After Flirting with the God-Tier Beautiful Tycoon - Chapter 42

“Niannian, Niannian!” Shen Lanxin, dressed in a black and white ink-wash print dress, stood beside a black sedan.

The car didn’t look new, but it was very clean.

Chen Yi walked beside Shen Xiaojiang, looking so well-behaved that she truly seemed like her peer.

“Mom!” Shen Xiaojiang called out.

Shen Lanxin, wearing mid-heeled shoes, trotted over to Shen Xiaojiang and took Chen Yi’s suitcase from her hand.

“Is this… a classmate?” Shen Lanxin’s smile stretched from ear to ear, yet it wasn’t unpleasing.

Though she was older and had white hair at her temples, she had kept her figure well and possessed a decent temperament. One could tell she had been a beauty in her youth.

“Hello, Auntie.” Chen Yi’s expression was a bit unnatural.

She had been struggling just moments ago, wondering how she should address Shen Xiaojiang’s mother as “Sister” or “Auntie.”

“Oh, hello!” Shen Lanxin continued to smile. Perhaps because it was her first time seeing someone so beautiful, her movements were a beat slow.

Her daughter was also beautiful and had been praised since childhood, but she was entirely different from the woman before her.

With curved willow leaf brows, long fox-like eyes, a high bridge of the nose, and red lips under an appearance of intense, striking beauty, her gaze was as soft and seductive as water.

She didn’t look quite human, she looked more like a fox spirit stepped out of a Liao Zhai ghost story. It was the kind of beauty that, with just one glance, would be remembered for a lifetime.

“Oh, Mom, it’s hot and I’m hungry,” Shen Xiaojiang said, quickly putting a stop to her mother’s greedy staring.

Haishi was a bit hotter than Nancheng, but because of the monsoons, the summer wasn’t as stifling.

Shen Lanxin finally snapped out of it. “Oh, oh, oh! Get in the car, get in the car. Let’s go home.”

Shen Xiaojiang and Chen Yi exchanged a smile and walked toward the car together.

Haishi lived up to its name surrounded by the sea on three sides, it was a quintessential coastal city. The climate was pleasant, and the scenery even more so.

The roads weren’t very wide, but the green belts were massive. To avoid rush hour, Shen Lanxin didn’t take the main thoroughfare.

Even on the side roads, there were three layers of greenery on one side six for both directions. In the widest green belt, giant banyan trees were planted, their lush branches and aerial roots creating a magnificent sight.

Chen Yi sat somewhat stiffly in the car, her gaze flickering as she looked at the red safety charm and the small photo of a family of three hanging from the rearview mirror.

The air conditioning was on, but the cooling effect wasn’t great. A simple sachet hung from the door frame.

The scent wasn’t like the high-end perfumes in her own car, nor was it like the low-quality dust and smoke of a taxi. it was something in between the scent of home.

Chen Yi glanced at Shen Xiaojiang, and Shen Xiaojiang looked back. Then, Shen Xiaojiang pulled out a tissue and handed it to her, whispering, “Is it too hot? Do you want me to turn the temperature down more?”

An inadvertent smile touched the corners of Chen Yi’s mouth. As she took the tissue, her fingertips brushed against Shen Xiaojiang’s.

She slowly looked up, her lips parting to say two words: “No need.”

At a red light, Shen Lanxin looked at the two of them through the rearview mirror and smiled. “The car is old, that’s just how it is. I’ll go get the Freon refilled tomorrow.”

“During the WeChat video call last week, didn’t Dad say he was going to do it?” Shen Xiaojiang asked.

“Your dad’s procrastination has been acting up lately. Now that you’re back, you should give him a good talking-to tonight,” Shen Lanxin said, lightly stepping on the gas as they turned off that road into an even narrower one.

“What procrastination? He’s just lazy,” Shen Xiaojiang laughed.

Looking at her profile, Chen Yi smiled along.

