Chapter 257 Heartache

Reaching out, Qin Si Ye gently helped her up from the ground, his face etched with concern as he asked, "Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself when you fell?"

He had intended to pick her up, but fearing she might be displeased, he changed his mind at the last moment from "picking up" to "helping."

Shen Xi rubbed her thigh where she had fallen and forced a smile as she looked at him. "I'm fine."

"I'm sorry, I used too much force in that last move," Qin Si Ye said, filled with self-reproach and unable to smile.

Supporting her with one hand, he unconsciously raised the other and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Shall we rest on that bench over there?"

Perhaps the physical pain had caused a brief lapse in her usual reticence, but for once, Shen Xi did not resist. Instead, she quietly and obediently responded with a single word, "Mhmm."

As soon as Shen Xi sat down, Qin Si Ye quickly poured her a cup of water from the kettle. "Have some water to help you recover."

Gently taking the cup, Shen Xi downed the water in one gulp. "Gulp, gulp, gulp."

In reality, she had been extremely thirsty for a long time, forcing herself to persevere until this moment.

Raising her eyes to look at the man before her, Shen Xi's lips curved into a slight smile. "Mr. Qin, you win."

Taking the cup from her hand, Qin Si Ye poured her another glass of water and offered it to her. "This kind of competition was never fair to begin with. The physical differences between men and women are vast; you shouldn't take it too seriously."

"Since I agreed to compete with you, I shouldn't consider objective factors. You won fair and square," Shen Xi said, taking a sip from the cup. She continued, "Besides, you are a few years older than me, so it balances out. However, I'm happy that you played with me so wholeheartedly just now."

Upon hearing this, Qin Si Ye's face showed a hint of displeasure. What did she mean by "a few years older, so it balances out"? Was she implying he was old? Although he was 32, he was in the prime of his life. How could his physical condition be compared to that of a 26-year-old woman? Yet, hearing her last sentence, he felt quite pleased. He was grateful that his choice just then had been the right one.

Slowly taking the empty cup from her hand, Qin Si Ye poured himself another, drank deeply, and then looked at her with a smile and gentle eyes. "If you wish to challenge me again, we can arrange another time. I'll always be ready."

At this moment, Shen Xi's gaze was fixed on the cup in her hand. It was the same cup she had just used to drink water, and he had used it without any hesitation? Shen Xi found herself questioning his notorious fastidiousness once again. Not truly hearing what he had just said, she simply responded vaguely, "Okay."

Receiving her affirmative reply, Qin Si Ye's smile widened. "Have you considered my earlier suggestion?"

"What suggestion?" Shen Xi asked, unsure of what he was referring to.

Qin Si Ye continued, "Regarding the children's schooling, I suggest transferring them to Bo Jia."

Hearing this, Shen Xi lowered her head, lost in thought. Recalling the incident that day, she was certain it had caused a stir throughout Bo Jia. She certainly didn't want to send her children there again to become the subject of gossip among classmates and teachers. "No need. The New Century here is also an international kindergarten, with excellent facilities and teachers. The children have already adapted, and it's best not to move them around."

Qin Si Ye did not press further when Shen Xi said this, simply replying with two words, "Alright." His reaction surprised Shen Xi, giving her a sense that he was not as overbearing as before.

"Mr. Qin, shall we head back?" Shen Xi glanced at her watch; it was already 11:30. She slowly stood up.

Qin Si Ye remained seated, his gaze lifting to her with a slightly cold expression. "Shen Xi, can you stop addressing me like that?"

"Then how should I address you?" Shen Xi retorted, feeling that this way of addressing him was appropriate, showing respect while maintaining a certain distance.

Slowly standing up, Qin Si Ye looked at her intently. "I've already confessed my feelings to you. Don't you find it distant to address me this way?"

Meeting his gaze, Shen Xi firmly replied, "But I haven't agreed. I think it's better for us to maintain a certain distance."

Hearing this, Qin Si Ye's expression instantly darkened. Shen Xi's feet trembled slightly, and she instinctively took a step back.