Accidentally Becoming a Green Tea Goddess Everyone Loves - Chapter 31

Lu Yanwei didn’t answer Jiang Peixing’s question directly.

However, every word she spoke made it crystal clear: she didn’t just know that Shen Shirou had moved out; she was likely in constant contact with her.

Shen Shirou had blacklisted Jiang Peixing’s number, yet she remained in touch with Lu Yanwei. This realization made Jiang Peixing’s breath hitch in her chest.

“You know where she is, don’t you?” Jiang Peixing’s grip on her car keys tightened.

At this moment, Jiang Peixing was no longer asking; she was interrogating.

Lu Yanwei had been fed up with Jiang Peixing for a long time. In her eyes, Jiang Peixing was the primary culprit behind Shen Shirou’s suffering.

“Since Shirou hasn’t reached out to you, her intentions should be obvious,” Lu Yanwei said. Recalling Jiang Peixing’s past indifference, she crossed her arms and spoke without mercy: “Don’t you get it? She doesn’t want to see you.”

“You don’t need to know anything about her life.” Lu Yanwei slowed her speech, dripping with sarcasm: “After all, Shirou’s matters are ‘insignificant’ to your work, President Jiang.”

Those were Jiang Peixing’s own words. Now, Lu Yanwei was serving them back to her on a silver platter.

But Jiang Peixing couldn’t afford to be bothered by the biting remarks. Lu Yanwei was the only bridge left to Shen Shirou. If she lost this lead, finding her would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Jiang Peixing blocked the doorway. “There’s a misunderstanding between us. I need to see her and explain everything in person.”

“A misunderstanding?” Lu Yanwei let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “So, when you ditched Shirou and left her alone on the day of the wedding dress fitting, that was just a ‘misunderstanding’?”

“Or is your long-standing attitude of complete neglect the ‘misunderstanding’ you want to explain?”

Hearing Lu Yanwei mention the wedding dress, Jiang Peixing looked up. “She told you about that?”

“I was the one who accompanied her that day,” Lu Yanwei confessed flatly. “Jiang Peixing, how much do you actually know about her? Since you never cared for her before, you have no right to pester her now.”

“Don’t bother asking again,” Lu Yanwei continued. “I won’t tell you a single thing about her location. And I suggest you stop disturbing her life.”

Brushing past Jiang Peixing, Lu Yanwei walked straight out of the office.

Jiang Peixing was left alone in the silence. She pulled the ring Shen Shirou had left behind out of her pocket. Since the night Shen Shirou vanished, she had carried it with her everywhere. She had assumed that in a few days, Shen Shirou would return to the villa, and she would be able to return the ring to her.

The diamond sparkled in her palm, casting brilliant fractures of light. Watching it, Jiang Peixing’s eyes darkened with resolve.

She would find Shen Shirou. She would clear up the misunderstanding. And then, Shen Shirou would move back to the villa.

The night fell. A luxury cruise ship cut through the vast, endless sea. The water was dark, but the lights from the vessel twinkled like a galaxy reflecting on the waves.

On deck, Shen Shirou leaned against the railing, letting the evening breeze brush against her face.

“Is this enough freedom for you, darling?” Qi Yan poured two glasses of red wine. Holding the crystal stems, she walked over to Shen Shirou. “Even if you wanted to spend the night out here on the open water, no one would stop you.”

Shen Shirou shot a glance at her. The night view at sea was indeed breathtaking. However, she’d feel much freer if Qi Yan weren’t there.

“Care for a glass?” Qi Yan held the wine out to her.

“No, thank you,” Shen Shirou replied coolly. “Miss Qi, you certainly have a flair for leisure.”

The woman spent every waking hour revolving around her. Shouldn’t a high-tier villain be busier? At this rate, Shen Shirou wouldn’t be surprised if the plot point where Jiang Peixing topples her happened ahead of schedule.

Qi Yan took a dainty sip of her wine. “Darling, the moonlight is so lovely tonight. Shouldn’t we take the opportunity to do something else?”

Shen Shirou: “What do you have in mind?”

“What do you think?” Qi Yan said with a playful glint in her eyes.

Shen Shirou assumed she was up to no good again and was about to step away, but then she heard Qi Yan say: “How about a dance?”

Qi Yan set the glasses down. She extended her hand toward Shen Shirou. “Will you refuse me, darling?”

Shen Shirou hesitated for a moment, then placed her hand in Qi Yan’s. There was no music, but Qi Yan’s movements were practiced and her steps rhythmic. She led Shen Shirou in a perfectly fluid dance.

Soon, Shen Shirou realized that this was the exact same dance they had shared when they first met at the banquet. Whether Qi Yan had done this intentionally, she couldn’t say.

As the dance ended, Shen Shirou asked, “Why do you want to pursue me?”

If Lu Yanwei liked her because they were “soulmates,” what was Qi Yan’s angle? She had spent barely any time with the woman. Now that she was breaking up with Jiang Peixing, Qi Yan couldn’t possibly be trying to use her as a pawn anymore, could she?

“I’ve taken a fancy to you,” Qi Yan replied. “Is that reason enough?”

