No? Can I read the mind of my mortal enemy?

Pei Jingnian won the Super Hero award, right?

This was Shi Qiao and Jiang Youran's first reaction.

Shi Qiao's mind was in complete confusion. After all, that big bouquet of flowers was something she had bought for herself!

She rushed over, yelling and cursing, "What are you doing!"

She desperately wanted to reach into the trash can and scoop out the flowers, but Pei Jingnian grabbed her by the neck and pulled her to his side.

No matter how much she struggled, Pei Jingnian remained unmoved, with one hand around her neck.

Lu Zhou was ready to watch the show, completely forgetting that he was the one who had originally stirred up trouble.

Xia Heng put on a kind smile and continued to perform his duties, "It's okay, Shi Qiao, I'll just buy you a new bouquet later."

Pei Jingnian's cold gaze swept over them. "Still want to buy?"

Shi Qiao was furious. She silently repeated Master Zhou's words, "Be ruthless," three times in her heart, and bit Pei Jingnian's arm fiercely.

She stood with her hands on her hips, blocking Pei Jingnian and Xia Heng. "What's wrong with him giving me a few flowers when he's pursuing me?"

"What right do you have to interfere?"

Pei Jingnian leaned forward slightly, adjusting his position to be at the same height as Shi Qiao. His thin lips parted, and he slowly uttered a sentence:

"Because you're allergic to pollen."

Lu Zhou couldn't hold back any longer and pinched his thigh tightly.

You mustn't laugh, you absolutely mustn't laugh.

Please, please stop letting Shi Qiao play a fool; she's just too convincing.

He reached out and poked Xia Heng, then turned to Jiang Youran beside him, mouthed "Don't disturb them," and quickly cleared the area.

Only Pei Jingnian and Shi Qiao remained in place.

Shi Qiao's previously upright posture suddenly hunched over, her eyes darting around. "I... am allergic to pollen...?"

Pei Jingnian lightly brushed her forehead with his bangs. "What do you think?"

"When you were three years old, a relative invited us to visit the Rose Manor."

"As a result, you went in and your face broke out in a rash. Luckily, it wasn't a respiratory allergy, or you would have died in the rose garden."

Shi Qiao swallowed hard. "So... when we were little, the reason you threw away the money I asked you for was because..."

"Hmm," Pei Jingnian's sharp features softened considerably, "You're not still holding a grudge about that incident, are you?"

So his wife holds grudges without remembering the reasons?

Shi Qiao's cheeks puffed out slightly, a blush crept up her ears, and her light pink lips turned crimson. "I... I didn't."

[Ah...so cute, my wife, waaaaah.]

The way she wants to spend money but pretends not to is just so cute!

What exactly does it take for a wife to not be cute?

【You need money, right? Don't worry, just leave it to your husband. He'll take care of it for you!】

Pei Jingnian averted his gaze, afraid that if he looked any longer, he wouldn't be able to resist kissing her. "But after that, didn't I give you another one?"

Shi Qiao tilted her head. "When?"

"It's on your... desk." Pei Jingnian felt inexplicably ashamed, and his voice became a few decibels lower.

Was it on her desk?

Shi Qiao racked her brains but couldn't recall receiving any flowers.

"You gave it to the wrong person, didn't you?"

"Never mind if you don't remember." Pei Jingnian's hair stood up in two strands, and he stood up straight with his hands in his pockets.

[Waaaaaah, honey! I'm getting angry!]

I spent ages learning from others before I could fold just one for you!

[Specially placed on your desk!]

Oh well, my wife is cute even though she's a bit silly.

Shi Qiao suddenly remembered something.

—Hey Xiaoqiao, make sure to throw your trash in the trash can! Leaving it on the table will cause trouble for the students who are cleaning today.

—Be careful next time, okay? Otherwise, the teacher will give you a devil star sticker!

So... those were flowers...

She was also wondering when she had started littering.

However, just thinking about Pei Jingnian's arrogant demeanor when he was a child, and how he would take craft paper to ask others for help, makes me feel a little sad.

They're strangely cute.

A faint smile played at the corners of her lips. She put her hands behind her back, tiptoed a couple of times, and said, "Oh, let's skip this topic."

"I remember you didn't have class this morning, what are you doing here?"

[Awesome!! My wife remembered my class schedule, hehe.]

Pei Jingnian said matter-of-factly, "I'll pick you up for lunch."

Shi Qiao was stunned. "Why?"

"Because I'm pursuing you now." Pei Jingnian took two steps down the stairs, took out his keys from his pocket, and asked, "Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

Shi Qiao was once again struck to the core by this sudden, direct approach.

No, no, I've been led by the nose for far too long lately.

With her schoolbag on her back, she took a few steps past Pei Jingnian and said, "Then I'll have to think about whether I want to have lunch with you."

"Given your current attitude, I will not agree."

Pei Jingnian squinted and lifted her bag, his dark shadow completely enveloping her.

"What kind of invitations did the puppy like back then?"

His dark eyes were clear and bright, yet unfathomable, as if he wanted to strip her bare and pull out her truest self.

She twirled the fabric between her fingers, saying, "Those who are willing don't need to be taught; those who are not willing cannot be taught."

Pei Jingnian pressed the distance between them closer, his fingers tracing the back of her hand, his lips brushing against her burning earlobe.

"Shi Qiao, I'd like to have dinner with you."

"Not just today, but every day from now on."

"Could you give me a chance, spare me a little time?"

Shi Qiao: !!!

She was jolted away from Pei Jingnian's knuckles as if electrocuted, almost losing her balance. The capillaries under her skin had completely spread out and turned bright red from his casual words.

"Pei... Pei Jingnian! Where did you learn all this! It's nothing like you at all!"

These straightforward, flowery words, which gradually overlapped with his true feelings, actually came out of his mouth.

Pei Jingnian clenched his fist, as if he were holding Shi Qiao's soft little hand again, his eyes swirling with emotion.

"Don't you like this?" He lowered his eyes.

Shi Qiao's lips opened and closed several times, but she stammered and couldn't utter a complete sentence.

Pei Jingnian's lips curved into a smile as he gently took Shi Qiao's hand. "If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes."

It seems that's indeed the case.

Shi Qiao was feeling dizzy, and hearing this made her feel even more bloated.

What would that be?

*

Sitting in the passenger seat next to Pei Jingnian, Shi Qiao felt her heart rate never drop below 120.

The man beside her, however, looked completely at ease.

She quietly took out her phone and swiped her thumb repeatedly to find Master Zhou's WeChat.

[Grumpy Chocliz: Master Zhou! SOS! Emergency!]

[Grumpy Chocliz: I think I'm about to reach my limit!]

The phone that Pei Jingnian had placed on the central armrest vibrated twice.