Shen Yue didn't press the issue. If Shen Nian wanted to treat them, then let him.
Maybe he wanted to show off his wealth in front of Little Chun. Boys are creatures that love to perform when they meet a girl they like.
The most common scenario is when two guys and a girl are walking together, and one guy suddenly slaps the other or gives him a shove...
Anyway, it's pretty weird. Showing off financial power counts as part of that performance, too.
But they knew each other so well, was this really necessary?
Shen Yue knew something was off with these two kids, but that was exactly why she was confused. They had grown up inseparable, practically wearing the same pair of pants. They knew each other inside out, so was there really a need for this?
Forget it. Boys' thought processes are weird, and Lao Di is the worst of them all.
"You've really struck it rich..." Xia Yanchun didn't know what else to say after being treated by Shen Nian again.
Although she had wanted to rip Shen Nian off a little, he had already spent over a thousand on this trip. That was more than a month's living expenses. Spending money so lavishly wasn't good at all.
"It's fine. It's not like you buy this stuff often. A bottle of skincare lasts months, and underwear lasts a year or two, right?"
"Bleh, I'm transferring it to you anyway."
"No need. I don't care about the money," Shen Nian grinned.
Xia Yanchun didn't listen and stubbornly transferred two hundred to him.
She didn't want Shen Nian spending so much. His little treasury had just filled up; spending like this would flatten it in no time.
Shen Nian didn't say anything else; pushing it further would seem weird.
He had spent nearly twelve hundred, which matched the mission progress... He had nearly nine thousand left. How to spend it was a problem.
Maybe I'll just buy myself a computer. Nine thousand should get a pretty good one, but I heard prices are inflated recently. Plus, buying one during senior year is basically useless...
Shen Nian scratched his head and habitually looked at Xia Yanchun.
He saw Xia Yanchun's sweet little face, but he also saw the jewelry store over there.
That seemed like a good choice.
Shen Nian wasn't thinking of buying for Xia Yanchun, but for his mom, Chen Minyue.
People in their town weren't that rich. Twenty years ago, anyone who could buy a gold ring was considered wealthy.
Obviously, Shen Nian wasn't a second-generation rich kid.
Chen Minyue had been married for so many years without a ring or necklace. She never mentioned it, and never bought one.
Mom probably wants one, but they aren't very practical, so she couldn't bear to spend the money.
Decided. I have to buy Mom a piece of jewelry. There's no rush to give it to her. I'll go fishing more often to "launder" the money, then give it to her during winter break. Solid plan.
Shen Nian snickered. Plan approved.
"What are you giggling at? You're being weird..." Xia Yanchun had noticed Shen Nian zoning out a while ago.
He was slow to dodge people walking in front of him. Shen Nian was really off today!
Did he turn into a silly deer?
"I wasn't laughing." Shen Nian immediately kept a straight face.
With a serious expression, he tucked a strand of hair behind Xia Yanchun's ear, then pinched her soft cheek.
This serious teasing was a bit comical. Xia Yanchun found it funny and leaned against him, her eyes curving into crescents.
She wasn't afraid of Shen Yue seeing. This kind of action was fine. Even before things got ambiguous with Shen Nian, she used to lean on him, and Shen Yue wouldn't say anything.
They grew up together, after all. What's wrong with leaning a bit?
"Chunbao, need to buy anything else?"
"I don't need anything."
"What about Lao Jie?"
"Hmm... let's go home."
"Alright."
Shen Nian was sick of the mall and really couldn't drum up any interest.
It was already past four in the afternoon when they returned to the residential complex.
The sun was bright, the white clouds drifted lazily, and it was quite warm today.
Shen Nian's room had been commandeered by Shen Shi. The house only had two bedrooms. With Chen Minyue and Shen Shi visiting, Chen Minyue had to sleep with Shen Yue, and Shen Shi with Shen Nian.
You could hear Shen Shi's snoring even in the living room.
