Chapter 17: Qin Sui’s Waterloo

Chapter 17

Sheng Jun couldn't help but laugh and cry: "What do you mean 'your Li Xiaoya'? The little girl belongs to her parents."

Sheng Yuxiao said, "But she doesn't have parents."

Sheng Jun was at a loss for words, then proceeded to educate him: "You still can't talk like that. It's disrespectful to the little girl."

Sheng Yuxiao didn't respond to his father's words.

In his heart, he was actually considering taking Li Xiaoya away from that small mountain village... but it wasn't the right time to say that.

Li Qingqing, standing nearby, was also very anxious. She hadn't expected Sheng Yuxiao to care so much about Li Xiaoya.

She lowered her head, hiding the changing emotions in her eyes, then softly asked, "Did brother get hurt protecting Li Xiaoya?"

Sheng Yuxiao sat back on the bed, glancing sideways at Li Qingqing. His tone turned cold, a stark contrast to his previous anxiety: "Who told you that?"

This cold, even slightly superior tone immediately reminded Li Qingqing of Xu Qiulai.

This mother and son were equally arrogant.

Li Qingqing's heart tightened as she said, "That's what everyone is saying."

Sheng Yuxiao suddenly turned to look at Sheng Jun: "Do you think so too?"

Sheng Jun shook his head: "That's your own business. What does it have to do with the little girl? Of course, if you really did protect her, that's a good thing. It shows you're finally growing up a bit, having a sense of responsibility and knowing to protect the weak."

Sheng Yuxiao's expression softened a little, and he asked Sheng Jun in return: "Then are you willing to let me go back and continue protecting the weak?"

Sheng Jun said, "First, call your mother. She's very worried about you."

Sheng Yuxiao paused for a moment, then immediately asked the staff for a phone.

As he dialed Xu Qiulai's number, while waiting for her to answer, he didn't forget to turn back to Li Qingqing and say, "Don't call me brother."

Li Qingqing clenched her hands, almost unable to control her expression.

She could only turn to look at Sheng Jun, hoping the mild-mannered and elegant Mr. Sheng would speak up for her. But Sheng Jun didn't say anything, just beckoned to her, and then the two of them walked out of the hospital room, leaving Sheng Yuxiao alone to talk with his mother.

"This is just Yuxiao's temperament. He's always drawn clear lines between people, not allowing anyone to cross the boundaries he's set," Sheng Jun said.

[What a godly father! So tolerant of his son's personality and preferences]

[Actually, it's good that Young Master Sheng is like this. When he grows up, he won't become a player, and he won't break girls' hearts]

[+1, I hate those men who can't control themselves whenever a girl calls them 'brother'. Why make so many 'sisters'? *rolls eyes*]

[Li Qingqing seems a bit tactless]

[Well, she's young]

Li Qingqing, trying her best to control her trembling body, asked Sheng Jun, "Then what should I do for brother to like me?"

Sheng Jun narrowed his eyes slightly: "Why do you insist on him liking you?"

Li Qingqing felt flustered under his gaze, but she still maintained a careful, pitiful expression and said, "I hope everyone likes me. I'm afraid... afraid of people not liking me."

[Oh, so it's a people-pleasing personality? That's quite pitiful]

Sheng Jun nodded: "I understand how you feel, but... given Yuxiao's personality, it's probably very difficult."

Why? Li Qingqing gritted her teeth secretly.

Meanwhile, Xu Qiulai quickly persuaded her son: "It's best to let the wound heal until it's no longer visible before you go back."

"Mother, I'm not that weak."

"Have you considered Li Xiaoya?"

[She appreciates it too much! Quick, go see Li Xiaoya's side]

Some confused audience members hurried over.

Li Xiaoya had just finished sorting different types of mushrooms and tidying up the eggs, then stared blankly at the large basket.

She rested her chin on her knees and mumbled softly, "Can't go to the city anymore."

[Oh right, Sheng Yuxiao said he'd take her to town to sell mushrooms. Now that he's not here, um, why doesn't she ask Qin Sui?]

[Wait, look closely at the mushrooms she's sorted out. Chanterelles, porcini, termite mushrooms... These are all rare wild edible mushrooms! They sell for a lot in the market! And you're telling me the vegetable buyer only offered three yuan for these?]

[Ah, Li Xiaoya, don't sell them! Wait for young master Sheng to come back!]

The bullet comments were still buzzing with excitement when Qin Sui suddenly entered from outside.

The environment here was terrible, but for Qin Sui, it wasn't unbearable yet. He had found a large rock outside to sit on and read for the entire afternoon, until his stomach growled with hunger.

"Where do you eat?" Qin Sui asked.

Li Xiaoya looked up at him and pointed to the ground beneath her feet.

Qin Sui frowned. Eat right here? He had never experienced such a poor dining environment in his life.

"What do we eat?" Qin Sui asked again.

Li Xiaoya told him: "You have to find your own food."

Qin Sui suddenly felt a sense of absurdity. "Find it myself?"

Li Xiaoya didn't say anything more, only leaving him with a view of her cold but fluffy head.

The bullet comments were shocked:

[She's really ignoring Qin Sui completely!]

[Li Xiaoya, you're doing Sheng Yuxiao proud. If he knew you weren't giving Qin Sui any face, wouldn't he be thrilled?]

[Come to think of it, is this the first Waterloo in Qin Sui's smooth-sailing life?]

For Qin Sui... it really was.

Although he had a gloomy personality, his personal charm had always been strong, with many followers around him. Otherwise, how could he compete with Sheng Yuxiao?

When Qin Sui came, he had good intentions. He didn't plan to bother with anyone in the village, not being stupid like Sheng Yuxiao, taking care of some little girl...

But he didn't expect that the little girl wouldn't want to bother with him either.

Qin Sui frowned. Well, going hungry for a meal or two wasn't a big deal.

Soon, the moon hung on the treetops.

The little girl was crouching at the doorway, counting... money in the moonlight?

Qin Sui walked over and asked, "Is this your money? Or money given by the show? Can't we use money to buy food?"

Li Xiaoya didn't even turn her head: "No."

Qin Sui changed his approach: "What if I borrow it? I can pay you back tenfold."

Li Xiaoya was unusually firm: "No, I can't afford to feed you." She paused, then said: "This money is for taking care of Sheng Yuxiao."

Qin Sui's throat tightened.

[Hahaha, savage!]

[Qin Sui: Why do I suddenly feel a bit jealous of Sheng Yuxiao?]