself, How shameless. Although she always told Shen Qingyuan not to call her Big Sister, when did Shen Qingyuan ever stop? She was taking advantage and still acting innocent.
She said indifferently, “Suit yourself!”
“Then is Lin You your friend?” Shen Qingyuan asked again. “Or a relative?”
Otherwise, it would be hard to explain why Lin You was so good to Cang Yan, especially since the world’s hostility towards Cang Yan was always very great.
Cang Yan, a master of over-interpretation, immediately changed her expression: “What do you mean? Am I not allowed to have friends?”
“No, no.” Shen Qingyuan was truly exasperated by Cang Yan’s thought process. She always guessed her words with the most malicious intent. Shen Qingyuan was just kindly concerned.
She hadn’t forgotten that she needed to go home to get clothes today, so she wanted to hitch a ride. She said pitifully, “Don’t be angry anymore. Let’s go home together. I don’t sleep well in the dorm at all. The dorm bed is small and hard, and I even dreamt of a human-snake battle last night. Look at my dark circles, they are big and black.”
Shen Qingyuan was indeed not looking well. Even the bags under her eyes showed a hint of fatigue. She had to study during the day and didn’t sleep well at night, and she was also distracted by worrying about Cang Yan being angry.
Cang Yan wanted to say, Didn’t you just brag that your dark circles were due to excessive indulgence? Why are you playing the victim now? But she was afraid that if she said that, Shen Qingyuan would pull another dramatic scene.
She said threateningly, “Why do you care if I’m angry? Don’t think I’ve forgiven you. After you get your thick clothes, go back to school. I don’t want to see you anytime soon.”
Every time she saw Shen Qingyuan, her emotions fluctuated.
If she didn’t get a heart attack, she would get mammary gland hyperplasia.
Shen Qingyuan automatically ignored Cang Yan’s harsh words and said, “Then I’ll come back after my midterm exams.”
Cang Yan closed her eyes, not wanting to deal with her.
“We’ll talk about it then.”
When Lin You came back after finishing her business, Shen Qingyuan greeted her politely, “Hello, Big Sister Lin.”
Lin You, sitting in the driver’s seat, responded faintly.
Shen Qingyuan felt rebuffed. Thinking that Lin You had also heard her embarrassing history, she wished she could travel back in time to shut herself up and shut Tang Zijing up.
The car slowly drove out of the campus and arrived at Cang Yan’s villa. Cang Yan always changed clothes after returning home from outside. She went upstairs to change. Only Lin You and Shen Qingyuan were left in the living room.
Shen Qingyuan felt like Lin You could change faces. Her expression hadn’t changed at all, but as soon as Cang Yan left, the atmosphere she exuded became cold.
While she was wondering about this, she was caught off guard when Lin You said, “Is Miss Shen’s bedroom life with A’Yan pleasant?”
“We haven’t…” Shen Qingyuan suddenly realized that Lin You was clearly trying to trick her into talking. Couldn’t she just ask Cang Yan directly? She was taking advantage of Shen Qingyuan looking young.
In the past, Shen Qingyuan would have definitely said they were having passionate s3x in bed, but she had just been exposed, so she dared not speak a single lie now, just in case Cang Yan suddenly reappeared.
She could be socially embarrassed once, but she absolutely couldn’t die a second time.
This was her final bottom line and dignity.
Shen Qingyuan closed her mouth and said nothing.
Lin You had gotten the answer she wanted and didn’t speak further. When she heard Shen Qingyuan say Cang Yan was very capable in bed, she almost thought the two of them were really together.
When Cang Yan came downstairs after changing clothes, Lin You stood up and said warmly, “A’Yan, I’m heading back first.”
“Alright.” Cang Yan was a little reluctant, but they were both adults, and she knew Lin You had things to be busy with.
After Lin You left, Cang Yan sat cross-legged on the sofa and started tinkering with her new phone. In reality, she was checking the latest comments under the Weibo post Shen Qingyuan made.
