An Apology is a Must
Not wanting her to be wronged
Wan Qing squatted on the ground, crying wretchedly for a while, then suddenly stood up.
As if she had found a life-saving straw, she sprinted madly in one direction with a crazed look on her face.
Shen Man immediately understood; she was going to get reinforcements.
She let out a scoff and stood outside to wait.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone down, stretching her figure into a long, thin shadow.
Shen Man stood her ground, not moving an inch, letting the sunlight illuminate the fine hairs on her face.
She occasionally lowered her head to glance at her watch, a hint of anxiety in her eyes.
After being exposed to the sun for so long, her fair skin began to feel a faint sting.
Shen Man raised a hand to shield her brow from the sunlight.
The anxiety in her heart gradually deepened.
Suddenly, a ‘click’ sounded from the side.
The door was opened from the inside.
Shen Man hurriedly looked over.
The first person she saw was Flins Borg. She immediately composed her expression, revealing a standard smile. “Teacher Flins.”
“Student Shen, thank you so much for today. You allowed me to meet the true owner of this piece,” Flins Borg said with a smile.
Lin Shu stood behind him, the corners of her lips turned up, her round eyes shimmering with a bright light.
Shen Man and Lin Shu’s eyes met.
Looking at Flins Borg, she said gratefully, “Teacher, you’re too kind. If you didn’t possess a pair of clear eyes with a wise eye that recognizes pearls1, I’m afraid Lin Shu would not have been able to clear her name.”
This subtle praise made Flins Borg laugh heartily.
He looked at Lin Shu with an expression of someone who cherishes talent and said with a smile, “I’ve already delayed you for quite some time. Hurry back to class.”
“Thank you, Teacher,” Shen Man and Lin Shu said with different mouths, same voice2.
They bowed politely together.
The two turned and left.
The curve of Lin Shu’s lips grew higher and higher, and a clear laugh escaped her soft, rosy lips.
She gazed at Shen Man, her eyes bright, as brilliant as the stars in the sky.
It was brilliant and dazzling, utterly captivating.
Shen Man was taken aback for a moment but quickly returned to normal.
She said with a smile, “Shushu, congratulations on gaining Teacher Flins’s appreciation. You’ll surely become a world-renowned designer in the future.”
She knew this was Lin Shu’s dream.
Lin Shu pressed her lips together, a touch of shyness flashing across her fair little face.
She lowered her eyes, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with her fingers, and gazed at the verdant green leaves of a nearby tree, saying softly, “Thank you so much for this time…”
“You’re welcome,” Shen Man said with a smile, interrupting her thanks. She asked, “What did Teacher Flins say? Did he agree to accept you as a disciple?”
As she said this, she felt an uncontrollable nervousness in her heart.
Hearing this, Lin Shu broke into a happy smile, her eyebrows raised in delight. “Teacher Flins was very satisfied with my work. He talked with me for a long time and said he would come again in two months to discuss the specifics then.”
Two months later would be June, close to the time of Lin Shu’s departure.
Shen Man paused, her brow furrowing slightly.
Lin Shu noticed her expression, and her joyful mood was instantly dampened. She pouted and asked, “What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy?”
“No, that’s not it.” Shen Man immediately put on a standard smile and voiced her doubt, “I heard Teacher Flins came this time specifically to accept a disciple. Why the delay?”
“The teacher said he didn’t expect such a turn of events. He has to leave this afternoon and doesn’t have enough time to talk with me more, so he set it for two months from now,” Lin Shu explained.
Shen Man nodded in understanding and gave a gentle smile, encouraging her, “Shushu, you have to perform well and seize the opportunity two months from now.”
“I know.” Lin Shu raised her eyebrows proudly, looking at Shen Man with an air of pride and confidence. “I will definitely show my best work and make Teacher Flins accept me as his disciple.”
“Shushu is the best,” Shen Man praised dotingly.
By this time, the afternoon classes had already ended.
The two walked in the direction of the parking lot.
Lin Shu got into the car, fastened her seatbelt, and tidied her hair in the mirror.
While doing so, she said fiercely, “This time, I’ll definitely make Wan Qing look good3!”
“She dare so plot against me, I won’t just let it go.”
“What do you plan to do?” Shen Man asked with a light laugh as she started the car.
“Umm…” Lin Shu froze, her elegant fingers twisting a strand of hair as she tilted her head and thought seriously.
