He Xiaoying was still rambling on.
Chai Shuqing jumped off the threshold, took a few steps to Chai Qianning, and leaped onto her.
The originally spacious hanging chair became crowded with the addition of another person.
Chai Qianning snapped out of her daze and pointed in one direction: "Isn't there a chair over there?"
Chai Shuqing didn't leave. Instead, she leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear, "Sister, what are you daydreaming about? Don't tell me you've been missing Teacher Sheng since you haven't seen him for a few days?"
The hanging chair swayed gently, and the draft through the room billowed the loose short-sleeved shirt.
Chai Qianning raised her hand and gently pinched the face that was so close to hers: "Do you need me to ask Teacher Sheng for more homework?"
"There's no need for that." Chai Shuqing swung her legs. "Just showing you some concern."
Chai Qianning's gaze swept over him: "Is it really just pure concern?"
"No, I want to borrow your phone to play games."
"I knew it."
Chai Shuqing hugged her arm: "Okay, okay, Mom won't let me play games, my phone is locked, I don't want to play Tetris anymore."
——
Sheng Muxi's holiday life was no different from usual.
Staying home alone, watering plants, reading books, improving cooking skills, and using the holiday to recharge myself.
But this summer vacation seems to be different in some ways.
Having gotten used to Chai Qianning coming upstairs for meals on weekends, and used to bumping into her in the neighborhood when I got home, it's really a bit strange not seeing that familiar face for a long time.
She simply assumed it was some kind of illusion.
One sleepless night, she thought about many things, recalling the past to the present, and from when she first met Chai Qianning to how their relationship had developed to this level of familiarity.
Her feelings for Chai Qianning always seemed quite simple and pure.
At first, I felt that I saw a reflection of myself in her, and that Chai Qianning needed someone to care for her, so I paid more attention to her.
Later, because they were neighbors, and the other party's younger sister was a student in her class, they naturally became acquainted.
At the same time, she knew that Chai Qianning's feelings for her were not simple.
When faced with Chai Qianning's blunt words, she appeared indifferent on the surface because she was unsure whether Chai Qianning was joking with her—Chai Qianning's words were always unreliable.
She is slow to warm up to people's feelings. No matter how many flirtatious words someone says to her face, she remains unmoved. However, she overlooks the fact that she blushed and her heart raced in front of Chai Qian Ning on several occasions.
After several days of agonizing, Sheng Muxi had to admit that she seemed to have fallen for Chai Qianning.
Every day when she takes the elevator up and down, she will intentionally or unintentionally glance at the number 10 button on the panel a few more times, and then press the button for the 11th floor.
She had lived alone for so long, and then someone suddenly appeared and broke the peace. Now that person has briefly left her life, but her life can't return to its original tranquility.
What kind of nonsense is this?
She opened Chai Qianning's chat window. The last message she saw was from Chai Qianning telling her that she was going back to her hometown.
It has been over a week since the two last exchanged a message.
A shadow fell over Sheng Muxi's eyelids, and the light reflected the complexity of her expression.
If Chai Qianning likes her, why hasn't she sent her a single message since she went back? Not even a simple "good morning."
It was clearly Chai Qianning who flirted with her first!
Therefore, she suspected that Chai Qianning might only be attracted to her because of her looks.
In the end, Sheng Muxi sought help from the experienced Shi Manwen regarding this matter of love.
When Shi Manwen heard that she might have a crush on someone, she was surprised for a long time, and her text message was full of surprise: 【What!!】
Sheng Muxi: [Forget everything else, just give me some advice.]
Shi Manwen: [What advice is there to give? If you like her, just go for it.]
Sheng Muxi recalled how Chai Qianning had flirted with people on that green-themed social media app.
She continued typing: "But I feel like the other person might not really like me."
Shi Manwen: [Didn't you say she was the one who initiated the flirting? That means she wants to pursue you.]
Sheng Muxi: [She flirts with other people too.]
After a long silence, the other person replied: "How about we prepare for the worst, what if you fall for a player..."
Sheng Muxi: ...
She leaned back on the sofa, her hand holding the phone dangling down, staring blankly at the ceiling for a long while.
She thought to herself, "No way... Could Chai Qianning really be... a player?"
But the fact is, within her understanding, Chai Qianning can easily be asked out by strangers she doesn't know online, and can even say things like "I like you" to them.
