novelI'm Asking What Your Heart Wants To Call Me
| ← Ch.0022 | Ch.0024 → |
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Mu Qiqi's tablemate could not help sending her a message, just as she was finished with the competition and was about to return.
"Qiqi, check out the image I sent you!"
Mu Qiqi enlarged the picture to find her various 'accomplishments' during her time in Van Gogh.
Her heart tightened in panic.
"Where did you get that?"
"From Van Gogh, " her tablemate replied."Were you really like that in Van Gogh, Qiqi? Rock-bottom in grades and making trouble? Our classmates are saying they are disappointed in you, and actually regretting that you represent us in the competition..."
"Qianqian, do you trust me?" Mu Qiqi asked.
"Of course I do. Why else would I tell you?"
"I'll handle it when I get back. Stay calm, I'll explain it to everyone!" Mu Qiqi told her, before turning to glance at her old results again.
It definitely was not easy to look at. At the same time, it clearly reminded Mu Qiqi of how many times she had been the scapegoat for Mu Tangxue.
She knew that Mu Tangxue did not want to arouse suspicion by exposing her in Eaton, which was why she had someone from Van Gogh do it, and eventually spreading it to Eaton.
Her sister's scheme was no laughing matter.
When her class teacher saw the post, she instructed the class to not simply hurt their fellow classmate. After all, all of them were clearly aware of her current grades.
Moreover, Mu Qiqi was now competing for their class's sake.
Still, that did not stop the class gossiping about Mu Qiqi privately.
Naturally, they kept bugging Mu Tangxue, asking her whether Mu Qiqi was really so terrible back in Van Gogh.
Mu Tangxue answered none of their questions and acted as if she was protecting her sister, but her behavior was clearly a silent admission.
***
After the competition, Mu Qiqi returned to the little mansion in Jianchuan.
However, Su Zipei could tell from her somber look that something was troubling her."What happened?" She asked."You don't look well... did you do poorly?"
Mu Qiqi simply leapt into her arms, hugging her as she said, "Mu Tangxue exposed me. She told everyone about my history in Van Gogh, and now everyone knows that I was a troublemaker and have rock-bottom grades back then."
"She really did that?"
Mu Qiqi forwarded the post to her aunt.
Su Zipei could not help but sight after looking through it."That sister of yours really know how to put up an act. Qiqi, don't be sad..."
"I'm not sad, Aunt Zipei. I already thought about what I should do on the way back since it's a mark I can't erase or hide from. I have to confront it directly."
"I was evasive before, but I now think it doesn't matter even if I'm exposed!"
Su Zipei beamed widely at Mu Qiqi."So open-minded and sensible—you've really matured."
"I'm off to rest in my room then. I'm a little tired."
"Scoot. I'll call you in time for dinner!" Su Zipei gave her a gentle shove towards her room.
The reality was that Su Zipei was hurt inwardly for Mu Qiqi. Who else could have endured being exposed to an entire school?
Sighing, Su Zipei was about to leave to get some groceries so that she could prepare a better dinner for Qiqi when she saw Sheng Xiao enter the little mansion.
"Young Master Sheng."
"I'm bringing Qiqi out for dinner tonight, " he told her straight away.
"Alright, Young Master Sheng. That's good... I hope that she could be happier with you." Su Zipei nodded.
Sheng Xiao had already received word from Jing Yun about Mu Tangxue exposing Mu Qiqi. In fact, Mu Tangxue could pass for a genius with the depth of her schemes.
Meanwhile, Su Zipei went upstairs to Mu Qiqi."Young Master Sheng has arrived, " she told her niece."He is waiting downstairs; he said he'll take you out for dinner."
"For real?" Mu Qiqi asked excitedly.
"For real. Change your clothes and hurry up." Su Zipei smiled.
Mu Qiqi nodded quickly, quickly changing into a girly pink coat before going downstairs. After all, she remembered that the female protagonists of Korean dramas often did that, and they do look good in such clothes.
However, Sheng Xiao waved her off uncharacteristically when he saw her."Change!"
"It doesn't look good?" Mu Qiqi was stunned.
"I hate it." Sheng Xiao simply replied.
"Oh!" Mu Qiqi dashed to her room again at those words and changed into her original style."How about this?" She asked when she returned to him.
"Looks much better. Let's go."
As she followed him out of the house, she saw that he had brought his yellow sports car. Was it fixed so quickly?
"Where are we going?"
"You'll know soon." He got on, and took Mu Qiqi to a revolving restaurant near an amusement park.
Mu Qiqi was amazed when she saw the flickering lights of the amusement park."I've never been there."
"I'm not bringing you there." Sheng Xiao promptly replied."Give it up."
Mu Qiqi shook her head."I wouldn't want you to take me there anyway. That would hurt your identity."
Sheng Xiao's eyes darkened considerably right then.
"Brother Xiao..."
"What did you call me?" Sheng Xiao asked dangerously, lifting her chin from across the dinner table.
"Brother... Xiao."
"I'm asking, what do you want to call me?" Sheng Xiao pressed, his eyes looking directly into her own.
"Xiaoxiao." Mu Qiqi boldly responded."Isn't that disrespectful? But I just think that sometimes..."
"Well, that name's your reward!" Sheng Xiao said generously without so much as a twitch on his brow.
"Huh?" Mu Qiqi looked at him in surprise and disbelief."You're saying that I can call you Xiaoxiao?"
"Only when no one's around!" He insisted, before adding, "I've heard about school. Are you scared now?"
Mu Qiqi shook her head."No. I've said it before—I no longer belong to the Mu family, and I'm not going to be courteous if Mu Tangxue tries to bully me again."
Sheng Xiao studied her with admiration and smiled."Do you have a strategy?"
"Yes. In the end, I know that it's not embarrassing to have someone to expose me!" Mu Qiqi answered Sheng Xiao determinedly.
However, there was more that she hid in her heart because she was afraid to say it out loud, "Because with you beside me, I'll have the courage to defeat everything!"
"I'll be watching your performance tomorrow. Since you're so determined, I'll make an exception for you—let's get on a Ferris wheel."
"Really?" Mu Qiqi tried to confirm in her surprise.
"You don't believe me? Well, we're not going then."
"No, no! Let's go right after dinner." Mu Qiqi quickly surrendered.
***
On any other day, Sheng Xiao would be having a candlelight dinner with a beautiful woman.
However, he appeared to be more willing to accompany a young girl right now, doing something as childish as riding a Ferris wheel.
Even so, he felt nothing but comfort... for his entire body relaxed with the young lady!
| ← Ch. 0022 | Ch. 0024 → |