After thinking for a while without coming up with an idea, she looked at Shen Man and asked, “What should I do?”
“Naturally, make her apologize,” Shen Man said, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. “Preferably in front of the entire class.”
“A person like her, how could she possibly apologize?” Lin Shu said, her words full of disdain for Wan Qing. “I get it now. She was targeting me from the moment she approached me…”
“You’re only getting it now?” Shen Man chuckled.
Lin Shu instantly felt like she was being made fun of. Her face flushed red, and she hurriedly tried to defend herself, “I actually understood from the very beginning…”
As she spoke, her voice grew smaller and smaller, and her face became redder and redder. She glared at Shen Man angrily. “Don’t you laugh at me!”
Shen Man pressed her lips together, suppressing her laughter.
Looking at the scenery ahead, she said in a cheerful mood, “Wan Qing will definitely apologize to you.”
“How can you be so sure?” Lin Shu was skeptical.
Shen Man smiled without saying a word.
Lin Shu pouted. “Being all mysterious again.”
The car entered the residential complex.
Shen Man parked the car downstairs and looked at Lin Shu. “Shushu, you go up first. I have something to take care of.”
“What is it?” Lin Shu frowned.
“You’ll know tomorrow,” Shen Man said as she helped Lin Shu unbuckle her seatbelt.
Lin Shu pouted in annoyance and got out of the car unhappily.
She slammed the car door shut, made a funny face at Shen Man, and then quickly ran off.
Shen Man chuckled.
She took out her phone to call Wan Qing. While waiting, she turned the car around and drove towards the school.
Wan Qing never answered the phone.
Shen Man’s long fingers tapped on the steering wheel as she called Wan Qing’s ‘life-saving straw’.
Still no answer.
A mocking smile touched the corners of Shen Man’s lips.
She drove into the school and parked directly at the faculty dormitory.
The reason Wan Qing was able to get the news of Flins Borg’s arrival at the school so quickly was all thanks to her aunt, Wan Ting, who worked in the school’s administration.
Students would usually address her politely as ‘Teacher Wan’.
At this time of day, she was most likely in her dorm.
Shen Man parked the car, identified herself to the dormitory manager, and asked with a smile, “I’m here to see Teacher Wan. Is she in her room?”
“Yes, she’s been here all afternoon. I just saw her niece come over,” the dormitory manager said with a smile.
Shen Man nodded her thanks and walked straight up to the second floor.
Arriving in front of Wan Ting’s room, she knocked and said, “Teacher Wan, I’m Shen Man.”
The room was silent.
Shen Man continued to knock, raising her voice. “Teacher Wan, I’m looking for Wan Qing. I know she’s in there.”
After a short while, the sound of footsteps came from inside the room.
A woman came to open the door, an unnatural smile on her face. “Oh, it’s Shen Man. Qingqing isn’t here. What do you need her for?”
“Teacher Wan, Wan Qing has violated the good morals a student should have. If you continue to indulge her, I’m afraid you will also be implicated when this is investigated,” Shen Man said in a serious tone, taking her phone out of her pocket.
Wan Ting heard the threat in her words, and her expression changed. “My Wan Qing is a good child, how could she…”
“You’re lying! That was clearly my idea!” Wan Qing’s furious roar came from Shen Man’s phone, interrupting Wan Ting.
Shen Man’s lips curved into a slight smile. “Teacher Wan, are you really going to disregard your own reputation?”
Wan Ting’s face turned pale, and she took a step back.
Shen Man pushed the door open.
She immediately saw Wan Qing hiding behind the wardrobe. Her expression hardened as she pointed a finger with righteous speech and a stern expression, “Wan Qing, you stole Lin Shu’s work…”
“I didn’t…” Wan Qing shrieked, losing control, and ran to hide by the bed. “I clearly did it all myself…”
Fear was in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to admit her mistake. “I cherished this opportunity so much. Why did Lin Shu have to steal it from me…”
Shen Man didn’t want to waste words on her.
She turned her head to look at Wan Ting. “Teacher Wan, to know one’s mistake and be able to correct it is the character a student should have. I hope you will persuade her.”
“Qingqing wouldn’t do something like this. Could there be some misunderstanding?” Wan Ting said in a soft tone, her smile forced.
