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Chapter 9: “Qin Shi wouldn’t be mad at you just because you were hanging out with me…”

In the photo, Zhang Canyang still had his signature blond hair. He was bent over, resting his head on a girl’s shoulder. The girl beside him only revealed half of her profile.

Logically, it shouldn’t be possible to recognize someone from such a vague photo.

But Qin Shi had a gut feeling that the girl next to Zhang Canyang in the photo was the very same girl now sitting across from him — Li Huanhuan.

The more he looked, the more certain he became.

His grip on his phone tightened, and the smile on his face faded.

“You, last night…”
He furrowed his brow and looked up at Li Huanhuan.
“Why did you stand me up?”

Li Huanhuan was stunned, sensing the coldness in his tone.

She thought he wouldn’t bring it up, but after a moment of hesitation, she said, “Something came up last night.”

“Really?”

Qin Shi’s voice turned sarcastic. “What came up? A date? A romantic stroll?”

“Personal matters,” Li Huanhuan replied, frowning, now also a little upset. “What’s wrong with you? If you’re still mad about me missing last night, then let me apologize again. Sincerely.”

She had begun to raise her emotional defenses.

Qin Shi tightened his jaw and didn’t respond. Instead, he looked down and typed in the Skywolf group chat. Just as he was about to send a message, someone beat him to it.

Hu Xiaoxun: “Let’s not make wild assumptions. That girl in the photo is not Fox’s girlfriend!”

Qin Shi’s eyes narrowed.

He rubbed his thumb along the edge of his phone case. Clearly, Hu Xiaoxun also recognized the girl in the photo as Li Huanhuan.

Star: “That girl is not Fox’s girlfriend.”

Xiao Dong: “Holy crap? Star? This gossip about Fox even drew Star out? No wonder you’re his archenemy!”

Bystander 1: “Is that the main point? The point is—why are both Star and Hu Xiaoxun saying she’s not Fox’s girlfriend? Could it be…?”

Bystander 2: “Could it be… you guys know who the girl is?”

Hu Xiaoxun: “Qin Shi just couldn’t stand all the rumors going around in the chat.”

Xiao Yu: “Everyone might dislike that show-off Fox, but dragging innocent people into this without verifying anything is really not okay.”

Ah Kun: “It lowers the tone of Skywolf. [Adjusts glasses].jpg”

Sasa: “Exactly! [Everyone with a hammer].jpg”

…

One by one, the familiar IDs stepped up and finally quieted the discussion.

Qin Shi put away his phone and continued eating.

Maybe it was because something was bothering him, but he barely spoke after that. Li Huanhuan was never great at socializing, and with Qin Shi burying himself in seafood and not talking, she didn’t say much either. The atmosphere between them had shifted completely.

Li Huanhuan finally understood what it meant to “eat like you’re being tortured.”

As soon as they finished, she just wanted to leave.

Qin Shi also seemed distracted, as if he were holding something back. Several times, Li Huanhuan thought he was about to say something, to ask her something…

Finally, after half an hour, the meal was over.

“Thanks for the meal,” Qin Shi said stiffly.

“No need, it was my apology.” Li Huanhuan smiled politely, falsely.

Just this once.

There wouldn’t be a next time.

When paying the bill, Li Huanhuan got hit with a charge of over 600, nearly 700 yuan. She’d need to write several freelance WeChat articles to make that money back.

Her heart ached.

This was the price a background character paid for stepping into a protagonist’s world. Thankfully, it seemed they wouldn’t have to see each other again.

That thought cheered her up.

Looking at her pale, delicate face, Qin Shi also found a way to rationalize the photo.

Li Huanhuan was so clueless she didn’t even know how to charm people. Even with a 1.88m tall hunk like him in front of her, she barely glanced at him. During the photo, she didn’t use the opportunity to make a move or flirt. Clearly, she wouldn’t fall for someone like Zhang Canyang either.

Qin Shi knew Zhang Canyang’s personality all too well. It must’ve been Zhang pestering her, clinging to her. When the photo was taken, she probably hadn’t even had time to push him away yet. The very next moment in that scene, she must’ve shoved him off in anger!

Yes, that had to be it!

This was all Zhang Canyang’s fault!

Feeling justified, Qin Shi’s mood improved.

Both of them, now inexplicably in better moods, headed to the elevator together. But just as they were waiting side-by-side, another incident occurred.

This entire floor was full of restaurants.

Two stylishly dressed girls walked out from a nearby steakhouse.

At first, only the short-haired girl looked over at Li Huanhuan. Then the long-haired one next to her also glanced over, and her gaze grew stranger by the second.

Li Huanhuan noticed and turned her head slightly — then froze.

Wasn’t that long-haired woman “Xin Jie,” who had clung to Zhang Canyang the night before? And the short-haired one was the one who slapped him!

Li Huanhuan: “!!!”

Zhang Canyang’s ex also recognized her.

