Are You Allergic To Romance? - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Are You Interested in My Body?

Miss Xie Mianzhi just slapped her hand.

Jing Yuan looked blankly at the back of her struck hand, then looked up at Xie Mianzhi who had quickly finished her water. It was obvious the other party seemed angry.

Did she say something wrong? Wasn’t she just complimenting her?

‘It’s good that you’re not dense,’ did she appear dense somehow?

Jing Yuan thought hard, truly unable to figure out why Xie Mianzhi was suddenly upset.

She felt a little wronged, but when she saw Xie Mianzhi’s expression—the look of an angry cat ready to throw a punch—she sensed something was off. It must be that she made some kind of communication error.

She hadn’t had much social interaction for a long time, so she still needed to learn and try. At the very least, she wanted to try and maintain a friendly relationship with Miss Xie Mianzhi.

“Actually, I can be even more sensitive, like the agility of a wild animal.” Jing Yuan thought for a long time, then took the initiative to speak.

After drinking two cups of water, Xie Mianzhi had also regained some reason. She had just been caught up in her own emotions, secretly feeling jealous like a child.

She didn’t know what to say due to her pride. Seeing Jing Yuan proactively “make peace,” she continued the conversation: “So you have superpowers, then.”

Jing Yuan was noncommittal, unsure whether to nod or shake her head.

“I’m just teasing. But I do have super-cash-powers (Chāo Nénɡ Lì vs Chāo qián Nénɡ Lì in Chinese). Isn’t that pun terrible?” Xie Mianzhi chuckled, mocking herself, which successfully dispelled the awkward atmosphere she had created. “Jing Yuan, I was a little emotional just now. You’re actually really nice, I mean it.”

“Mmm, I know.” Jing Yuan quietly gazed at the other party, maintaining a gentle attitude throughout.

Seeing that Jing Yuan didn’t blame her, Xie Mianzhi felt even more that Jing Yuan was a good person. This girl was truly too kind.

She genuinely worried that if she sold this little savior, the girl would still count the money for the buyer.

She even started thinking about other, more profound matters, especially whether anyone else had received this warm kindness.

“So… um, in all this time, have you taken anyone else in?” Xie Mianzhi suddenly changed the subject and asked unexpectedly. She was wondering if anyone else had a similar experience to hers before.

“What?” Jing Yuan didn’t understand why Xie Mianzhi was asking.

“I just think you’re a really nice person, a bit naive. Have you had other experiences of helping others before?” Xie Mianzhi tugged at a strand of hair, treating it as a casual chat between friends.

Naive?

Did Xie Mianzhi misunderstand her?

“Do you think this is a shelter?” Jing Yuan raised an eyebrow, asking back helplessly.

“But you took me in, so I was just wondering if anyone else had come here like this…” Xie Mianzhi pressed the point. She really just wanted to know.

Jing Yuan shook her head and smiled.

“I don’t think anyone else could be as persistent as Miss Xie,” Jing Yuan hinted at the first time they met, when Xie Mianzhi’s repeated requests for a ride were refused.

Little brat.

Xie Mianzhi rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath.

“Hmph, it’s lucky you ran into me. Someone with a proper identity and integrity like me staying at your place lets you feel the true affection and warmth of the world.” Xie Mianzhi unabashedly declared that Jing Yuan was lucky to have met her.

Jing Yuan listened attentively, the corners of her mouth slightly curving. She had to admit, Xie Mianzhi’s voice was very pleasant, even though everything the other party said was entirely self-praise.

“But you need to know, living here alone really isn’t safe. You said you haven’t lived here long, so you might not have encountered anything yet, but single women living alone need to be cautious.”

Jing Yuan pulled a chair and sat in front of Xie Mianzhi, like an attentive student listening to Teacher Xie. “Be cautious of what?”

“Be cautious of people with bad intentions.” Xie Mianzhi naturally sat down as well.

“For example?” Jing Yuan was curious.

For example, that garbage store clerk at the shop who tried to touch you, Xie Mianzhi pouted, but didn’t say that out loud.

“For example, someone pretending to be lost or pitiful, coming to your door begging for lodging or directions. They knock you out when you’re not paying attention, not just to rob or assault you, some just go snip,” Xie Mianzhi made a throat-slitting gesture to scare Jing Yuan.

Jing Yuan was cooperative and widened her eyes.

Seeing Jing Yuan in the posture of an earnest student, she continued to warn: “There are real cases of this, and since you live in such a remote place, it’s hard to notice anything.” Xie Mianzhi told the naive little savior about what she perceived as dangers.

Jing Yuan listened quietly, then couldn’t help but smile, “Are you worried about me?”

