Chapter 23
“Shen Shiwu actually called me ‘owner’ and asked me to kiss her!”
Jiang Siyi sat at her desk, surrounded by a mountain of worksheets and textbooks, but what she was writing in was a notebook.
Obviously, Little Jiang was writing in her diary.
“She’s been a bit scary lately. Although I kind of like it, I still need to avoid her—my lips can’t take any more damage!”
Jiang Siyi gripped her pen, furiously scribbling down her thoughts, a stream of consciousness, all centered around Shen Shiwu.
After filling a whole page, she reread it with satisfaction, then carefully hid it in her drawer.
Hiss, I touched my lip, it hurts.
Jiang Siyi licked the wound, feeling a rare sense of helplessness—
This must be what they call a happy problem. Sigh, single dogs like Xu Yuan wouldn’t understand.
***
Jiang Siyi, afraid of further injuries, secretly avoided Shen Shiwu for a few days, until a week later, she was caught and dragged into the car, headed for the airport.
It was a clear day, the sun finally emerging from behind the clouds, its warmth enveloping the girl. She squinted, sleepiness creeping in.
“Xiao Si,” the woman suddenly spoke.
Jiang Siyi, mid-yawn, feeling uncomfortable, replied, “What?”
“Avoiding me again?”
Again?
The girl’s lips still ached faintly. She fidgeted with her fingers, hesitant to tell the truth.
Glancing at Shen Shiwu’s side profile, she noticed the woman’s expression was a bit gloomy, so she gritted her teeth and confessed, “I’m afraid you’ll bite me again.”
After saying it, she realized it didn’t sound quite right.
So she corrected herself. “Afraid you’ll… kiss me again.”
That didn’t sound much better either.
Jiang Siyi, after a few seconds of silence, decided to show, not tell. She pointed at her lips, where a small scab had formed.
She lowered her eyes, looking slightly aggrieved. “It hurts.”
Half an hour later, in the first-class lounge, Shen Shiwu watched the sleeping girl beside her and reflected on her own behavior.
She had indeed been a bit out of control lately.
Jiang Siyi looked angelic while sleeping, all her prickliness gone, revealing only her softest and most vulnerable side.
Shen Shiwu brushed a strand of hair from her face. The girl, a light sleeper, stirred and leaned her head against Shen Shiwu’s hand.
Feeling her warmth, the woman sighed inwardly.
Forget it, she should shed her wolf skin and be a good person for now.
The flight from Qinan to England took more than ten hours. Fortunately, Shen Yun had booked first-class tickets, so even a long flight wouldn’t be too uncomfortable.
With the eight-hour time difference, it was still morning in England when they landed. Shen Yun had sent a private driver to pick them up. Looking at the foggy weather outside, Jiang Siyi instinctively grasped Shen Shiwu’s finger.
She easily felt insecure in unfamiliar environments.
Shen Shiwu knew this and pulled her into a hug, gently patting her back. Jiang Siyi glanced at the driver, who was focused on the road, and hesitantly pulled back slightly.
Seeing her struggle, Shen Shiwu, in her “good person” mode, didn’t stop her, only saying softly, “I’m here, you don’t have to be afraid.”
Jiang Siyi’s tense body relaxed.
She held Shen Shiwu’s hand tightly, their intertwined fingers hidden from view.
Shen Yun lived in a bright, luxurious manor. Getting out of the car, Jiang Siyi stared at the large European-style house, her eyes fixed on the countless Roman columns.
So rich.
Just as she thought this, a woman in a dark-colored dress hurried out. She wobbled in her high heels, her pace slowing as she descended the steps.
Jiang Siyi quickly went over to help her.
Seeing her approach, Shen Yun didn’t say a word but pulled her into a hug.
“Xiao Si, oh my, you’ve grown so much! You’re eighteen now, right?” The woman patted her head a few times, then said, “The gift I prepared for you is inside, wait here, I’ll go get it!”
She hurried inside, then came back out a few seconds later, waving at the girl. “Xiao Si, come in, what are you standing there for?”
Jiang Siyi blinked and smiled. “Okay, Auntie.”
They sat on the sofa. Shen Yun was still upstairs, and Jiang Siyi felt a little nervous, as this was her first time meeting Shen Shiwu’s mother.
“My mom is quite lively. She’ll probably want to chat with you about everything,” Shen Shiwu reassured her. “Don’t be nervous.”
“Just talk to her like you talk to me.”
“Then Auntie will probably find me too loud.” Jiang Siyi shook her head, thinking it wouldn’t work. “I should be more polite.”
Just as she finished speaking, Shen Yun rushed down the stairs, holding a small rosewood box. Jiang Siyi immediately straightened her back, more attentive than in math class.
Shen Shiwu smiled helplessly and shook her head.
“Come here, Xiao Si, give me your hand.”
Judging by the box’s appearance, the contents were definitely expensive. Jiang Siyi hesitated to extend her hand as Shen Yun approached.
Shen Yun simply took her wrist and opened the box, revealing a beautiful ice jade bangle.
Jiang Siyi didn’t know much about jade, but just looking at the quality, she knew it was worth a fortune.
“A 54 mm diameter, perfect fit.” Shen Yun put the bangle on her wrist, nodding with satisfaction. Then she said gently, “This is an adult gift from Auntie. Don’t feel burdened, just accept it.”
Jiang Siyi felt the weight on her wrist. She wanted to say something, but Shen Shiwu patted her head.
She whispered, “Just accept it.”
