Chapter 33: Shameless Sheng Xiuying
She couldn’t bear the massive gap between their circumstances. Between the overwhelming workload at home and waiting for the right moment, it had taken her ages to finally find time to head into the city.
“Yan’er, are you still angry with me?” Sheng Xiuying asked, her voice tinged with a practiced, plaintive tone. “I’ve already forgiven you for what happened last time, you…”
She trailed off, waiting for the usual reaction. In the past, whenever she offered this kind of olive branch, Sheng Wanyan would immediately appease her with food or gifts. She had already lowered her pride this time; she expected Sheng Wanyan to be grateful, to take the initiative, and to offer up something good to smooth things over.
“I haven’t forgiven you, and I told you last time: stop messing with me,” Sheng Wanyan replied flatly.
She walked straight past her. Sheng Xiuying had traveled a long way, and she hadn’t even had a bite to eat yet. How could she possibly swallow this humiliation?
“Don’t be so ungrateful!” Sheng Xiuying called out, her voice sharpening. “I’ve already apologized. What more do you want?”
Sheng Wanyan stopped and laughed. “Who’s the one being ungrateful?” she countered, turning back. “Who’s been working so hard to manipulate me? Who complains to me every time they see me? And who’s the one who shamelessly begs for things every single chance they get?”
She stepped closer, her eyes cold. “Sheng Xiuying, don’t you ever show your face in front of me again. If you do, I’ll spread the truth about what you’ve done to the entire village. See if anyone wants to marry a girl like you then.”
Sheng Wanyan rolled her eyes. The sheer audacity of these people was exhausting. Did they really think they could keep fooling her forever?
“You…” Sheng Xiuying was so enraged she felt a lump form in her throat, making it hard to breathe. “Don’t regret this. Who would even want to be friends with someone as stingy as you?”
With that parting shot, Sheng Xiuying stomped away. Sheng Wanyan called out to her back, “Maybe look in a mirror before you try being shameless again!”
Sheng Xiuying, already fuming, managed to trip and sprain her ankle in her haste, leaving even angrier than before. She vowed to wait until she was married, certain she’d be able to flaunt her success in front of the “old maid” Sheng Wanyan later on.
Sheng Wanyan sighed. She was livid over just a few words, yet she had been shameless enough to beg the original owner for food every single time they met.
Poof.
A sudden burst of laughter sounded from behind her. Sheng Wanyan turned and saw a middle-aged woman covering her mouth to hide her giggles. Standing next to her was a tall man in a military uniform—Gu Tingxiao.
Gu Tingxiao offered a brief, polite nod. Sheng Wanyan felt a sudden flush of embarrassment.
“I’m so sorry, young lady,” the middle-aged woman apologized, still looking amused. “We were just passing by; we didn’t intend to eavesdrop on your conversation.”
This was Gu Tingxiao’s aunt. She had come to the supply and marketing cooperative because her nephew had mentioned dining at a comrade’s house recently. After hearing about it, she felt he hadn’t brought nearly enough of a gift, so she had decided to join him on his shopping trip to ensure he took something proper to his friend’s house.
“It’s quite alright,” Sheng Wanyan said. “Those were just some foolish things from my past. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Gu Tong was genuinely taken aback by Sheng Wanyan’s frank, open demeanor. Having lived in Rongcheng for many years, this was the first time she had met a girl so confident that she didn’t mind exposing her own past mistakes. In this era, most girls would hide even the smallest errors out of fear of gossip.
She could tell at a glance that this was a girl who thought for herself. The more she looked at her, the more she liked her.
If Sheng Wanyan knew what was going through the woman’s mind, she would have just smiled. She hadn’t been the one to act foolishly, so she carried no burden of embarrassment.
“What a coincidence,” Gu Tingxiao said suddenly.
His unexpected comment startled her, and Gu Tong stared at her nephew in complete shock. Since when did this boy take the initiative to talk to a girl?
His marriage was the family’s biggest headache; all his peers were married with children. He was twenty-six, stuck in an army base filled with men. Even when he was around the women from the military art troupe, his cold, distant personality was enough to freeze them in their tracks. He spent his days training, walking between the dorm and the cafeteria, and that was it.
The family had tried to set up blind dates, but he’d always refuse, citing a lack of vacation time so he wouldn’t “delay” the girls’ prospects.
But now, what was she seeing? A confirmed bachelor taking the initiative to speak to a girl!
Gu Tong felt a thrill of excitement, eyeing them both, wishing she could read their minds.
“What a coincidence,” Sheng Wanyan repeated.
Gu Tong stepped forward and gently held Wanyan’s hand, fearful that she might bolt. “Young lady, do you two know each other?”
“No…” Sheng Wanyan started.
“She is my comrade’s sister,” Gu Tingxiao answered immediately.
Gu Tong laughed even more brightly. You little rascal, she thought, don’t think I didn’t see what you did. She knew the girl had been about to say they weren’t familiar. Was her nephew afraid the girl would cut ties with him?
“Oh! So you are Comrade Tingxiao’s sister, and I am his aunt.”
Gu Tong turned on the charm, displaying more enthusiasm than she ever had while setting up blind dates for her own son. “Tingxiao came back from dinner at your house last time and told us all how warm and hospitable your family was. I happened to buy some things today and was just thinking of sending them over to your house.”
She gave Gu Tingxiao a sharp look. Don’t you dare waste this perfect opportunity to spend time with her!
“Look, what a coincidence today. Tingxiao, why don’t you just take these things and head home with this young lady? It’ll save you from running back and forth.”
Gu Tingxiao glanced at the currently speechless Sheng Wanyan and gave a subconscious nod. “Good idea.”
Sheng Wanyan’s thoughts were entirely practical. Since he was going to her house anyway, it would save her from having to carry everything herself.
Gu Tong, at her age, could see the truth clearly. Her nephew was head-over-heels, but the girl had yet to realize it. Even if he succeeded, it would be a long road of courtship ahead.
Gu Tong handed over all the meat, candy, and cakes she had bought to Gu Tingxiao, then secretly pressed a newly purchased tube of vanishing cream into his palm.
Gu Tingxiao stared at his aunt in confusion. Gu Tong felt a wave of frustration—this boy was hopeless!
Does he not realize he’s heading back to the army tomorrow? If he doesn’t give her a gift, how is she going to remember him until he comes back? With his cold, taciturn personality, it would be a miracle if she didn’t find him off-putting. At the very least, a tube of cold cream would leave a lasting impression every time she used it.
Sheng Wanyan moved to retrieve her bicycle, placing her shopping bags into the front basket.
“Go on! Give her the cold cream, do you hear me?” Gu Tong hissed, shoving him toward her.
Gu Tingxiao kept an expressionless face, which only made Gu Tong’s headache worse. He grabbed the bicycle and arranged all the goods into the front basket.
He climbed onto the bike with a single long stride, sitting steadily and balancing the frame with his feet so Sheng Wanyan could climb onto the back.
Sheng Wanyan sat down and gripped the bottom of the bicycle seat with both hands.
“Um… are you ready?” Gu Tingxiao turned his head to check.
Sheng Wanyan nodded, and he pushed off.
