Heartbeat - Chapter 27

Shen Xun winked at Su Jianyue, reassuring her like a little puppy. “Keep eating. Why are you staring at me?”

Su Jianyue pouted and lowered her head, but she couldn’t bring herself to eat.

Shen Xun found her dejected expression adorable. Her eyes curved into a smile as she let her right hand drop beneath the table, reaching out to gently squeeze Su Jianyue’s left wrist. Her fingertips brushed lightly against the skin.

The Little Puppy, who had been sitting with drooped ears in dejection, suddenly perked up at the touch. Her eyes lit up, and she obediently gazed at Shen Xun with her two puppy-like eyes.

Shen Xun smiled at her before continuing, “Jiang Ying treated me all day yesterday. Isn’t it normal to send her a thank-you message in return?”

“I guess so,” Ren Peng muttered under his breath, relieved that Shen Xun wasn’t interested in Jiang Ying. “You’re quite polite.”

Hearing her sister explain it was just a matter of reciprocation, the heavy stone in Su Jianyue’s chest finally lifted. Her appetite returned with a vengeance, and she resumed eating obediently.

Meanwhile, the live stream’s bullet comments erupted once more:

Hahaha, our Little Puppy is so cute! As soon as Sister said it was just a thank-you message, she immediately went back to eating.

Xiao Yueliang’s gluttonous persona remains intact, still as fond of eating as she was in childhood.

Ahhh! Did you guys see that just now? The fixed camera angle in the living room caught Shen Xun holding Su Jianyue’s wrist and… rubbing it!

What?! Are they sneaking around behind our backs? Is there something these esteemed members aren’t allowed to see?

Babies caught sneaking around behind Mommy’s back! Hmph!

While the others were chatting, Su Jianyue finished her meal.

Seeing that Shen Xun had also finished, she obediently got up to clear the dishes.

Shen Xun looked up and saw Little Puppy diligently working. She stood up as well. “Let’s go wash the dishes together.”

“I can do it myself.”

“It’s fine, let’s do it together,” Shen Xun said, following Su Jianyue into the kitchen.

Su Jianyue washed the dishes first, while Shen Xun rinsed them.

As the two worked in the kitchen, Yu Lin and Zheng Tianming returned, carrying several boxes.

“Where did you two go?” Liang Wenjing asked.

Yu Lin glanced around, noticing Su Jianyue wasn’t at the dining table. Her eyes scanned the room until she spotted Su Jianyue and Shen Xun in the kitchen.

Yu Lin smiled at the group. “I went to the Pottery Studio. These are the pieces Su Jianyue and I made yesterday. She had something to do this morning, so I went with Zheng Tianming.”

“So many?” Mao Ning exclaimed, astonished. Zheng Tianming was carrying two large bags filled with boxes. “Were you two on a date or working overtime?”

Yu Lin took the bags from Zheng Tianming and placed them on the dining table, laughing. “It was actually quite relaxing. We just got carried away and made a lot.”

“Then hurry up and show us!” Zhao Qifei glanced in Shen Xun’s direction and joined in the excitement.

Su Jianyue had been quietly washing dishes, afraid to move. She cautiously checked Shen Xun’s expression, worried her sister might be angry again.

Sensing Su Jianyue’s gaze, Shen Xun glanced up at her. “So, you made a lot of pottery yesterday?”

Su Jianyue swallowed nervously and nodded sheepishly. “It was okay, I guess. Hehe.”

She kept a close eye on Shen Xun’s face, terrified of provoking her sister’s anger again.

“All done washing up. Let’s go see what you two sculpted yesterday,” Shen Xun said, wiping her hands with a paper towel as she headed toward the dining table.

Su Jianyue’s back was already damp with sweat as she hurried to catch up with Shen Xun’s brisk pace.

Yu Lin smiled as Su Jianyue approached. “When I went to pick them up, the owner had already packed them in boxes. I didn’t open them, so let’s open them together.”

