Accidentally Becoming a Green Tea Goddess Everyone Loves - Chapter 26

Regarding Lu Yanwei’s explanation about the matching charms, Shen Shirou felt a mixture of disbelief and sudden realization.

So, Lu Yanwei had harbored these feelings for over a month. No wonder the plot had collapsed so spectacularly the last time she went to the office. If it was all a butterfly effect, then everything finally made sense.

However, Jiang Peixing’s birthday had nothing to do with Lu Yanwei. What could have caused the deviation in the plot that day?

Back at the villa, Shen Shirou was still brooding over the mystery. She suspected the key to the problem still lay with Jiang Peixing.

Coincidentally, Jiang Peixing returned to the villa that night.

When Jiang Peixing entered, Shen Shirou was just about to cook a bowl of noodles for a late-night snack. The water was just coming to a boil. As she prepared to drop the noodles in, she remembered something and turned to ask, “Sister, have you eaten dinner yet?”

Jiang Peixing leaned against the window frame, offering no response.

Having lived with her for nearly three months, Shen Shirou was well-acquainted with Jiang Peixing’s taciturn nature. She decided to cook an extra bowl anyway, choosing not to take the silence to heart.

Her mission was almost over. Since these were the final days, she might as well play her “Green Tea” role to perfection until the very end—a fitting finale to her performance.

In all likelihood, this would be her and Jiang Peixing’s farewell meal.

She placed the bowls on the table. “Sister, have some noodles. I made them myself.”

Jiang Peixing shifted her gaze to Shen Shirou, lingering for several seconds before glancing at the bowl. She recalled the night Shen Shirou first moved into the villa, she had cooked a bowl of noodles then, too.

But that was three months ago.

Shen Shirou had no idea what Jiang Peixing was thinking. The aroma of the noodles made her hunger grow sharper, so she didn’t bother waiting for a reaction. She sat down and began to eat.

Suddenly, the sound of a chair scraping against the floor broke the silence. Shen Shirou looked up to find Jiang Peixing sitting across from her, eating her noodles in wordless focus.

Shen Shirou finished first. As she put down her chopsticks to clean the kitchen, Jiang Peixing abruptly broke the silence.

“Shen Shirou.”

She used her full name. In Shen Shirou’s memory, this was a rare occurrence. The last time Jiang Peixing had called her that, Shen Shirou had kissed her on the cheek, leaving the woman seething with rage.

Which of her taboos did I break today? Shen Shirou wondered.

“Yes, Sister?”

Yet, after Shen Shirou responded, Jiang Peixing fell silent again. Shen Shirou sighed inwardly but maintained her mask of eager anticipation.

A minute passed.

Finally, Jiang Peixing spoke. “Do you have a wish?”

Shen Shirou was stunned by the question. She had expected something far more serious. That’s it?

She spent three seconds calculating the most “Green Tea” response possible, something that would highlight her supposed innocence and her undying devotion to Jiang Peixing.

Eventually, she answered: “I don’t have any special wishes. I only want to be with you forever. From sunrise to sunset, I want to be by your side.”

“You always have endless work, and I can’t help you with it,” Shen Shirou added with a long sigh. “It’s only natural that you can’t stay at the villa often. I understand everything. As long as you can focus on your work, I’ll support you unconditionally.”

Shen Shirou felt her answer was flawless. After speaking, she walked toward the bedroom, brushing past Jiang Peixing. Because of this, she missed the pensive look that crossed Jiang Peixing’s face.

________________________________________

“Hiking?”

To ensure she hadn’t misheard, Shen Shirou asked again, “Just the two of us, Sister?”

Jiang Peixing’s nod was subtle, but clear.

Shen Shirou couldn’t fathom why Jiang Peixing would suddenly make such a request. The book never mentioned a hiking trip right before their breakup. She didn’t want to complicate things at this stage.

She put on her most helpless expression. “But I’m so clumsy. I’ll be slow on the mountain and just hold you back.”

Based on her experience, someone as strictly organized as Jiang Peixing would hate having her schedule delayed. Usually, this would be enough to kill the idea.

But not this time.

“I can wait for you,” Jiang Peixing said simply.

Shen Shirou: “…”

Well, thank you very much.

Jiang Peixing seemed determined, and her resolve started to wear Shen Shirou down. It’s just a hike, am I being too paranoid?

Shen Shirou quickly realized that these were all workdays. Even the nearest mountain would take two days for a round trip. In other words, if they went hiking, it would have to be over the weekend.

She could just agree for now. Once they signed the breakup papers over the weekend, their relationship would be over, and the trip would be cancelled automatically.

“Alright,” Shen Shirou agreed verbally. “I’ll follow your lead, Sister.”

It wasn’t until that evening, when Jiang Peixing pulled out a packed hiking bag, that Shen Shirou realized something was wrong.

“Sister, is the date for the hike set?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow is Friday,” Shen Shirou reminded her, thinking she had confused the days.

