Chapter 168: Are you still in contact with him!

Shen Li: 【Happy New Year.】

Liang Jingze's car was just about to start, but who knew that at this moment, Shen Zhaozhao chased after them all the way, saying she had an appointment with classmates to go to the Cheng Huang Miao too, so she hitched a ride in Liang Jingze's car.

Thus, Shen Zhaozhao also got into this car.

Shen Li's mind was all on replying to WeChat messages and didn't pay attention to Shen Zhaozhao.

Xie Qin: 【Is it convenient to answer the phone?】

Shen Li: 【There are other people here.】

【Have you arrived in Haishi?】

Xie Qin: 【Mm.】

Shen Li: 【Did you come alone?】

Xie Qin: 【Otherwise?】

Shen Li: 【Have you eaten?】

Xie Qin: 【Mm.】

【Where should I wait for you?】

The fingertips Shen Li used to reply paused, thinking of Shen Zhaozhao who was still there: 【I'll tell you later.】

Xie Qin: 【Fine!】

Seeing this exclamation mark that strengthened the tone, Xie Qin's face—lightly furrowed brows and a bit of fierce ruthlessness—appeared in Shen Li's mind. If it were someone else, they might be afraid, but this didn't have much deterrent power for Shen Li.

Shen Li knew he didn't like waiting, yet she had made him wait for a long time.

To appease him, Shen Li found a (petting a puppy to appease) sticker from her favorites and sent it over.

Seeing the sticker sent, Xie Qin stared at the phone and raised an eyebrow lightly.

Today was the first day of the New Year; the road to the Cheng Huang Miao was a bit congested, and there was traffic control, so Liang Jingze found a parking lot to park.

Shen Li chatted with Xie Qin the whole way; when they arrived, they got out of the car.

Shen Li thought that once they arrived, she could leave to find her friend, but she didn't expect her to use the lamest excuse to follow her and Liang Jingze the whole way.

Halfway through, Shen Li thought about using the excuse of going to the bathroom to leave, but wherever she went, Shen Zhaozhao followed, like a plaster that couldn't be shaken off; she didn't even have time to reply to Xie Qin's messages.

By the river at the Bund, Shen Li looked down at the message that still hadn't been replied to.

From 7:30, she waited until 8:20.

Nearly an hour.

But, more than that...

Since Xie Qin received her call, he took the 3:00 PM flight and landed in Haishi after sitting for four hours.

However, just at this moment, a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the silence, and the first cluster of fireworks exploded above the river.

Gorgeous light rain suddenly bloomed, illuminating the entire Qingpu River.

One after another, they bloomed grandly in the night sky, the light and shadow falling into the river water, shattering into a floating galaxy with the waves.

Many people stopped their steps, holding their phones, filming this scene against the night sky.

Just as Xie Qin was also looking up and enjoying these fireworks, the phone in his pocket vibrated. He lit up the screen, and a message popped out.

Shen Li: 【I'm sorry, I can't see you today.】

Shen Zhaozhao held up her phone, filming the fireworks in the night sky, "Brother Jingze, look, these fireworks are so beautiful."

Liang Jingze's gaze fell on Shen Li, who had a lonely expression, and he responded perfunctorily, "Mm."

Xie Qin: 【What's the reason this time?】

The message was replied to almost in seconds.

Shen Li was about to reply when her phone turned off directly.

Shen Zhaozhao finished taking photos and received a call from home.

Yu Lizhen: "What time is it? It's about time to come back."

Shen Zhaozhao looked at Shen Li on the side: "I know, Mom."

"Where's your sister?"

"Sister is with me and Brother Jingze."

"..."

This fireworks show didn't last very long, only a short ten minutes.

The pedestrians watching also left the bone-chilling riverbank one after another.

"Brother Jingze, Mom told us to go back." Shen Zhaozhao couldn't help but complain again: "The time we spent out is so short, I haven't had enough fun yet."

Liang Jingze curled his lips with a faint smile, "We can come again next time if there's a chance."

Shen Zhaozhao: "Alright."

The crowd gradually dispersed.

The Bund was still crowded with people; Shen Li walked somewhat absent-mindedly. Suddenly, someone rushed over from the side and hit her shoulder hard.

She stumbled, her body leaning forward, almost falling into the crowd. Fortunately, Liang Jingze reacted very quickly, reaching out to steady her, his voice gentle: "Be careful."

Shen Li raised her eyes and bumped into his gentle eyes. Her cold face was clearly reflected in his amber eyes; the pedestrians coming and going around them seemed to become slow motion in an instant.

The two looked at each other, silent for a moment.

Shen Li gently withdrew her hand, "Thank you."

At this moment, her peripheral vision seemed to capture a familiar figure.

Her gaze fixed on a certain position.

People coming and going, crossing paths.

But she found nothing.

It was as if it had just been an illusion she had.

In the crowd, she was still searching in a daze...

Liang Jingze: "What's wrong?"

Shen Li reacted slowly.

Just now... she seemed to have seen Xie Qin.

She stepped forward uncontrollably; she wanted to find that somewhat familiar figure.

Shen Zhaozhao, who had just been separated, found them.

All of Shen Li's thoughts and actions were pulled back.

Liang Jingze drove them to the downstairs of the residential complex; Shen Zhaozhao waved goodbye, "Brother Jingze, goodbye. Drive carefully on the road, pay attention to safety."

Liang Jingze nodded in response: "Mm."

After Shen Li entered the elevator first, Shen Zhaozhao followed; after pressing the floor, she looked at her gloatingly: "Sister, today wouldn't it be that you didn't see the person you wanted to see, so you're in a bad mood?"

"I saw Sister, you didn't say a word the whole way."

Shen Li looked at her with emotionless eyes, expressionless: "I don't know what you're talking about."

Shen Zhaozhao laughed: "Sister, stop pretending; I know you just used Brother Jingze as a shield to go see that boyfriend of yours."

"So I deliberately followed you; I didn't want you guys to meet."

Shen Li: "Shen Zhaozhao!"

"Sister is angry?" Shen Zhaozhao deliberately ruined her plans and was in a great mood now, "Who told you to go see Brother Jingze without bringing me, then I can't help it."

Shen Li thought Shen Zhaozhao just had a bad temper, but she still underestimated her.

She wasn't just bad-tempered; she was simply evil.

Today's matter...

Should she find a time to call Xie Qin and explain.

Let him... wait for so long.

Returning home, the lights in the entrance were blindingly bright.

Yu Lizhen wasn't watching TV in the living room as usual, and Dad wasn't at home either; the house was unusually quiet.

Shen Zhaozhao: "Mom, I'm back."

"Where is everyone?"

Shen Li saw her room door standing open, and a bad premonition suddenly welled up in her heart.

She walked into the room, but saw Yu Lizhen sitting at her desk, with that English dictionary spread out in front of her.

Instantly, it was as if the blood in Shen Li's body had frozen.

Shen Zhaozhao saw the person in the room: "Mom? What are you doing in Sister's room?"

Yu Lizhen turned around slowly and looked at Shen Li at the door, "Zhaozhao, you go back to your room first; Mom has something to say to your sister."

Seeing this wrong atmosphere, Shen Zhaozhao knew it was the precursor to Yu Lizhen losing her temper; with gloating in her eyes, she looked at Shen Li sympathetically, "Alright."

After Shen Zhaozhao returned to her room, her ear was quietly pressed against the door.

Yu Lizhen's tone was as cold as ice, holding that photo in her hand, "What's going on with this photo!"

Shen Li was silent and didn't answer.

"Are you still in contact with him!"