Pats Little Shrike's Tail - Chapter 135

Chapter 135

When Shen Qingyi turned away from her workbench, she saw the drizzling rain pattering against the window. The road outside was covered in a layer of mist, obscuring the distant view.

When did it start raining?

Shen Qingyi frowned. She walked to the window and looked at the light rain outside, then checked her phone. It was just past 4 PM.

Because she had promised Shan Ling a date tonight, Shen Qingyi had deliberately set her alarm for 4:30 PM, planning to get ready and head to the shop, arriving just around 5 PM.

However, since it was raining now, traffic would definitely be congested.

Thinking this, Shen Qingyi quickly took out her phone and called Shan Ling. Once the call connected, she asked, “It’s raining. Did you get wet?”

“No,” Shan Ling’s tone was cheerful. “We packed up before the rain started, and now we’re sheltering in the shop.”

“I see the rain isn’t too heavy, but the roads will definitely be congested. I’m leaving now, so I might be a little later than usual,” Shen Qingyi was not interrupting the date due to the rain. She had already picked the movie tickets and reserved the restaurant. Since all the activities were indoors, a little rain wasn’t a big issue.

“Okay,” Shan Ling held the phone and said, “Remember to close all the windows at home when you leave, so the rain doesn’t blow in.”

“I’m checking the doors and windows now,” Shen Qingyi turned off the desk lamp on her workbench and told Shan Ling, “I can’t talk anymore. Wait for me at the shop. I’ll be there soon.”

After hanging up, Nuo Nuo, sipping her milk tea, poked Shan Ling with her shoulder and asked, “What’s up? Is the boss coming to pick you up?”

“Yes,” Shan Ling put away her phone and said, “She said she’s leaving now and told me to wait in the shop. But with this weather, the roads will definitely be jammed, so she won’t get here until after 5 PM.”

“Will you still have time for your date then?” Nuo Nuo asked.

“It should be fine,” Shan Ling smiled. “Yiyi didn’t sound anxious, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“That’s good,” Nuo Nuo stretched out her legs on the chair and sighed, “I really envy people like you who can go out on dates. I have to go teach a kid how to make coffee.”

Shan Ling smiled warmly and told Nuo Nuo, “Come on, why have your words been so bitter lately? Weren’t you the one who encouraged us to get together? Now you can’t stand seeing it?”

“How could I?” Nuo Nuo laughed. “I just feel awkward being the only single person. But I don’t want to date anyway; making money makes me happier.”

Time flew by quickly as the two chatted. Shen Qingyi must have truly been stuck in traffic. It got completely dark before 5 PM, all the cars on the road turned on their lights, and the rain continued to fall softly.

A mist rose over the plaza in front of the coffee shop. Soon, a black Maybach stopped not far away.

That was the Shen family’s car. Nuo Nuo answered a phone call, then got up to pack her things. She waved to Shan Ling, grabbed her bag, rushed into the rain, and got into the black sedan.

The car lingered for a moment before driving away. Shan Ling waited for another ten minutes before Shen Qingyi finally arrived, holding a light-colored umbrella.

“You’re here~”

Shan Ling had been eagerly watching for Shen Qingyi. Now that she saw her at the door, she rushed under the umbrella and hugged Shen Qingyi immediately.

Shen Qingyi smiled, embracing Shan Ling and snuggling her affectionately. She said, “The traffic was bad, so I was late.”

“You’re not late; it’s just past 5 PM,” Shan Ling conveniently slipped her freezing hands into Shen Qingyi’s pocket, complaining, “It’s so cold after the rain! Look, I can see my breath when I talk.”

“Mm.” Shen Qingyi held Shan Ling’s icy hands in her coat pocket, then told her, “It’s too cold out here. Let’s go to the car.”

Walking shoulder-to-shoulder under one umbrella, Shan Ling pressed tightly against Shen Qingyi. It seemed like nothing could fit between them; even the air would have trouble squeezing in.

Shen Qingyi was squeezed off her path and couldn’t help but laugh. Fortunately, they reached the car quickly. She held the umbrella, let Shan Ling get in first, and then walked around to the driver’s seat, shaking off the cold.

“Are you hungry right now?” Shen Qingyi turned on the heater, held Shan Ling’s hand to warm her, and said tenderly, “It’s going to be cold tomorrow too. Why don’t you take the day off and stay home? Tell Nuo Nuo as well.”

Shan Ling shook her head and said, “I’m okay, but if you let us rest, Nuo Nuo and I would both be very happy.”

Shen Qingyi laughed, leaned over, kissed Shan Ling on the lips, and smiled: “Then send a message to Nuo Nuo later and tell her to rest at home tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Shan Ling’s eyes curved in a smile. She asked curiously, “Where are we going on our date tonight?”

“I booked a restaurant and movie tickets,” Shen Qingyi whispered, “If you’re hungry now, we’ll eat first and then watch the movie. If you want to watch the movie first, we’ll eat later.”

“I’m not hungry right now,” Shan Ling smiled and said, “I just had a cup of milk tea. Are you hungry?”

“I’m not hungry either.” Shen Qingyi released Shan Ling’s hand, fastened her seatbelt, and said, “Then let’s go watch the movie first, and then we’ll eat.”

“Good.” Shan Ling sat obediently, took out her phone, and first sent a message to Nuo Nuo, telling her that she had the day off tomorrow and didn’t need to come out to set up the stall, only to prepare for going to the Shen family house in the evening.