Shen Man held up her phone, her eyes serious. “I have enough evidence on my phone to prove Wan Qing’s plagiarism.”
She paused there.
Wan Ting’s expression immediately turned ugly.
Her mouth opened, wanting to argue, but not a single word came out.
She walked over angrily, grabbed Wan Qing’s arm, and scolded, “How could you do something like this? What have I usually taught you?”
Wan Qing tried to dodge, shaking her head desperately.
Unable to contain her anger, Wan Ting raised her hand high and slapped her hard across the face.
With a loud ‘smack’, the sound was extremely clear.
One side of Wan Qing’s face immediately turned red and slightly swollen. She fell to her knees, utterly devastated, and began to wail loudly.
Wan Ting was still scolding her.
Shen Man stood to the side, quietly watching this spectacular performance.
She had no intention of stopping it.
After lecturing her, Wan Ting looked at Shen Man with apologetic eyes. “Qingqing already knows she was wrong, and I’ve hit her. Let’s just let this matter go.”
Shen Man smiled. “I will hold a class meeting tomorrow. As long as Wan Qing attends, sincerely apologizes to Lin Shu, and clarifies the truth of the matter, we can let it go.”
“Otherwise, if this gets to the principal, I can’t guarantee what the consequences will be.”
“This…” Wan Ting’s face paled with fear.
Wan Qing suddenly stood up and yelled at Shen Man, “This has nothing to do with you! Why are you helping Lin Shu so much?”
“I’m the Class Monitor. Naturally, I have to maintain order in the class,” Shen Man said with a smile, her fingers unconsciously tightening into a fist.
Seeing the situation was not good, Wan Ting quickly reprimanded Wan Qing, “Shut up! It’s all your fault. Apologize properly to student Lin Shu tomorrow.”
“I don’t want to apologize…” Wan Qing said, her eyes red.
Under Wan Ting’s fierce glare, her voice gradually faded.
Seeing this, Shen Man was certain that Wan Qing would definitely show up.
She smiled with satisfaction and said politely, “Teacher Wan, I’ll be leaving now. I won’t disturb you while you educate your niece.”
With that, she turned and left with a triumphant look.
The door was closed behind her.
The sounds of angry curses and reprimands came from inside.
Shen Man leisurely walked down the stairs and took out her phone to call Lin Shu. “Shushu, Wan Qing will apologize to you tomorrow.”
“At that time, everyone will understand that you did nothing wrong, and that it was Wan Qing who plagiarized your work and then deliberately damaged it.”
“I don’t care what those people think,” Lin Shu said proudly, the corners of her lips curling up unconsciously.
After laughing happily for a moment, she asked, “How did you convince her?”
“I moved her with emotion and enlightened her with reason4 to do some ideological work,” Shen Man replied with a relaxed expression.
Sitting in the car, she said, “I’m about to drive back, so I’ll hang up now.”
“Okay, come back quickly. Auntie He has dinner ready,” Lin Shu urged with a smile.
After saying that, her face flushed, and she quickly hung up the phone.
Shen Man chuckled.
She drove home in a cheerful mood.
Back in the house.
The meal had just been prepared.
Shen Man washed her hands.
Sitting down, she said with a smile, “It smells so good.”
Auntie He beamed at the compliment. “I’ve seen how busy you two have been these past couple of days. Eat up.”
“Okay, thank you,” Shen Man picked up her chopsticks, placed a piece of meat in Lin Shu’s bowl, and said, “Shushu, eat more.”
“I know, I can get it myself,” Lin Shu said, lowering her eyes, her face slightly flushed.
After dinner, Lin Shu returned to her room.
Shen Man was sitting on the sofa when a long message popped up on her phone.
She opened it and saw it was an apology from Wan Qing.
It was several hundred words long, clearly organized, and told the reason for plagiarizing Lin Shu’s work by avoiding the heavy and choosing the light5. Only the last few sentences contained a formulaic apology.
The entire apology was still trying to justify her actions.
It was obvious that Wan Ting had guided her.
“Class Monitor, please don’t hold this class meeting, okay? I’ll buy a gift and go apologize to Lin Shu in person,” Wan Qing sent another message, still trying to gain sympathy. “Once this gets out, my reputation will be ruined…”
“Is Lin Shu really so cruel that she has to destroy me?”