“Exactly! He calls it procrastination to make it sound fancy. He’ll say he’s going to shower and then stand at the bathroom door scrolling through Douyin for two hours. He’ll say he’s going to make sweet soup, the ice melts everywhere, water is all over the floor, and I still haven’t seen a single ingredient…”

“I’m not trying to tattle on him, but he just doesn’t realize where his problem lies. Niannian, let me tell you, if my temper were any worse, this family would have fallen apart long ago.”

“Yes, yes, yes, Ms. Shen, you have the best temper. This family couldn’t survive without you,” Shen Xiaojiang said, winking at Chen Yi.

Chen Yi watched Shen Xiaojiang, her smile remaining gentle.

The car stopped at the entrance of a residential complex. It wasn’t new, but the landscaping was well-maintained.

Shen Lanxin got out, and Shen Xiaojiang was a step behind. She shrugged at Chen Yi, saying somewhat apologetically, “My mom loves to make a fuss and complain about my dad. Sorry I didn’t warn you in advance.”

Chen Yi shook her head, her smile sincere. “Not at all. I think your mother is very cute.”

Every time Shen Xiaojiang came home, Shen Lanxin would chatter the whole way. The theme was always complaining about Papa Shen or other domestic trivialities. Shen Xiaojiang was used to it, letting it go in one ear and out the other.

But Chen Yi listened with great interest. To her, this was what “everyday life” truly meant.

“Auntie, let me take the suitcase myself,” Chen Yi said politely.

Shen Xiaojiang, holding her backpack, couldn’t help but turn to look at her, pressing her lips together to hide a giggle.

“No, no, you’re tired from the trip. Leave it to me,” Shen Lanxin looked Chen Yi over kindly. “Besides, you’re so thin, you shouldn’t lift heavy things.”

Shen Xiaojiang pouted. “Ms. Shen, don’t you know that suitcases have wheels for rolling?”

Shen Lanxin ignored her, grabbed the handle with both hands, and climbed up three flights of stairs in one breath. “Niannian, your mom has been working out lately. My arms are strong! This weight is nothing!”

The building was a walk-up, only six stories high. When they bought it, Shen Lanxin and Papa Shen had waited a long time to win the lottery for this top floor.

Why? Because the top floor was a duplex buy the sixth floor, get the seventh. Since top floors were usually harder to sell, they were bundled with the sixth, and the value had skyrocketed.

“Whoa, you’re working out?” Shen Xiaojiang and Chen Yi followed behind.

“You bet. In just a month, I feel like my basal metabolism has sped up. I feel at least three years younger.” Shen Lanxin’s face beamed with confidence.

Shen Xiaojiang quickly chimed in: “Only three years? At least five! No, ten! You’re practically aging backward, Ms. Shen.”

Shen Lanxin set the suitcase down, one hand on her hip and one finger pointing at Shen Xiaojiang. “You, just keep teasing me, why don’t you.”

The two of them joked back and forth until they reached the sixth floor. In the heat, all three were sweating to varying degrees. Chen Yi’s hair clung damply to the side of her neck, making her skin look even more porcelain white and translucent.

Shen Xiaojiang stared for a moment. Chen Yi stared back.

Shen Xiaojiang made a “please” gesture. Chen Yi nodded with a smile and gave a tiny, soft response.

The door opened from the inside, revealing a man in a grey short-sleeved shirt and a pink apron. He held a green bell pepper in one hand and a spatula in the other. Carrying the scent of cooking oil and smoke, his face wrinkled into a wide grin. “Wife, you’re back!”

Shen Lanxin deliberately gave him a stern look. “Opening the door slower than yesterday one star review.”

Papa Shen just chuckled, not bothered at all. Finally, he saw the person behind Shen Lanxin.

“Oh! If it isn’t my long-lost daughter,” Papa Shen opened the door wider. “Mhm, you still know the way home. Good, good.”

Shen Xiaojiang pushed Chen Yi forward. “Dad, this is my classmate.”

