5,005
When Song Yang and Meng Zihan arrived at the Shen residence, the first thing they saw was Shen Yi, who was trailing right behind Wen Que as usual.
“Oh,” Meng Zihan glanced at Song Yang with interest and remarked, “Looks like someone has already managed to coax her.”
The dynamic between Shen Yi and Wen Que was quite intriguing.
Shen Yi’s feelings were obvious—everyone knew she liked Wen Que.
But Wen Que was different.
He appeared polite but maintained a clear distance in daily interactions, rarely initiating conversations. He seemed like a piece of jade—soft and refined at first glance—but once you got close, you realized he was more like a stone.
Yet Meng Zihan knew that seventeen-year-old Wen Que treated Shen Yi differently from others, so over the years, she hadn’t stopped Shen Yi from indulging in her romantic fantasies.
After all...
In every way, Wen Que was like a flawless idol protagonist, perfect without a single fault. Shen Yi’s girlish heart was invested in someone like him, and even if things didn’t turn out well in the end, the memories would still count as a beautiful youth.
Song Yang snorted disdainfully, “Who cares about her?”
Though he said that, neither of them could take their eyes off Shen Yi.
Soon, Shen Yi noticed Meng Zihan’s presence, exchanged a few words with Wen Que, and then hurried over.
Of course, she also saw Song Yang standing aside but deliberately ignored him.
Song Yang couldn’t hold back any longer and said, “Do you think I’m invisible?”
Meng Zihan took Shen Yi’s hand and tried to mediate, “Yi Yi, it seems there’s some misunderstanding. Could you give Song Yang a chance to explain?”
*
In Shen Yi’s room.
After hearing the whole story, Shen Yi incredulously summarized the key point in Song Yang’s words: “You mean Jiang Yue came to you today because she really likes me and wants to be friends, and she asked if you had any ideas?”
“Why would I lie to you?”
Song Yang felt wronged. After being used as a tool for friendship by Jiang Yue, he ended up getting scolded by Shen Yi.
Shen Yi asked cautiously, “Then what did you say? Why were you two laughing so happily?”
Song Yang shrugged, “I said no way. Shen Yi hates you the most. You two can’t be friends.”
Shen Yi: “...”
They stared at each other.
Song Yang: “...”
Alright, though he had a bit of a temper, he wouldn’t say such things to a seemingly gentle girl.
So Song Yang told the truth: “I just mocked her taste in liking you a bit. Then she was really persistent and asked me some questions about you, so I told her some of your preferences to play along.”
“Song Yang.”
Meng Zihan was the first to question, “You just sold Shen Yi out like that? Even if we take a step back, how do you know Jiang Yue was telling the truth?”
Shen Yi was a sincere person who would respond to anyone who spoke to her; she would never ignore others.
If Jiang Yue wanted to be friends, why not express it directly to Shen Yi? Why ask Song Yang for help?
If it was shyness, that would be reasonable, but then why come to Song Yang?
Shen Yi and Meng Zihan often stuck together even outside of class, and everyone knew they were best friends. Between the gentle and approachable noble lady Meng Zihan and the “delinquent youth” Song Yang, who looked like everyone owed him millions, who would choose the latter?
Realizing he might have been “tricked,” Song Yang’s expression finally turned a bit guilty. “You mean she was lying to me?”
But what benefit would Jiang Yue have in lying to him?
“Ah, the true intent is something else entirely.”
Meng Zihan looked at Song Yang’s phone. “If I’m not mistaken, you’ve already exchanged contact info, right?”
*
Song Yang understood and fell into existential doubt.
His mind couldn’t process all these twists and turns; he just felt confused.
Shen Yi understood too, but she began to doubt Song Yang.
She denied it, “Impossible, who would like him and still go to so much trouble?”
*
Especially since that person was Jiang Yue, whom even she was jealous of.
Song Yang? Worthy?
To be fair, Jiang Yue was an outstanding girl.
Though her family wasn’t well-off, she never gave up on herself. She’d always been at the top of her class, worked hard to get into the Imperial Capital High School, and even earned a scholarship.
In appearance,
she was the typical delicate beauty—charming and graceful. Despite the heavy pressures of study and life, even dressed in a simple school uniform with a ponytail and no makeup, she was undoubtedly a gentle beauty.
If she kept this up,
and wasn’t held back by her family, Jiang Yue would at most endure a few more years of poverty. She had the talent and determination to live a good life.
Objectively, Shen Yi admired Jiang Yue very much; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been jealous of her.
As for Song Yang?
Apart from being born into wealth, what else did he have? A bad temper or a foolish mind?
Jiang Yue had a crush on him?
He’d better look in the mirror before spouting such nonsense.
Song Yang laughed heartily, as if he’d figured it out. “Shen Yi, you’re just jealous! Jealous that she uses you as an excuse to get close to me. Turns out you’re the real tool here! Haha!”
Watching their interaction, Meng Zihan couldn’t help but smile and shake her head silently, thinking, Romantic novel plots are all lies. Childhood sweethearts really just annoy each other.
*
Though no one apologized, Shen Yi and Song Yang had made up.
Privately,
they confirmed everything a few more times until Song Yang raised his hand and swore he wouldn’t reveal that dream, and only then did Shen Yi finally let him off the hook.
