Chapter 28: I’ll Blast Him Off the Planet With a Rocket!

【Having a rich friend is great—getting diamond rings at a bone-crushing discount. Think how much money that saves!】
【Why do I feel like this “bone-crushing” is literal?】
【The money saved probably goes straight to hospital bills, huh? Hahaha.】

Lu Zhixu commented leisurely, “Shang Que, your friend seems like a good guy, but there’s no need for a diamond ring. A simple gold band will do, don’t you think?”

“Why not a diamond ring?” Jing Ya replied irritably, glaring at Shang Que with an expression full of disappointment, as if questioning her poor taste in men. “Pick any diamond ring style you like from the store. I’ll buy it for you. After all, we’re friends. I told you back then that when you get married, I’d give you a diamond ring.”

【This is exactly how I reacted when I found out my love-struck bestie got back with her stingy ex.】
【Are they really just friends? Who gives diamond rings to a “friend” getting married?】
【I beat my friend up for three days and she still wouldn’t admit she bought me a diamond ring.】

He paused briefly and added in a tone that seemed casual, “Forgot your taste in men is terrible. How about I help you screen him?”

Shang Que’s temple twitched: “Shut up.”

Lu Zhixu, always enjoying drama, chimed in gleefully: “Shang Que told you to shut up.”

Shang Que glared at him: “You shut up too.”

Ignoring the two who were pecking at each other like angry birds, she pointed through the glass case at a pair of adjustable gold rings and said to the sales assistant beside her, “Wrap these up, please.”

Seeing that Jing Ya was about to act, she quickly added, “Please write a greeting card too. I’m buying this on behalf of someone else.”

That sentence was like a bucket of cold water on a burning fuse. Jing Ya, who had been on the verge of exploding, froze instantly.

Lu Zhixu, having stirred the pot enough, explained cheerfully, “It’s for a variety show mission. We’re buying wedding rings for a newlywed couple. Sign it from the show ‘Friendship Boat.’”

Jing Ya reacted swiftly. He turned to the confused sales assistant and calmly instructed, “Ring it up. Put it on my account. Consider it a gift from me to the newlyweds. I wish them a happy marriage.”

Though his expression didn’t change much, all the tension and aggression in him vanished without a trace. He nodded politely, as if no argument had just happened. Distant and courteous, he said, “Since you’re filming, I won’t stay and chat. Let’s catch up another time.”

He excused himself and left. Shang Que glanced at Lu Zhixu, who was signing the receipt, and suddenly said, “I’m going to buy a crepe nearby. You and the cameraman wait here for me.”

【Am I seeing things, or did his mood change that fast? Why did it feel like all that tension just disappeared?】
【You’re not imagining it, but I think the anger shifted toward Shang Que. Is she really just going to buy a crepe, or is she using it as a cover to assassinate her “friend”?】
【Ooh ooh ooh! There’s definitely something going on! PD-nim, follow her!】

Since the two were acting together, the production team had only assigned one live broadcast camera. Before the PD could decide whom to follow, Shang Que had already left the jewelry store without looking back.

There was a large shopping mall next door. She headed straight to a dessert shop on the second floor. Sure enough, Jing Ya followed shortly after.

The two met in a narrow hallway blocked by a divider. Jing Ya didn’t bother hiding his sarcastic tone: “So you came back and became a big star. I thought I’d never see you again in this lifetime.”

Shang Que instantly exploded at his tone and snapped back: “You’re one to talk! Quoting CEO clichés now? What’s next? ‘Everything here is on me tonight’?”

Jing Ya raised an eyebrow: “Sure, why not?”

Just then, one of the ordering counters became free. Shang Que walked up and said, “Six signature crepes.”

Jing Ya followed behind and scanned the QR code on his phone to pay. When he turned back around, Shang Que had already turned her head away, pulled her mask up, lowered her hat brim, and was showing him the back of her head—clearly not in the mood to talk.

Fine, if she didn’t want to talk, he wouldn’t either. Jing Ya mimicked her, turning his head the other way.

The two stood there like sulking kids, not speaking a word. As soon as the six crepes were ready, Shang Que picked them up and left.

The staff glanced between the two of them curiously but restrained herself and asked, “Boss, are you here to inspect today? Should I call the manager?”

