Chapter 161: You still... like playing at having an affair with me

Having stayed at home for a week, aside from not having a mobile phone, Shen Li's daily routine was the same as usual; she stayed at home alone, and when she was bored, she would read books to pass the time.

Regarding Xie Qin, her mother did not ask again.

She also didn't ask her mother for a phone; she assumed it was tacitly understood that she had cut off contact with Xie Qin, so she didn't bother her anymore.

Eight o'clock in the morning.

Shen Li woke up and walked out after getting a glass of water from the kitchen.

She saw that two hundred in cash was still placed on the dining table in the living room.

She had already said last time that there was no need to give so much.

She couldn't spend it all, but she still gave it.

Shen Li saved this money and didn't touch it.

Besides that, Yu Lizhen would return home to cook for her at 5:30 PM whenever she wasn't on duty at school.

The two sat at the dining table eating together; most of the time it was quiet, without much to talk about.

With Shen Zhaozhao not there, she thought she probably wasn't quite used to it either.

After all, she wasn't like Shen Zhaozhao, who could say sweet things to amuse her.

Even if there were topics, they were all about her repeating a year.

She knew it; she didn't want to repeat a year.

Shen Li wanted to get directly admitted to Qingbei University through the Mathematics Competition.

But every time the competition was mentioned, she would clam up.

As for the reason, it was still because of Shen Zhaozhao.

She wanted to get a scholarship and study abroad.

Last time, that cashmere coat worth thirty thousand that didn't fit wasn't returned; her mother just bought another one exactly the same but one size larger, and the smaller-sized one was hung in Shen Zhaozhao's closet.

The card Shen Li had frozen returned to normal the day after she requested it.

Afterward, she withdrew the money from the card and deposited it into her own bank account.

Haishi Middle School was nearing final exams, and the school was getting busier and busier.

Her mother had no time to attend to her.

Shen Li took a sip of water, tidied up, put on a scarf, shouldered her bag, and went out.

The weather outside today wasn't too bad.

Except for the fact that it wouldn't snow in Haishi, the temperature wasn't necessarily much warmer; the cold was wrapped in humidity, and the wind blowing up from the river was not fierce but bone-chilling.

Shen Li took a taxi to the West Bridge District, a fairly lively pedestrian street; when she reached her destination, the driver pulled over to the side of the road.

The plane trees along the street scattered golden leaves all over the ground, the fragrance of sugar-roasted chestnuts and roasted sweet potatoes drifted from an alley, and a cafe nearby had thin mist covering its glass windows.

Shen Li walked for a while and found a wonton shop open in an inconspicuous alley.

The storefront was small and a bit old, with dim yellow lights shining inside.

The closed glass door blocked out the cold air outside, and one could see there weren't many customers in the shop; those who came were generally regulars living nearby.

Shen Li's gaze landed on the seat near the door inside the shop, where a familiar black figure was sitting.

She walked toward the shop.

Xie Qin raised his eyes and looked over; the moment their eyes met, looking at each other felt as if they hadn't seen each other for many years.

Actually, counting the time, it hadn't been long—just under ten days.

Seeing her arrive, Xie Qin put away his phone and tucked it into his pocket.

Shen Li sat in the seat opposite him.

The proprietress walked over at this time: "Young lady, what would you like to eat?"

Shen Li: "Wonton noodles."

Xie Qin: "Two bowls, the same as her."

The proprietress: "Alright, sit for a moment, it'll be ready soon."

Xie Qin's back was straight, his hands folded in front of him, his eyes lowered; he was still in that languid and lazy posture, staring at her for a few moments, his brows lightly furrowed, his eyes revealing a hint of dissatisfaction, "How long has it been?"

Shen Li looked at his eyes "..."

Master Xie said with disdain: "Why have you lost weight again?"

It seemed like it had returned to the time when she had just arrived at Chengde University to register—very thin, with not much meat on her body.

Later, Xie Qin wanted to put some meat on her; during the time they were dating, he often took her out for late-night snacks and stuffed her with all kinds of food; it was hard-won, but holding her finally felt like something.

In the blink of an eye, she had lost it all again.

Had she lost weight?

Shen Li touched her face unconsciously, her voice gentle: "It's alright, my weight hasn't changed much recently."

Hmm? Whether she had lost weight or not, didn't he know?

"Don't lose weight on purpose; if you get any thinner, it won't be comfortable for me to hold you." Xie Qin spoke in a commanding tone, bossy and autocratic.

