Accidentally Becoming a Green Tea Goddess Everyone Loves - Chapter 8

By the time Jiang Peixing regained her senses, the kiss—so brief it lasted only a heartbeat was already over.

“Shen Shirou.” Jiang Peixing’s face darkened instantly. She questioned through nearly gritted teeth, “What do you think you’re doing?”

Just from the sound of her voice, Shen Shirou knew Jiang Peixing was livid. After all, this was the first time the woman had addressed her by her full name. Jiang Peixing stared at her intently, her icy gaze sharp enough to bore a hole right through her.

The person who had just kissed her was Shen Shirou, yet the person now putting on an air of pure innocence was also Shen Shirou.

“Don’t you know what I’m doing, Sister?” Shen Shirou blinked, describing her actions as if they were the lightest thing in the world. “I gave you a kiss on the cheek.”

Jiang Peixing’s brow furrowed deeply. “Have you had enough of this nonsense?”

Shen Shirou showed zero self-awareness of having done anything wrong. Instead, acting as if she were the one being bullied, she said pitifully, “I just like you, Sister. Is there something wrong with that?”

“Words like that,” Jiang Peixing sneered, “you expect me to believe them?”

“Why wouldn’t you? Do you think I kissed you too fast? That I lacked sincerity?” Shen Shirou feigned a troubled expression. “Then, how about I do it again?”

Shen Shirou tapped a finger against her cheek in thought. Looking at Jiang Peixing, she asked earnestly, “Can I kiss your lips this time?”

Jiang Peixing found her utterly unreasonable. Driven to a cold laugh by her fury, she said, “Fine. You’re voluntarily giving up the Jiang family shares?”

Shen Shirou’s answer was resolute. “Yes.”

“Don’t regret it,” Jiang Peixing warned.

“Why would I?” Shen Shirou replied. “Having you is enough for me, Sister. Everything else is just extra.”

“If you ever dare to do something like this again,” Jiang Peixing threatened, “you’ll move out of the villa immediately.”

“Do what again?” Shen Shirou played dumb. Then, she let out an “Oh,” as if a lightbulb had gone off. “You mean kissing you like I did today?”

“I’ll remember what you said.” Shen Shirou’s lips curled into a smile, intentionally twisting Jiang Peixing’s meaning. “Next time, I’ll be sure to get your permission before I kiss you.”

As if she hadn’t heard a word, Jiang Peixing signed the contract and left without looking back. Unlike the dark-faced Jiang Peixing, Shen Shirou was in an exceptionally good mood. Seeing Jiang Peixing unhappy made her very happy indeed.

Whether it was genuine busyness or some other reason, Jiang Peixing appeared at the villa less and less frequently in the following days. In a whole month, the days Shen Shirou saw her could be counted on one hand.

Shen Shirou, meanwhile, spent her days visiting Lu Yanwei. Without realizing it, the two had grown much closer, and their relationship was progressing smoothly. If it weren’t for the need to maintain the plot, Shen Shirou would have already packed a suitcase and her bunny slippers to move into Lu Yanwei’s place for a few days. Of course, that was just a dream; she was still Jiang Peixing’s fiancée, after all.

During these idle days, Shen Shirou received a call from Mother Jiang. She didn’t know the number herself, but it had been saved in the phone before she transmigrated into the novel.

She answered calmly. “Auntie Jiang, is there something I can help you with?”

“Xiao Rou,” Mother Jiang’s voice came through. “The office is very busy lately, so Peixing probably won’t have the time. If you’re free, remember to go to the shop and pick up the diamond rings.”

Shen Shirou paused. “Diamond rings?”

“Yes,” Mother Jiang said. “Your engagement rings. The address is the jewelry shop on XX Street. I’ve already spoken with the manager; you can just go and pick them up.”

Shen Shirou noted the address. “Alright, Auntie. Don’t worry, I’ll go pick them up in a bit.”

After hanging up, she checked the navigation. The shop was barely a kilometer from the villa—quite close. She decided to walk. On the way, she imagined that even if she brought them back, Jiang Peixing likely wouldn’t wear a matching ring with her. Still, it was a task from Mother Jiang, and it wouldn’t be right to decline. As for Jiang Peixing? It didn’t matter if she threw the ring away; they had no feelings for each other anyway.

The jewelry shop was located off a commercial street. Shen Shirou pushed the door open and explained her purpose to the sales assistant.

“Certainly. Please wait a moment while I inform our manager,” the assistant replied.

While waiting, Shen Shirou leaned against the counter, casually browsing the jewelry behind the glass.

“Do you like it?”

A low, alluring voice came from behind her. Shen Shirou turned around and immediately locked eyes with her dance partner from the banquet—the story’s primary antagonist, Miss Qi Yan.

“The style is indeed quite nice.” Qi Yan pointed toward the glass case at a sterling silver bracelet Shen Shirou had been eyeing. “I wanted to tell you at the banquet your wrists are so slender. Once I took hold of one, I didn’t want to let go.”

Shen Shirou didn’t respond. Perhaps because she had made such a deep impression during their first meeting, she was no longer surprised by Qi Yan’s suggestive remarks.

“It’s been so long since I gave you my contact info, yet I haven’t received a single call. How disappointing,” Qi Yan said, a seductive smile playing on her lips. “If you won’t come to me, I have to come to you.”