Although she was very angry at being tricked by Shen Qingyuan, if Shen Qingyuan really posted the specific details of “Shen Qingyuan is a masochist,” she probably wouldn’t be very happy either.
After all, that was lewd content, and Shen Qingyuan was her nominal wife. If it were actually posted for netizens to see, she would feel like she had been cheated on. It was uncomfortable.
Shen Qingyuan saw that Cang Yan was engrossed in her phone and had forgotten to chase her back to school, so she quietly lowered her presence. She didn’t want to go back to sleep at school.
When Cang Yan finally got so angry at the trash comments that she put down her phone, Shen Qingyuan said obediently, “Does your friend not know we have a marriage agreement?”
Cang Yan rubbed her stiff neck, cat-like, squinting contentedly, and said, “She knows. Why? Do you perhaps want to turn this fake marriage into a real one with me?”
“If Big Sister is willing, I am willing,” Shen Qingyuan’s face flushed with shyness. She didn’t mind turning the fake marriage into a real one with Cang Yan. From the first day, she was honestly prepared to make things work well with Cang Yan. Who knew Cang Yan would drip wax on her?
Cang Yan shook her head dismissively, saying, “I am not willing.”
Strange, she’s making me feel like she likes me again.
Shen Qingyuan already knew this would be the outcome and went upstairs to pack her clothes.
During dinner, Aunt Cai cooked a spread of delicious food and said, “Miss Shen, when you’ve been studying hard at school these past few days, Miss hasn’t been eating much. Her appetite was already poor, and now she’s eating even less. Thankfully, you’re back today.”
Cang Yan thought Aunt Cai was talking nonsense. Her appetite had always been poor, and her eating habits had nothing to do with Shen Qingyuan.
“Then I’ll come back after my exams in a few days,” Shen Qingyuan loved the taste of home-cooked food and ate heartily. Her good appetite led Cang Yan to drink a couple more sips of soup.
After dinner, Shen Qingyuan hoped Cang Yan would never bring up what happened today again. Unexpectedly, Cang Yan suddenly said to her very seriously, “If you’re not satisfied, you can take care of it yourself.”
Shen Qingyuan: “…”
“I’m really not that sexually frustrated. I said that to provoke Tang Zijing, to let her know that since you’re so amazing, I must also be very sexually active. So please stop bringing it up. It only hurts loved ones and pleases enemies,” Shen Qingyuan said earnestly.
“Oh, not that sexually frustrated? So you’re still not satisfied,” Cang Yan felt she needed to be wary of Shen Qingyuan. She didn’t believe for a second that Shen Qingyuan was genuinely celibate.
Cang Yan herself had never considered dating anyone, let alone having s3x, while Shen Qingyuan clearly had abundant energy, told lies without any guilt, and had probably read countless erotic novels and watched small videos in private.
Shen Qingyuan huffed, “I’m not a nun. How could I have no desire at all?”
Cang Yan classified her: “A head full of lewd thoughts.”
Shen Qingyuan rolled her eyes and said, “It seems I’d be letting down the ‘lewd thoughts’ you accused me of having if I wasn’t lustful.”
Cang Yan backed away cautiously and said, “What are you trying to do?”
“Big Sister smells so good. I love it.” Shen Qingyuan just leaned in and sniffed Cang Yan’s hair. After getting close, she felt her heart pounding, which scared her into immediately pulling back.
But to Cang Yan, she still looked like she was asking for a beating.
Cang Yan said sternly, “Get lost!”
Shen Qingyuan went back to her bed, still thinking Cang Yan smelled so good. She had even wanted to hug and pet Cang Yan a moment ago.
Cang Yan also felt uneasy. With her heart racing, she went back to her room to pick up the S&M knowledge she had left behind, intending to show Shen Qingyuan her capability.
She had read some S&M related texts before, which were too shocking. She felt that M’s had no selfhood, were called all sorts of humiliating names, and had to obey the S without any bottom line.
Cang Yan only read a little and stopped. Now, looking at them again, she still found it terrifying. She could only accept gentle teasing.
Cang Yan searched for some gentler S&M content involving an emotional foundation, preparing to drip wax on Shen Qingyuan the next time Shen Qingyuan randomly sniffed her.