“The one destroying you is yourself. It has nothing to do with anyone else,” Shen Man was unmoved, typing coldly. “If you still refuse to repent even in death, not even your aunt will be able to protect you!”
“Okay, okay, we will definitely apologize to Lin Shu sincerely,” came the instant reply.
Shen Man knew this was Wan Ting typing.
She put her phone aside and leisurely ate some fruit.
Lin Shu came out of her room.
She walked over, sat on the sofa, popped a piece of fruit into her mouth, and said with a frown, “Wan Qing just called me. She said as long as she doesn’t have to apologize in front of the whole class, she’s willing to do anything.”
“So, did you agree?” Shen Man asked with a smile, the corners of her eyes unconsciously turning down.
“Why would I agree?” Lin Shu’s eyes widened in anger as she bit down hard on the fruit in her mouth. “I want her to apologize to me in front of the entire class.”
“Otherwise, I’m not done with her!”
“That’s my Shushu,” Shen Man smiled with satisfaction.
She reached out and pinched the girl’s puffed-up cheeks. “For someone like Wan Qing who has no bottom line, you can’t forgive them easily.”
“I know,” Lin Shu raised her eyebrows proudly and slapped Shen Man’s hand away. “Don’t pinch my face!”
Shen Man smiled and let go, picking up her phone to report the matter to the head teacher.
Soon, she reached an agreement with the head teacher.
The class meeting would be held at four o’clock tomorrow afternoon.
Shen Man announced the news in the group chat.
She specifically @’d Wan Qing.
People in the group immediately started discussing it.
“Another class meeting? What’s it about?”
“I have something tomorrow, can I take a leave of absence?”
Shen Man glanced at the name of the person who spoke and asked Lin Shu, “Was Lin Ya there that day?”
“She was,” Lin Shu answered affirmatively, clearly listing all the students who were present that day.
Shen Man @’d those people one by one in the group and said solemnly, “The students mentioned above, please do not be absent.”
“Why? I really have something to do,” Lin Ya replied instantly, adding an unhappy emoji at the end.
Shen Man clicked on her profile picture and typed quickly, “You took sick leave last time, but you didn’t go to the infirmary, nor did you rest in the dormitory.”
“I understand. I won’t be absent,” Lin Ya replied obediently.
A slight smile touched Shen Man’s lips.
She knew the situation of every student in the class like pointing to her palm6. These kids were too green to try and play games with her.
Lin Shu finished her fruit.
Seeing Shen Man still busy typing, she asked curiously, “What are you so busy with?”
“Things for tomorrow’s class meeting,” Shen Man replied without looking up.
Lin Shu paused, a trace of warmth rising in her heart.
After hesitating for a moment, she asked in a low voice, “This is my business. Why are you so invested in it?”
Shen Man’s typing hands stopped as Wan Qing’s words echoed in her ears.
Her eyes narrowed slightly before relaxing again. She said with a gentle smile, “I’m the Class Monitor. This is what I’m supposed to do.”
Hearing this answer, Lin Shu felt an inexplicable stuffiness in her chest.
She puffed out her cheeks and asked, “Even if another student encountered something like this, would you be just as invested?”
“Mhm, of course,” Shen Man said affirmatively, her head still bowed.
Several messages flashed rapidly on her phone. Her eyes saw them, but her mind couldn’t process them.
Lin Shu was instantly so angry she wanted to throw the cushion in her hands at Shen Man’s face.
She stood up, her slippers stomping heavily on the floor, making ‘thump, thump’ sounds.
The cushion was knocked to the floor by her movement.
Shen Man looked up, picked up the fallen cushion, patted it gently, and put it back in its place.
She leaned back against the sofa, swiped her finger up the screen, and read the messages again.
After confirming that everyone who needed to be present tomorrow had given a definite reply, Shen Man put her phone aside.
She closed her eyes, placed two fingers on her brow bone, and massaged it gently.
If she only wanted to help Lin Shu secure the chance to become Flins Borg’s disciple, then the matter should have ended here.
But in reality, it wasn’t over.
Thinking of how Lin Shu had hidden in the car, crying aggrievedly with the corners of her eyes red, she didn’t want to let Wan Qing off so easily.
That included those people who, not knowing the truth, had ganged up on Lin Shu that day.
Shen Man let out a light breath, suppressing the rage in her heart.
She got up, returned to her room, and began to prepare for the next day’s class meeting.