“No need. One signature crepe. And starting now, everything is free for the rest of the day. Record the sales and report them to the company.”

They often had full-day free events during holidays, so the staff smoothly processed the change in the system. She smiled and asked, “Boss in a good mood today?”

Jing Ya spun the ring on his middle finger—a ring that looked oddly out of place with his otherwise high-end outfit—and admitted, “Not bad.”

After all these years, her biting comebacks were still just as sharp.

---

Meanwhile, when Shang Que returned, Lu Zhixu was waiting at the jewelry store entrance. After they got in the car, she handed him one of the crepes: “This is for you.”

“Thank you.” Lu Zhixu accepted it politely. Since they weren’t live-streaming on the way back, he teased casually, “Your friends sure have strong personalities.”

As Shang Que started unwrapping her food, she paused and suddenly said, “I think so too. Just last week, I was discussing with another friend whether staying friends after breaking up means you’ve truly moved on. That friend gave me a very unique answer.”

Lu Zhixu instantly felt a chill down his spine and surrendered, cautiously asking, “What did they say?”

Shang Que blinked: “I forgot.”

Lu Zhixu: …

She’s the type you really shouldn’t mess with. So vengeful and fiercely loyal.

Trying to change the topic, he opened his bag and said, “This crepe tastes—”

Just as he took a bite, the compliment he was about to give got stuck in his throat. Lu Zhixu frowned: “Why does it taste like peach?”

Shang Que let out an “Ah”: “I forgot you don’t eat peaches.

Their signature flavor is peach and cream.”

Shang Que really liked peaches. When she had just returned to the country, she happened to discover that the signature desserts of this shop were all peach-flavored. She had once thought the shop had great taste.

Lu Zhixu suddenly asked, “Aren’t crepes supposed to be savory?”

Shang Que was incredulous. “Of course they taste better sweet!”

“Then do you eat sweet or savory zongzi?”

Although she didn’t know how the topic had suddenly shifted to the sweet vs. savory debate, Shang Que’s mind worked quickly, and she retorted, “Then do you think being friends after a breakup means you’ve moved on or want to get back together?”

Lu Zhixu: “…”

Seeing him speechless, Shang Que cheerfully turned back to continue enjoying her fragrant crepe.

*

When the two of them returned, the living room was in an uproar. Just as Shang Que walked in the door, she heard a young voice shouting, “It was all my idea! Do what you want to me—kill me, beat me—I won’t complain! Just don’t blame Brother Chuan!”

A bad premonition rose in Shang Que’s heart. She pushed through the crowd and walked over, only to see a boy who looked like an elementary school student standing against the wall in defiance, being punished. Ji Jingchuan stood nearby, lazily holding a cardboard box.

That voice just now must have come from the kid. Shang Que quickly guessed his identity—he was the little brother who had planned to board up the doors and windows with wooden planks so the groom couldn’t pick up the bride.

Madam Qi scolded him: “Your brother-in-law used to buy you snacks every time he came over. Have you forgotten all that?”

“That was all part of his devious scheme! Even dogs know to wag their tails before they eat. I’m not falling for those petty bribes!”

Shang Que’s brow twitched—this way of talking was far too similar to Ji Jingchuan’s. No wonder the two of them had bonded so quickly.

“You still shouldn’t use these things against people,” someone said.

Shang Que frowned. “What things?”

In the next second, Ji Jingchuan shifted slightly with the box in his arms. She immediately understood and ordered, “Bring it here. Let me see.”

“No!” the little boy blocked him, arms out. “Brother Chuan, don’t surrender to these villains!”

Shang Que narrowed her eyes. “Three… two—”

Before she even got to “one,” Ji Jingchuan had already tossed the box onto the floor in front of her with a pout. “There. It’s all in here.”

“Brother Chuan!” the boy looked utterly betrayed, eyes wide in disbelief, as if his trusted ally had turned on him.

Ji Jingchuan waved a hand behind his back as if he hadn’t heard anything.

【Forget Brother Chuan. When he’s around Sister Que, he can’t even protect himself.】

【Hahaha, little bro, you picked the wrong ally. If you had gone straight to Shang Que, you might’ve had a chance.】

【Your Brother Chuan only gives out trash advice.】

Shang Que crouched down and opened the box, taking out the items one by one.

“A door stopper?”