Cang Yan woke up in the morning to find Shen Qingyuan already doing mass calisthenics. Shen Qingyuan had been doing them while at school, so she was much more proficient now, performing the moves quite well. Cang Yan leisurely watched, sipping her tea.
Shen Qingyuan was healthy, and while her appearance wasn’t outstanding, she was somewhat pleasing to the eye at times. Cang Yan remembered the niche aesthetic and walked over to ask, “Do you think you’re good-looking?”
She suddenly wanted to know how Shen Qingyuan, with her niche aesthetic, viewed herself.
Shen Qingyuan answered truthfully, “Average.”
Cang Yan nodded, agreeing, and said, “You do lack distinguishing features. Neither ugly nor beautiful.”
Shen Qingyuan: “…”
She immediately complimented her, “You are the most beautiful.”
Cang Yan could now calmly accept the niche aesthetic. She lifted her chin and didn’t say anything, but her eyes showed a hint of pride.
Shen Qingyuan saw that Cang Yan was in a good mood and asked her what type of facial mask she usually used, hoping it wasn’t for darkening skin tone.
However, she also thought that Cang Yan’s aesthetic was different from hers. If she really wanted to pursue greater beauty, there was nothing Shen Qingyuan could do to stop her.
Cang Yan saw right through her thoughts and said expressionlessly, “Anti-aging.”
Shen Qingyuan asked with genuine curiosity, “No wonder you look so young. How do you usually take care of your skin? My skin will definitely have crow’s feet when I reach your age.”
“Are you implying I’m old?” Cang Yan’s tone was dangerous.
Shen Qingyuan realized her mistake and immediately corrected herself, saying, “I mean, when I’m as old as you, my skin definitely won’t be as good as yours. Your skin is really good, white, smooth, and tender, like a peeled egg.”
Cang Yan touched her own face with her fingertip. Her skin was indeed moist, radiant, and elastic. She looked up and saw that Shen Qingyuan’s skin was also good. Youth was a wonderful thing, full of collagen.
When Shen Qingyuan was twenty-eight, her skin probably wouldn’t be too bad either, but by then, Cang Yan would be older.
Wait.
Their agreement was only for one year, and they hadn’t even registered their marriage. By the time Shen Qingyuan was twenty-eight, she would probably be somewhere else, maybe even married and with children.
Cang Yan was silently pensive.
Shen Qingyuan was afraid she would get inexplicably angry again. Since the time was nearly up, she said, “I’m heading to school now.”
“Go ahead,” Cang Yan waved her hand dismissively, then fell into thought.
Her parents always wanted her to get married, feeling she would be helpless and alone when they were old. If she had to marry eventually, it might as well be Shen Qingyuan, but seeing Shen Qingyuan always made her angry.
Forget it, I’d rather take care of myself.
When Shen Qingyuan returned to school, Li Xinyan, like an old mother, couldn’t help but lecture her, “Qingyuan, you really should apologize properly to Cang Yan. Cang Yan is so nice, yet you wrote fanfiction about her. Every time I see her, she dotes on you so much. You don’t know how lucky you are.”
Even though I’ve only seen her twice.
Shen Qingyuan said, “I already apologized.”
Li Xinyan asked, “Then what happened yesterday? You were so strange, hugging one moment and crying the next.”
“Nothing,” Shen Qingyuan felt so awkward about yesterday that she wished everyone would stop bringing it up.
Li Xinyan didn’t believe her, saying, “I think something definitely happened, and I didn’t get to hear it.”
Shen Qingyuan said, “Really, nothing happened.”
Li Xinyan was just casually asking. When she couldn’t get an answer, she stopped asking. Shen Qingyuan found an empty classroom to focus on studying. Mo Ze sent her a message again.
[I have past years’ midterm exam papers for your major here, and final exam papers too. Come, and I’ll give them to you.]
His tone sounded rather impolite. Shen Qingyuan always felt that this Mo Ze had a condescending attitude, as if he was granting her a favor and she should be grateful. But she hadn’t met him yet, so judging him solely by his texts was unfair.