Early in the morning, Shen Man sent the agenda for the class meeting to the head teacher.
By noon, the head teacher replied with an ‘Okay’.
After lunch, Shen Man printed out the relevant materials.
Just as she came out of the print shop, she saw Wan Qing standing at the entrance, seemingly waiting for her.
“What is it?” Shen Man asked with a gentle smile.
“Class Monitor, I really know I was wrong. Please just forgive me this once. Can we cancel this afternoon’s class meeting?” Wan Qing said pitifully, a complete change from her previous arrogant and rude attitude.
“Wan Qing, when you do something wrong, you must apologize and admit your mistake. This class meeting is a chance for you to correct yourself. You should cherish it,” Shen Man said seriously in an educational tone.
Seeing that Wan Qing was still not giving up, she softened her tone to persuade her, “At your age, it’s easy to be impulsive and inevitably do some bad things in a moment of confusion. But as long as you sincerely repent, you can start over.”
“On the contrary, if you don’t dare to face your mistakes, not only will you end up being isolated by all your classmates, but it will also affect your aunt’s job. You don’t want your aunt to lose her job because of this, do you?” By the end of her speech, her voice had gradually turned cold.
Hearing the last part, Wan Qing’s face turned deathly pale, with obvious fear in her eyes.
She mumbled, looking at Shen Man pitifully, “As long as I apologize, will everything really be okay?”
Shen Man nodded with a light smile, her eyes firm.
“I understand. I will apologize to Lin Shu,” Wan Qing said weakly and turned to leave.
Shen Man sneered.
Wan Qing’s mental fortitude was still lacking. Her psychological defenses were easily broken by her words that used both hard and soft tactics7.
But the reason Wan Qing could have backing and be without fear8, was also because she was relying on her aunt.
Now that Wan Ting was no longer on her side, she, a mere student, had no power to resist.
At four o’clock in the afternoon, the class meeting proceeded smoothly.
The head teacher stood at the podium, his expression serious.
Shen Man stood quietly to the side.
The head teacher briefly explained the general purpose of the meeting.
The classroom instantly erupted in noise, with many students looking towards Wan Qing in surprise.
All sorts of discussions, mixed with contempt and ridicule, reached Wan Qing’s ears.
Her face flushed crimson, and she hung her head low, not daring to meet anyone’s eyes.
Shen Man glanced at Wan Qing, her serious expression unchanged.
She then looked at Lin Shu.
Lin Shu was propping her head up with one hand, boredly twirling a pen.
She neither led the charge in indignantly mocking Wan Qing nor pretended to be magnanimous and persuade those who were laughing at her. It was as if today’s events had nothing to do with her.
Shen Man couldn’t help but chuckle.
She took two steps forward and said, “Everyone, please be quiet.”
As she spoke, her sharp gaze swept across the room.
All the noisy students fell silent instantly.
“Now, I’d like to ask student Wan Qing to come up,” Shen Man said.
Wan Qing stood up with her head down, holding a draft paper in her hand.
She stood at the podium and read the words on the paper.
Halfway through, she choked up and started to cry.
A student below immediately started to heckle, “Wan Qing is already crying. Don’t make things difficult for her.”
“Since you’re so kind-hearted, why don’t you help her finish the rest of the apology?” Shen Man said coldly.
That person immediately lowered their head and didn’t dare to speak.
Wan Qing finished reading the script through her tears and finally bowed towards Lin Shu. “I’m sorry, Lin Shu. I was wrong.”
“Lin Shu, Wan Qing has apologized. It’s your turn,” the head teacher chimed in from the side.
“Alright, I forgive you,” Lin Shu stood up, her expression and tone faint, as if she didn’t care about the matter.
“Thank you…” Wan Qing bowed again, wiping her tears and crying nonstop.
“Alright, Wan Qing, return to your seat,” the head teacher said.
Wan Qing went back to her seat with red eyes.
The head teacher then gave a speech on the matter that lasted for nearly half an hour.
After he finished, he looked at Shen Man. “Do you have anything else to say?”
“Teacher, besides Wan Qing, the accomplices who took the opportunity to cause a commotion that day should also apologize to Lin Shu,” she said seriously, reading out their names one by one.
The expressions of everyone whose name was called changed, including the person who had been disruptive just now.
“This…” The head teacher’s brow furrowed slightly.