Little Jiang opened her mouth, then obediently thanked her. “Thank you, Auntie.”
The London winter was harsh. On New Year’s Eve, it snowed heavily, half-burying the red telephone booths, the snow falling softly onto the ground, melting into a spilled latte.
This was Jiang Siyi’s first time abroad. Shen Yun led her through the streets, their pace quick. Glancing back, Jiang Siyi saw Shen Shiwu following them at a leisurely pace.
Amidst the falling snow and the sea of unfamiliar faces, the unease in Jiang Siyi’s heart was gradually soothed by love, and she no longer felt lost.
Chinatown was especially lively tonight, filled with the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year, decorated in vibrant red, with long strings of lanterns hanging outside many restaurants.
“Xiao Si, look, the parade floats and the lion dance!”
Shen Yun, having lived here for so many years, was used to this, but she still patted Jiang Siyi’s hand, gesturing for her to look.
Jiang Siyi, despite the deafening music, didn’t find it noisy. The parade participants were mostly Chinese people dressed in Hanfu, their faces beaming. As they passed by, a young woman suddenly handed Jiang Siyi a lantern.
“Thank you, Happy New Year,” Shen Yun thanked her, seeing the girl’s stunned expression.
“There are many small events in Chinatown during the New Year. Xiao Si, you have to react quickly.”
Jiang Siyi, holding the handmade lantern, blinked. “Okay.”
The snow intensified, and the three of them went into a taiyaki shop, sitting by the window to watch the snow. As they chatted, the window fogged up, and Jiang Siyi, peering through the mist, saw a couple kissing outside.
Her face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head, continuing to eat her red bean taiyaki. It was delicious, the sweetness a pleasant contrast to the cold.
Shen Yun excused herself to go to the bathroom, but she didn’t return for a long time. They later learned that she had run into an old friend and was catching up.
Shen Shiwu, after learning the situation, returned and tapped the table, startling Jiang Siyi. She looked up and asked, “What are you doing?”
“You were watching them kiss for that long?”
“…I was watching the snow!”
It was cold outside, and Shen Yun was sensitive to the cold. Since she had run into an old friend, Shen Shiwu told her to stay in the shop while she took Jiang Siyi for a walk.
Pushing open the wooden door, snowflakes landed on the girl’s eyelashes. She blinked, brushing them away.
Shen Shiwu asked, “Where does Xiao Si want to go?”
Jiang Siyi sniffed, remembering Big Ben from her English textbook, and stared at her shoes. After a moment, she said, “I want to see the clock.”
“Big Ben.”
The Thames at night, illuminated by the city lights, shimmered. The wind was strong at the pier, and Shen Shiwu tightened Jiang Siyi’s scarf, holding her close to share her warmth.
The snow lessened after they boarded the cruise. Jiang Siyi went to the bar for a hot drink, then went up to the upper deck, holding onto the railing, letting the wind blow on her face.
Despite the cold, her heart was warm, her hand intertwined with Shen Shiwu’s, her whole body tingling.
The cruise passed by many famous landmarks, such as the London Eye, Big Ben, and Shakespeare’s Globe.
At each spot, Jiang Siyi took many pictures with her phone, but the camera was often tilted.
Because she was secretly taking pictures of Shen Shiwu.
Only after her photo album was filled with blurry pictures of Shen Shiwu was she satisfied, unaware that Shen Shiwu had noticed her little actions.
She found the girl’s sneaky behavior endearing.
The cruise continued its journey, and before it got completely dark, they finally reached Big Ben.
The grand structure stood majestically. Jiang Siyi had thought that with her difficult life, she would never see the things she had only read about in textbooks, but reality proved her wrong.
At eighteen, standing beside the person she loved, she was witnessing many beautiful sights.
At this moment, she had no other wishes, only hoping that this happiness would last forever.
Jiang Siyi felt a lump forming in her throat. The wind, mixed with snow, stung her cheeks, but a warm touch quickly followed.
Shen Shiwu kissed her eyes, as if trying to kiss away all her sadness.
“Why are you crying?”
Jiang Siyi’s eyelashes fluttered. “Because I feel too happy.”
Too happy.
So, the thought of them parting ways one day made her heart ache.
She desperately wanted to make a promise.
The cruise sailed steadily. As they passed by the London Eye, many people stood up from the viewing sofas. The mix of languages and the tour guide’s voice made Jiang Siyi’s heart race.
Her hot drink had gone cold, and her fingers were icy from the wind.
The girl rubbed her fingers, then said seriously, “Shen Shiwu.”
“Yes?”
“I have a very extravagant request. Will you agree to it?”
Shen Shiwu’s eyes, fixed on the girl’s dark, bright eyes, sparkled with amusement.
“I agree.”
Jiang Siyi felt the cold drink in her hand suddenly become warm again.
She held Shen Shiwu’s hand tighter, her voice soft, almost coquettish.
“Stay with me forever.”
Jiang Siyi felt a little shameless, but then she thought, We’re dating now, what’s so wrong with asking for this?
The cruise gradually approached the London Eye, the air filled with chatter in different languages.
Suddenly, the snow intensified, and everyone retreated indoors, the sudden silence almost eerie.
“Okay,” Shen Shiwu’s voice was soft, almost a whisper, yet full of affection. “I swear.”
“I’ll stay with you forever, until my soul perishes.”
Unable to resist, they kissed.
In the snowy night, on the Thames.
As the cruise passed by the London Eye, a bird flew overhead. Besides that, no one knew.
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