But he was just that kind of person; he had to manage everything for her—if she didn't want to go to class, he had to manage it; if she was doing problems, he had to manage it; whether she was fat or thin, he still had to manage it.

Shen Li was serious and earnest, "Mm, I will try to eat more and won't deliberately lose weight."

Once she said this, Xie Qin's expression softened slightly, and then he began to look around the shop. Finally, he slowly rested his gaze on Shen Li, his eyes playful, his voice lazy and a bit improper as he said: "You found such a hidden place; I didn't realize you... liked playing at having an affair with me."

A faint arc curled at the corners of Shen Li's mouth: "I came here to play before and accidentally got lost, so I found this wonton shop. However... their wontons are actually quite delicious; you can try them."

Xie Qin raised an eyebrow—interesting, to get lost in a place like this, that was really something; but it was indeed very fitting for her—she didn't even walk properly on weekdays, didn't look where she was going, and didn't remember the way.

Still, he complied with her words and nodded: "Fine."

A few minutes later.

The proprietress quickly brought the cooked wonton noodles to the table, "Just cooked, be careful of the heat when eating; there is chili at the condiment station, you can add it yourself, it's free."

Shen Li: "Okay, thank you."

Xie Qin took a spoon and chopsticks for her from the disinfection cabinet; Shen Li reached out to take them, picked up the spoon, and took a light bite of a wonton—the skin was thin and the filling was full, with green onions floating in the soup, emitting swirling hot steam.

After a while, she noticed the person in front of her hadn't moved. Shen Li raised her eyes and saw him looking at her: "Aren't you eating? It won't taste good if it gets cold later."

"Mm." Responding, Xie Qin finally picked up his spoon and took a bite, then asked her: "The day I went back, did you and your family have any more arguments afterward?"

Shen Li didn't know why he would ask this; her long eyelashes trembled slightly as she lowered her gaze, her voice saying faintly: "No."

"Mom just took my phone away; when I got back to Haishi, she didn't say anything."

"She didn't ask about you either."

Xie Qin looked at her; it was hard to tell the truth from the falsehood in her words. Shen Li was the same whether she was speaking or not; there wouldn't be too many emotions on her face. She tended to hide her words in her heart; only when she was angry would it be obvious.

"If anything happens, call me."

"Mm."

"Don't just agree; keep my words in your heart, do you hear me!"

"I know; if anything happens later, I will tell you."

Afraid he would overthink it, Shen Li gathered her thoughts for a few seconds and told him: "During this time, my mom cooks for me every day after work. During the day, I stay at home doing problems and reading. Except for not having a phone and not being able to contact you, actually... there's nothing else. Putting my mind into doing problems, time passes very quickly."

She was usually the only one at home.

To her, it wasn't too hard to endure.

"Then what about me... don't you miss me!" Xie Qin deliberately emphasized the last few words.

Shen Li nodded frankly: "I do!"

"Is that so?" Xie Qin raised an eyebrow, his tone becoming cheerful, and he spoke leisurely: "Tell me, how do you miss me—do you miss me in your head, or... miss me in your heart."

Shen Li told him the truth, without hiding her inner thoughts in the slightest: "Both."

Xie Qin curled his lips in extreme satisfaction and gave her the same response: "Mm, me too."

Shen Li had never missed someone like this before; this feeling was indescribable.

When she left the house, she only had one thought in her mind: she really wanted to see him quickly.

And then... if possible, she wanted to hug him.

Just by hugging him once, the bad emotions would disappear.

Her mood would also get better.

No matter how bad things were, they could become less important.

"Eat quickly, then take your handsome boyfriend out for a stroll and go on a date."

"Okay."

Shen Li ate faster than usual.

Seeing her deliberately eating quickly, Xie Qin laughed out loud: "There's no need to be in such a rush; you can eat slower. It's hot!"

Shen Li shook her head: "It's not very hot."

In less than ten minutes, Shen Li finished a large bowl of wonton noodles, occasionally eating the wontons Xie Qin couldn't finish and fed to her.

Her stomach was suddenly full.

She felt she wouldn't be able to eat anything else.

She hadn't been this full in a long time.

Shen Li's wallet was quite thick; she had nearly two thousand yuan in it now, all of which she had saved up, enough for a date out.

After eating, Shen Li went to pay; it was thirty-six in total.