He wanted to turn a big matter into a small one9 and promote harmony in the class. He looked at Shen Man and said, “They didn’t know the situation. One who does not know is not guilty10.”
“If they didn’t know, then they shouldn’t have spoken nonsense eight ways11. Since they spoke, they should be held responsible,” Shen Man looked at them coldly. “You are all adults. You need to take responsibility for your actions.”
“Shen Man…” The head teacher still wanted to persuade her.
Lin Shu stood up, her face filled with anger. “They must apologize to me!”
She looked at those people and said, “You were all so capable of talking that day, saying I was making a big deal out of nothing, saying I was arrogant and rude, weren’t you?”
“How come you don’t even dare to say a single word of apology now?”
The classroom fell silent.
After a moment, someone spoke in a low voice, “I’m sorry…”
With someone taking the lead, the others also apologized one after another.
Until the very last person had apologized.
Lin Shu sat down with satisfaction, the corners of her lips turning up as she looked at Shen Man.
Shen Man gave a somewhat helpless, light laugh.
Seeing this, the head teacher said a few concluding words and announced the end of the class meeting.
The students walked out in twos and threes, discussing the meeting.
Those who had apologized all hung their heads in shame, not saying a word.
In less than five minutes, only Shen Man and Lin Shu were left in the classroom.
And Xia Ke.
Xia Ke raised her hands and clapped forcefully, her face full of admiration. “Manman, you’re really amazing, training these people until they were obedient and submissive.”
“Did you see their expressions just now? They were priceless. I almost burst out laughing.”
Shen Man chuckled, her expression calm.
She gathered her things and said, “I’m the Class Monitor. If I didn’t even have this much authority, I’d be a total failure.”
“Manman is a better Class Monitor than the head teacher is a teacher,” Xia Ke praised with a wink and a smile, then looked at Lin Shu. “Lin Shu, don’t you agree?”
“Thank you, Shen Man,” Lin Shu said earnestly.
“You’re welcome. It’s all part of my duty,” Shen Man said with a calm smile, as if it were just a trivial matter.
Xia Ke chimed in from the side, “Lin Shu, why be so polite? We’re all friends. If I were the Class Monitor, I would have done my best to help you too.”
Hearing this, Lin Shu shot her a look and walked out with her phone.
Xia Ke blinked, confused, and asked in a low voice, “Why is Lin Shu unhappy? Did I say something wrong?”
She thought carefully about what she had just said. “I didn’t say anything wrong.”
Shen Man smiled without a word and walked out.
Xia Ke followed, saying with a happy smile, “We have a day off tomorrow. Let’s go shopping together.”
“A lot of nice new styles have come out recently. I want to help Ah Xu buy some pretty dresses.”
Shen Man nodded.
She quickened her pace to catch up with Lin Shu and said, “Xia Ke and the others are going shopping tomorrow. Let’s go with them.”
“We can buy some clothes too.”
“I’m not going,” Lin Shu pouted, striding forward angrily.
Suddenly, her wrist was grabbed.
She lost her footing, and her body tilted uncontrollably to the side.
A hand firmly caught her falling body.
Shen Man easily wrapped an arm around the girl’s slender and soft waist.
She lowered her head, moved close to that fair earlobe, and exhaled softly, “Consider it a thank you to me. Accompany me shopping, how about it?”
Lin Shu’s ears grew hot.
The warm breath still lingered on her ear, like the light tickle of a feather, making it itch.
She turned her head away, avoiding those smiling eyes, and pressed her lips together tightly without a word.
“Okay?” Shen Man’s voice softened as she coaxed with a smile.
Her long fingers caressed the girl’s waist.
Lin Shu couldn’t help but laugh, her stern little face instantly breaking.
Blushing, she said proudly, “I get it, now let go of me.”
Shen Man smiled and released her.
Lin Shu glared at her and quickly walked ahead.
Xia Ke caught up and asked with concern, “Were you two okay just now?”
Shen Man shook her head and said with a smile, “Shushu agreed to go with us.”
“That’s great!” Xia Ke cheered happily. “Now the four of us can have a good time shopping together.”
“Isn’t it nice for you and Yin Ruxu to go on a date? Why did you think to bring us along?” Shen Man asked.