Nuo Nuo seemed very happy and sent a big kissing emoji.

A moment later, Nuo Nuo sent a voice message. When Shan Ling opened it, she realized it was Shen Jiaojiao’s voice; the little girl must have grabbed Nuo Nuo’s phone to message Shan Ling.

“Sister Xiao Ling, I hope you have a fun date~”

Shen Jiaojiao’s voice came clearly from the phone’s speaker, saying cheerfully, “Next Friday is our school’s Open Day. Sister Xiao Ling, you’ll come with my sister, right?”

Shan Ling was playing the message out loud, so Shen Qingyi, sitting next to her, heard it clearly.

She turned to look at Shen Qingyi, who was concentrating on driving, and asked curiously, “What do you think? Should we go to Jiaojiao’s Open Day event next Friday? She said she’s setting up a coffee shop and even specifically asked Nuo Nuo to teach her to be a barista. She looks serious about it.”

Shen Qingyi remained unmoved, saying flatly, “It’s just a children’s activity. What’s the point?”

Shan Ling remembered Shen Jiaojiao’s little face, which resembled Shen Qingyi’s, and couldn’t bear to disappoint the little girl. She persuaded her, “Jiaojiao invited us. It can’t hurt to go, can it?”

“I have work,” Shen Qingyi refused reasonably.

“But you need to rest, too,” Shan Ling sighed, leaning back in her seat helplessly, and said, “Regardless of anything else, Jiaojiao genuinely likes you. I can tell. A child’s liking is pure liking, and you don’t dislike her, do you?”

Although Shen Jiaojiao had a bit of a princess temper, liked to look pretty, was neat, and enjoyed lecturing people like a little adult, she didn’t have any significant flaws. Instead, these little quirks made her even more lovable.

Shen Qingyi opened her mouth, intending to refuse again, but she remembered Shen Jiaojiao’s soft little face. She ultimately fell silent for a few seconds before nodding.

“Fine,” Shen Qingyi said. “We’ll go to her school event next Friday. You should also ask the little girl what gift she needs. We can’t go empty-handed, right?”

Shan Ling happily pressed the voice record button and replied to Nuo Nuo: “We will attend the Open Day event next Friday. Yiyi also asked if we should bring a gift that day?”

The other side quickly sent a voice message back. It was still Shen Jiaojiao’s light voice: “I’ll be very happy just if my sisters can come! If you could bring a bouquet of flowers that belong to spring, that would be even better!”

Shen Qingyi was amused by the little girl’s words and couldn’t help but sigh, “Who does she learn these things from?”

Such flowery language, like an uncle who hasn’t bathed in half a month.

Shan Ling also smiled and replied: “We know! We’ll prepare a gift for you. Keep practicing your coffee-making skills~”

Putting her phone away, Shan Ling noticed they had arrived near the commercial district. The light drizzle outside was starting to intensify. The temperature inside the car had formed a layer of condensation on the windows.

When Shen Qingyi drove the car into the mall’s underground parking lot, Shan Ling turned around and asked, “Yiyi, are we watching the movie here?”

“Yes,” Shen Qingyi nodded. “I’ve already booked the tickets. This cinema has a huge screen, so watching the movie will be very comfortable.”

“I’ve never been to the movies before,” Shan Ling said curiously. “What do we need to do to watch a movie?”

Need to do what?

The first thought that popped into Shen Qingyi’s mind was of two people kissing in the dark cinema seats, illuminated by the flickering light of the screen.

She immediately suppressed that thought, pretended to look for a parking spot, and after a few seconds, said, “We can buy some cola and popcorn so you won’t get bored while watching the movie.”

Shan Ling nodded seriously. Once they had parked the car, they took the elevator directly to the cinema.

They collected their tickets. Since there was still half an hour until the showing, Shen Qingyi bought a bucket of popcorn and two cups of cola at the counter so they wouldn’t go hungry while watching the movie.

Shan Ling was looking around curiously as they entered. This was genuinely her first time at a cinema. Even when she was working in a mall, she rarely had the chance to go see a movie with friends.

Walking on the soft, quiet carpet, Shan Ling heard some muffled sounds, seemingly from a nearby theater showing a movie, which made her eyes light up.

Shen Qingyi was afraid Shan Ling might get lost looking around, so she switched the popcorn to the other hand, held Shan Ling tightly, and said, “Stop looking around and follow me.”

Shan Ling nodded, obediently following Shen Qingyi into the screening room.

They found their seats. People continued to trickle in behind them—some were friends watching together, and others were couples. Everyone quietly found their seats and sat down.

Shen Qingyi had chosen seats toward the back and center, ensuring the view of the screen wasn’t too far or too skewed.

Shan Ling tilted her head and chatted quietly with Shen Qingyi; she knew better than to talk loudly in a movie theater.

After only about ten minutes, the movie began.

Shen Qingyi had chosen a special effects film with generally positive reviews. Shan Ling was completely absorbed in the movie, which made Shen Qingyi feel restless with affection.

When everyone around them was focused on the screen, Shen Qingyi took advantage of the darkness to quietly hold Shan Ling’s hand. When Shan Ling turned her head, Shen Qingyi leaned in and kissed her.

Shan Ling didn’t make a sound when kissed. Instead, her eyes sparkled as she looked at Shen Qingyi, actively leaned in, and whispered, “I didn’t react quickly enough just now. Can we kiss again?”

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