I Met My Crush At My Sister's Wedding - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Jiang Shucheng was prepared to obediently take the scolding, but unexpectedly, Shen Qinghe did not utter a single word of blame.

The spring sun hung high in the clear blue sky. A light breeze blew, and the trees on the roadside grew new sprouts. Jiang Shucheng’s heart was like a blooming peach blossom, trembling slightly in the wind.

“Yes, I’ve told her many times that she needs to be careful and slow when driving, but she just won’t listen,” Ji Yue glanced sideways at Jiang Shucheng, her expression full of distaste.

Jiang Shucheng secretly thought that her mother didn’t give her any face in front of strangers and pouted.

Shen Qinghe wore a faint smile: “She just doesn’t drive often enough. She’ll get better with a few more tries.”

After all that talk, the three were still standing outside the door. Ji Yue said: “Hurry inside and sit down!”

Shen Qinghe didn’t have much time. She had a business meeting at a club tonight and needed to prepare in advance: “Not today, Auntie. I need to leave now.”

“Ah? Leaving already?” Ji Yue’s smile froze. After all, her daughter had driven someone else’s expensive car back, and she hadn’t even offered her a cup of tea. She felt quite embarrassed.

“Yes…” Although Shen Qinghe was not yet thirty, she had been working abroad for many years and managed the company’s affairs at a young age, leading many employees. Her aura was more mature than that of an elder, giving off a sense of authority. Ji Yue inexplicably didn’t dare to insist.

Shen Qinghe’s gaze swept over the red roses placed on the counter. Many lush, red roses were inserted into plastic bottles. The plastic bottles were all transparent, and the straight, green flower stems were submerged in clear water. The plastic bottles were beverage bottles with the labels torn off, and the openings had been trimmed so they could hold so many red roses.

Ji Yue followed her line of sight, looked back, and explained with a knowing smile: “I specially bought these from the florist. It’s 520 today, so buying them to display in the store creates some atmosphere. If you like them, you can take one.”

Before they arrived, several customers had come to buy things. When they complimented the beautiful red roses on the counter, Ji Yue told them they could pick one to take, and everyone happily took one without being shy.

Shen Qinghe walked up to the counter, staring at the crowded dozen-or-so red roses. After a moment, she picked up two that she thought were the most beautiful.

In front of Ji Yue, she walked up to Jiang Shucheng and handed her the one she considered the prettiest: “One for each of us.”

Jiang Shucheng couldn’t quite articulate what she was feeling at that moment because she was too excited—more excited than winning the grand prize, and more excited than driving a Rolls-Royce!

She appeared calm as she accepted the rose and brought it to her nose to gently sniff it. It didn’t have much scent, but her heart felt incredibly sweet.

The bright red rose petals brushed against Jiang Shucheng’s fair cheek. Shen Qinghe thought the person was more beautiful than the flower.

Before leaving, she took the umbrella out of her bag and returned it to Jiang Shucheng. Jiang Shucheng was surprised: “You carried it with you?”

“Yes, this umbrella is very useful,” Shen Qinghe chuckled softly.

Of course, it was useful. This umbrella cost her over two hundred yuan. Not only was the frame sturdy, the opening and closing mechanism smooth, but it also offered excellent UV protection.

Jiang Shucheng, momentarily overwhelmed by the rose, forgot how poor she was now. She said shyly: “If you like it, you can keep it.”

An umbrella that cost over two hundred yuan. She definitely couldn’t afford to buy another one now.

Ji Yue felt redundant standing there and quietly retreated into the store to eat sunflower seeds.

Shen Qinghe shook her head, putting the umbrella into her hand, and spoke with rare stammering: “How could I…”

Sensing her heartbeat was dangerously fast, and afraid she would lose control if she stayed a second longer, Shen Qinghe stammered her goodbyes and strode to the car, getting in.

Jiang Shucheng stood at the doorway, holding the red rose. Sunlight bathed her body as she waved with a smile at Shen Qinghe in the car.

How can she be so beautiful…

Shen Qinghe’s finger knuckles were prominent as she tightly gripped the steering wheel. She gazed at Jiang Shucheng through the clean windshield. Jiang Shucheng couldn’t see inside, but Shen Qinghe could see her faint smile in the sunlight.

Looking any longer would make her truly reluctant to leave. Shen Qinghe sighed, shifted gears, and turned the car around, her clear eyes holding a hint of longing as she watched the figure in the rearview mirror gradually shrink.

…

Jiang Shucheng took the umbrella and the rose upstairs. She found a mineral water bottle, filled it with water, placed the rose inside, and set it on the table to quietly admire it.

A flower cut from its soil couldn’t live for long. She could only watch it bloom vibrantly for a few days before it withered.

However, Jiang Shucheng’s eyes still sparkled, cherishing the brief beauty before her.

Night fell. The city’s sky was inky blue, stars were sparse, and high-rise buildings were brightly lit. The roads, illuminated by neon lights, were bustling with traffic.

Shen Qinghe emerged from the club’s private room, her head slightly dizzy from a few drinks.

Even though her father had given her the CEO position of the branch company, she couldn’t avoid drinking with clients. Shen Qinghe’s alcohol tolerance was moderate. Fortunately, she brought an employee who could drink well. The employee was not only observant but also eloquent, playing a crucial role in securing the contract.

“Boss Shen, I’ve called a designated driver for you.” The employee, who had drunk a lot, seemed quite sober and pressed the elevator button for Shen Qinghe.

Shen Qinghe thanked him. As she walked out of the club, she saw the Rolls-Royce parked outside the door.