Although it happened online, if it were her, she wouldn't be able to say such a thing, even if they didn't meet in person.
Sheng Muxi hadn't thought that much about it before, but now that she's realized her feelings, the concept of a "player" is stuck in her mind.
Frustrated, she covered her head with a cushion, then suddenly paused, as if struck by a thought. She picked up her phone and texted Shi Manwen: "Every time she initiates contact with me, I never respond. Does that mean I might also be at fault?"
Shi Manwen: [Maybe. I remember someone pursuing you back in college for four years, but she eventually gave up because she felt you were unapproachable.]
Sheng Muxi: [Could it be that they thought I was too hard to pursue, so they gave up?]
Shi Manwen: [Well, you should still be careful and avoid getting hurt.]
You can try giving a response.
Sheng Muxi thought for a moment: [How should I respond?]
Shi Manwen sent a "spitting out blood" emoji: [If she doesn't contact you, try contacting her first. Don't be too passive. Or, you could start by talking about topics and hobbies she's interested in.]
Topics you're interested in? Hobbies?
Sheng Muxi turned over, sat up from the sofa, and leaned back in a different position.
She had seen Chai Qianning playing games.
However, she herself doesn't play games, so she didn't know what game the other person was playing at the time.
After thinking for a few seconds, she swiped her finger across the screen and tapped on Chai Qianning's chat box.
After returning from Tongwan Alley last time, she changed Chai Qianning's nickname in her phone.
Since the other person enjoys fortune telling so much, she decided to add "Master Chai" as a nickname for her.
Are you asleep?
No, no, that's too polite. It would make it seem like she's asking the other person for money.
Sheng Muxi deleted it and retyped it.
What games do you usually play?
Sheng Muxi stared at the line of text for a while, but felt that something was too abrupt, so she deleted it.
She deleted and re-uploaded the message several times, finally steeling herself and sending it out in one go: [What games does the fortune teller usually play?]
She looked at it for a while, and it seemed to be no different from the previous one.
Ah, that's fine then.
She seemed to give up and threw down her phone.
Chapter 23 Save Me
A few stars twinkle in the sky, and the rolling mountains form an irregular line.
The mountain breeze swept through the bamboo forest, making a rustling sound that soothed the ears in the night and calmed the heat of the day.
In the courtyard, several people were chatting, and the sound of an old man's hearty laughter could be heard from time to time.
In the central room, a drop of water falls from the upturned eaves above the courtyard, creating a tiny ripple in a pool of water held in a broken earthenware pot.
Chai Shuqing was playing games in Chai Qianning's room, using Chai Qianning's phone.
The signal was poor, and the picture kept choppy. Chai Shuqing held her phone as she stepped over the threshold.
As soon as I reached the middle room, I heard the cheerful chatter from the courtyard.
“The eldest daughter wasn’t very obedient when she was in school, but she still got into A University. The second daughter’s grades were among the best, so getting into A University was definitely not a problem for her.”
"Mom, it's not about grades. Qingqing has been called in for parent-teacher meetings so many times this semester. Oh, and she even hid it from me, letting Aning go once. Aning just spoils her sister like that, covering up everything for her..."
“Xiaoying, it’s vacation now, and you’ve locked up all the computers, tablets, and phones. That Er Ya is going to be so bored. It’s summer vacation, let people relax. Don’t be too strict. Look at Er Ya, she’s been cooped up in her room all night. She’s become withdrawn.”
Chai Shuqing took a few steps back. The phone she was holding made her feel a little guilty, so she turned around and went back to her room.
Just as I closed the door, a message popped up on my phone.
When Chai Shuqing saw the contact name "Teacher Sheng," her pupils shrank subconsciously.
She didn't click on it, but the message had already appeared: "What games does the fortune teller usually play?"
Half-immortal?
Chai Shuqing tilted her head. Was she calling her sister?
When did her sister start cultivating immortality?
Chai Shuqing quit the game and sneaked to the kitchen attic, but couldn't find Chai Qianning.
Nearly ten minutes had passed since Sheng Muxi sent the message.
What games do you usually play?
She knows the answer to this question.
She knew what games Chai Qianning usually played.
She glanced out through the wooden window.
I don't know what her sister is doing, or when she'll be back.