Chapter 016: [Don’t Message A’Li Again!]

This morning, Pei Songjiang arrived early at the bus stop, holding a pot of succulent plant that was as red and translucent as a ruby.

The 823 bus he needed had just arrived, but after glancing at his watch, he didn’t get on.

Only when the second 823 bus arrived did he finally board.

Ten minutes later, the bus reached a familiar stop. He straightened up slightly and looked toward the front door.

This stop usually had very few passengers because it was near a luxury villa district—people there didn’t take the bus.

Pei Songjiang waited for a while, but even after the doors closed, no one had gotten on.

Pei Songjiang: “……”

He looked away, lowered his head, and stared at the tiny potted plant in his hands, looking somewhat dejected.

It’s already the third day. Has she stopped taking the bus?

Ever since the time they got off the bus together and ran into Jiang Junwen, Shen Qingli hadn’t taken the bus again.

Is she avoiding him?

Or is she distancing herself for Jiang Junwen’s sake?

Pei Songjiang had been in a poor mood these past few days. Since he had no classes in the morning, after getting off the bus, he wandered to the school’s farming plot to water his vegetables and catch a few bugs.

Still, he couldn’t shake the unease in his heart.

His last WeChat conversation with Shen Qingli had ended with her apologizing and him saying it wasn’t her fault.

He squatted by the field, wearing a straw hat, and stared blankly at his phone.

After a while, he opened Shen Qingli’s chat and sent a message:

【How’s the neon-lit jade dew succulent doing? Make sure it gets some sun, but don’t let it get scorched.】

It was a safe, neutral message, guaranteed not to offend. After sending it, he anxiously waited for a reply.

But the whole morning passed—and nothing.

After lunch, he had class. By the time it ended, it was already dark. Still no reply from Shen Qingli.

Standing at the school gate, phone in hand and conflicted, he finally sent another message:

【Why aren’t you replying? Don’t tell me it died on you?】

This time, the chat screen showed: “The other party is typing…”

Then a message came through:

【Don’t message A’Li again!】

Pei Songjiang: “???”

His expression darkened. He sent back: 【】

Immediately, a red exclamation mark popped up.

Then a system message appeared: “The other party has enabled friend verification.”

Pei Songjiang: “……”

His hand trembled slightly. His expression turned stiff.

Shen Qingli had blocked him.

No—that wasn’t it. Someone else had taken her phone and blocked him.

Who was it?

Jiang Junwen?

Does Shen Qingli really like him? Are they together now?

Pei Songjiang’s face turned cold. He shut off his phone and glanced up at the sky—it looked like it was about to rain.

——

That entire day, Shen Qingli had been living off Qian Xiqiao’s generosity.

Qian Xiqiao ranted indignantly,
“That Jiang Junwen is too shady! He actually stole your phone!”

Shen Qingli was equally furious.
“Not stole—snatched! He jumped out of nowhere and just grabbed it from me!”

She’d clearly seen him walking by the roadside, yet somehow, he suddenly popped up behind her.

She’d been so startled she didn’t react in time—next thing she knew, her phone was gone.

She was considering buying a phone lanyard next time and just hanging it around her neck.

After returning, the more she thought about it, the angrier she got.

Jiang Junwen was tall and fast—two steps and he was gone, got into his car and drove off. She hadn’t been able to catch up.

Shen Qingli was usually calm and good-tempered, but Jiang Junwen had really pushed her to her limits. She hadn’t smiled all day.

Qian Xiqiao accompanied her and sighed,
“I don’t even have any cash. Should I ask around and try to scrape together a couple of yuan?”

But students these days all use mobile payments—no one carries cash anymore.

Borrowing was indeed difficult.

Shen Qingli checked the time and told Qian Xiqiao,
“No need. It’s still early. Just help me unlock a shared bike. I can ride back in a little over an hour.”

She mainly didn’t want to go back too early.

Jiang Junwen said he’d be back by 8 p.m., so she couldn’t return earlier than that. If Madam Jiang caught her, it would be a mess.

Shen Qingli really didn’t want to deal with Madam Jiang. But Liu Lifen would be nagging her the whole time—it was maddening.

She said,
“It’s not even 7 yet. If I ride slowly, I’ll get back around 8. That way, Jiang Junwen will already be home, and I won’t have to report to Madam Jiang.”

Qian Xiqiao looked at her with sympathy,
“The dorms should be available next week. You should move in as soon as you can. Stay far away from those toxic people.”

Because of all this, Qian Xiqiao’s impression of Jiang Junwen was completely ruined.

Turns out, good looks don’t equal good character.

After dinner, it was already past 7.

They went looking for a shared electric bike but couldn’t find one even after walking from the east gate to the south. So Qian Xiqiao unlocked a regular shared bike for her.

She said,
“A’Li, should I just book you a ride? I’ll order it—you just get in.”

Shen Qingli shook her head.
“No need. I’m not in a rush. I’ll ride slowly.”

Qian Xiqiao was speechless.
“But what if Jiang Junwen doesn’t get back by 8? Then what?”

Shen Qingli: “……”

Seated on the shared bike, she replied,
“He said he’d be back at 8. If he is and I’m not, then it’s a problem.”

After dating him for five years in her past life, she knew him too well.

He’d definitely throw a fit.

Qian Xiqiao snorted,
“But how can you trust him? What if he doesn’t come back by 8, and you do? Madam Jiang will definitely interrogate you. If you tell the truth, you’ll offend Jiang Junwen. And then when he comes back, he’ll be after you. A’Li, you’re really too miserable.”

Shen Qingli: “……”

She looked out into the night and softly said,
“It won’t be a problem. This kind of life is ending soon.”

Just a few more days.

Coming back after rebirth, everything was chaotic and unexpected.

But she was quickly tying up loose ends so she could leave the Jiang family.

Luo Shuyao would soon go abroad. She’d move into the dorms. She’d stop dating Jiang Junwen. Madam Jiang would leave her alone, and her father wouldn’t be dragged into trouble anymore.

As for whether her father should resign—that was up to him.

But she figured Liu Lifen probably wouldn’t want him to quit.

As long as she wasn’t dating Jiang Junwen, the Jiang family wouldn’t target her father. At least, they wouldn’t make things hard for him.

After saying goodbye to Qian Xiqiao, Shen Qingli rode her bike home alone.

Uncertain whether Jiang Junwen would actually return at 8, she deliberately rode slowly.

She’d recently found a part-time job—at the restaurant Rénjiān Yānhuǒ (Worldly Smoke & Fire). Her start date was already set.

The restaurant needed her on weekday evenings from 7 to 9, and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.—a minimum of four days a week.

Shen Qingli planned to start tomorrow. Then she could return at 10 p.m. every day, avoiding both Madam Jiang and Jiang Junwen.

While waiting at a traffic light, Pei Songjiang—standing on a bus—spotted her riding the shared bike.

He frowned slightly and leaned down, peering out the window.

Shen Qingli, with her long hair flowing, wore a white crossbody bag, a white T-shirt, and blue jeans. She was slowly pedaling across the road.

Pei Songjiang: “……”

He was stunned.

Has she resorted to riding shared bikes just to avoid seeing him at the bus stop?