Xie Mianzhi was momentarily charmed by the other party’s gentle, angelic smile. Damn it, this girl looks a little too pretty when she smiles.

A harmless, angelic smile that makes one want to bully her.

Xie Mianzhi quickly shook off her wicked thoughts, giving a soft huff: “This is advice from your older sister. Don’t think everyone is a good person.”

“Then is Miss Xie Mianzhi a good person?” Jing Yuan asked back, her gaze shifting from the bandaged finger to Xie Mianzhi’s face, her eyes.

Xie Mianzhi hadn’t expected such a question. She looked up, meeting Jing Yuan’s eyes, which were as clear and beautiful as a golden sea under a clear sky.

She pursed her lips, thinking of her words.

“I’m not sure about being a ‘good person,’ but I’m involved in a legal business, a legitimate job. I can tell you honestly, Xieli Department Store is run by my family. If I do anything that displeases you during this time, you can absolutely contact my lawyer.” Xie Mianzhi explained half-jokingly. She wasn’t showing off, but indirectly stating her identity to prevent them from remaining as mere temporary guests and strangers.

Furthermore, she could tell that Jing Yuan wouldn’t be surprised by any identity she revealed. Even if she were the President’s daughter, the other party’s expression would likely remain calm and collected. She wasn’t the type to curry favor.

The eldest daughter of the Xie Group? Running Xieli Department Store?

A fleeting memory surfaced in Jing Yuan’s mind. She had once seen a picture of Xie Minping in Old Master Hong’s business cooperation documents. That person was probably Xie Mianzhi’s grandmother.

She could guess some things, but she wasn’t interested in commercial secrets. Although the old man constantly called her over to help him run the business, saying she possessed extraordinary talent and an outstanding mind, her body was currently too unstable, so this heavy responsibility couldn’t be handed over to her yet.

“What’s wrong, still spacing out? Scared by the mention of a lawyer’s letter?” Xie Mianzhi lowered her head, unable to resist reaching out a finger to poke Jing Yuan’s distracted face.

The quick-reacting Jing Yuan was about to slap the hand away, but her gaze caught the band-aid on Miss Xie’s hand. She could only endure being poked.

Jing Yuan’s face… is so cold.

Like an icy cold marshmallow.

Xie Mianzhi found it fascinating and wanted to poke again, but the other party quickly avoided her.

“I think Miss Xie will be the one receiving my lawyer’s letter first,” Jing Yuan slightly lifted her face, only allowing herself to be poked once.

“Brat, you’re not really scared, are you? I’m just being straight with you. It’s fine if you try to exploit me.”

She had plenty of money anyway. She didn’t mind if Jing Yuan got some benefits as a form of reciprocation.

“I’m not that kind of person,” Jing Yuan answered honestly and informed Miss Xie that staying here tonight only required the same accommodation fee as before.

Xie Mianzhi was speechless. Helplessly, she took out five hundred yuan from her handbag and placed it in the other party’s hand.

“You’re such a fool. A visible rich woman is right in front of you, and all you know to ask for is this? You should at least want something more.”

“Uh, like what?”

“Like…” Xie Mianzhi looked around, finally pointing to herself, her eyes gently fluttering: “You can be interested in me, too, you know.”

Perhaps she was startled by Miss Xie’s bluntness.

Jing Yuan’s perpetually sleepy eyes instantly widened. Did Xie Mianzhi know what she was saying?

Jing Yuan tightly gripped the accommodation fee in her hand, so embarrassed that her lips trembled, unable to utter a single word.

She gathered her courage and looked up, meeting Xie Mianzhi’s smiling, mesmerizing, trap-like face. She knew the other party was teasing her again.

Only she, in a moment of distraction, had taken it seriously.

Jing Yuan pursed her lips, feeling helpless with herself.

She simply stood up and avoided talking about it, intending to clear the items on the table, including the towel on Xie Mianzhi’s head.

“Alright, little savior, I was just joking. I just wanted you to want something from me,” Xie Mianzhi saw Jing Yuan about to pull the pink towel off her head and quickly pulled the towel, explaining softly.

“Why do you want me to want something from you?” Jing Yuan didn’t understand, but hearing Xie Mianzhi’s soft tone, the knot of frustration instantly dissipated.

Xie Mianzhi answered without thinking: “I just want us to be good friends.”

“Just because I took you in twice?” Jing Yuan stopped the hand that was about to pull away the towel, staring intently at this wet-haired little princess who was causing internal chaos.

“No,” Xie Mianzhi’s bright eyes sparkled. She felt her hair near her ears was still damp, so she leaned her head toward Jing Yuan’s hand, letting her help wipe her hair, and whispered softly: “Mmm, I just thought that if your house ever gets flooded by the sea, you can live at my place too.”