She asked: [We’re not even in the same department. How do you have these things?]
She had actually looked for seniors in her department, but they either had an issue with her or with Cang Yan. Anyway, after she was exposed, no one was willing to talk to her. Li Xinyan had managed to get a copy from last year through her connections, but this Mo Ze mentioned “past years,” which sounded quite appealing.
Mo Ze: [The Student Union has quite a few people from your department. I have a good relationship with them. Also, to benefit everyone, I collected past exam papers from various majors. Do you want them?]
[Yes.] Shen Qingyuan thought, Is he collecting them to sell for money?
Mo Ze: [Then come to the Academic Building to find me in a moment.]
Shen Qingyuan asked curiously: [Can’t you send a digital version?]
Mo Ze: [Digital versions are easy to leak, leading to piracy.]
Shen Qingyuan: “…”
His copyright awareness is quite strong, but you didn’t write these papers, did you? Why do you claim copyright?
But thinking that Mo Ze had organized and collected them, paying for them was acceptable.
Shen Qingyuan went to the designated location in the Academic Building during lunchtime. It was an empty classroom with a few people scattered around. A man wearing glasses and sportswear sat in the front row. He had the sturdy physique that fit the local aesthetic, similar to the handsome men’s photos Cang Yan had shown her. No wonder he was the department heartthrob.
Shen Qingyuan tentatively asked, “Senior?”
Mo Ze pushed his glasses up, his face cold: “That’s me.”
Shen Qingyuan didn’t dare to get too close. After all, Li Xinyan said the original host had beaten this Mo Ze up, and she was afraid of retaliation. Fortunately, people were constantly coming and going in the school, so she didn’t have to worry.
“I’m giving these to you for free. I charge others,” Mo Ze handed her a few newly printed exam papers.
“Then I should pay you,” Shen Qingyuan didn’t want to be the special one at all. Although it was wrong to judge people by appearance, in her opinion, Mo Ze seemed quite aggressive. After all, that muscular physique wasn’t acquired casually.
Mo Ze’s expression turned cold. He sneered, “I heard you damaged your brain when you fell into the water and can’t remember some things. I thought you were faking it, but it seems to be true.”
Shen Qingyuan: “…”
What does that have to do with anything?
“Since you insist on not taking money, then thank you, Senior.” Shen Qingyuan thought it was due to Mo Ze’s terrible self-esteem. As she got closer, she realized this Mo Ze probably didn’t come from a wealthy family; his sportswear looked somewhat faded from washing.
Mo Ze scoffed, “I know how you fell.”
Shen Qingyuan had always wanted to know who pushed the original host. She suspected it had something to do with Zhou Chuan, but she had no memory of the original host and no evidence. Now, hearing Mo Ze mention it suddenly, she pricked up her ears.
But Mo Ze intentionally left her hanging and stopped talking.
Based on what she knew, the original host was not inherently bad, just a student with a difficult family, somewhat chuunibyou and rebellious, but she was drowned.
Whether for personal reasons or humanitarian ones, she wanted to know who did it. She asked, “How did I fall?”
Mo Ze looked at her as if she were an idiot: “If you want to know the specific details, let’s meet somewhere tomorrow. I know you’re married to that monster, Cang Yan, now. You are only allowed to come alone, or I will destroy the evidence.”
This Mo Ze looked condescending and even took a swipe at Cang Yan. Shen Qingyuan suppressed her anger and said with a smile, “Can’t we meet on campus?”
Mo Ze’s attitude was firm: “No.”
“Let me consider it.” Shen Qingyuan felt he was either trying to retaliate for her hitting him or trying to blackmail her. Either way, she didn’t need to risk herself alone. It was very unsafe for women outside.
Shen Qingyuan called Cang Yan.
Cang Yan was at the company, reprimanding the Financial Manager. Seeing that it was Shen Qingyuan calling, she thought something else had happened, as Shen Qingyuan rarely called her.
