Even as the illegitimate child of the Pei family, Pei Xu rode the roughshod over the elitist capital. To be alive and well after stealing Fu Xiaohan’s girl and making Su Mushi crawl under his crotch, Pei Xu sure had connections.
Fu Qingxuan never took Shen Xi’s words to heart as he did not find Pei Xu a danger. He was happy with yesterday’s partnership apart from the incident leaking out.
Moreover, since yesterday’s teamwork, he was not as prejudiced towards Pei Xu anymore. Sure, Pei Xu was still annoying as hell, but he was loyal and had his friend’s back no matter what. If anything were to happen to Pei Xu in the future, Fu Qingxuan was not going to sit by and do nothing about it.
As a member of the Fu family, Fu Qingxuan believed in an eye for an eye, even when it came to repaying kindness.
Shen Xi knew that it was all about loyalty for Pei Xu. Standing up to injustice was a norm to him while having his friend’s back was a priority. Pei Xu was always the first to charge ahead whenever someone in the international class was picked on. The international class respected him and swore their allegiance to him.
When Pei Xu brought Fu Qingxuan along to kidnap Su Mushi, Shen Xi understood that Pei Xu did not do it so that she owed him a favor or for her to thank him. He was just sticking up for her.
It was an unspoken understanding between the circle of friends. There was no need to express gratitude. Once they were back in school, Shen Xi planned to treat him to some bread.
…
Yun Jinping always had a driving license, but never actually drove. It took a few months into her working life when Yun Jinping finally discovered that she could drive. It was very convenient.
She intended to drive and fetch her husband and daughter from the airport. She asked her nephew, Shen Feng, to supervise her while she was behind the wheel as a way to practice her driving. Shen Feng was Shen Zhangqing’s oldest brother, Shen Zhangli’s son. He was nineteen years old and older than Shen Xi by two years. Currently in his second year at a university in Ocean City, Shen Feng was quite the looker.
“Aunty, I’m going over there to get some cotton candy for those two. Please head inside to wait for Xixi and my uncle.” Shen Feng was happy, excited, and looking forward to meeting Shen Xi soon.
It had been two years since he last saw her. Shen Feng thought that she would be back for New Year last year. Who knew her biological parents swooped in and took her away? She never came back since.
Some blabbermouth gossiped that Shen Xi never visited Yun Jinping and Shen Zhangqing since she was taken away by her biological parents. Shen Feng’s family did not take the rumor kindly and called Shen Xi out for being ungrateful.
During the last Ancestral Remembrance Day, Yun Jinping and Shen Zhangqing mentioned that Shen Xi was back and would not return to his biological parent’s side again.
Gossips tended to travel in a small place. There were talks that Shen Xi returned because she could not take it. Surely, her biological parents mistreated her. There was no doubt Shen Xi would go back to her biological parents if they wanted her back. They said that Yun Jinping and Shen Zhangqing were softies and doted on her for nothing and that she was an ingrate.
Shen Feng had no idea whether she would return to her biological parents. However, everyone became envious of Yun Jinping and Shen Zhangqing in mere six months.
Their daughter made something of herself. She won an international design competition and had the fashion star, Jiang Yin as her teacher. Shen Xi established a personal brand “Jin Yun” with Yun Jinping’s name, created looks for Gong Zhi the film star, and became the stylist of Fu Qingye, the international film star.
Not to mention, Shen Xi participated in many national competitions and won a lot of awards along the way.
The latest news was that she hit the international stage, dancing in the Golden Hall. She made headlines in various mainstream media the next day and won praises from renowned dancers around the globe. It was a great moment for her.
With Shen Xi and Shen Zhangqing, an established entrepreneur, bringing honor to their tiny hometown, even the governor of the county personally came to give his well-wishes, let alone their little townspeople.
Shen Feng’s mother shared the joy. She would have photos of Xixi’s performance and winning moments developed and hung on the wall. Any news regarding her would be clipped and compiled into a scrapbook for people to see and admire.
Xixi spotted Madam Yun from afar and silly Shen Feng holding cotton candy in each hand.
“Shen Xi!” Shen Feng happily waved the cotton candy at her.
Fu Qingxuan frowned, “Who is he?”
Shen Xi replied, “My cousin.”
Fu Qingxuan’s mind was at ease. Anything was good as long as he was not her childhood friend.
Having taken notice of Fu Qingxuan, Shen Feng asked Yun Jinping, “Aunty, does Xixi have a boyfriend?”
How could Xixi have a boyfriend? She was still young and underaged. Shen Feng could not believe that Shen Zhangqing and Yun Jinping would allow her to have one. Also, why did she bring her little boyfriend home?
“He’s not her boyfriend.” Fixating on Fu Qingxuan, Yun Jinping found the young man good-looking. “He’s a friend of Xixi’s and has been living abroad. He wants to experience the New Year here, so he came along.”
Since they were a family, Shen Feng did not mince his words. “Aunty, don’t trust him. It’s just an excuse. I’m sure he took a fancy to our Xixi. Don’t believe every word he says.”
Seeing him all tensed up, Yun Jinping smiled, “He won’t do that.”
Shen Feng panicked. “Aunty, you can never be too careful.”
Shen Xi was the only girl in the family and should not be snatched so early by a big bad wolf.
While they were talking, Shen Xi and the rest drew near.
Shen Xi snatched two cotton candies from Shen Feng and gave one to Fu Qingxuan. She stated with a smile, “Shen Feng, you have a girlfriend.”
Shen Feng corrected her. “What Shen Feng? I’m your brother.”
Also, how did she know he had a girlfriend?
Looking delighted, Shen Zhangqing gazed at his nephew who was all grown up. “Feng, you have a girlfriend?”
Before Shen Feng could question Shen Xi, the latter had drawn attention to him instead.
Shen Zhangqing and Yun Jinping badgered him about his girlfriend, asking him to bring her home for them to meet.
During the New Year, kids were most afraid of elders asking about grades, boyfriends, and girlfriends, whether it was being nagged to look for one or bringing them home to meet with the parents.
Who could he bring home since the whole thing was still up in the air?
Shen Xi relished in Shen Feng’s moment of awkwardness before tipping Fu Qingxuan the wink. She inquired, “Is it the same situation for Qingye when he returns home for the New Year?”
Fu Qingxuan shook his head. “My family never bothered about this.”
It was not the liveliest scene in their home during the New Year. Without their sister and father around, what was there to be happy about?
Shen Xi hummed a response and bit on the cotton candy while imagining that it would be interesting if Fu Qingye was bombarded with questions.
On the other hand, the nagging drove Shen Feng to send a distress signal to Shen Xi using his eyes. The kid took a crack at him instead of helping him out here!
Holding back the laughter, Shen Xi gazed at Shen Feng. “Well, why don’t you bring your girlfriend home then?”
Shen Feng was speechless. “…”
Never mind. The cotton candy was bought in vain. The ungrateful kiddo should at least feel bad for the little old him.