Chapter 7: Mid-Lane Team Fight 2v2
"Xixi, it's really okay. If you ever need me, I'm always here. I’m really happy you came to find me."
Shen Xi didn’t say much, just nodded with a smile. She was growing more and more fond of Keke.
The two of them exchanged a knowing look, while Jiang Bailang, who had been deliberately ignored, finally got the hint and stayed silent for the rest of the ride.
After about half an hour, the car pulled into the underground parking lot of a high-end residential complex.
"You live here? Your husband’s not bad. These apartments must cost around ten million. Compared to regular people, that’s pretty impressive."
Jiang Bailang glanced around the bright and clean parking garage, speaking with a casual tone. Even though this place was far below his own family's standards, his confidence somehow returned.
Shen Xi smiled faintly and got out of the car. She vaguely remembered that the original owner of this body had bought this place herself, but she had no interest in explaining anything to Jiang Bailang.
Noticing that Su Kexin was still sitting in the back seat, she turned to her and said,
"Keke, won't you come over for a while? I have so much to talk to you about."
Su Kexin's eyes widened in surprise. She hesitated for a moment before asking uncertainly,
"Me? Are you sure?"
"Silly girl, of course!"
Shen Xi playfully scolded her and reached out a hand. She had no idea which building or floor she lived on. She couldn’t just try every door. Besides, she really had some things she wanted to ask Keke.
Seeing Shen Xi’s outstretched hand, Su Kexin happily took it and got out of the car. She then turned to her boyfriend and told him to go home first, her tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.
Jiang Bailang, however, didn’t seem to care. He made no effort to coax his girlfriend, but when he realized neither of them had any intention of inviting him up, he felt uneasy.
Still, he had his pride. He wasn’t about to ask if he could come along, so he could only drive off in silence.
Inside the elevator, Su Kexin pressed the button for the 12th floor. Now that there were no outsiders around, she couldn’t hold back her question any longer.
"Xixi, have you really given up on Shi Jingyan? Didn’t you say you couldn’t live without him?"
Hearing this, Shen Xi felt a wave of nausea. The original owner of this body had been way too clingy. It made her uncomfortable.
"Absolutely."
Seeing Shen Xi’s slightly pale face, Su Kexin thought she was feeling sad and quickly changed the subject.
"That green tea Lin Yueyue is stirring up drama in the alumni group again! She’s been spreading rumors that you married some short, fat, middle-aged man just for money. She’s so awful!"
"Huh? A short, fat uncle?"
Shen Xi couldn't help but picture Gu Hanling’s sharp features and well-toned physique. There was no way he fit that description!
"Pfft—"
She burst into laughter.
Su Kexin looked at her in confusion. Why wasn’t she mad? Why was she laughing?
Just then, the elevator chimed—ding!—and the doors slid open.
A man and a woman were walking toward them. This building had only two apartments per floor, so Shen Xi figured they were probably her neighbors.
She stepped out with a polite smile, intending to say hello, but something felt off.
"Xixi, what are you doing here? Are you following me and Brother Jing? Are you planning to kidnap me in front of him?"
The woman in the white dress looked at Shen Xi with wary eyes, staring at her like she was some kind of threat. Beside her stood a handsome man who seemed vaguely familiar.
It only took a second for Shen Xi to recognize them. What a coincidence. Who else could they be but the male lead Shi Jingyan and the female lead Lin Yueyue?
She couldn't help but sigh. The original owner of this body must have had something wrong with her. Who in their right mind would go this far? Buying an apartment on the same floor as the male and female leads? That was just pathetic. And now she was the one stuck dealing with this mess.
"Lin Yueyue, stop making things up! Xixi lives here! Who’s following you?"
Su Kexin stepped forward, her usual soft and sweet demeanor completely gone.
Lin Yueyue, still playing the weak and innocent act, took a step back and clung to Shi Jingyan’s arm like a delicate little bird.
"Who knows? If she really lived here, why haven’t we seen her before? Didn’t she get married? Shouldn’t she be living with her husband?"
Hearing Lin Yueyue’s words, the first one to darken his expression wasn’t Shen Xi, but Shi Jingyan. Ever since Shen Xi married another man, he had felt like he had been betrayed. Even though he was already with Lin Yueyue at the time.
The apartment Lin Yueyue was living in had been bought by Shi Jingyan, though the two of them weren’t married yet. Initially, he could have written either of their names on the property deed, but the real estate company had informed Lin Yueyue that her name couldn’t be added, without giving her a reason.
Lately, Shi Jingyan had been dealing with business troubles, struggling to expand his company, and was already frustrated. On top of that, Shen Xi, who used to chase after him relentlessly, hadn’t paid him any attention for hours now.
Seeing her tonight made him unexpectedly excited. So she’s playing hard to get? I knew it, there’s no way she suddenly changed her mind. She must still be thinking about me. She even secretly bought an apartment right next door.
He couldn't help but be amazed by Shen Xi's outfit today. Even without makeup, she was still radiant, and the inadvertently revealed sexy collarbone made people imagine the graceful, delicate body beneath the loose shirt.
Did she dress up just for me? She looks different today… kind of cute.
Su Kexin was about to argue further when Shen Xi gently covered her mouth, stopping her from speaking. If she kept going, she’d probably end up getting humiliated by the main characters.
Shen Xi wanted to curse this damned storyline. Why did she keep running into these two even when she was trying to avoid them?
"My husband is busy with work, and his place is too big. I wasn’t used to living there. I didn’t know you guys lived here too."
"And besides, Yueyue, you’re not exactly valuable. Why would I bother kidnapping you? Anyway, you two carry on, we’ll talk another time. Bye-bye~"
With that, she grabbed Su Kexin’s hand and headed straight for her apartment door. A little retreat goes a long way. I have zero interest in getting involved with these two.
"Xi… Shen Xi, you—"
Shi Jingyan had instinctively wanted to call her "Xixi" like he used to, but remembering Lin Yueyue was right beside him, he changed it to her full name instead.
Shen Xi acted like she didn’t hear him, calmly unlocking her door with her fingerprint and stepping inside.
Bang!
The door shut firmly.
Lin Yueyue’s face turned ugly. But what worried her more was that the man beside her was still staring at Shen Xi’s door, completely entranced.
She gave a 'hmph' and quickly walked into the elevator alone. As soon as she entered the elevator, she turned her back and wiped away her fake tears. Seeing this, Shi Jingyan quickly followed her.
"Yueyue, if you don’t want to see her, I’ll buy her apartment and make her move out."
He spoke as if he was making a grand gesture, but deep down, he feared she might actually say "yes." However, he knew she wouldn’t make things that difficult for him.
"Brother Jing, do you… still like her? If you do, you can go to her now, I don’t mind."
"I know I’m just a replacement, anyway."
Lin Yueyue looked as if she was trying to stay strong despite feeling wronged, her tearful eyes making her appear fragile and pitiful.
Shi Jingyan comforted her as usual, but deep inside, he felt irritated. Once in a while, this kind of behavior was cute, but too much of it was just exhausting.
The moment Shen Xi stepped into her apartment, she froze.
What the hell? Am I in a recycling plant?!
The floor was covered in crumpled-up paper balls, scattered everywhere.
Su Kexin, already used to the mess, instinctively grabbed some tools and started cleaning.
Shen Xi’s face turned slightly red. How could someone this good-looking live in such a disaster zone? It’s like I invited Keke up here just to clean for me.
Just as she was about to stop Su Kexin and clean up herself, her eyes landed on a crumpled piece of paper on the floor. A corner of it stuck out, revealing a signature: "Susie."