The Sunday was also overcast, as if it would rain at any moment.
The oppressive feeling of dark clouds made everyone's mood gloomy.
Yet, Wen Tingxue woke up early with a cheerful disposition.
Following her routine, she listened to English, practiced speaking, and did exercises, then estimated the time to visit Xie Jinye at the Xie family's.
Her wound was healing slowly, but thankfully, her constitution was good. The doctor said it wouldn't leave a scar, but she needed to rest well.
In the evening, Yu Wenli, as usual, left candies, snacks, and exercises before departing.
At eleven o'clock, he returned precisely on time, carrying the scent of rain and coolness, to check her homework.
Wen Tingxue really wanted to know where he went, but every time the words reached her lips, she swallowed them back.
For some reason, she couldn't stop thinking about that phone call.
The call that could so easily make him leave, even late at night.
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Wen Tingxue didn't know if the combination of osmanthus honey and milk could help her gain weight.
But drinking a cup every morning made her feel better.
Gradually, she forgot about the incident on Sunday until Friday evening.
Logically speaking, after what happened with Shang Ziqian, it was best for her not to leave the school campus during dinner.
However, during class today, Wen Di had instructed her to go to a bookstore near the school to buy tutoring materials needed for tomorrow's class.
So, after much deliberation, Wen Tingxue decided to go by herself.
Firstly, there were many people today; secondly, she was worried about Xie Jinye going out alone; and thirdly... she wouldn't be that unlucky, would she?
She hadn't gone out for dinner in a long time. If she went out, she'd run into Shang Ziqian?
No way.
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Was her luck that bad?
As it turned out, when people are unlucky, even drinking cold water can make them choke.
After buying the tutoring books, in the blink of an eye, she locked eyes with Shang Ziqian.
In that instant, she felt like a snake had her in its gaze.
"Little sister, long time no see."
Shang Ziqian, with a group of people, entered the bookstore, smoking a cigarette without any regard.
The bookstore owner clearly knew him and kept his head down, pretending not to see.
Wen Tingxue instinctively shielded Xie Jinye, forcing a calm expression as she looked at him without speaking.
Shang Ziqian smiled and flicked ash from his cigarette, "Why the look of facing a great enemy? Am I that scary?"
The people around him laughed.
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"Brother Shang, you'll scare her like this."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Brother Shang is so handsome, how could he scare anyone?"
"Exactly, it's her good fortune to be noticed by Brother Shang."
"It wasn't in vain that we stared at the entrance of No. 1 Middle School for so long, finally spotting our future sister-in-law."
Wen Tingxue's hands and feet instantly turned cold. What did that mean?
Stared for so long?
Were they waiting for her all this time?!
No wonder they arrived so quickly after she came out.
So, it wasn't that she was unlucky, but that she had been targeted by him for a long time.
Seeing the girl's face gradually turn pale, Shang Ziqian took a drag from his cigarette expressionlessly.
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"Did you pay for everything?"
he asked.
Wen Tingxue looked up through the mist, her dark eyes filled with coldness.
Shang Ziqian was unconcerned and looked directly at the bookstore owner, who quickly nodded.
"Let's go."
Shang Ziqian turned to leave. After two steps, he noticed they weren't following.
He stopped, turned his head, and in the dazzling light, he sneered, "You'd better not make me do it myself."
Xie Jinye frowned deeply, "Shang Ziqian, what exactly do you want? This is right outside No. 1 Middle School!"
Shang Ziqian still didn't turn back, not even bothering to glance at them, only leaving them his back.
Utterly arrogant.
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"Just a chat. If we chat well, I'll let you go back to school. If we don't, I won't let you go even if we're at the police station."
After speaking, he strode out, not afraid that they wouldn't follow.
The few boys staring at them whistled impatiently.
Wen Tingxue and Xie Jinye could probably figure out Shang Ziqian's temperament.
Going along with it was better than resisting.
Besides, he didn't seem like he was looking for trouble. Otherwise, there would be knives.
They ambled to the roadside. Shang Ziqian stood by the trash can in front of the tree, smoking, his eyes slightly narrowed as if contemplating something.
After a moment, he finished one cigarette, lit another, and then spoke.
"Got any money?"
He asked Wen Tingxue, his gaze a bit softer than before.
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Wen Tingxue looked at him vigilantly, "What do you want?"
Shang Ziqian smiled, holding the cigarette, "Going online, need some cash."
Wen Tingxue: "..."
Seeing her disbelief, Shang Ziqian got straight to the point, "How about this, you give me money, and I'll give you information."
The girl remained silent. Shang Ziqian added with a smile, "Information related to Yu Wenli."
Wen Tingxue's expression remained unchanged.
No matter whose information it was, she wouldn't believe a word he said.
Shang Ziqian chuckled in frustration, "You're really impenetrable. Then don't blame me for being rude."
The people around him immediately closed in. Wen Tingxue and Xie Jinye were trapped in the middle, neither knowing his next command.
Xie Jinye reacted quickly, "How much? I'll give it!"
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Shang Ziqian didn't even look at her, "I only want her money. Not much, a thousand."
He exhaled smoke, confident she would agree.
A minute later, Wen Tingxue took a thousand from her backpack and confirmed, "I've given it. You'll let us go?"
Shang Ziqian raised his hand and extinguished his cigarette in the trash can, then walked over.
He was tall, and the oppressive aura of years of being in society was not something Wen Tingxue could easily withstand.
Fortunately, he didn't seem to intend to lay a hand on her, merely smiling.
"Little sister, I, Shang Ziqian, operate by my word. We agreed to exchange information, so how could I not tell you anything?"
He took the money from her hand without counting it, handed it directly to a subordinate, and then lit another cigarette.
He took two slow puffs.
"You should remember the phone call from the Tuesday evening of the week before last, right?"
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He looked down at her, knowing she would definitely remember.
And Wen Tingxue did remember. That girl had affectionately called him "Wen Li Gege".
Yu Wenli hadn't objected, or rather, he had tacitly allowed it.
Shang Ziqian flicked ash from his cigarette and said in an extremely gentle tone, "That was his ex-girlfriend."
Wen Tingxue's eyes shot up, disbelief flooding them.
Shang Ziqian feigned surprise, "No way, he didn't tell you? What a shame, I thought you knew."
At that moment, Wen Tingxue finally understood why his demeanor had softened earlier.
Pity.
Pity that she knew nothing.
...
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As the evening breeze, carrying a hint of coolness, brushed against her neck, Wen Tingxue slowly came back to her senses.
Shang Ziqian had already left, and she, supported by Xie Jinye, was slowly making her way back to the school gate.
"You don't have to..."
Xie Jinye was still chattering words of comfort when she suddenly stopped.
Wen Tingxue, as if guided by some instinct, followed her gaze.
Not far away, by the spicy hot pot stall, Yu Wenli was handing a candy to the girl beside him.
Even from a distance, she could recognize it as a White Rabbit toffee.
He only had three in his pocket, and she had eaten two.
The last one, he gave to someone else.
He had told her that the candies in his pocket were all for her...
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Turns out, he was just saying that.