Jiang Peixing didn’t even look up. She gave a faint, “Mhm.”

Shen Shirou realized then that Jiang Peixing intended to start the trip on Friday. Since she had already given her word, she had no choice but to go along.

The next day, they reached the base of a nearby mountain. By the time they reached the halfway point, Shen Shirou was exhausted, her pace slowing to a crawl.

Jiang Peixing truly didn’t rush her once. Instead, she frequently stopped to wait in silence. They didn’t reach the summit until evening. Jiang Peixing set up a tent; they were clearly staying overnight.

Under a canopy of stars, Shen Shirou watched the night sky until sleepiness took over. Just as she crawled into the tent to sleep, her phone rang. It was Jiang’s mother.

“Xiao Rou, I’m so sorry, dear,” Jiang’s mother said before Shen Shirou could speak. “I can’t make it over these next few days. I’ll have to let Peixing celebrate your birthday with you tomorrow.”

Birthday?

Shen Shirou checked the date. She was surprised to find that the original female lead of this book shared the exact same birthday as her. After a few pleasantries, she hung up and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Sometime later, she felt a gentle pressure on her shoulder shaking her awake. She opened her eyes to find the culprit: Jiang Peixing.

“It’s almost time,” Jiang Peixing said.

Shen Shirou checked her phone. It wasn’t even 6:00 AM. A bit early to start the descent, isn’t it?

Jiang Peixing didn’t explain. She grabbed Shen Shirou’s wrist and led her out of the tent.

The sky was painted with morning glow, the mist gradually thinning as the sun rose slowly over the horizon. The morning light washed over Jiang Peixing’s face.

“From sunrise to sunset, I am here.” Jiang Peixing let go of her wrist. “Your wish is fulfilled.”

Then, in a low voice, she added, “Happy Birthday.”

Shen Shirou’s mind finally cleared. She remembered the wish she had casually tossed out the other night: ‘I want to be by your side from sunrise to sunset.’

Jiang Peixing had brought her hiking just to fulfill a birthday wish.

The trip ended on Saturday—the final day Shen Shirou would hold the title of Jiang Peixing’s fiancée.

Despite it being a weekend, Jiang Peixing was nowhere to be found in the villa. In fact, they hadn’t even returned together.

The moment they reached the bottom of the mountain, Jiang Peixing had received a phone call that turned her expression grave. Shen Shirou was curious about what could make the ever-calm CEO look so serious, but Jiang Peixing left in a hurry before she could ask.

She didn’t leave Shen Shirou stranded, however. She called Rong Yuan to drive her back to the villa.

Shen Shirou hadn’t seen Jiang Peixing for an entire day. But since Jiang Peixing staying out overnight wasn’t unusual, she assumed the woman would return on Sunday for the final showdown.

In the afternoon, Lu Yanwei sent a text inviting her out. Exhausted from the hike, Shen Shirou wanted to stay home and rest, but then she remembered her mission was ending. If she returned to her original world, she’d never see Lu Yanwei again.

She deleted the “Maybe next time” and typed “See you this afternoon” instead.

When they met, Lu Yanwei took her to an amusement park.

“Yanwei, why are we here?”

Lu Yanwei smiled. “I’m taking you on a date.” She added, “Don’t forget, I’m still officially courting you.”

Inside the park, Lu Yanwei chose their first stop: The Haunted House.

The line was massive. As they reached the front, Shen Shirou asked, “Do we really have to go in?”

“Are you scared, Shirou?” Lu Yanwei took her hand. “Hide behind me, and no ghosts will get you.”

Shen Shirou wasn’t actually afraid.

Half the “ghosts” in a haunted house were played by staff members; in a way, they were practically colleagues in the business of performance. However, mindful of her fragile “Green Tea” persona, she still made sure to huddle timidly behind Lu Yanwei.

Lu Yanwei let out a soft chuckle.

Shen Shirou thought she was being mocked for her cowardice, but Lu Yanwei followed up with: “You’re quite captivating when you’re scared, Shirou.”

Since Lu Yanwei had laid her cards on the table, her words had become much more direct. Shen Shirou couldn’t help but wonder if she had played the “weak and delicate” role so well that it had become an unshakable filter in Lu Yanwei’s eyes. It seemed that no matter what she did, Lu Yanwei saw her through a lens of deep affection.

Holding hands, the two made a loop through the haunted house and reached the exit in no time. For the rest of the afternoon, Lu Yanwei took her to try every other attraction in the park.

Before they knew it, the sky began to bruise with twilight. As evening approached, the park’s closing time drew near.

“Yanwei, we should probably head out,” Shen Shirou reminded her.

“Wait a little longer,” Lu Yanwei said. “Are you tired? Why don’t you have a seat on that bench over there and rest?” She added, “I’ll go grab you a drink.”