Shen Shirou didn’t believe a word of it. Even if Qi Yan were looking for her, there was no way she could have known she’d be at this specific shop. Whatever Qi Yan’s business here was, their meeting was likely just a coincidence.

The assistant returned, handing a packaged box to Shen Shirou. “Miss Shen, here are your diamond rings.”

Shen Shirou took them.

“You had diamond rings made?” Qi Yan arched an eyebrow, a flicker of inquiry in her eyes. “With Jiang Peixing?”

Given her role, Shen Shirou had to maintain an air of cold indifference toward Qi Yan. “This is a private matter between Sister Jiang and me. It doesn’t seem to concern you, Miss Qi.”

In truth, Shen Shirou actually appreciated Qi Yan in private. After all, Qi Yan was one of the few people whose low opinion of Jiang Peixing perfectly matched her own.

“I’ll take this bracelet,” Qi Yan said, indicating the silver one in the case and handing over a card.

“Certainly.” After the transaction, the assistant placed the bracelet in a paper gift bag and handed it to Qi Yan.

Qi Yan walked over to Shen Shirou with the bag. “Since you like it, take it. It should suit you well.”

Shen Shirou was stunned. She wanted to explain that she was just browsing and had no intention of buying it, but she felt a sudden sense of unease. What was her relationship with Qi Yan that the woman would just buy her a gift for no reason? If Qi Yan’s last move was to drive a wedge between her and Jiang Peixing, what was the goal this time? Was she trying to bribe her?

“I can’t accept gifts from you.” Shen Shirou stepped back to maintain her distance, instinctively using Jiang Peixing as a shield. “Sister Jiang would be angry.”

“If I don’t tell her, how would she know?” Qi Yan chuckled softly. “Beautiful jewelry belongs on beautiful people; only then is it worth the price.” Qi Yan shook her head with feigned regret. “It would be such a waste if you didn’t wear it.”

Shen Shirou remained firm in her refusal.

“Did you come alone?” Qi Yan stopped pushing the bracelet and smiled. “Why don’t I drive you back?”

“I couldn’t possibly,” Shen Shirou replied. “If Sister Jiang saw me in your car, she would definitely misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand what?” Qi Yan’s deep, dark eyes locked onto Shen Shirou like a predator watching its prey. She teased, “She didn’t seem to have much of a reaction when you were my partner at the banquet. Besides, how could you call it a misunderstanding.”

Qi Yan stepped closer until she was leaning against Shen Shirou’s ear, her posture incredibly intimate. “Isn’t it a fact that I have designs on her fiancée?”

Shen Shirou was momentarily speechless. Does Qi Yan really want to steal Jiang Peixing’s fiancée? Even if that were the case, she should be going after Lu Yanwei, not her—someone who was destined to leave the stage soon anyway.

“There will never be room for a third person between Sister and me,” Shen Shirou said flatly. “I would never do anything to betray her. You should go; I’ll make my own way back.”

“If you don’t get in my car, I’ll follow you all the way home. I might even pay a visit to your ‘Sister Jiang’ while I’m at it,” Qi Yan said meaningfully. “To announce the nature of our relationship.”

Shen Shirou: “…”

What “relationship”? She certainly didn’t know of any! Hadn’t she only met Qi Yan twice in total?

The way Qi Yan spoke made it sound as though something scandalous had actually happened between them.

Jiang Peixing hadn’t even set foot in the villa for the past two days, but Shen Shirou couldn’t risk letting Qi Yan follow her home. If Jiang Peixing found out, she’d probably be kicked out on the street before morning.

To stay in character, Shen Shirou glared at Qi Yan with a look of utter disbelief, huffing indignantly, “We only met by chance! Nothing happened at all, how can you spout such nonsense?”

She had, however, underestimated Qi Yan’s sheer audacity.

“Is that so?” Qi Yan replied unhurriedly. “Well, that depends on whether your dear Sister Jiang believes you or not.”

Ultimately, Shen Shirou ended up getting into Qi Yan’s car, looking “thoroughly reluctant.”

Since the distance was short, the car reached the villa in barely three minutes. Shen Shirou had initially suspected that Qi Yan had an ulterior motive, but when the woman actually dropped her off without any further advances, Shen Shirou was genuinely bewildered.

Before driving away, Qi Yan rolled down the window, a lazy, crimson smile playing on her lips. “Until next time, darling.”

Third time’s the charm, Shen Shirou thought. Let’s hope there isn’t a next time.

Back in her bedroom, she showered and prepared to toss her clothes into the washing machine. Suddenly, a shimmering silver bracelet slipped from her pocket, hitting the floor with a soft, metallic clink.

Shen Shirou picked up the familiar piece of jewelry. It was the exact same bracelet Qi Yan had purchased at the store earlier that day.

How did it end up in her pocket?

The only person who could have planted it there was Qi Yan. Reflecting on their time at the jewelry shop, Shen Shirou realized Qi Yan hadn’t really had the chance then. It must have happened in the car on the way back to the villa; Qi Yan must have slipped it in while she wasn’t paying attention.

While this was the only logical explanation, it only deepened Shen Shirou’s confusion.

What exactly was this major antagonist plotting? Instead of preparing to dismantle Jiang Peixing’s empire, she was spending her time driving Shen Shirou home just to gift her a bracelet?