Shi Ning watched Shi Qingyin rush towards Qin Heye, speechless at her audacity to openly flirt with her husband. Without a moment’s hesitation, Shi Ning extended her foot.
“Ah!” Shi Qingyin cried out as she tripped, landing flat on her face. She lay sprawled on the ground, groaning.
Shi Ning looked down at her. “Cousin,” she remarked coolly, “you really don’t need such a grand gesture to admit your mistake. Kneeling and knocking your head twice would also suffice.”
Shi Qingyin, ever persistent, stretched out a hand towards Qin Heye. “Brother-in-law, pull—hiss! Ah!” Just as her fingers reached, Shi Ning brought her foot down squarely on Shi Qingyin’s hand. Her face twisted in agony, and this time, her scream was genuinely pained, devoid of any seductive undertones.
Shi Ning bent down. “Cousin, I’ll pull you up!”
“Sister, you stepped on my hand!” Shi Qingyin wailed, tears streaming down her face.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Shi Ning feigned sincerity, then moved her foot. “Ahhh! You stepped on my right hand!”
“I’m truly sorry, I didn’t see it,” Shi Ning apologized again, a hint of mischief in her eyes. “I thought I was stepping on garbage.” She immediately lifted her foot and reached out to grasp Shi Qingyin’s hands. “I’ll pull you up right away; it’s not good to lie down like this.”
Shi Qingyin, desperate to get up, pushed herself with Shi Ning’s aid. “Hiss!” A tearing sound rent the air, and Shi Qingyin suddenly felt a chilling breeze on her thighs. Looking down, she saw Shi Ning had stepped on the hem of her skirt. The fabric had ripped, climbing higher and higher. If it continued, her skirt would be completely shredded, leaving her exposed!
“Shi Ning, let go… ah!” Shi Qingyin shrieked in panic.
“Oh.” Shi Ning obediently released her grip.
With a loud thud, Shi Qingyin, half-risen, fell heavily to the ground sideways, crying out in pain. Forgetting all pretense of ladylike behavior, she yelled, “Shi Ning! You did that on purpose!”
Shi Ning raised her hands innocently. “No, I really didn’t mean to…” Then, lowering her voice, she smiled wickedly at Shi Qingyin. “I did do it on purpose! Who asked you to seduce my husband?”
Just then, Shen Xizhou emerged from the club and rushed over upon seeing Shi Qingyin on the ground. “Yinyin!” he cried.
Shi Ning stepped back. “Your fiancé is here, sister, I’ll leave first.” She took Qin Heye’s arm, and the two walked away, Shi Ning looking utterly refreshed.
Inside the pink mini BMW, Shi Ning was at the wheel, while Qin Heye, with his impossibly long legs, sat in the passenger seat, looking somewhat out of place. His tall, imposing frame made the small car appear even tinier, lending him a surprisingly human, almost endearing quality. Yet, his face was a mask of coldness, and he gazed out the window, distant and aloof, like a stranger sharing a ride.
“Qin Heye, are you angry with me?” Shi Ning finally ventured.
Qin Heye’s voice was devoid of warmth. “No.”
Hearing him deny it only made Shi Ning angrier. “If you’re angry, just say it! Why pretend you’re not?” Every time he was upset, he would never admit it, forcing her to guess! She was going to be angry now! She wouldn’t coax him anymore!
Qin Heye remained steadfast, repeating the same cold word: “No.”
This time, Shi Ning truly was furious. She snorted, focusing intently on her driving, no longer sparing him a glance. Qin Heye, hearing her indignant sound, frowned and turned his head to watch the receding nightscape outside the window. The rest of the journey passed in silence.
Shi Ning drove to their house, then stormed out of the car, walking ahead in a huff, completely ignoring Qin Heye. Since she wasn’t driving, she felt safe enough to check the barrages again.
[It’s so strange, why did Shi Ning want Qin Heye to give the West City land to Shen Xizhou? Shouldn’t it be the East City land? The plot is different.]
[What’s so strange? Shi Ning isn’t us readers; she doesn’t have a god’s-eye view to know the West City land is cursed. She probably just wants to give the good stuff to Shen Xizhou.]
[It’s not just that that’s strange. Shi Ning actually beat up Shen Xizhou, refused to let him kiss her, and even messed with Shi Qingyin! One is the man she supposedly loves most, and the other is her most beloved sister!]
[If Shi Ning, this vicious female antagonist, didn’t cause trouble, how would the sweet love story of the male and female protagonists progress?]
Shi Ning sighed. She didn’t want to read about this; she just wanted to know if Qin Heye was truly angry and how she should appease him! Qin Heye still hadn’t come inside. Shi Ning sat on the sofa, pouting, scrolling through the barrages. After a while, as if on a delayed loop, the barrages finally addressed Qin Heye’s anger.
[Qin Heye isn’t angry; he’s heartbroken! His wife wants him to give away land worth over ten billion for Shen Xizhou!]
[He was obviously devastated, but he still helped his wife park her pink mini BMW in the garage. He secretly cried in the car, sobbing like a steam kettle.]
“Shi Ning: ???”
No, Qin Heye cried again? Really? Qin Heye had been a cold, emotionless iceberg in the car; would he actually cry?
[His heart was shattered, but he was still playing Shi Ning’s synthesis and dress-up game, giving his rare clothing fragments to Shi Ning. His love is truly boundless!]
“Shi Ning: ???”
Still playing her game? Shi Ning found it hard to believe. She quickly opened the game he had been playing. The mailbox showed numerous messages: “Friend [Yishengyishi] gave you XXX clothing fragments for life,” “gave you 10 physical strength,” and “gave you…”
“Shi Ning: ???”
The amount of extra clothing fragments, daily stamina, and completed task items were significant. But it was only from this “Yishengyishi” account that she consistently received the most gifts during new clothing events and was always boosted to first place in competitions. So, this is Qin Heye?
Shi Ning couldn’t fathom that someone like Qin Heye would have such a tacky nickname as “Yishengyishi.” She simply couldn’t imagine Qin Heye playing a female-oriented game with such a cringeworthy username! If not for the barrage spoilers, she would never have guessed this was him!
After some thought, Shi Ning clicked on the private message function and sent a message to “Yishengyishi”: [Thank you, sister.]
A moment later, “Yishengyishi” replied: [You’re welcome, it’s redundant.]
[Ning: I’m twenty, are you the older sister or the younger sister?]
[Yishengyishi: …]
Shi Ning had done it on purpose, waiting for a response. But Qin Heye didn’t reply because he had returned. He walked into the living room, heading directly for the stairs without a glance at Shi Ning.
“Qin Heye!” Shi Ning called out, standing up.
Qin Heye paused, looking at Shi Ning with a cold, detached gaze. Shi Ning met his deep, icy eyes, feeling a flicker of fear. But then she remembered the West City land – a guaranteed loss. For her own position as the richest woman’s wife, and to ensure Shen Xizhou’s downfall, that land absolutely could not be given to him!
She hadn’t even opened her mouth, but Qin Heye seemed to understand. “No need to talk about the West City land!” he said coldly, turning to leave again.
Shi Ning quickly stepped forward, blocking his path with outstretched arms. “We must talk!” she insisted. “Tonight, I must convince you!”
Qin Heye’s eyes deepened, and his voice turned husky. “You want to… sleep with me?”