Papa Shen immediately dropped his goofy expression. “A classmate! Hello, hello. I’m Shen Xiaojiang’s father. Just call me Uncle.”

Chen Yi had met all sorts of people, but never a trio like Shen Xiaojiang’s family. She gave a genuine laugh and obediently replied, “Uncle.”

After entering, Shen Lanxin went to change into loungewear. Papa Shen ducked into the kitchen and popped back out, placing two bottles of chilled bayberry juice on the table like a magic trick. “Drink it while it’s hot.”

Shen Xiaojiang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Dad, can you stop being so childish?”

Shen Lanxin walked out of the bedroom in her loungewear. “Your dad’s brain is just like his looks randomly assembled.”

Randomly assembled?

Chen Yi was moved to laughter. She finally understood why Shen Xiaojiang was always so happy. Such a family atmosphere was wonderful.

Shen Xiaojiang glanced over and saw Chen Yi drinking the bayberry juice, a full smile on her face. “Actually, it does taste better ‘hot’.”

Hearing this, Shen Xiaojiang’s awkwardness vanished. She had worried her parents wouldn’t leave a good impression, or that Chen Yi wouldn’t like her family’s silly vibe.

“You drink some too,” Chen Yi said, her eyes curving into crescents brighter than the sunset.

Shen Xiaojiang’s living room wasn’t large, but it was cozy. In the most prominent spot on the TV stand, family photos from different periods were displayed, documenting Shen Xiaojiang’s transformation from short hair to long.

Shen Xiaojiang went to the kitchen to chat with her parents. When she came out, she saw Chen Yi crouching in front of the TV.

“Little Auntie, what are you looking at?” She walked toward her.

“What, you’re not calling me Senior anymore?” Chen Yi had her arms wrapped around her knees, her lips curved as she continued to look at the photos.

Shen Xiaojiang crouched down as well, meeting Chen Yi’s smiling eyes. She smiled too.

“I forgot,” she said.

Chen Yi: “Little dummy.”

Shen Xiaojiang mimicked Chen Yi’s pose, arms around her knees. Then, she gently bumped her shoulder against Chen Yi’s and whispered, “Call me a dummy if you want. Whatever you call me, I’ll just filter it into a compliment.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Chen Yi smiled, her gaze returning to the photo. “When was this taken?”

Shen Xiaojiang squinted, thinking for a few seconds. “Hmm… probably right before the Gaokao (College Entrance Exam).”

Chen Yi looked at the blue and white school uniform, her eyes incredibly tender.

“What’s wrong?”

Chen Yi shook her head. “Nothing.”

“Hmm?” Shen Xiaojiang bumped her arm again.

“Alright, alright,” Chen Yi giggled. “It looks good.”

“Is that so?” Shen Xiaojiang wore an expression of someone milking a compliment. “How good?”

Chen Yi smiled but didn’t speak.

Shen Xiaojiang had no intention of letting her off. “Tell me, was I better looking then, or am I better looking now?”

“I’ve never seen you with a ponytail,” Chen Yi said casually.

“The photo! You’re looking at it right now,” Shen Xiaojiang pouted.

Chen Yi shook her head. “That’s different.”

Shen Xiaojiang looked at the girl in the photo. At that time, she was a student representative for the Gaokao pep rally. She didn’t remember what she had said, only that she had spent a long time tying that ponytail that day.

Shen Xiaojiang: “How is it different?”

Chen Yi gazed at the spirited young girl in the photo, her lips curling unconsciously. “There’s a difference between a photo and the real person.”

Shen Xiaojiang looked at her sideways and laughed. “Well, you’re looking at her now.”

Chen Yi was confused. In the next moment, she saw Shen Xiaojiang pull a black hair tie off her wrist and deftly tie her hair into a high ponytail.

Shen Xiaojiang had an incredible amount of hair; even in a ponytail, it looked thick. She had never messed with her hair with dyes or perms, and combined with her fast metabolism, it looked naturally healthy not the “well-maintained” kind of healthy, but the pure, natural kind.