The noise outside the club was deafening. Shen Qinghe took a breath of the night air, said goodbye to her employee, and stumbled into the car.

Tonight’s clients, seeing her youth, were distrustful and deliberately made things difficult for her.

Shen Qinghe smiled obligingly, pouring wine and offering flattery. The people present were all middle-aged men with shrewd and calculating eyes. They knew Shen Qinghe was Chairman Shen’s daughter, and the Shen family’s businesses accounted for half the commercial sector—including real estate, entertainment, dining, healthcare, etc. Any businessperson would cooperate with Shen Qinghe out of respect for Chairman Shen. But these men were different; they came from a military compound background, possessing unique connections that set them apart from pure businesspeople. Naturally, they didn’t mind offending Chairman Shen. Each was arrogant, smoking and drinking, saying irrelevant things, and delaying the discussion of the contract. Shen Qinghe was inwardly impatient, but she had to endure it to complete a crucial project. Her ambition was not limited to just the branch company.

The night scenery flashed past the car windows. Shen Qinghe leaned back exhaustedly in the back seat. After all, she was raised with family indulgence. Being challenged by clients made her feel wronged, and she wanted to find someone to confide in.

She took out her phone. The time was 23:30. It was late. Her sister, the only person who could listen to her work troubles, was probably asleep, and she was four months pregnant. Pregnant women needed to maintain a good mood every day. Shen Qinghe vaguely thought she shouldn’t bother her.

A small face suddenly surfaced in her hazy mind. Fair, tender skin, and delicate features blooming like a water lily in the morning—it gradually became clear.

It was late at night, and Jiang Shucheng hadn’t slept. Thinking about the company interview the next day, she was too nervous to fall asleep. She kept mentally rehearsing her words and actions for the interview.

She tossed and turned in bed. The cold air from the air conditioner blew on her face. She was covered with a soft, comfortable quilt, but she just couldn’t sleep.

The phone beside her bed lit up in the silent, dark room. The loud ring tone jolted Jiang Shucheng from the bed.

The quilt slid from her chest to her thighs. Jiang Shucheng, with her hair loose, stared blankly at the incoming WeChat call.

It was Shen Qinghe.

She felt a little awkward, slowly tapping to answer: “Hello?”

Shen Qinghe was still in the car. Hearing the soft, low voice from the phone, she closed her eyes and giggled foolishly: “Mu Xi Mu Xi, I’m Shen Qinghe.”

Her tone was playfully unlike herself.

“Uh, I know. Is something wrong?” Jiang Shucheng was completely bewildered. Has Shen Qinghe been possessed?

She was just drunk. Shen Qinghe pressed her face against the car window, breathing onto the glass, immediately creating a layer of white fog. She stretched out a slender finger, drew an orange, and pouted sadly: “Chengcheng.”

“…” Jiang Shucheng was astonished. Why would she call her ‘Chengcheng’? Did she hear her mother call her that and follow suit?

The endearment made her feel a burning sensation in her breath, even in the air-conditioned room.

“Chengcheng!” Receiving no response, Shen Qinghe called out again, her voice slightly demanding this time.

“I’m here,” Jiang Shucheng murmured, “Shen Qinghe, what’s wrong?”

“Wuwuwu…” Shen Qinghe’s dark eyes seemed to be pooled with water as she looked out the car window and whimpered, “They all look down on me…”

Jiang Shucheng was perplexed. Who would be so bold as to look down on a woman carrying Hermès and driving a Rolls-Royce? Before she could figure out the situation, she was righteously indignant: “Who! Who is it! Where are you now? Do you want me to come over…” And make you look even more looked down upon.

Jiang Shucheng became discouraged. She had nothing now. How could she help?

“It’s a few… a few… hic~” Shen Qinghe hiccuped drunkenly. The light from the streetlamp outside the window blurred her flushed profile. “Very ugly, very ugly winter melons.”

Jiang Shucheng: “?”

Her voice sounded slurred. Jiang Shucheng hesitantly asked: “Are you drunk?”

“No, I’m not,” Shen Qinghe said with a thick tongue.

Okay, she’s definitely drunk.

“Where are you? Are there any familiar people nearby?” Jiang Shucheng asked.

Her voice was as light as the night wind.

Shen Qinghe said: “I’m in… I’m in the car, the car that Chengcheng drove.” She rubbed her forehead. Who is Chengcheng? Why is that name dominating her mind?

Jiang Shucheng hung up the phone. Shen Qinghe let out a moan of grievance, but then her phone immediately rang. Jiang Shucheng had video-called her.

Shen Qinghe answered and saw Jiang Shucheng wearing strawberry pajamas, with a ribbon tied in a bow on her chest. She looked so sweet and cute.

“Oh, who are you?” Shen Qinghe giggled uncontrollably.

Jiang Shucheng didn’t know what she was giggling about. Her beautiful face flickered between light and shadow in the car, her long eyebrows curved, and her eyes sparkled like stars.

The foolishly giggling Shen Qinghe made her heart melt.

She looked quite safe. Jiang Shucheng felt relieved, watching her and saying: “I’m Chengcheng.”

“Chengcheng, so pretty,” Shen Qinghe pressed her entire face close to the screen, her lips, like rose petals, smiled, revealing clean, dazzling white teeth. “Chengcheng, will you sing me a song?”

“Sure, what song do you want to hear?” Jiang Shucheng asked gently.

Shen Qinghe was drunkenly confused, her mood as bad as a rainy day, desperately wanting sunlight to shine in. She tilted her head in thought: “I want to hear… anything, as long as Chengcheng sings it.”