Chapter 59: Sister Qian Qian, Need a Dog?
The “Qian Qian Fans” in the livestream: “……”
Perfect. As expected of their idol. She never disappoints. (bites handkerchief)
“Just kidding.” Chi Qian grabbed a handful of pearls. “I’ll use some of these pearls for the giveaway.”
[I’ve been watching your livestreams since I was a kid. I’ve always loved you. Please, please pick me!]
[A fortune-teller told me I lack water in my Five Elements. I thought about it, and Chi Qian is all about water! That means I’m destined to lack Chi Qian! Qian Qian, marry me!]
[I’m 1.87 meters tall, a PhD at X University, and when it rains I’ll run home on my own. Sister Qian, do you still need a dog?]
[Sister Qian, whip me! Use your little leather whip and hit me hard!!!]
[Pfft, the scheming from above is so much that I can feel it from down here!]
With just one word—“raffle”—Chi Qian set off an earthquake in the livestream chat.
That whole pile of high-quality natural pearls—rarely seen on the open market and ridiculously expensive—she actually said she’d just give them away, without batting an eye.
After all…
She was the same frugal (stingy) girl who couldn’t even bear to pay the penalty fee for a spin-the-wheel game!
How moving was this?
If this wasn’t “mutual devotion,” then what was!!
Just then, Chi Fengxiao voiced the fans’ collective doubt: “Huh, why are you suddenly being so generous?”
Chi Qian replied earnestly, “Look at me. Anyone who’s still willing to be my fan at this point—how mentally stable can they be? I should show them a little pity.”
Qian Qian’s fans: ???
So in the end… they had all been wrong about her!!
*
Back on the island.
The three of them carried bags of pearls, walking back to camp in high spirits. Their entire complexion seemed nourished by money.
When Gu Hua’s group returned from picking up trash and saw them, their faces went through a storm of emotions.
Because their bucket was full of pearls!
Where on earth did those come from?!
Ling Qian saw Chi Qian, and instantly the pain in his not-yet-healed chrysanthemum flared up again. The lingering memory in his body was too terrifying.
“Tang Xin, where have you been all afternoon?” Wen Li called her out with a frown. “You really went and joined them?”
This child was getting more and more out of line.
Tang Xin instinctively shrank behind Chi Qian, stammering, “I went out to sea with Qian Qian.”
Gu Hua said, “Xin Xin, this isn’t right. We’ve all been working all afternoon, and you were the only one missing.”
Wen Li’s face darkened further as she ordered, “Come back with me.”
Tang Xin bit her lip and didn’t move, torn between fear and Wen Li’s cold, disappointed eyes.
“Still not coming?” Wen Li’s displeasure only deepened.
Chi Qian pressed down on Tang Xin’s trembling arm and looked at Wen Li. “Best Actress Wen, I actually admire you.”
Wen Li froze for a second before her aloofness returned. “Oh? Do you?”
“Yes.” Chi Qian looked utterly sincere. “Because I think, for someone to be so stupid that they’d even use their own biological daughter as a sacrifice to curry favor for someone else—that’s really one-of-a-kind.”
“What do you mean by that?!”
Chi Qian’s tone was light. “Well, don’t you have a ‘bestie’ you treat like a real sister? Your bond is truly touching. Her daughter had a blood disease, and you were even willing to let your own daughter donate blood to her.”
“Such a world-shaking, heart-wrenching display of sisterly love.”
Tang Xin’s eyes widened in shock. How did Qian Qian know about this?
Wen Li’s face turned cold. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
“Nothing much,” Chi Qian tilted her head. “Just curious about the brand of your bed—it must be really comfortable. Otherwise, why would your bestie and your husband keep wanting to…”
She paused, then added innocently, “…engage in some extreme body-to-body communication?”
Chi Fengxiao’s temple veins bulged. Who on earth had taught his pure, naive Qian Qian to talk like this?!
Which little bastard corrupted her?!
[Wait, did something just roll across my face?]
[Here it comes, the Melon Queen is bringing us another melon!]
[I swear Chi Qian must be lying. Li Li’s husband is famous for spoiling his wife. How could he possibly cheat?!]
Wen Li recalled the subtle oddities at home and began to panic, but she still forced herself to sound firm, “Nonsense. My bestie and my husband hardly even interact…”
“Oh, they do.” Chi Qian smiled. “They’ve known each other five years longer than you have—and they were already together back then.”
“That’s impossible…”
“Didn’t you once give birth to a stillborn? Actually… she’s still alive.”
That last sentence shattered Wen Li’s defenses. Her eyes turned red as she glared at Chi Qian.
“You know where my child is? You know, don’t you?!”
Chi Qian only shrugged. “I’m hungry.”
Chi Fengxiao immediately pulled her hand. “Alright, let’s go. Time for dinner. Brother Shen and the others are probably already waiting.”
He casually blocked Wen Li, preventing her from rushing at Chi Qian.
“Chi Qian, wait!” Wen Li cried anxiously. “You haven’t finished! Were you lying just now?!”
Chi Qian didn’t look back, ignoring her completely.
Wen Li tried to chase after, but Tang Xin tugged on her arm. “Mom, Qian Qian said she’s hungry. How about I help you later…”
“Shut up!” Wen Li snapped. “You just don’t want me to find my real daughter, afraid she’ll steal your place, isn’t that it?!”
Tang Xin froze. Ice-cold dread spread from head to toe.
“Xin Xin, let’s go eat,” Chi Qian called.
Tang Xin blinked, as if waking from a dream, and followed in a daze.
She glanced back—But Wen Li wasn’t looking at her. She never was.
It had always been like that.
Wen Li couldn’t stop Chi Qian. She could only watch her leave, chest heaving violently.
Gu Hua stepped up to comfort her. “Sister Wen, don’t listen to Chi Qian’s nonsense. How could she know these things? She must’ve just been trying to scare you.”
But Wen Li, lost in a daze, didn’t seem to hear her.
If only what Chi Qian said were true…
Then maybe her precious daughter…
*
At camp, the bonfire crackled.
They sat around a makeshift bamboo table, eating heartily.
Chi Fengxiao glanced at the still-absent Tang Xin, then turned to Chi Qian. “Qian Qian, everything you said back there… was it true?”
“Scout’s honor.” Chi Qian bit into a crab leg, eyes narrowing in bliss.
Shen Jing was puzzled, “Why is Wen Li so harsh with her own daughter but so kind to someone else’s?”
Tang Xin lowered her head, “Because I’m not her biological child. I’m only the one she adopted.”
What?!
Everyone present looked utterly shocked—everyone except Chi Qian.
Chi Fengxiao whispered to her, “I remember you once said Tang Xin is actually Wen Li’s biological daughter… but she doesn’t know?”
Chi Qian nodded, “Yep, none of them know.”
“Then what’s going on?”
“The situation is just what it is. As for what kind of situation, we’ll have to see according to the situation.”
As soon as she finished, Chi Fengxiao gave her another rough head-rub.
Chi Qian’s gaze wandered to the sashimi in front of her. Seeing this, Chi Fengxiao switched from ruffling to gently patting, comforting her, “Don’t overthink it. Other people’s problems should stay their problems.”
“No,” Chi Qian said, “I was just thinking… this fish, before it died, was alive.”
Chi Fengxiao slowly typed out a single symbol: ?
Huh? What else would it be??