For a moment, Chen Yi forgot to blink. It was as if the girl in the blue and white uniform had stepped right out of the photo.

“Little Auntie?” Shen Xiaojiang waved a hand in front of her eyes.

Chen Yi snapped back to reality.

“You were spacing out while looking at me, weren’t you, Little Auntie?” Shen Xiaojiang narrowed her eyes playfully.

Chen Yi blinked rapidly, guiltily turning her face back to the photos.

Shen Xiaojiang leaned in, tilting her head to look at her. “Well?”

“Well what?” Chen Yi said with feigned impatience.

Shen Xiaojiang pointed at her ponytail. “This. You’ve seen the real person with a ponytail now.”

Chen Yi glanced at her. She thought: This little girl just wants a compliment, how childish.

Shen Xiaojiang’s eyes were wide, looking obedient yet mischievous. With the high ponytail, she looked several years younger.

“And?” Chen Yi tried to stay composed.

Shen Xiaojiang wasn’t having it. She frowned slightly. “What do you mean ‘and’? I just asked you, was I better looking then, or now?”

“It’s the same person. What does it matter when you were better looking?” Chen Yi’s gaze drifted away.

Shen Xiaojiang’s frown deepened. “Of course it matters. I want to hear you say it.”

Chen Yi looked up and wrinkled her nose. “Do you smell that? It smells like fish head soup. Could it be ready already?”

“Don’t change the subject.” Shen Xiaojiang leaned forward, suddenly half a head taller than Chen Yi.

As a shadow fell over her, Chen Yi instinctively uncurled her arms and braced her hands on the floor.

“Fish head soup takes at least an hour to simmer. It can’t be ready yet,” Shen Xiaojiang said, her eyes narrowing. “Answer the question, or I’m going to kiss you.”

Chen Yi’s ears turned red. She instinctively glanced toward the kitchen. From that angle, it looked like one person was pinning another down. Fortunately, Shen’s parents had their backs turned.

Safe. For now.

If either of them turned around, they would clearly see the ambiguous posture.

It was thrilling. That sense of forbidden intimacy was intoxicating.

“Little Auntie, I’m counting to three. One, two…”

Shen Xiaojiang mimicked Chen Yi’s usual tone, lowering her head. Chen Yi leaned her neck back.

“Both look good.”

“What?”

Chen Yi lifted one hand from the floor and pushed Shen Xiaojiang’s shoulder, repeating softly, “I said, both look good.”

Shen Xiaojiang was satisfied, swaying her head slightly, her high ponytail swishing.

“A barely passing answer. But I still want to know, specifically, then or now…”

Chen Yi lightly pinched Shen Xiaojiang’s cheek, appearing half-impatient, half-doting. “Little dummy, that’s enough!”

“Ow…” Shen Xiaojiang pretended it hurt.

Chen Yi actually thought she had been too rough. A flash of hesitation crossed her eyes, but she quickly saw through the scheme. “Fake. Keep faking it.”

“Ow, Little Auntie, no, I’m not faking. It really, really hurts.” Shen Xiaojiang blinked a few times, pouting her lower lip in a pitiful expression.

Chen Yi could never stay angry at Shen Xiaojiang. Seeing the puppy dog look, she instantly broke into a smile.

“You…” She paused, and the pinch turned into a gentle, intimate caress. Her fingertips traced Shen Xiaojiang’s face, then patted it twice softly. “Now is better. The current Little Dummy Shen is the best, okay?”

Shen Xiaojiang caught Chen Yi’s wrist, turned it over, and kissed her palm. Not satisfied, she kissed it again. Then, she beamed a brilliant smile. “Mhm! Thank you, Senior.”

Chen Yi shyly looked away. It was then she noticed several more frames behind the high school ponytail photo. In one of them stood a little girl.

The little girl wore a pale yellow dress, her short hair held back by a strawberry clip, and she was clutching a pink lollipop.

She looked sweet and cute. And… she looked strangely familiar.