Chapter 238: Exchange a Few Moves

"Xiao Yan, show my aunt around the clothes and help her try on some styles—make sure you pick something suitable for Xiao Yan. Where's Jiang Xiao Yan?"

Li Ye sensed trouble, so he told Jiang Xiao Yan to take Liu Muhan shopping for clothes, but after looking around, he realized Jiang Xiao Yan had vanished from nearby.

"I'll do it!" Wen Leyu smiled warmly at Li Ye. "I worked part-time here last week—I'm very familiar with the clothes and shoes."

「.

Li Ye hesitated for only a second before Wen Leyu led Liu Muhan toward the women's clothing section.

As they walked and chatted, their backs looked almost like those of two fake best friends.

Liu Muhan said in mild surprise, "You're working part-time here too?"

Wen Leyu replied calmly, "Yes—it helps me earn some pocket money to buy books."

Liu Muhan nodded. "That's really nice. I love buying books too—I still remember meeting you at that bookstore in Haidian!"

Wen Leyu smiled casually. "Yes, yes, I remember you too. Are you close with Li Ye?"

Liu Muhan brushed her bangs aside. "We're okay—I met him last summer."

「.

The shift in tone was truly unexpected.

Wen Leyu and Liu Muhan's reactions were completely different from Li Ye's previous impressions of them.

Wen Leyu never initiates conversation with strangers—today was the first time Li Ye had ever seen her shake hands with someone, let alone act as a personal shopper for Liu Muhan.

And Liu Muhan's faintly upturned lips and subtly competitive gaze surprised Li Ye even more.

In Li Ye's mind, Liu Muhan was always extremely composed: when she recognized "Seven-Inch Blade" in the train's sleeper car, he merely showed a hint of distance, and she immediately retreated to her bunk and pretended to sleep.

As for the two subsequent chance encounters, they barely exchanged a word—today's sudden warmth between them was the first real change in their relationship.

But Li Ye had just clearly called Wen Leyu his "best friend"—with Liu Muhan's intelligence and emotional awareness, she should've understood the implication.

Aren't you always pretending to be an elder, acting like my big nephew?

Then shouldn't you, as an elder, draw clear boundaries with me and help your "nephew" clear up these rumors?

Why are you hinting at things that invite speculation?

"Li Ye, were you close with Aunt Liu Muhan before?"

Li Ye heard Liu Muyang's voice beside him.

This "uncle"'s tone was no longer warm like before—it carried the chill of a southern wind suddenly turning north in early winter.

"Not at all," Li Ye replied firmly. "I've met her three times total, but only spoke about ten words during the first meeting. The other two times were pure chance—no real conversation."

"Oh~"

Liu Muyang drew out the syllable, giving Li Ye a long, meaningful look.

【So you're actually kind of looking down on my sister?】

Liu Muyang only needed to analyze Li Ye's words to understand his true feelings.

Li Ye valued his friendship with the Liu siblings, but that value stemmed entirely from the relationship between Li Zhongfa and Liu Zhengqing and Gao Shuyi.

In contrast, his feelings toward that Wen girl went far beyond mere care.

It was a natural closeness, a constant worry about her misunderstanding him, a gentle, attentive tenderness.

【I need to talk to Xiao Han.】

Li Ye looked at Liu Muyang's smile and said, "Let me show you the men's section—there are a few light spring outfits perfect for Shanghai's weather."

Liu Muyang waved him off. "No, thanks—I prefer to choose for myself. If you recommend something, I'll be too confused. Go ahead, take care of your own business—I'll just browse."

"Alright then—call me if you need anything."

Li Ye watched Liu Muyang head toward the women's section, knowing he still worried about his sister.

At that moment, Jiang Xiao Yan finally appeared from behind a nearby rack, shuffling over hesitantly.

Li Ye glanced at her and said coolly, "Xiao Yan, have you ever heard a saying?"

Jiang Xiao Yan's eyes darted around as she chuckled nervously. "Hehe, what saying?"

Li Ye narrowed his eyes, adopting a stern expression. "When the big brother's unhappy, the little brother suffers. When I needed you just now, where were you?"

Jiang Xiao Yan blinked, confused. "I was just following your cues!"

Li Ye frowned, about to ask when he'd ever signaled her.

But Jiang Xiao Yan added, "Big brother… wasn't it Wen Leyu? I saw her give me a signal to stay out of the way."

「.

Li Ye's breath caught in his throat.

Environment really does change people.

Jiang Xiao Yan used to be such a pure, innocent girl—how in just under a year in Beijing had she picked up this sarcastic habit?

If Wen Leyu is "big brother," then who am I?

Has hanging around our little group for so long made me pick up the bad habits of the 2020s? Have I forgotten this is 1983, where men still call the shots?