“The more the merrier,” Xia Ke replied with a happy expression. She looked left and right, then leaned in and whispered, “Actually, I was thinking…”
As she spoke, her face turned red, and she smiled shyly.
“Thinking what?” Shen Man was puzzled.
“Ah Xu and I have been dating for a while now. After we finish shopping tomorrow, we’ll find a hotel to rest.” Xia Ke’s voice grew quieter and quieter as she spoke, her head bowed low.
The meaning behind her words was self-evident.
“You haven’t done it in the dorm?” Shen Man asked bluntly, her expression natural.
“I…” Xia Ke’s face instantly turned bright red, her blue eyes full of shyness. “I want to, but I don’t know how…”
“Ah Xu also said it would be too embarrassing in the dorm, so I thought getting a room might be better.”
“You don’t know how?” Shen Man was surprised. “Don’t you have Les friends? You should know something about it.”
“They don’t talk to me about that kind of stuff,” Xia Ke explained, her face still red. “Besides, we usually talk about studies and hobbies, not this topic.”
“Since you don’t know how, I imagine Yin Ruxu probably does,” Shen Man said, a hint of reminder in her calm tone. “After all, she’s had quite a few boyfriends.”
“You don’t mind?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“I don’t mind,” Xia Ke shook her head sincerely and said with a smile. “Love is a matter of freedom. It just means we met a little late.”
“But, it’s not too late,” she said, her shy eyes filled with happiness.
Shen Man didn’t feel it was her place to say more.
People in love are easily blinded by happiness, unable to see the truth.
Xia Ke wasn’t unaware of what a green tea12 was; on the contrary, she had a certain ability to identify them.
But when it came to Yin Ruxu, she lost that ability, drowning in the gentle trap the other had woven.
As for how much genuine affection Yin Ruxu had for Xia Ke, only Yin Ruxu herself knew.
“Do you have any related materials… I want to study up,” Xia Ke said in a small, blushing voice.
After speaking, she lowered her head, not daring to meet Shen Man’s eyes.
“I do. I’ll send them to you,” Shen Man said in a natural tone.
“No, no, no…” Xia Ke shook her head hurriedly, carefully glancing around to make sure no one could hear them, then said, “I can’t watch it in the dorm. I was thinking of going to your place to watch. If there’s anything I don’t understand, I can ask you.”
Shen Man’s brow furrowed.
She had never imagined that one day she would become someone’s ‘life mentor’.
“Manman, please? I’m begging you…” Xia Ke pleaded pitifully, batting her blue eyes. “If I make a fool of myself in bed, I’ll never be able to face Ah Xu for the rest of my life…”
As she spoke, she began to wail softly.
Shen Man thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Manman’s the best!” Xia Ke’s eyes instantly lit up, and she almost jumped with excitement.
Shen Man felt a bit helpless and instructed, “If Lin Shu asks, just say you’re coming over to hang out.”
Xia Ke nodded eagerly, standing up straight. “I promise to follow all of Manman’s instructions.”
“I’ll come find you after dinner, okay?”
“Mhm,” Shen Man nodded and walked towards the parking lot.
“See you tonight, Manman!” Xia Ke waved excitedly from behind.
The corner of Shen Man’s mouth twitched. She felt a little regretful.
She walked to her car and opened the door.
Before she could get in, Lin Shu’s dissatisfied voice came from inside, “What were you and Xia Ke talking about for so long?”
“Do you two have that much to talk about?” she said, her tone tinged with jealousy.
Shen Man smiled slightly and started the car. “Just some small things.”
“Seeing that smile of yours, I know it’s nothing good,” Lin Shu snorted, speaking with great certainty.
“Or maybe it’s something bad,” Shen Man said, going along with it, her low voice carrying a hint of mystery.
Lin Shu shot her a sideways glance and reminded her, “Drive properly.”
Shen Man chuckled, focusing on the road ahead, and said casually, “Xia Ke is coming over to my place tonight.”
“Oh,” Lin Shu responded with a faint expression. After a moment, her delicate brows furrowed. “Why is she suddenly looking for you?”
“Aren’t we going shopping tomorrow?” Shen Man explained naturally. “She’s coming over to discuss it with me beforehand.”
“What’s there to discuss about shopping?” Lin Shu pouted, looking out the window at the scenery, not pressing the matter further.
Shen Man secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Thinking about the evening’s events, she felt a slight headache coming on.
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