Su Jianyue gave an awkward laugh. “Sure. I wonder how the colors will look after firing.”

With that, Su Jianyue opened a box herself. Inside was a small brown bear, quite adorable.

“Sister, look!” Su Jianyue held up the bear for Shen Xun to see, pointing to the initials on its base. “I always put my initials on the bottom of my pottery.”

Shen Xun glanced down and saw “SJY” clearly marked beneath the bear. Her eyes curved into a smile as she praised, “Cute.”

“I made so many more!” Su Jianyue, energized by her sister’s compliment, eagerly tore open more boxes, pulling out her creations to show Shen Xun.

Shen Xun nodded approvingly at the “Little Puppy’s” good behavior, until her gaze landed on two identical cups.

She looked up at Su Jianyue and asked, “These two cups?”

Before Su Jianyue could answer, Yu Lin spoke up first. “Su Jianyue and I made them together. She sculpted all the little ears on these cups. We were planning to each keep one.”

Shen Xun simply nodded faintly, then shifted her gaze to Su Jianyue.

Su Jianyue was nearly frantic, terrified that Shen Xun would be angry with her again. She quickly declared her loyalty, “Sister, do you like the cup? If you do, I’ll give you mine!”

As she spoke, Su Jianyue grabbed the cup, her eyes fixed intently on Shen Xun.

Shen Xun glanced at the cup before finally meeting Su Jianyue’s gaze. She smiled faintly. “No, thank you. You two agreed to each keep one, so it wouldn’t be right for me to take yours. You should keep it for yourself.”

Zhao Qifei chimed in, eager to help. “Exactly! Exactly! You should definitely keep it!”

Su Jianyue shot him a glare, gritting her teeth and huffing twice.

Yu Lin then brought out the little puppy she had asked Su Jianyue to help shape. Beaming with pride, she showed it off to everyone. “We made this little puppy together too! Look how plump and white it is—isn’t it adorable?”

“It’s really cute,” Zhao Qifei interjected, seizing the opportunity. “You and Su Jianyue are quite skilled.” The more distant Su Jianyue became from Shen Xun, the better his chances.

Su Jianyue glanced at Shen Xun, who remained silent. Ahhh! She’d had so much fun yesterday that she hadn’t even considered whether her creations might upset her sister. Now she regretted it. Her sister had finally stopped being angry—she didn’t want to provoke her again.

With her ears drooping, Su Jianyue gently tugged at Shen Xun’s wrist, looking up at her with the innocent expression of a little puppy.

Shen Xun returned her gaze with a faint, ambiguous smile. “They are indeed quite adorable.”

Su Jianyue stood there nervously, like a little dog being punished by its master. She couldn’t even tell if her sister was truly angry. Just standing there made her forehead sweat.

Noticing her frozen posture, Shen Xun said, “Pick out all the pottery you made. I’ll help you carry them back to your room later.”

“Ao Ao,” Su Jianyue replied, scrambling to gather her creations. Her palms were damp with sweat.

Before long, Su Jianyue had gathered her things—about ten pieces of various sizes.

“Sister, I’ve found them all. These are mine,” Su Jianyue said obediently.

Shen Xun nodded slightly. “Alright, let’s pack them up first. Be careful not to break them again.”

As she spoke, she began carefully packing the small ceramic pieces into boxes, with Su Jianyue helping beside her.

Once all of Su Jianyue’s pottery creations were packed, Shen Xun and Su Jianyue carried the boxes upstairs.

Yu Lin watched them go, wanting to keep Su Jianyue back for a longer chat. But seeing how Su Jianyue’s eyes were completely fixed on Shen Xun, she held her tongue. Instead, she tidied up the remaining pieces on the table, preparing to return them to her room.

Zhao Qifei approached her, trying to get closer. “Hey, Yu Lin, looks like you and Su Jianyue got along well yesterday. You should try to hang out more often—more dates mean more chances, right?”

