Green Tea Top Student Falls in Love with Me - Chapter 60

The sudden return two years ago, the way she forced her to learn languages last year, the secrecy during the application process, the hidden admission letter, and the fact that she hadn’t sent a single message today.

Shi Wangui felt all her strength leave her body. “What do you mean?”

Shi Qin said unhurriedly, “Wen Youren will work at my company in the future. She will serve me entirely and prepare the way for her younger brother. As for you, she will find an outstanding young man for you to marry.”

Clatter. Shi Wangui’s grip failed. Her phone fell onto the wooden floor with a dull thud.

No. It can’t be. Wen Youren wouldn’t do this. Shi Wangui didn’t believe it; she was certain this was just another attempt by Shi Qin to drive a wedge between them.

“What else do you have to say?” Shi Wangui asked, feigning composure. “She and I are no longer together. What she chooses to study is her business. What does it have to do with me?”

Shi Qin knew she wouldn’t believe him so easily. What was the use of their elaborate disguise? He had spent years in the business world; did two young girls who had never stepped foot in society really think a bit of acting could fool him?

“Then you should get along well with your ‘sister.’ After you graduate, you can follow her around and learn a few things.”

With that, Shi Qin left. He had only come back to check if Wen Youren had chosen the required major and to see his son. He had already dispatched Wen Youren to the company to begin her orientation; today’s revelation was merely his reward to himself.

Shi Wangui picked up her phone. Her hands trembled as she opened her contacts. Her eyes had filled with tears without her realizing it; she felt as though she already knew the answer.

But she was so nervous that the touchscreen felt unresponsive. She struggled to tap the right name, but finally, after a long moment of hesitation, she pressed the call button.

The call was answered almost immediately. Shi Wangui got straight to the point.

“Wen Youren.”

There was a silence on the other end. “Mhm.”

“Meet me at the milk tea shop in a bit.”

“Okay.”

Shi Wangui hung up. The milk tea shop was the place where they had secretly worked part-time. Even without specifying which one, they both knew. Everything had been so beautiful then. They helped each other, Wen Youren would make special drinks for her, and they would study together during their breaks.

And they had kissed under the plane tree by the entrance.

Wen Youren had just finished a meeting with the people Shi Qin had assigned to her. After hanging up, she guessed that Shi Wangui must have found something out. But she had no choice. She was trapped, and her only priority now was to get Shi Wangui away from here.

Yesterday, Wen Youren had met with Shi Wangui’s aunt. Her aunt told her that now that Shi Wangui was an adult, her father planned to bring her into certain social circles frequently. If Wen Youren didn’t succeed in his eyes, Shi Wangui would have to bear the consequences.

Wen Youren had stated her plan clearly: she wanted to send Shi Wangui abroad. The longer, the better. It would buy Wen Youren time to prepare—time to build the power necessary to protect Shi Wangui before bringing her back.

Shi Qin only needed someone to serve him. He believed that once Wen Youren was exposed to money and power, she would understand why businessmen prioritize profit. To him, a manager without real power was just a tool to be discarded at will.

The aunt had agreed to help. Shi Wangui was her favorite child, and since Shi Wangui’s mother had been so good to her, she couldn’t let the girl follow in her mother’s footsteps.

Shi Qin’s new son was being pampered to the point of showing no actual capability. That was why Shi Qin wanted Wen Youren to serve the boy entirely.

The summer heat was oppressive. Shi Wangui walked to the milk tea shop step by step. The shrill chirping of the cicadas irritated her, and her steps felt heavier with every yard. The moment she stood at the entrance, she felt a sudden surge of regret for asking Wen Youren to come.

But Wen Youren was already there.

On the table sat the drink Shi Wangui liked. Wen Youren didn’t look like she did two years ago; she seemed steadier, and her hair had grown long again. Shi Wangui couldn’t remember when that change had started.

Shi Wangui sat down directly across from her. “I have three questions for you. Answer only ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”

“Okay,” Wen Youren said.

“First question: Did you change your major because of Shi Qin’s demands?”

“Yes.”

Shi Wangui felt as though a thousand hands were clutching her heart. The pain was indescribable.

“Second: You’re going to work at Shi Qin’s company after graduation, right?”

Wen Youren paused for a few seconds before whispering, “Yes.”

“He forced you, didn’t he?” Shi Wangui asked.

Wen Youren didn’t answer. She just looked at Shi Wangui silently, the words trapped in her throat.

Shi Wangui picked up her drink. “Do you remember the day you made a cake for me? You made mango tea that day, too. You said you saw me eat an extra mango when I was buying fruit, so you made it because I liked it.”

Memories flooded back. On Shi Wangui’s birthday, Wen Youren had gone to a bakery specifically to learn how to make a cake. It hadn’t been very pretty, but Shi Wangui had eaten every bite. They had sat on the balcony in the dark, hiding from everyone, as they finished it.

“Do you still like it?” Wen Youren asked.

“I still like it,” Shi Wangui replied.

Wen Youren forced herself to speak. “Shi Wangui… let’s break up.”

“A breakup needs a reason,” Shi Wangui said. “We haven’t just started this, and we aren’t children anymore. We’re adults. Everything needs to have a cause and an effect.”

Wen Youren held out her closed fists. “Being together was a coincidence. Let the breakup be a coincidence too. If you pick the hand with the coin facing heads, we break up.”

“Enough, Wen Youren!” Shi Wangui shouted. “Are you really going to be this childish?”

As soon as the word left her mouth, Shi Wangui felt a pang of sorrow. “Childish” was the word Wen Youren had once used to tease her when she was a naive fifteen-year-old. Why was she using it now?

“Fine. If you want to choose, I pick the right hand.”

Wen Youren opened her right hand. The coin was heads.

Shi Wangui picked up the glass of water on the table, splashed it directly into Wen Youren’s face, and turned to walk away.

Wen Youren didn’t move to avoid it. Once Shi Wangui was gone, she slowly opened her left hand. It also held a coin facing heads. This time, there had been no choice; the answer was predetermined.

She had to hide the truth, or Shi Wangui wouldn’t agree to leave. The best way was to make her angry, resentful, and disappointed. That would only be a short-term pain.

One couldn’t distinguish the tears from the water on her face. Water soaked into her white shirt. Wen Youren pulled the cake toward her and began to eat it, one bite after another.

When she finished, she sent a text to the aunt.

Wen Youren: Auntie, we’ve broken up. Suggest going abroad to her. She will agree.

Auntie: Do I need to tell her? That this wasn’t what you wanted?

Wen Youren: No need.

Outside, the sun was scorching. Shi Wangui’s figure had already disappeared from view.

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