Giving You Dawn and Dusk - Chapter 11

Liang Shi cleared her throat. She first glanced at Xu Qingzhu, saw her expression was calm and she had no reaction, and then replied: “I didn’t hear you.”

Lin Xingcan was wearing an orange-themed Lolita dress with a large petticoat. She had orange blush on her cheeks, and two loose braids draped over her shoulders. Her initial visual impression was one of pure cuteness.

She pouted, her tone carrying a hint of grievance. “Fine, I forgive you.”

Liang Shi: “…”

Oh.

Does this little princess have ‘princess syndrome’?

It was only a guess.

“What are you doing here?” Lin Xingcan asked.

Liang Shi answered concisely: “Busy with something.”

“What something?”

Liang Shi: “…”

Her expression nearly broke.

She still managed to handle it. “Just some family matters.”

Saying this was a clear signal that she didn’t want to be questioned further, but Lin Xingcan smiled. “What family matters do you have that I wouldn’t know about? You didn’t get married and decide to exclude me, did you? I grew up with you, you know.”

Liang Shi was helpless and managed a faint smile. “It’s really not convenient to say.”

Afraid Lin Xingcan would press further, she waved her hand. “I need to go first.”

With that, she reached out for Xu Qingzhu’s hand.

She didn’t grab tightly, even deliberately shifting her grip toward Xu Qingzhu’s wrist.

Having been in the entertainment industry for years, she had mastered the essence of the “gentleman’s hand.”

Due to her own orientation, she was naturally somewhat cautious around many female actors.

“Lioness,” Lin Xingcan called out, reaching for Liang Shi, but Liang Shi easily avoided her. She turned back. “Is there something else?”

“I just wanted to ask if you’re free? Want to grab a coffee?” Lin Xingcan smiled, showing a neat row of teeth. “I just finished a photoshoot and I’m a little thirsty. Let’s go to the coffee shop up ahead.”

Confirmed.

This person has princess syndrome.

She had a baby face, and her smile looked innocent and pure.

Liang Shi had always disliked this type.

Sun Chengcheng, who had caused her to be cyber-bullied before, also had this type of look.

She inevitably brought a bit of her personal bias into it.

“No coffee,” Liang Shi refused. “My wife and I have something to do. We’ll be going now.”

She pulled Xu Qingzhu closer, making the action seem intimate and affectionate.

“Ah?” Lin Xingcan’s eyes widened, looking remorseful. “I didn’t even see her. Miss Xu is here too.”

She tapped her forehead with a curved finger. “Look at my memory. I actually forgot what you look like. You remember me, right? I attended your wedding. That night, I helped carry Lioness into the room. You must remember that, right?”

She stared intently at Xu Qingzhu, afraid she would deny it.

Xu Qingzhu returned her gaze without flinching, then lowered her eyes and chuckled softly, as if thinking of something amusing.

Lin Xingcan immediately grew displeased and questioned, “What are you laughing at?”

Xu Qingzhu ceased her laughter, her voice faint. “I remember. The young heiress of Shengmao Group, Liang Shi’s childhood friend, and the person with a 99% pheromone match with her, right?”

“Mmm.” Lin Xingcan nodded heavily, then clicked her tongue. “But it’s still a shame, Lioness ended up marrying you.”

She used the affectionate nickname “Lioness” repeatedly.

It was the nickname she had given Liang Shi.

A name exclusive to her.

Xu Qingzhu saw through her petty tricks but couldn’t be bothered to expose them.

Even if she did, Liang Shi would probably say she was judging a gentleman’s intentions with a villain’s heart, and that Lin Xingcan wasn’t as bad as she thought, and definitely not a tea (a term for manipulative women).

An Alpha not seeing the manipulative nature of another Omega was understandable.

But Liang Shi could easily spot other manipulative people.

Ultimately, it still came down to Liang Shi simply believing Lin Xingcan was more important and more trustworthy.

In the past, Xu Qingzhu would have been hurt by these things, but now she was completely indifferent.

She smiled faintly. “You two go have coffee. I need to go find my sister.”

“I’ll go with you,” Liang Shi stopped her.

Xu Qingzhu’s gaze swept over her wrist and landed on her eyes. Their eyes met.

Liang Shi offered a very gentle smile.

The Liang Shi she had seen since waking up seemed to genuinely enjoy smiling.

She was constantly sending out friendly signals.

Xu Qingzhu looked at her hand again. The feeling that “the person in front of me is not Liang Shi” grew stronger.

But she couldn’t imagine who this person would be if she wasn’t Liang Shi.

What kind of method could have replaced the original Liang Shi?

As she was contemplating, Liang Shi looked at Lin Xingcan and said, “Xingcan?”

Her tone was slightly elevated but carried a sense of distance.

Lin Xingcan’s eyes curved into crescent moons, and she smiled innocently. “I’m here. What is it?”

Liang Shi’s voice was very steady, but if you listened carefully, it was cool and indifferent. “I don’t think you should be drinking coffee.”

“Ah?” Lin Xingcan was caught off guard. “What do you mean?”

Liang Shi smiled. “Yingshan Cloud Mist and West Lake Longjing are both very suitable for you. You should try them.”

Lin Xingcan: “?”

“My marriage to my wife is a happy and very fortunate thing,” Liang Shi said. “I don’t feel it’s a shame at all. What do you think?”

Lin Xingcan: “…”

“We have things to do, so we’ll be going now,” Liang Shi said, taking Xu Qingzhu away. She paused slightly and added, “Enjoy your tea.”

Lin Xingcan: “…”

Damn it.

After they had crossed the street, Lin Xingcan finally recovered. She pointed incredulously at her nose and asked, “Did Liang Shi just call me ‘tea’?”

The friends who had witnessed the entire exchange first shook their heads, then nodded.

“What does that mean?” Lin Xingcan snapped.

“She seemed, well,” the friend was afraid of Lin Xingcan but forced herself to tell the truth. “She was implying you’re a green tea (a manipulative female).”

Lin Xingcan tossed the lipstick she was holding onto the ground. “Dammit, has Liang Shi gone crazy?”

“Is there a possibility…” a friend muttered under her breath, “…that it’s not Liang Shi?”