58: Sister-in-Law!!
The two of them locked eyes.
Qian Kun lightly furrowed his brows, looking calm and unruffled on the surface.
In reality, it was an internal magnitude-eight earthquake. His brain went into overdrive, a limit-breaking storm as he rapidly analyzed the meaning of those words from every possible angle.
He understood every word when taken apart. Put together, they suddenly made no sense at all.
For a moment, he even suspected he was hallucinating again. How did Shen Jin wake up and say something like that?
Shen Jin blinked, finding it hard to meet those pale-colored eyes.
Overwhelmed by guilt and unease, he lowered his head first. Had he known earlier, how could he possibly have gone to Qian Kun?
Why does a book run the way it does? Because of its two protagonists. According to all narrative logic, Qian Kun should have encountered You Jia many times by now.
That was irresistible fate.
And because of their friendship without any impurities, Qian Kun had chosen without hesitation to help him.
Fortunately, what they signed was only an agreement. For now, it wouldn’t delay Qian Kun from waiting for true love.
Yes, for now. As long as they terminated the agreement in time.
Just like how decisively he proposed it in the first place, after dreaming of the plot, Shen Jin realized he had become an obstacle on Qian Kun’s emotional path. He made the decision on the spot to end it.
What screen time does cannon fodder need? Cannon fodder should just stay in a corner and gather dust.
Qian Kun didn’t let him wait long. He lifted a hand and gently ruffled the tuft of hair sticking up on the boy’s head, saying warmly, “Still half asleep? What nonsense are you talking about. Go back to sleep.”
“I’m not—”
I’m very clear-headed.
Shen Jin wanted to argue, but under Qian Kun’s calm gaze, he retreated. Saying it now did feel a bit too abrupt.
Shen Jin lay back down. Qian Kun pulled the blanket over him and asked softly, “What do you want for breakfast? I’ll bring it back later. Soup dumplings or tofu pudding?”
Qian Kun always carried himself with an unshakable composure. People naturally followed his lead.
It was just that Shen Jin rarely saw this side of him.
Shen Jin had a gut feeling it was best not to bring it up right now. Otherwise, things might spiral out of control.
Besides, changing one’s mind so abruptly, who would be happy hearing that?
Shen Jin chose soup dumplings. Qian Kun nodded. The moment he stepped out of the dorm, all that gentleness vanished.
Everything had been fine when they chatted last night. Something must’ve happened afterward that he didn’t know about.
Was it because he killed mosquitoes too late?
Qian Kun punched the wall. What kind of nonsense excuse was that?
In the hallway, classmates who planned to greet him saw the ferocious look on his face and fled in panic.
Qian Kun didn’t bother to restrain himself. He was thinking about which link in the chain had gone wrong.
A boyfriend he had just gotten, not even warmed up yet, was already about to fly away.
Why did Shen Jin ask him to be his boyfriend? Because there was still an unknown pervert out there.
That couldn’t have vanished in such a short time, so it meant someone else could replace him for that role.
Who else met those conditions and had Shen Jin’s trust?
Did that even need thinking. Ke Minghuai.
Their last chat last night still stopped at Shen Jin asking whether he could contact Ke Minghuai. He believed Shen Jin wouldn’t break his word after agreeing not to. However he couldn’t stop Ke Minghuai from initiating contact.
Nine years wasn’t enough? Now he had to squeeze himself in wherever there was a gap.
Qian Kun knew that if he were in Ke Minghuai’s shoes, he would do the same. Anything, as long as it brought the person back.
No need to doubt it. Ke Minghuai really was his bane.
The top priority now was to not give Shen Jin any chance to open his mouth.
From this moment on, he had to guard tightly.
Qian Kun quickly came up with countermeasures. Shen Jin wasn’t idle either.
He sprawled on the bed, wrapped himself in the blanket, rolled a few times, then poked his head out of the cocoon to catch his breath.
Although Qian Kun’s attitude hadn’t changed much, Shen Jin still sensed a subtle difference. After he spoke, there had been a fleeting moment when Qian Kun’s gaze turned cold.
Was he angry?
Shen Jin thought about it. Leaving aside the fact that this was a novel, which sounded too absurd, everything else could still be explained and laid bare.
After explaining, he’d let Qian Kun decide for himself.
An agreement relationship was negotiated. Ending it should also be done with mutual understanding.
Even though the agreement said it could be terminated at any time, reality couldn’t be carried out that coldly.
That settled it.
Shen Jin perked up and went to the track. He didn’t see anyone morning-running. He asked the track team, and none of them had seen Qian Kun either.
He went to the cafeteria next, scanning left and right without spotting him. Instead, an Alpha walked over and handed him breakfast. “Brother Kun asked me to bring this to you.”
Shen Jin took it and saw a note on the tray.
It read: Eat your breakfast properly.
Signed: Kun.
“Where is he?”
“Seems like he’s busy with something.”
The Alpha wasn’t sure. Being able to get this close to Shen Jin still made his breathing quicken a bit.
Shen Jin soon realized that once Qian Kun didn’t want to see someone, he could really pull it off flawlessly.