Meng Zihan came out of the bathroom, smiling and asked, “What were you two talking about?”
Shen Yi felt a bit guilty.
She really didn’t want to lie to Meng Zihan, but that dream was so embarrassing she couldn’t say it out loud while awake.
Fortunately, Meng Zihan only asked casually and didn’t press further.
The birthday party soon officially began.
The younger generation from each family attended, along with Shen Yu’s friends. After a few brief congratulatory words from Shen family elders, they left to give the young people freedom to enjoy themselves.
What disappointed Shen Yi was that Wen Que, who disliked crowded places, left early.
Shen Yi saw him to the door and couldn’t help but say, “Wen Que, my birthday is next month.”
Under the moonlight,
Wen Que’s gaze seemed softer than usual. He asked, “Is there a gift you want?”
“No,”
Shen Yi shook her head and summoned courage, “I mean, on my birthday, could I just invite you, Zihan, and… Song Yang? The four of us go out together?”
Though she wasn’t overly enthusiastic.
But in her memories of every birthday, Song Yang was always there. In the end, she had gotten used to having him around.
“Next month.”
Wen Que pursed his lips, thinking for a moment, then said apologetically, “The competition schedule hasn’t been set.”
“I see…”
Shen Yi immediately smiled brightly and took the initiative, “We’ll see how things go then! You should rest early. I’m heading back now. Good night!”
*
Turning away,
Shen Yi’s smile faltered. She pinched her cheek.
It’s okay.
Wen Que hadn’t refused her, so luck might not be so bad after all!
After all, it was Shen Yu’s birthday. Shen Yi forced a smile as she walked back, but collided with a maid who was hurrying by with her head down at the door.
“...Ah!”
Shen Yi exclaimed as the wine glass she was holding shattered on the floor. The maid kept her head bowed, repeatedly apologizing, “Sorry! Sorry!”
“Can you watch where you’re going?” Shen Yi complained, looking down at the juice stains on her dress, thinking how unlucky she’d been lately.
But Shen Yi wasn’t the type to fuss. Seeing the maid’s clothes were also stained and that she was too scared to look up, Shen Yi said, “Alright, just clean it up quickly and go change your clothes…”
Before she finished speaking, her gaze landed on the maid’s face, and something felt off.
Familiar.
Very familiar.
Even with her head bowed, Shen Yi felt she’d seen her somewhere before. But she was certain this was not a servant from their household.
After a moment of careful observation, Shen Yi’s voice was filled with disbelief and lowered: “...Jiang Yue? How come it’s you?”
Nearby,
Song Yang’s voice sounded, “Hey, miss, what are you doing here?”
“Enough, let someone else clean this up,” Shen Yi casually summoned a familiar servant to escort Jiang Yue around the backstairs.
*
After briefly brushing off Song Yang, Shen Yi hurried to her room to change because her dress was stained.
The door opened.
Jiang Yue still wore the stained maid outfit, standing timidly in place. Upon seeing Shen Yi, she showed a guilty expression and explained, “Sorry, I didn’t know this was your house. A friend asked me to help…”
“I know.”
Shen Yi knew very well. Even though Jiang Yue worked part-time outside, she always avoided places where classmates were present.
Jiang Yue was so afraid of being recognized by peers that she kept her head down the whole time, which led to their accidental collision.
It was all just coincidence.
Shen Yi went to the wardrobe and found a dress to give Jiang Yue. “This one’s never been worn. Change into it, and I’ll have the butler help you leave through the back door. No one will know.”
“Thank you.”
Jiang Yue took the dress. Her previously uneasy expression softened, like a drowning person clutching a lifeline, grateful beyond words. “Shen Yi, thank you. You’re so kind.”
“...Huh?”
The sudden “good person” card left Shen Yi a bit embarrassed as she scratched her nose. “Giving you a dress makes me a good person now?”
Jiang Yue’s standards for kindness were really low.
“No,” Jiang Yue shook her head earnestly. “Shen Yi, you’re just really good. Just now, when Song Yang wanted to come over, you stopped him.”
She had protected Jiang Yue’s dignity.
Jiang Yue’s poverty was no secret.
School was a relatively pure place in society. Most students believed that class differences could be overcome by academic achievement.
Because Jiang Yue was top of her class, no one looked down on her for her background. Instead, many classmates asked her for help with homework and thanked her sincerely.
But the same classmates who studied with her by day became the privileged young masters and misses, with Jiang Yue serving as their maid by night. The contrast was too stark.
So...
Jiang Yue instinctively wanted to escape.
Shen Yi: “...”
She didn’t know how to respond because the incident had happened so suddenly she hadn’t thought much, only empathizing with Jiang Yue.
Jiang Yue might have a crush on Song Yang.
Though her taste was poor, who doesn’t want to show their best side before the person they like?
Just like Shen Yi, who always checked herself in the mirror hundreds of times before meeting Wen Que.
Shen Yi couldn’t explain this. She couldn’t just say, “Stop pretending. I know you like Song Yang,” could she?
So she changed the subject, “There are disposable face towels in the bathroom. You can wipe off the juice. Hurry up and change; I need to change too.”
Jiang Yue didn’t refuse. After thanking Shen Yi again, she took the dress and went into the bathroom.