She gestured for the Financial Manager to leave. The manager cleverly walked out, grateful that the call had saved him. Otherwise, Cang Yan would have continued to lecture him until he redid last year’s accounts.
Cang Yan slowly picked up the phone. Although she wanted to sound caring, the words that came out were: “Are you not satisfied again?”
Shen Qingyuan: “…”
Stop bringing that up!
She asked, “Do you have a spare bodyguard?”
“Did you get into a fight with someone?” Cang Yan frowned slightly.
Shen Qingyuan almost roared, “Can’t you ever wish me well? I’m doing a good deed.”
Cang Yan laughed: “Have you ever done a good deed?”
Shen Qingyuan stated righteously, “Even if I haven’t done any good deeds before, this time it definitely is a good deed.”
To find out the cause of the original host’s death, she had decided to enter the tiger’s den alone. Wasn’t that a good deed?
“Alright then. Come back and report clearly what good deed you did, or you’ll have to pay their salaries.” Cang Yan decided to help the weak for once.
[The location]
Shen Qingyuan contacted the bodyguard Cang Yan provided and went to the place Mo Ze had arranged. It was a remote hot pot restaurant, an old-fashioned one at that. It seemed he really was short on money.
“Miss Shen is eating hot pot with a man.” Cang Yan looked expressionlessly at the message from the bodyguard. She had wondered why Shen Qingyuan needed a bodyguard, thinking she was scared by Tang Zijing and wanted protection. She hadn’t expected it to be a date with a man.
She said, “Keep watching.”
The bodyguard then sent a video, saying, “They seem to be making some kind of transaction.”
Cang Yan watched the video. It was just a regular meal. Shen Qingyuan and the man were chatting and smiling. What kind of transaction would she be making at such a young age?
This man clearly had ulterior motives.
Cang Yan rushed home angrily after work. That man was obviously plotting something. After convincing herself with various reasons, she saw Shen Qingyuan doing homework on the sofa. She grabbed her and questioned, “Can’t you tell he has ulterior motives towards you?”
Shen Qingyuan was confused but gradually realized the man meant Mo Ze. She was stunned and said, “I can tell.”
“Then why did you still go… Are you really sexually frustrated and trying to cheat?” Cang Yan gritted her teeth.
She had already told Shen Qingyuan the three rules, and she was not allowed to cheat on her.
Shen Qingyuan: “…”
“I don’t like men. I only like you,” Shen Qingyuan said with utter sincerity.
Although she was saying it to appease Cang Yan, Cang Yan was beautiful and rich. Despite her bad temper and being a little drama queen, Shen Qingyuan actually liked her more than she did when she was just a pure face-lover.
Cang Yan was momentarily stunned. She said, “I don’t care for your liking. Quickly explain what’s going on.”
Don’t you know it’s very unsafe to eat with a stranger in that kind of place?
Shen Qingyuan carefully explained, “Before I married you, I accidentally fell into the water and almost drowned, but I didn’t know who did it. He said he knows.”
Cang Yan knew about Shen Qingyuan falling into the water, but since Shen Qingyuan woke up quickly, she didn’t take it seriously.
She frowned and said, “He wants to blackmail you? Do you think he’ll tell the truth? Or do you think it’s safe for you to meet a strange man in that kind of place?”
Shen Qingyuan was hit with three questions in a row and subconsciously said, “He’s not a stranger; he’s a senior from the School of Management.”
Cang Yan was overcome with a surge of unprovoked anger and said, “Don’t you know many rape cases are committed by acquaintances?”
She really hasn’t experienced the harsh realities of society.
Shen Qingyuan didn’t know why Cang Yan was thinking about rape, but she knew Cang Yan was worried about her. She said gently, “That’s why I brought a bodyguard.”
Cang Yan huffed and fell silent. Shen Qingyuan at least had some brains. Cang Yan also felt she was being irrational. Who would bring a bodyguard if they were trying to cheat? She, who had been smart all her life, was getting confused.
She asked awkwardly, “Did you find out anything?”