Her brows arched, frowning and glaring, then turning her gaze to Qin Shi standing next to Li Huanhuan.

“Aren’t you Fox’s girlfriend? Why are you with Star? Don’t you know the person Fox hates the most is Star?” the long-haired sister frowned, her expression incredulous.

“Huh?” Li Huanhuan opened her mouth.

“‘Fox’s girlfriend’?” Qin Shi’s sarcastic voice rang out from above her. “Li Huanhuan, care to explain what that’s supposed to mean?”

“I—I’m not…” she tried to explain.

But the long-haired ex wouldn’t have it, assuming she was two-timing: “Miss, are you trying to hide the truth? Dating both Fox and Star at the same time?”

“I was there yesterday! Fox said himself that you’re his new girlfriend! He even broke up with Xin Xin because of you!” her friend added.

Then she turned to Qin Shi. “Star, we’re telling the truth.”

Qin Shi ignored her and looked coldly at Li Huanhuan. “Li Huanhuan. Explain. I only want to hear your explanation.”

Li Huanhuan opened her mouth.

Explain what?

That she wasn’t Zhang Canyang’s girlfriend? That he only said that to break up with Xin Jie and get her to stop pestering him? But with Xin Jie standing right there, wouldn’t that just stir up more trouble?

She didn’t want to deal with Zhang Canyang anymore, but still…

“I understand.”

Suddenly, Qin Shi spoke in a low voice.

Li Huanhuan looked at him, confused, wanting to ask what exactly he understood.

But Qin Shi had already stepped into the elevator. With a blank expression, he pressed the close button — right in front of her face.

The elevator doors slowly closed, and Qin Shi’s face disappeared from view.

“Hmph!”

A scornful snort came from the side.

Zhang Canyang’s ex and her friend crossed their arms and entered the adjacent elevator.

Li Huanhuan was left standing there.

“This…”

She opened her mouth, stunned.

She hadn’t intended to see Qin Shi again, but she’d hoped they’d part on good terms — not like this. Remembering the cold look in his eyes before he left, she suddenly felt a little sad.

“That’s what you get for meddling,” she silently scolded herself.

After a while, she took the elevator downstairs and headed to catch a bus.

“Li Huanhuan.”

Just as she stepped out of the building, she heard someone calling her name.

She turned, confused, and saw Qin Shi in a thick jacket walking over from the corner.

“You didn’t leave?” she was stunned.

Qin Shi had his hands in his pockets, jaw clenched, face cold. “Explain.”

“…”

“I need an explanation.”

“…”

After a pause, Li Huanhuan said, “Okay. The truth is, I’m not Zhang Canyang’s girlfriend.”

She briefly explained what had happened the night before.

Qin Shi narrowed his eyes. “So… you ditched me for Fox? You two fed a cat together? You bought him tea eggs? Massaged his slap mark?”

His voice grew colder, the veins on his forehead bulging. Jealousy flared in his eyes like a volcano.

The more he spoke, the angrier he got:

“You spent the whole night together?”

“Sis, you’re really popular, huh?”

Li Huanhuan frowned. “Stop being sarcastic.”

Qin Shi had never called her “sis” before.

Qin Shi sneered. “Really? I don’t think so. Oh, and by the way, it’s not just Fox — Hu Xun also wants to ask you out. He wanted to apologize for what happened at the bar. See? You’re very popular.”

“The bar thing? He doesn’t need to apologize. I didn’t even—”

“Li Huanhuan!”

She was cut off mid-sentence. Qin Shi glared at her, clearly baffled. “Are you really this dumb, or are you pretending to be?”

Li Huanhuan stopped, quietly looking at him.

“I…”

Qin Shi clenched his fists and glared at her. Then he turned and kicked the nearby cement post. Immediately, he cried out in pain, hugging his leg.

Pfft.

Li Huanhuan couldn’t help but laugh.

Qin Shi turned sharply.

Li Huanhuan quickly covered her mouth.

“Li Huanhuan, you’re ruthless.” He pointed at her in the air, then limped off to the road and caught a taxi.

Li Huanhuan lowered her hand, looking a little dejected.

What now?

She’d messed things up again.

Whenever she got involved with the main characters, things always fell apart. Maybe she really was just a background character, never meant to be part of their world.

Buzz buzz, buzz buzz.

Her phone rang.

Without checking, she answered.

“Hello? Who is this?”

“Sis, it’s me!”

The familiar voice came through. “I’ve been in training, just got my phone back. I’ve transferred the vet bill to you, you don’t have to cover my half.”

It was Zhang Canyang.

Li Huanhuan: “Okay.”

Zhang Canyang: “Sis, you sound down. Is it because of last night? Xin Jie told me — she and her friend saw you with Qin Shi at the restaurant.”

“…”

“Sis, the Skywolf guys have never liked me. Qin Shi wouldn’t take it out on you just because you were hanging out with me… right?”

“…”

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