First, he temporarily stopped returning to the dorm, claiming Liu Qimai’s pheromones were unstable and he needed to help. That reason left no room to argue.
Then came class breaks. Qian Kun was never at his seat. Normally plenty of people looked for him anyway. He just rarely responded.
After that, one thing after another. Either they couldn’t run into each other, or when they did, it wasn’t the right time to talk.
Everything looked justified. Shen Jin couldn’t exactly ask if he was being avoided based on a vague feeling.
If Qian Kun replied with something like, [You’re overthinking it. Why would I avoid you?] or [I have no reason to stay by your side all the time], wouldn’t that just be instant social death?
No. He couldn’t embarrass himself again.
Even with Qian Kun absent, his presence felt everywhere.
Because unfamiliar people kept delivering things on his behalf. Even the daily cup of warm water on his desk during breaks never arrived late.
Shen Jin usually couldn’t be bothered to drink water, so he’d never thought about drinking on schedule.
Until someone appeared who supervised him, rain or shine.
These past few days, the class had been whispering that Qian Kun seemed to be in low spirits and shouldn’t be provoked.
Whenever people looked over, they could see the two big shots whose relationship had just eased, back in a cold war.
Neither spoke to the other, looking like they would never reconcile.
Someone asked Shen Jin about it, hoping to mediate. That someone was Liu Qimai.
Shen Jin’s answers were all no.
Just like that, rumors flared again, saying Kun-ge might be moving out of the dorm.
You Jia had transferred in for several days now, but he still only spoke to a few people nearby. He noticed that most students here came from wealthy families. Even the less well-off weren’t anywhere near his level.
Sometimes when he passed by, he’d hear their topics. He tried to join in, only to realize he couldn’t understand a thing.
Since he’d just arrived and his uniform was still being made, he wore his own clothes.
Once in the restroom, he overheard Omegas from another class talking about him smelling like salted fish.
“Brother Kun even sits in the same row as him. Poor crown prince.”
“What’s worse is it’s not just salted fish, there’s sweat mixed in. God! What does his pheromone smell like? How does Class Nine even stand it?”
You Jia’s urge to talk to classmates weakened.
Yet he had tenacity. He refused to admit defeat.
That day, after getting paid from his part-time job, he saved up and bought two small cakes. He gave one to his aloof deskmate Zhou You. The other, he glanced at the iceberg beauty just one aisle away.
“Sh-Shen Jin.”
The mosquito-like voice was hard to catch in the noisy classroom.
Shen Jin had good hearing. He turned to look.
Seeing the protagonist shou made him feel guilty.
What Shen Jin didn’t know was that the one feeling guiltier was the protagonist shou.
You Jia handed over a Black Forest strawberry cake. “Th-this… thank you for pointing me in the right direction before.”
So polite. Come to think of it, he’d been like this when borrowing an umbrella too.
Really, how bad could a protagonist written by an author be. Otherwise it wouldn’t make sense.
Seeing You Jia’s unease, Shen Jin sighed and accepted the cake. He’d already heard plenty of rumors calling the transfer student strange.
“Don’t go to such trouble next time. I’ll treat you instead.” He knew a cake like this wasn’t easy for You Jia to afford.
You Jia’s eyes lit up. This was the only person who hadn’t rejected him when he showed goodwill.
Seeing Shen Jin working on physics problems, he thought of his own failing grades and tried to find common ground. “I don’t really get that problem. Could you teach me?”
To Shen Jin, it felt no different from when Luo Ying and the others asked questions.
Then Qian Kun returned to the classroom, feeling rather pleased with his own cleverness for nearly dispelling Shen Jin’s breakup thoughts, only to see that persistent Omega clinging to Shen Jin with questions.
Just like a bee. Once it latched on, it wouldn’t let go.
Qian Kun sat down, took Shen Jin’s half-finished physics sheet, scanned it, circled a few mistakes, then handed it back.
He didn’t say a word, but his presence alone made You Jia feel a cold front sweep past.
Qian Kun rarely said anything harsh. Yet that single glance carried an indescribable mockery, as if every thought was laid bare.
You Jia didn’t dare meet those eyes. Once Shen Jin finished explaining, he hurried back to his seat.
He suddenly realized that someone like Qian Kun was never someone he could develop feelings for.
Shen Jin glanced at his seemingly indifferent deskmate and whispered, “Why would you scare him for no reason?”
Qian Kun shrugged. “Did I do anything? He was just feeling guilty.”
Shen Jin rubbed his forehead. Do you even know he’s your official pairing? Are you aiming for a future crematorium arc? Do you want to kneel and beg your wife to come back?
Shen Jin felt that although the protagonist shou didn’t look over, he probably heard everything.
No. Even for the sake of revolutionary friendship, he had to raise Qian Kun’s impression points. “He’s not a bad person.”
Qian Kun raised a brow, glanced at Shen Jin’s pale lips like April cherry blossoms at dusk, his gaze deepening.
He couldn’t be bothered to argue over something so trivial and nodded along. “He’s not bad.” Just annoying.