Ji Jingchuan explained, “To block the door.”

“Pepper spray?”

“If the door doesn’t hold, spray him to drive him out.”

“A baseball bat?”

“If the pepper spray doesn’t work, knock him out.”

“…”

【Such a meticulous plan… Doesn’t seem like something Ji Jingchuan would come up with.】

【If the groom survives all this, he’s definitely no ordinary man.】

Each item had a specific use, until Shang Que pulled out a pack of firecrackers. She looked confused. “Is this for if all the other plans fail, and we congratulate the groom for passing the test?”

Before Ji Jingchuan could explain, the little boy angrily rebutted, “No way! Firecrackers can scare off the Nian beast, so they can definitely drive away the bad guy trying to steal my sister!”

Shang Que instinctively said, “Firecrackers are too weak. You need thunder bombs.”

The room suddenly went quiet. Realizing what she had just said, Shang Que blinked. “I was just joking. Don’t copy that.”

【Hahahaha, little bro, I told you—you should’ve teamed up with Shang Que. Your Sister Que is way more ruthless.】

【Actually, when Ji Jingchuan first got tamed, the little bro’s look at Shang Que already changed.】

【Sister Que, your little follower bows before you in awe.】

The little boy froze for a second, then shouted fiercely, “I’ll launch a rocket and blast him off the planet!”

“Qi Sheng!”

Just as Qi family’s parents were about to scold him, Qi Lan, who was in the middle of getting her hair styled in the bedroom, suddenly came out and stopped them, saying, “Wait. Xiaosheng, come here, let’s have a talk.”

The little boy, who had been baring his teeth and claws and refusing to listen to anyone, hesitated for a few seconds but obediently followed her away.

The onlookers scattered as well. In the crowd, Shang Que spotted Ji Jingchuan, who was trying to sneak away, and called out, “Stop right there. Ji Jingchuan, come here. I want to have a word with you too.”

【Partners in crime.】
【Brother Chuan is in danger.】

Everyone else was busy decorating the bridal chamber, so to avoid getting in the way, the two of them went out to the balcony.

Ji Jingchuan turned his head away, refusing to look at her, and absentmindedly tugged at the leaves of a potted plant.

“You’re going to kill it,” Shang Que said, glancing at him. Ji Jingchuan immediately pulled his hand back, but still fixed his gaze on the doorframe, chin lifted, wearing a defiant expression.

Shang Que started to get irritated. “That kid is young and doesn’t understand things. But do you not have a brain either? You just teach him whatever comes to mind? What if something really happened—would you take responsibility?”

“I didn’t incite him,” Ji Jingchuan defended himself. “He came up with the ideas himself, made the list himself, even saved up the money himself. I just helped him carry the box.”

“Then what about that line: ‘Even a dog wags its tail before getting food’?”

Ji Jingchuan retorted with confidence, “So what if I said that? I never told him to copy me.”

“Oh, now you feel wronged?”

“Why can’t I? You’re blaming me without getting the facts straight. Besides, that pepper spray and spiked bat? I swapped them out for fake ones.”

Shang Que’s brows drew together. “Fake?”

“No kidding. The pepper spray is just a sour drink with a fake label, and the spiked bat is hollow. Otherwise, how could it be so light?”

Hearing the certainty in his voice, Shang Que pressed her lips together and said, “Alright, I misjudged you.”

Ji Jingchuan immediately jumped at the chance. “Then apologize to me!”

“Sorry.”

“Shang Que, if you don’t apologize, I’m not—” Ji Jingchuan stood with his arms crossed, all high and mighty, but halfway through his sentence, he suddenly froze. “Wait, what did you just say?”

“Sorry. What’s wrong?”

Now it was Ji Jingchuan’s turn to be flustered. “You—no, I—”

“You what?” Shang Que frowned in confusion. “Didn’t I just say I misjudged you, and you said I should apologize?”

“B-but…” Ji Jingchuan didn’t know what to say. In the end, he puffed up proudly and said, “Fine. I forgive you.”

He paused for a moment, then added with a hint of humility, “Actually, I also thought the kid was going too far. I tried to talk him out of it.”

Shang Que raised her eyebrows and suddenly asked, “If you were that kid—”

Ji Jingchuan immediately switched expressions. “I’d launch a spaceship and blast him out of the universe!”