But Li Ye had no time to scold Jiang Xiao Yan—he hurried toward the women's section.

If Wen Leyu had planned to act as Liu Muhan's personal shopper from the moment she saw her, had they already exchanged seventy-seven rounds of subtle maneuvers by now?

But Li Ye underestimated both Wen Leyu and Liu Muhan.

By the time he reached the women's section, the two were already as close as sisters.

"Your complexion is pale—you should wear gray or black. These two trench coats suit you best."

"I like gray too, but they don't have my size left."

"No problem—I reserved two. I'll have them bring you one."

"That's too much! Hehe, why did you reserve two of the same style?"

"Li Ye reserved them for me—he said changing styles too often at school looks showy, so he got two of each, though they're slightly different."

"Really? Li Ye is so thoughtful. Look at these shoes—I think they'd suit you perfectly."

Wen Leyu acted like a true personal shopper, helping Liu Muhan pick out a complete outfit that perfectly highlighted her intellectual elegance.

In return, Liu Muhan helped Wen Leyu choose a pair of shoes—her taste was excellent.

Li Ye stood at a distance, arms crossed, watching them get along so well, and finally exhaled in relief.

Half an hour later, the Liu siblings left fully loaded. Though they refused Li Ye's offer to pay, they happily accepted the 30% discount.

The usually cold and distant Wen Leyu, acting almost like a devoted wife, walked with Li Ye to see the Liu siblings out of the department store and waved goodbye to their departing car.

They looked exactly like a newlywed couple seeing off visiting friends and family.

But as soon as Wen Leyu lowered her arm, she said coldly, "She was playing with me."

Li Ye's heart sank. "What? What do you mean, 'playing with you'?"

Wen Leyu narrowed her eyes, her tone icy. "Exactly what it sounds like—she pretended to be infatuated with you to make me anxious, like an elder teasing a child."

"Before, she didn't know you and arrived late, so it didn't matter. But now that she's connected to your grandfather, if she keeps playing like this, it might become real."

「.

Li Ye broke into a cold sweat. In the year or two he'd known Wen Leyu, she rarely got angry—her temperament made few things worth angering her.

But today, she was clearly "very upset."

Li Ye thought for a moment, then spoke bluntly: "Xiao Yu, if you have questions for me, just ask directly.

But I don't think we should let someone else's behavior damage our relationship—we need mutual trust and respect."

"What she did has nothing to do with you. I'm not blaming you."

Wen Leyu looked at Li Ye with a puzzled expression, then smiled sweetly and slipped her arm through his.

"By that logic, I get several love letters every month—even two bouquets of flowers. Should I explain each one to you? Should you get jealous?"

「.

When Wen Leyu linked her arm with his, Li Ye felt a surge of emotion—but then he heard the last sentence and exploded.

"Who the hell dares steal my girl? Tell me who it is—I'll go check out what kind of trash he is, and challenge him to a duel!"

"Hehehehe~"

Wen Leyu burst into delighted laughter, pulling him toward campus.

"Hehe, I never open them. If you want to know, go rummage through the trash bin outside our dorm!"

"Hmm, don't you dare tell me who it is—or else…"

Li Ye might not realize that in his mind, Wen Leyu is a cute, lazy, occasionally fierce feline.

But to Wen Leyu, Li Ye is equally a gentle, kind, patient, and terrifyingly formidable perfect guy.

。。。。。。。

Li Ye and Wen Leyu walked along the road toward campus, treating it like their usual stroll by Weiming Lake.

Wen Leyu leaned on his arm, skipping lightly, and in moments, she'd dissolved his inner tension.

But as they walked, she suddenly said, "Just now, Liu Muhan told me something—that you were mocked by some authors, and they mentioned 'Fenghuo Taobing.'"

Li Ye was surprised. "She told you that?"

Wen Leyu replied, "Yes. Did she tell you too? What do you think?"

"I didn't think much of it," Li Ye said. "I figured if I responded, I'd just give them more fuel—they'd get even bolder."

"Bolder? Do they even deserve that?"

Wen Leyu scoffed, then added sharply, "Stop testing me—or don't blame me for being unforgiving!"

「.

Li Ye always felt Wen Leyu's words carried double meanings.

Since Liu Muhan knew people were accusing "Seven-Inch Blade's" "Fenghuo Taobing" as a targeted allegory, was she telling Wen Leyu this to test her identity?

It seemed that just now, Wen Leyu and Liu Muhang had already exchanged blows; but since both were of high cultivation, they needed no words to know neither could overcome the other.

Though Wen Leyu was a few years younger, she had received Ke Laoshi's true transmission and was shrewd and cunning to the core!

(End of Chapter)