"Are you sure?" Song Qi's tone was tinged with uncertainty.
Seeing his reaction, Shen Jianxi, wrapped in her clothes, walked to his side, placed a hand on his shoulder, and crouched down to look at him sincerely. "Boyfriends are outsiders, but a brother is family. I can be without a boyfriend, but I can't be without family."
"One is for a period of time, the other is for a lifetime. Which do you want?"
"A lifetime," Song Qi answered subconsciously.
"Me too."
"I'll accompany you to win the world championship, and you'll accompany me to graduate. When we're old, we can travel together."
"Isn't that good?"
Song Qi fell into the future she had painted for him, nodding, "I understand."
"Then shall we go back?"
"Okay."
***
Song Duanli had expected that once Song Qi discovered the truth, he would immediately pack up and leave with Shen Jianxi. He never imagined they would return.
As he watched the two walk in, his sharp eyes noticed the marks on Shen Jianxi's neck, and his pupils constricted.
"You two...?" He tried to smile, but it pulled at the wound on his lip.
"We..."
Before Shen Jianxi could finish, Song Qi suddenly grabbed her hand and raised their clasped hands, declaring, "We're together."
Song Qi had a moment of realization at the entrance. He knew Shen Jianxi's words were just to coax him into bringing her back, and that she didn't want to be with him.
However, this didn't stop him from deliberately flaunting their supposed relationship in front of Song Duanli.
Upon hearing this, Song Duanli's face turned extremely ugly, and his fists clenched.
Why? How was he worse than Song Qi?
Why did she choose Song Qi?
His heart filled with unwillingness and jealousy as he stared intently at their clasped hands.
Shen Jianxi subtly tried to pull away, but couldn't. Although she knew her gambit was unreliable and Song Qi would see through it, she hadn't expected it to be so soon.
Glancing at Song Qi's expression, she breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Song Qi only wanted to provoke Song Duanli and had no intention of moving out.
Feeling he had provoked enough, Song Qi prepared to deliver the final blow. He turned to Shen Jianxi with a gentle smile and said, "Sweetie, you should go back to your room and rest. You must have been exhausted yesterday."
Shen Jianxi: ...Oh boy, you really are something.
As expected, after his words, Song Duanli's arm veins bulged, his expression darkening.
"Then, I'll leave first..." The atmosphere was too tense. Although Song Qi was smiling, Shen Jianxi knew he was on the verge of exploding. It was better to leave the men to settle their own affairs. She should go back and rest.
She tiptoed out of the danger zone, ran into the room, left the door slightly ajar, and pressed her ear against it to listen to the commotion outside.
She heard Song Duanli say, "So what if you're dating? Relationships can end, marriages can end in divorce."
Song Qi scoffed, "Then I'll have to disappoint you, brother. Not only will we break up, but Sweetie also said that when we're old, we'll travel the world together and have our own private time."
Shen Jianxi: Don't just add words, big brother! And, was that what she meant???
"It's a shame, but she fell for me first, and our first time was with me."
Mentioning this, Song Qi couldn't contain himself. He stepped forward, grabbed Song Duanli's collar, and growled, "This isn't over, Song Duanli. Don't get too arrogant. Do you really think I won't do anything to you?"
Shoving his hand away, Song Duanli elegantly tidied his disheveled clothes. "Song Qi, do you know what your current behavior tells me?"
"Your performance tells me you're scared. Scared that I'll really snatch her away. You should know, she doesn't love you at all."
"It's not over yet, Song Qi. We'll see."
Song Duanli reached out and smoothed the wrinkles on Song Qi's clothes, then walked past him upstairs. Midway, he glanced in Shen Jianxi's direction, chuckled, and continued upstairs.
He had overestimated Song Qi's threat. Now it seemed, in her eyes, they were all the same.
As for hatred? It wasn't that much.
...
By the time she returned to school, leaning against the edge of the rooftop, she was still wondering what Song Qi and Song Duanli had discussed that morning.
Song Duanli's house had excellent soundproofing, and she hadn't heard a thing.
Below, students chattered and laughed in small groups, but the joyful atmosphere didn't reach her. She only felt restless now. Not knowing anything was an uncomfortable feeling.
Although she preferred to improvise, being mentally prepared would be beneficial.
"Sigh—" With a long sigh, she turned to go back, only to be startled. "Xie Shu?! What are you doing here?"
Her discovery prompted Xie Shu to stride to her side. "I just wanted to get some fresh air, but as soon as I arrived, I heard you sighing. What happened?"
"Nothing much, just minor issues." She smiled up at him, not wanting to elaborate.
However, as she moved, something on her neck that shouldn't have been visible caught Xie Shu's eye.
His expression remained unchanged, but his smile became even brighter. "If anything is wrong, you must tell me. I'd be happy to share your burden."
Shen Jianxi looked at him strangely. She felt his smile held something more. Thinking of her suspicions, she inwardly scoffed. If she told him, then truly something would happen. Wasn't what happened last night precisely because of his meddling?
With this thought, she grew more eager to leave. "I'm going back now. You should go back too."
Xie Shu didn't stop her. "Okay, goodbye, Xi Xi."
"Goodbye."
After her figure completely disappeared from the rooftop, Xie Shu leaned against the wall as if his strength had drained away, covering his eyes with one hand and chuckling softly.
He had almost pushed her over the edge...
Unaware that she had just narrowly escaped a perilous situation, Shen Jianxi sat rigidly between the two men, staring at the mountain of rice in front of her, on the verge of tears.
The two men beside her were still competing to put food in her bowl, but it was already overflowing. So, they extended their chopsticks towards her mouth, offering her a choice.
She looked at Song Qi, who was holding a piece of vegetable, and then at Song Duanli, who was holding a piece of fish. With a sigh, she grabbed both their wrists, pulled them towards her, and ate the fish and vegetables in one go.
Seeing that she had chosen both, Song Qi and Song Duanli exchanged glances. The next second, they both turned away in disgust, preparing for another round of their feeding battle.
To avoid being stuffed to death, Shen Jianxi quickly called a halt. "I'm full! I'm going back now."
With that, she put down her chopsticks and fled back into the room as if escaping for her life.
It was terrifying!