Shen Shirou sat down, but before she could even respond, Lu Yanwei had already hurried off. She waited for nearly ten minutes, but Lu Yanwei was nowhere to be seen. Just as she was debating whether to go look for her and worrying that they might miss each other if she left, she felt a light tap on her shoulder from behind.

Shen Shirou turned, expecting Lu Yanwei. Instead, she found herself staring up at a brown teddy bear mascot that stood a good head taller than her.

She blinked in surprise. The bear reached behind its back and produced a massive bouquet of roses.

Shen Shirou didn’t take them at first. The bear gave the bouquet a little persistent shake, nudging them toward her.

“For me?” she asked hesitantly.

The bear nodded.

Only then did Shen Shirou accept the flowers. The bear reached out and gently patted her on the head.

“Yanwei? Is that you?” Shen Shirou couldn’t help but ask.

The mascot froze for a split second. Then, from inside the suit, a familiar voice drifted out: “Little Shirou is so clever.”

“Since you guessed right, how should I reward you?” Lu Yanwei’s voice was laced with a smile. She whispered, “How about I give you a girlfriend?”

Shen Shirou couldn’t suppress a laugh. “I’ve received your confession. Now, hurry up and take that suit off.”

Lu Yanwei pulled off the bear head, her eyes curving into crescents. “That last part, I was being serious.”

“Today was a bit rushed,” Lu Yanwei continued. “Next time, I’ll make sure the confession is properly prepared.”

Shen Shirou looked at her, immediately catching the keyword. “What do you mean by ‘next time’?”

The night breeze swept through the park, making the leaves rustle. Meeting Shen Shirou’s gaze, Lu Yanwei said, “I told you—I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

She would wait until Shen Shirou accepted her. Wait until “friend” finally became “girlfriend.”

________________________________________

Shen Shirou sat in the back of a taxi heading to the villa, clutching the roses Lu Yanwei had given her.

Lu Yanwei and Jiang Peixing were the “Official Couple.” Receiving roses from Lu Yanwei felt suspiciously like she was stealing Jiang Peixing’s girl. Well, whatever. The mission is almost over. Once she left, Lu Yanwei and Jiang Peixing

would surely return to their destined path.

When she reached the villa, Shen Shirou pulled out her keys and unlocked the door, only to find the interior plunged in total darkness. Not a single light was on.

Jiang Peixing isn’t back yet?

Shen Shirou felt a twinge of disappointment. She was actually looking forward to that breakup agreement. But then she realized it was only Saturday; she was likely just being impatient.

And so, she waited. She waited through Saturday night and all through Sunday evening.

The clock on the wall ticked until the hour hand rested on eleven. There was only one hour left before the day was over. Yet, there was no sign of Jiang Peixing, let alone a formal document ending their engagement.

Shen Shirou double-checked with System 888 several times to ensure the timeline was correct. According to the book, today was the day. But after twenty-three hours of waiting, she had seen neither hide nor hair of her fiancée.

There were only two possibilities left: either Jiang Peixing would rush home in the next sixty minutes to sign the papers, or the plot had malfunctioned again.

After a grueling twenty-three-hour vigil, Shen Shirou no longer held out hope for the former. Her intuition told her the plot was broken.

She pulled out her phone and called Jiang Peixing three or four times. Every call ended with a busy signal. Jiang Peixing wasn’t picking up.

After a moment of deliberation, Shen Shirou made a decisive move: she started packing. She pulled a few outfits from the closet and tucked them into the suitcase she had brought when she first moved in.

The book said she would be kicked out of the villa tonight in a pathetic state. Even if Jiang Peixing didn’t show up to do the kicking, she had to pack up and leave. System 888 couldn’t guarantee what would happen if the engagement wasn’t broken tonight.

In her haste, she accidentally knocked over a small cabinet in the corner. The drawer flew open, spilling its contents across the floor.

Shen Shirou leaned down to tidy up, but her gaze froze on a stack of scattered white papers. The pages were filled with dense legal clauses.

This was it, the breakup agreement mentioned in the novel.

So, Jiang Peixing had prepared it long ago.

Without a second thought, Shen Shirou grabbed a pen and signed her name on the dotted line. She left the signed agreement, the villa keys, and her engagement ring in a neat pile on the table.

She dragged her suitcase out of the villa.

True to the tropes of a melodramatic novel, the moment her foot hit the pavement, lightning flashed and the sky opened up. Shen Shirou sighed. Of course. It wouldn’t be a breakup scene without a torrential downpour. How cliché.

She called out for System 888 in her mind. The system, which had been active an hour ago, was now completely silent. Without the system, she couldn’t return to her world. She was stuck.

Before the rain got any worse, she needed to find a place to stay. But where?

Just as she was beginning to worry, her phone vibrated in her pocket. A call was coming in.

Shen Shirou looked down at the name on the screen.

________________________________________

The Author has something to say:

Multiple Choice! Who is calling?

A) Jiang Peixing

B) Lu Yanwei

C) Qi Yan