Qin Jiao picked up a walnut bun and playfully shoved it into his mouth. "When did you get so good with words? In our last life, it was like pulling teeth to get a single nice word out of you."
At the mention of their last life, Shen Yi sighed.
He said, "You’re just too good-natured. Even after how I was back then, you were still willing to give me a chance. Let’s not get into it. Everything that happened before—whether it was my fault, someone else’s, or just the ’plot’—none of it matters anymore. In this life, I’m just going to dedicate myself to treating you right. That’s all that matters. Jiao Jiao, enough talk. Let’s finish this milk tea. From now on, just watch what I do!"
It would be a lie to say Qin Jiao wasn’t touched.
What woman doesn’t love to hear sweet talk? Besides, she truly believed that Shen Yi genuinely wanted to start over with her.
But before she could say anything, a young couple sitting nearby couldn’t help but start whispering to each other.
The girl said, "Wow, that guy is so smooth. You should take some notes from him on how to keep a girlfriend happy."
The boy said, "There’s a reason he’s so smooth. Haven’t you seen how gorgeous his girlfriend is?"
The girl immediately got angry. "What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying I’m ugly?"
The boy quickly tried to soothe her. "No, no, no! I’m always trying to make you happy, aren’t I? I’m just as smooth as that guy, and my girlfriend is just as gorgeous as his!"
After a bit of coaxing, the girl cheered up and started smiling again.
Qin Jiao and Shen Yi, who had just been the ones engaging in a public display of affection, now found themselves on the receiving end of one. They caught each other’s eye and shared a smile.
You had to admit, it was wonderful to be young.
**
Lin Nian and Li Xiaomei walked to a small park by the side of the road. The trees inside were sprouting new leaves, looking lush and green, but since it was still early in the season, only the winter jasmine was in bloom.
’Just yellow. It’s a bit plain,’ Li Xiaomei thought.
Seeing that no one else was around, she got straight to the point. "Are you still trying to see Xiao Feng?"
Lin Nian said, "No."
’These days, it’s always Shen Feng who comes looking for me,’ she thought. ’I almost never initiate contact with him, so it’s not a lie.’
Li Xiaomei’s expression softened slightly, but she still maintained a condescending air. She said, "I know you’re a good, sensible girl, and it can’t be easy for you, working out here all on your own. As for your miscarriage back then... Xiao Feng was young and didn’t know any better. You shouldn’t blame him."
’Young? Didn’t know any better?’ Lin Nian thought. ’Then how did he manage to get me pregnant?’
But she could only scoff at that inwardly. She quickly said, "I know. It was my fault too, back then. I was naive. But it’s all in the past. I’ve done a lot of self-reflection, and I know I was just too careless."
"I’m glad you can see it that way." Li Xiaomei skillfully deflected the blame. She couldn’t have her son’s reputation be tarnished.
It was for the best that Lin Nian was so accommodating.
A look of elder-like concern appeared on her face. "So, Xiao Nian, what are your plans for the future?"
"Oh, for now, I’m opening a hair salon to save up some money. When I get the chance in the future, I still want to go back to school. So I’m earning money and studying on my own at the same time."
"Oh, you poor child, it hasn’t been easy for you. If you need any help down the line, you can come to Auntie. Just don’t go bothering Xiao Feng, alright? He’s been quite busy lately, what with school and dating that girl from the Old Sun Family."
The message was as blunt as it could be: don’t interfere with the relationship between Shen Feng and Sun Lili.