“What exactly did you take a fancy to?”

Qi Yan paused for a few seconds, her expression calm. “I don’t know.”

Shen Shirou felt that was a bit too dismissive—she couldn’t even bother to make up a reason. Yet Qi Yan didn’t look guilty at all. Instead, she laughed softly and asked, “Can’t it just be love at first sight?”

It was an answer that explained absolutely nothing. Shen Shirou didn’t buy it for a second.

“Stop lying to me,” Shen Shirou said. “There’s no such thing as love at first sight. I’d be more likely to believe you just wanted to steal Jiang Peixing’s girl.”

Qi Yan sighed dramatically. “When I tell lies to tease you, you believe every word. Now that I’m telling you the truth, you don’t believe me at all.”

“Since you’re unhappy with that reason,” Qi Yan asked, “what kind of answer do you want to hear?”

Shen Shirou didn’t hide her thoughts. “Like wanting me to betray Sister Jiang, working with you as an inside agent to take down her company.”

According to the original script, that was exactly how it was supposed to go. This current situation, where Qi Yan kept her close like a pet, was the real anomaly.

Before Shen Shirou could finish, Qi Yan’s laughter cut her off.

“That wouldn’t be a very good deal for me,” Qi Yan said. “If I sent you there, I’d just have to worry about you running off with your Sister Jiang.”

True.

“Besides, why would I need you to take down Jiang Peixing’s company?” Qi Yan’s eyes flickered with a playful, predatory light. “Oh, that’s right. I haven’t told you yet.”

“Your Sister Jiang’s company is currently in a very bad spot.”

Hearing the latter half of the sentence, Shen Shirou felt a prickle of realization. Judging by Qi Yan’s tone, she had already made her move. But according to the timeline, it shouldn’t have reached the point of open confrontation yet.

The plot was accelerating again. Shen Shirou worried about the potential butterfly effect.

Seeing her troubled expression, Qi Yan assumed she was pining for Jiang Peixing. Her face immediately clouded with displeasure.

“I’m genuinely curious,” Qi Yan muttered. “Exactly what do you see in Jiang Peixing?”

She leaned in closer. “Darling, why don’t you tell me all about it?”

Now it was Shen Shirou’s turn to be speechless.

How was she supposed to answer that? Should she say she loved how Jiang Peixing treated her with utter indifference? Or that she adored the woman’s permanent scowl and her knack for ignoring every single gesture of warmth?

No matter the answer, it was bound to sound ridiculous.

Shen Shirou decided to play the “reverse card” and borrow Qi Yan’s own logic. “I fell in love with Sister Jiang at first sight, too. Is that not allowed?”

She said it with absolute conviction.

If Qi Yan was going to be dismissive, then she would be just as dismissive in return.

“Is that so?” Qi Yan arched an eyebrow. “If you can fall for Jiang Peixing at first sight, why can’t you do the same for me?”

Shen Shirou: “…”

Is Qi Yan drunk? Was there supposed to be some logical thread connecting the first half of that sentence to the second? Because she certainly couldn’t find it.

“Jiang Peixing has given you absolutely nothing, yet you smile at her all day long,” Qi Yan continued. “I offer you anything of mine you desire, yet you’ve never given me a single pleasant look.”

Qi Yan leaned in closer. “Tell me, don’t you think you’re being a bit too biased?”

The dissatisfaction in Qi Yan’s voice was glaring; she might as well have tattooed it on her forehead.

Shen Shirou didn’t even blink as she spun her web of lies. “I like Sister Jiang, so isn’t it normal that I smile at her?

“As for you,” Shen Shirou paused, “you’re her business rival—the person who creates trouble for her. Why should I be nice to you?”

Of course, this was all nonsense. The real reason was simply that a villain like Qi Yan had almost zero interaction with her character in the original book. Getting close to Qi Yan did nothing to help push Jiang Peixing and Lu Yanwei together, so why would she waste her time?

But Qi Yan took her words to heart.

“Smile for me,” Qi Yan suggested after a moment of thought. “And I’ll let Jiang Peixing’s company off the hook this time. How about it?”

The offer was genuinely shocking.

Shen Shirou was now convinced that Qi Yan was intoxicated. If she were even remotely sober, there was no way she would say something so absurd.

To test her theory, Shen Shirou waved a hand in front of Qi Yan’s face.

Qi Yan caught it instantly.

“You’re unwilling?” Qi Yan looked down, the smile on her face fading. Her voice was calm, but Shen Shirou could detect a faint, underlying trace of disappointment.

Fine. This plot development wasn’t supposed to happen this early anyway. Getting Qi Yan to back off now would actually help steer the story back toward the original timeline.

“Remember to keep your word,” Shen Shirou said.

With that, she let her eyes curve into crescents and offered Qi Yan a bright, radiant smile.

Taking in every detail of the girl’s expression, Qi Yan froze for a heartbeat. “Mhm,” she whispered softly. “I’ll remember.”

She would remember the way Shen Shirou looked when she smiled.

It was truly beautiful.

The Author has something to say:

Did President Jiang catch up to her wife today? LMAO. She didn’t even see her; she can only stare at old belongings and reminisce.