Shen Nian didn't disturb his rest. He leaned on the balcony railing, feeling the cold breeze, and used his phone to learn a bit about jewelry.
Gold prices were surprisingly high recently, and the internet advised against buying. Plus, there were too many hidden ads for jewelry brands, making the information messy and confusing.
Forget it, I'll spend more time researching later.
Shen Yue had gone back to her room to lie down. The clearer the snoring became, the quieter the house felt. Shen Nian subconsciously lightened his footsteps.
He left the house with a clear goal, walked straight ahead, and gently knocked on Xia Yanchun's door.
Click—
The door opened a crack, just wide enough for half a person. Xia Yanchun poked her head out. "What do you want?"
"My dad took over my room. I'm coming to crash at your place for a bit."
"Oh." Xia Yanchun stepped aside to let him in. "Keep it down, my dad is sleeping."
Shen Nian made an OK sign and tiptoed into Xia Yanchun's room. Xia Yanchun followed and gently closed the door.
When someone is sleeping at home, everyone's movements subconsciously become lighter. Suspected discovery of underlying human source code.
"Phew, I'm tired." Shen Nian sat on the bed and laid back.
"You didn't change after eating hot pot. You smell like hot pot and now you're lying on my bed, making my sheets and quilt dirty and smelly."
"It's not that bad, is it? I took off my jacket."
"It is. You stink." Xia Yanchun crossed her arms and looked at him with disdain.
She had taken off her jacket to air out on the balcony and changed into pajamas as soon as she got home. A girl's room must be kept clean, okay?
"Chunbao, come lie down with me." Shen Nian pretended not to hear and patted the spot next to him.
"You ate so much, and now you're lying down right after. Say it: 'I am a pig.'"
"I'm not. If you lie down with me, then I am."
"..."
Xia Yanchun kicked off her slippers and quietly climbed onto the bed. The soft mattress dipped under her knees and palms. She flopped down next to Shen Nian, making the bed bounce slightly.
I can already lie down with Shen Nian without any psychological burden, Xia Yanchun thought. She moved the pillow aside, pulled Shen Nian's arm over, and rested her head comfortably on it.
It was very close to his armpit, but there wasn't any bad smell at all. Shen Nian smelled even better than she imagined, and it was super comfortable to rest on him.
"Now you're a pig." She turned on her side, poked Shen Nian's nose, and grinned.
"...Lying together with a pig, doesn't Miss Xia have any comments to make?"
"Stinky."
"Where am I stinky? You're bluffing."
"Stinky."
Shen Nian turned to his side too, pressing close to her, and took a deep breath.
"You smell like hot pot too."
"My hair smells. I have to wash it tonight," Xia Yanchun mumbled.
"I'll come over and blow-dry your hair tonight."
"No way!"
"Shh, shh. Your dad will know I'm here." Shen Nian hushed her, pressing his index finger against the girl's soft lips.
"So what if he knows?" Xia Yanchun didn't think it was a big deal. During the National Day holiday, she had openly gone to hang out with Shen Nian. That was staying in a room together, and this was staying in a room together. There was no difference.
As long as they weren't seen lying in bed together, it was absolutely fine. If she heard the door open in the next room, she would definitely pull Shen Nian up.
"You don't care at all?" Shen Nian nuzzled her forehead.
"We don't have anything going on."
"Really?" Shen Nian suddenly leaned in close to Xia Yanchun's lips and gave them a quick lick.
"..."
Xia Yanchun’s large eyes were dark and lustrous. Two strands of her bangs slipped loose, the unruly wisps gliding down into her collar. The sensation teased them both, stirring a prickling restlessness in their hearts.
She parted her lips, tilting her head back slightly in a gesture that mirrored his own. She dampened Shen Nian's lips with hers, then swiftly buried her face away.
"Really, it’s nothing."
So long as it remained unseen, it remained innocent—that was the very essence of ambiguity.
·
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker life...
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