The young master added casually, “Want green tea? My mom got some pre-rain Longjing. I heard your cousin likes it.”
Qian Kun shifted his gaze aside and noticed You Jia’s shoulders tremble.
Shen Jin didn’t catch it. He didn’t think Qian Kun would target an unfamiliar Omega.
How did Qian Kun know his cousin liked tea anyway? Shen Xie’an must’ve let it slip again. Did that kid have too little homework?
Didn’t he know Qian Kun was just being polite?
Shen Jin declined. Seeing Qian Kun in this carefree, romantic air, he thought this was the perfect opportunity.
The class bell rang. Shen Jin finally caught Qian Kun during a class he wasn’t sleeping through. Did he know how many days he’d waited?
These past few days, Qian Kun was either skipping class or sleeping.
He hadn’t had a chance to talk at all.
The opportunity arrived quietly. Shen Jin tore off a scrap of paper and wrote: [Do you have time, we—] talk properly.
Before he could pass it over, Qian Kun leaned close and said, “Stop writing. Old Feng’s at the back door.”
Old Feng was their dean. Recently, during a visit to the office, he’d overheard the English teacher discussing early romance and pointedly mentioning Qian Kun.
Qian Kun was already on every teacher’s radar. Passing by today, Old Feng deliberately observed. Seeing Shen Jin bent over listening attentively, he only felt teachers were reading too much into things.
If anyone was dating, it wouldn’t be Shen Jin.
Model students like him were the industry benchmark.
Old Feng stood watching for quite a while.
Shen Jin missed his chance and internally beat his chest.
Time slipped by until the sports meet. Shen Jin counted on his fingers. The young master had been half out of contact for several days again.
This push-and-pull felt like dangling a carrot just out of reach. Shen Jin sighed.
The new class uniforms were rushed and delivered in batches.
That morning, the last batch remained. Shen Jin had everyone go to the venue first while he waited at the school gate.
The sports meet was held at the city stadium. Day students went directly. Dorm students had already set off early.
Shen Jin waited anxiously, refreshing Qian Kun’s status.
Today’s status read: [Thunderstorm.jpg] Don’t provoke me.
The past few days had been similar. Clearly, this couldn’t be discussed over chat. Things like this needed face-to-face expressions
Since when did saying a word require passing trials and tribulations?
Shen Jin received the last uniforms, including the custom ones for Qian Kun and the others. He seemed to have grown taller again.
As he lowered his head to open a ride app, a roar came from nearby. He looked up to see a silver-blue motorcycle with smooth lines.
The rider executed a clean drift and stopped right in front of him.
A helmet was tossed over. Seeing Shen Jin hesitate, the rider said, “What are you spacing out for. Get on.”
Shen Jin huffed inwardly and climbed onto the back seat.
You are avoiding me, right?
At the E exit of the city stadium, many students from Shengsi High were gathered. They were old classmates of Qian Kun and the others. Those who hadn’t gone to Nanhu mostly ended up at this private school.
Thanks to their active coordination, they’d finally joined this joint sports meet.
“What’s with Kun-ge? Didn’t he say he left ages ago?” Ji Zhen anxiously stared at the road.
Liu Qimai made a call, but it wasn’t answered.
“A-You, do you know?” Ji Zhen asked.
Zhou You scanned the sea of students, seemingly not finding who he wanted. “Seems like he went to pick someone up.”
“Who else isn’t here?”
“Is that the point? The point is who could make him personally go pick them up.”
“You think he… hehe.” An Alpha waggled his brows. The others instantly understood.
“Hahahaha, stop dreaming.”
“Yeah, if someone’s on Brother Kun’s back seat, that person would be—”
“Sister-in-law?!”
Several troublemaking Alphas shouted in unison.
Ji Zhen’s face darkened. She shot them a cold look and they changed the subject.
One Alpha asked, “Mai-zi, weren’t you chasing that one from before? How’s it going?”
At that, Liu Qimai drooped.
He wasn’t slacking. Shen Jin was just way too guarded around Alphas. Casual chats were fine. The moment it veered elsewhere, he’d retreat instantly.
The boundaries were clearly defined. There was simply no opportunity!
Worst of all, he had to endure Kun-ge’s gaze every time.
Just thinking of that half-smiling look sent chills down his spine.
He always felt like he had overlooked something.
“When we coordinated the sports meet with Nanhu, we even talked you up a lot. Loyal enough, right?” one Alpha said.
Moved, Liu Qimai patted him and reignited his fighting spirit. “With brothers like you, what do I need a bike for. With your support, I can’t just quit.”
Just as he regained confidence, a motorcycle cut through the crowd and headed toward them.
Everyone stared in disbelief. A limited-edition bike was rare enough. Add the flamboyant aura of its rider and there was no mistaking it.
So why was someone sitting behind Brother Kun.
The person wore a helmet. Their face wasn’t visible, but just the pair of straight, long legs was enough to draw every eye.
Wuhu.
Sister-in-law!!
Author’s Note:
Qian Qian: Call her sister-in-law
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