Shen Qingyuan recalled, “He said my friend Zhou Chuan pushed me down, and he has a video of it, but he wants me to give him one million to get the video. He only gave me one screenshot.”
Cang Yan sneered, “What kind of rotten friends do you keep?”
Shen Qingyuan completely agreed, saying, “I think they are rotten friends too.”
Cang Yan said irritably, “Show me the screenshot.”
Shen Qingyuan took out her phone and zoomed in on the screenshot. Since it was a video screenshot, it was a bit blurry.
Cang Yan also stared at the screenshot. Their heads were practically inside the phone, their ears almost touching.
Shen Qingyuan felt Cang Yan was very agitated today, but it was all because she cared about her. She suddenly felt Cang Yan was genuinely like a big sister. Being this close, she could also smell her pleasant scent.
The screenshot showed Shen Qingyuan standing by the river, and Zhou Chuan was behind her, his right hand extended forward. If it were an animated image, it would show him pushing Shen Qingyuan down.
Cang Yan saw Shen Qingyuan’s hair strands dangling in front of her eyes. Thinking that she was luckily saved, she couldn’t help but say, “The ancients said: ‘One person does not enter a temple; two people do not look down a well.’ You should not be malicious, but you must be wary of others. In dangerous places like that, do not turn your back on anyone unless they are someone you completely trust. You need to be more mindful.”
“Mhm, mhm,” Shen Qingyuan nodded repeatedly. She had lacked a sense of security since childhood and would not carelessly expose her back.
She guessed that the original host and Zhou Chuan were probably close, so she wasn’t careful, but she didn’t expect Zhou Chuan to suddenly push her.
Cang Yan’s expression was serious: “How do you plan to handle this?”
“Report it to the police and let him go to jail.” Shen Qingyuan already regarded Zhou Chuan as a murderer and had no intention of letting him off. She thought Cang Yan might think she was taking it too seriously since, to outsiders, she only fell into the water and didn’t die.
Cang Yan agreed: “That’s fine. As for the video, you don’t need to spend money to buy it. That senior of yours is just trying to extort money. Who would film a private video of someone and coincidentally predict that someone was about to commit a crime there? I’ll have someone investigate him directly.”
“Mhm, thank you, Big Sister. But I plan to wait until after my exams,” Shen Qingyuan didn’t want to rush. Since investigating Mo Ze would take time anyway, it was a good opportunity for her to focus on her midterm exams.
“Fine,” Cang Yan said indifferently. She did sense a touch of sincerity in that “Big Sister.”
After Shen Qingyuan returned to school, she photocopied the exam papers and gave copies to Li Xinyan and Mu Qing.
With the past years’ exam formats, studying was much easier. After the exams, it was the weekend. She packed her books, preparing to take them back to review. Remembering that Cang Yan liked cake, she asked, “Do you know where there’s a good dessert shop? One that’s especially delicious.”
“Don’t you dislike sweets?” Li Xinyan gossiped, “Buying it for your Cang Yan?”
Shen Qingyuan admitted frankly, “Yes.”
Li Xinyan didn’t expect to be fed a spoonful of dog food like this. She said, “Qingqing knows. She loves sweet things.”
Mu Qing rolled her eyes at Li Xinyan and said, “The ‘Sweet Home’ dessert shop by the school gate is quite good, but there’s always a long line.”
Shen Qingyuan went to the shop and saw a lot of people indeed. She waited in line for a long time before she got to the front. She immediately bought two six-inch strawberry cheesecake and two strawberry snow maids.
Shen Qingyuan asked the shop owner to package them securely and even tied two bows on them. When she got home, she couldn’t help but say to Cang Yan, “I brought you a gift.”
Cang Yan didn’t even look at her, playing with her phone, and said, “I don’t need it.”
Shen Qingyuan put the cakes on the table, unpacked them, sat next to Cang Yan, and shook her arm, saying, “Look, it’s a freshly baked strawberry cheesecake and snow maid from the shop near our school gate.”
Cang Yan looked up: “I have plenty at home.”
She liked them and had them delivered by the dessert shop every day, but for health reasons, she ate very little each time.