Chapter 271
The matcha cake was inedible, but luckily the black tea had been brewed quite well. Sitting in the garden pavilion, drinking tea and enjoying the breeze, the afternoon tea time was still rather pleasant.
Shen Moqing, from who-knows-where, brought out a box of matcha nama chocolate, and when paired with black tea, it tasted even better.
Xie Mi glanced at Shen Moqing’s motion of plating the matcha chocolates with a hint of meaning but said nothing. She simply forked a piece and popped it into her mouth.
“Mm~ delicious.”
Shen Moqing’s eyes curved with a faint smile. “Is it good?”
“Good.”
Xie Mi forked another piece, and while eating, she casually brought up, “I remember last season, when you treated me to snacks, there was matcha chocolate too. That was just a few days after filming started.”
“Teacher Xie still remembers?”
“Of course.” Xie Mi smiled carelessly. “Because I quite like matcha flavor.”
Shen Moqing’s hand paused briefly on the teacup but showed no obvious reaction, replying naturally:
“That’s wonderful then.”
Xie Mi didn’t say anything more, only smiled without speaking. The two quietly drank their tea, letting the silence linger.
On the surface, the atmosphere looked comfortable, but an undercurrent only they could understand was flowing between them.
Xie Mi’s meaning was clear.
From just a few days after they first met, Shen Moqing had given her matcha chocolates, and afterward, the snacks he prepared for her were always in flavors she liked.
Yet she had never revealed those preferences when she traveled back to meet the eight-year-old Shen Moqing.
Only today, when he presented her with matcha cake and matcha chocolates, did she suddenly recall that previously overlooked detail.
Their meetings in the past had not been just that one time.
In the future, she might once again travel through time and meet Shen Moqing of the past.
And all of it was already stored within the present Shen Moqing’s memory.
The only one who hadn’t experienced it yet—was her.
She finally understood why Shen Moqing could be so at peace in solitude, and why he sometimes revealed that faraway look in his eyes when his thoughts drifted.
He was still waiting.
Just as he had said before, in those long years past, he had always been waiting for something.
Now, he was still waiting.
Waiting for that part of their story she had yet to experience.
Xie Mi gently rubbed her fingers against the warm teacup, then raised her gaze to the man sitting opposite.
“Shen Moqing.”
His eyes were already on her, but now, at her call, stars seemed to light up in them.
“Hm?”
Xie Mi opened her mouth to speak but stopped just before the words came out. After hesitating, she shook her head.
“Forget it, it’s nothing.”
[Wait, what is this atmosphere??]
[Something’s off, extremely off]
[Scared me half to death—I thought Old Xie was about to confess! First time I’ve ever seen her at a loss for words]
[Same!! Old Xie and Old Shen are usually sweet but chaotic—this is the first time I’ve actually felt tension through the screen]
[Is Teacher Xie… moved? Is Old Shen’s wife-chasing journey finally working?!]
[Oh my god, I’m so excited!!]
The barrage was going crazy, screaming over this subtle, indescribable atmosphere, wishing they could drag a marriage registry office onto the scene.
Shen Moqing’s fingers tightened slightly on his teacup, as if something had dawned on him. He gave Xie Mi a thoughtful glance, then once again smiled faintly, as calm as ever.
As if nothing had happened.
“Attention! Attention! Someone has used the Asset Equalization Card! All assets among the eight guests will now be evenly distributed. Please check your account balances!”
The sudden broadcast blared out, Director Niu’s voice booming.
Just a moment ago, Xie Mi had been sipping tea lazily—now she shot upright. “What?!”
Opening her account, she saw a balance of 59,728.25.
Hm? The money hadn’t decreased at all.
Yesterday, when she took the money back from Yu Jinzhe, they had agreed she’d split half with Shen Moqing.
But Shen Moqing hadn’t taken her money—he only accepted Yu Shuangrong and Yu Jinzhe’s portions.
So she had ended up with 60,928.25. After treating Shen Moqing to a big meal as thanks (700 spent) and trying the spin wheel (500 spent), she had exactly 59,728.25 left.
That was right.
So… was the Asset Equalization Card completely useless?
Wait—no!
She suddenly thought of something and leaned over to ask Shen Moqing, “Did you check? How much do you have left?”
Shen Moqing showed her his balance openly.
“8,186.15.”
He should’ve had over 50,000, but now only had eight thousand—clearly, the Asset Equalization Card had worked.
Yet Xie Mi’s balance hadn’t changed at all. That could only mean one thing—
“Someone used a Guardian Card on me.”
Earlier at the magic shop, she had read through the skill descriptions.
The Guardian Card protected one guest, allowing them to negate the negative effect of another card once.
“Who does Teacher Xie think it was?” Shen Moqing suddenly asked with interest, his beautiful peach blossom eyes shimmering.
“Let me think… could it be Liu Woxing?” Xie Mi posed in mock thought.
Shen Moqing clicked his tongue lightly.
“Or maybe Miss Lai? But she doesn’t have any money.”
Shen Moqing smiled (the knife-hidden-in-smile kind).
“Surely not Qiu Chengye, right? Though a fatherly bond… not impossible.”
“Ah, suddenly remembered I need to collect my laundry.” Shen Moqing stood as if to leave.
Xie Mi quickly hopped over to block him. “Just kidding, just kidding—I know it was you. No one else but you. Good brother, I’ll definitely cover you today!”
“But Teacher Xie has already hurt my heart.”
“Then… I’ll buy you some medicine?”
“Lovely.”
[My CP is so cute!!!]
[Xie-Ye-Slaying-Donkey—legendary among legends]
[Old Xie actually teasing Old Shen now—how is this different from teasing the girl you like back in school? This is love, I don’t care!]
[She’s still got that blockhead vibe, but today feels completely different!]
[Old Xie picked Old Shen as her protection target, and Old Shen immediately bought a Guardian Card for Old Xie—this is definitely mutual love]
[Life can be summed up in four words: Xie-Ye-Slaying-Donkey]
At the entrance of the magic shop stood three people.
Xu Shuangrong, Qiu Chengye, and Yu Jinzhe.
They were the ones who had bought the Asset Equalization Card.
One card cost 5,000 yuan. All three of them had 0 yuan, so they had agreed to do tasks at the task shop, earn money, and finally pooled together 5,000 to buy it.
They hadn’t expected that after using it, each of them would only get about 8,000.
“Didn’t you say we’d each get over ten thousand? Why is it only eight?” Qiu Chengye complained at Xu Shuangrong.
As expected, the idea had been hers.
She had studied the skill cards carefully, which was why she immediately thought of pooling money for the Asset Equalization Card.
Now, seeing the amount was wrong, she quickly realized what had happened.
“Teacher Xie must’ve used a Guardian Card. Her money didn’t get included in the redistribution total, so we got less.”