Yu Lin sighed. “I’d like to, but dating these days is all about luck. Who I’ll end up with next time is anyone’s guess. If you’re free, could you help me carry these? I need to clear the table soon to start cooking.”

“Sure!” Zhao Qifei, always eager to show off, jumped at the chance to help. He immediately took some of the items and followed Yu Lin upstairs.

Shen Xun and Su Jianyue returned to Su Jianyue’s room, placing a large pile of boxes on the table. Su Jianyue quickly closed the door.

She nervously rubbed her hands together and leaned closer to Shen Xun. “Sister, you’re not angry, are you?”

Shen Xun turned to look into Su Jianyue’s eyes, sensing the younger woman’s panic.

After a long pause, Shen Xun casually opened a box, took out a pink ceramic rabbit, and began toying with it in her hand.

“Why would I be angry? Tell me,” Shen Xun asked, her tone nonchalant as she idly stroked the rabbit.

Su Jianyue flinched, desperately trying to organize her thoughts. Her usually quick-witted mind seemed under attack, her normally chatty mouth now unable to utter a single word.

“I… I was just worried you’d be angry about the cup,” Su Jianyue mumbled softly, her voice barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz. If not for the microphone still clipped to her collar, it would have been impossible to hear.

Shen Xun placed the pink ceramic rabbit on the table and took a step toward Su Jianyue, who immediately retreated in fright.

The corners of Shen Xun’s lips curled upward. “Don’t you dare run.”

With that, she took another step forward. Su Jianyue, however, didn’t dare retreat any further. She stood there stiffly, looking like a dog being scolded by its master.

“Sister?”

“Hmm? Tell me, why do you think I’m angry about that cup?” As she spoke, Shen Xun had already closed the distance, their faces nearly touching.

She reached out and gently pinched Su Jianyue’s cheek. The Little Puppy’s cheeks are so soft and squishy—it’s quite satisfying to pinch them.

Su Jianyue didn’t dare move a muscle. She sniffled pitifully before whispering, “I just thought it would be fun to make those two cups yesterday. I didn’t even think about them being couple cups. I was afraid you’d be angry and stop talking to me.”

“You didn’t think about it while you were making them, but you’re thinking about it now?” Shen Xun teased, gently poking Su Jianyue’s cheek again.

“Sister, I won’t do it again!” Su Jianyue was on the verge of panic, her eyes glistening with tears, looking like a heartbroken little puppy.

The bullet comments in the live stream were going wild.

Hahaha, Xiao Yueliang is completely under Shen Xun’s thumb.

She’s so well-behaved, just standing there taking the scolding and even letting Shen Xun pinch her cheek! Ugh, I’m so jealous! I want to pinch her cheek too!

LOL, Su Jianyue is back to being a broken little puppy. Let’s see if you dare get any more couple stuff with anyone else! Your sister won’t let you get away with it!

Xunxun’s possessiveness is so intense! I love it!

This is so satisfying! Little puppies need to be disciplined by their masters.

Shen Xun couldn’t help but laugh at the Little Puppy’s pathetic expression. After staring at Su Jianyue for a moment, she casually said, “Don’t let it happen again.”

“Mmm-hmm! I’ll never dare to do that again, Sister! I’ll be a good girl and listen to you from now on,” Su Jianyue declared sweetly, trying to win Shen Xun over.

Seeing that Shen Xun wasn’t as angry as she had been the day before, Su Jianyue mustered the courage to reach out and tug on Shen Xun’s wrist. “Sister, can you not send those messages to anyone else tonight?”

Intrigued, Shen Xun asked, “Why shouldn’t I send them to anyone else?”

“Well, because… because you already have me! I’m your Little Puppy! Can you please not want any other puppies?” Su Jianyue pleaded, her eyes wide and pleading.

Seeing the Little Puppy being so obedient only made Shen Xun want to tease her even more.