Chapter 56

Chapter 56 - 56 055 The romance fell through coaxing Xie Shang Chapter 56: 055: The romance fell through, coaxing Xie Shang (second update) Chapter 56: 055: The romance fell through, coaxing Xie Shang (second update) After they started dating, things didn’t seem much different. Wen Changling wasn’t clingy, and Xie Shang had his own things to do. They rarely called each other, didn’t exchange good morning or good night messages, and there was no physical contact.

However, Xie Shang had gotten Wen Changling’s shift schedule, and these days they ate breakfast together. Xie Shang was always very sleepy in the morning, speaking lethargically and lacking energy, appearing as the most bullyable version of himself for the day.

Based on Wen Changling’s observations, the light next door would always be turned off early at night. Xie Shang probably didn’t stay up late, and roughly speaking, he might sleep for about ten hours a day. No wonder they say that beauty is something you sleep your way into.

Wen Changling was a considerate girlfriend who wouldn’t disturb her beauty’s sleep, “If you can’t make it up, we don’t need to eat together.”

The waitress had made a mistake with the side dish, adding beans to Xie Shang’s order.

He didn’t eat beans and didn’t ask the waitress to serve another dish, opting to pick them out himself. As beans kept slipping from his chopsticks, it completely woke him up, and his expression started to show irritation.

Wen Changling thought he hadn’t heard her, “If you can’t make it up–”

He put down his chopsticks and pushed the bowl towards Wen Changling, still showing the annoyance from the chopsticks incident, “I can’t pick them up.”

“...Oh.”

Wen Changling’s chopsticks were still unused, so she didn’t bother to change them, and started picking out the beans one by one for Xie Shang. It would be a pity to throw them away, so she just put them into her own bowl.

“I didn’t say I couldn’t make it up.”

Xie Shang was watching how Wen Changling handled her chopsticks.

Finally done, she said, “I’ll go get you a spoon.”

Xie Shang refused, “No need.”

Alright then.

She had never noticed before and had thought he was someone too refined for the common pleasures of life. It turned out he could also be stubborn and capricious, not good with chopsticks, yet reluctant to use a spoon.

“I have a cousin at home, four years old, and he eats with a spoon.”

Wen Changling showed confusion: so?

“I’m twenty-six.” When he was eight, Xie Liangjiang had required him to memorize the entire Criminal Law. He couldn’t be left-

handed, his table manners had to be impeccable, otherwise, it was regarded as indecent and lacking discipline. Xie Shang was not afraid of being rebellious, he simply disliked showing weakness.

Wen Changling didn’t understand.

Actually, Wen Changling was overthinking it.

Xie Shang wouldn’t use chopsticks to pick up anything round in front of others or at the Xie Family, his inability to skillfully handle chopsticks was a secret to him.

After dinner, Wen Changling made a rare initiative and sent a message to Xie Shang.

[Did you have dinner?]

[Yeah.]

[Want to go for a walk?]

[I’m at the pawn shop’s entrance, come over]

When Wen Changling was leaving the house, Huahua insisted on following her. She stamped her foot and shooed Huahua back inside.

Xie Shang was waiting at the pawn shop entrance. She didn’t get too close, walking by the side. Sneakily glancing around, she then nodded her head toward the street corner, meaning: Let’s go.

Xie Shang: “...”

He followed.

Wen Changling walked ahead, keeping a fair distance from Xie Shang. She didn’t know if other couples dating were like them, feeling a little awkward in the initial stages of transitioning their relationship.

The night they traded didn’t count; the atmosphere was such that it wouldn’t be surprising if she and Xie Shang did something more intimate. Now was different, now they were dating.

She hadn’t dated before, didn’t know how to date.

Thus, Wen Changling walked slower, then made small talk without any specific reason: “What did you have for dinner?”

Xie Shang seemed quite comfortable, strolling leisurely with a face that attracted lots of back glances, oblivious to others, following not too far or too close behind her on the left side.

He answered, “Congee.”

“Did you make it yourself?”

“Ordered takeout.”

“Can you cook?”

Exchanging questions and answers like this prevented the conversation from dying down.

Wen Changling was not so adept at socializing, but this was already a smooth transition for her.

“I can, but I don’t do it often.”

Just as she was about to ask what dishes Xie Shang could cook.

“You don’t have to force conversation topics.” Xie Shang suddenly pulled her to the side to avoid an oncoming electric scooter, then let go, “If you don’t want to talk, it’s fine to be silent. Don’t look my way, watch the road while you walk.”

“Oh.”

Wen Changling faced forward.

She wasn’t one to talk much, preferring the quiet.

Further down the path, there were fewer people, the setting sun cast elongated shadows on the ground, shaken by the breeze rustling through the trees.

“Xie Shang.”

“Mm.”

Wen Changling felt a bit conflicted, “Should we hold hands or not?”

“Up to you.”

Xie Shang seemed easy to talk to, eager to cooperate with anything.

Wen Changling shuffled a bit closer, her hand slowly reaching out.

Xie Shang took her hand, not gripping too tightly. She didn’t have long nails, her fingertips were blunt, and as they brushed across the palm, they produced a peculiar, ticklish sensation.

Her body temperature was lower than his, her hand small and slender, her bones could be felt, delicate and fragile.

The closer they got, the more apparent the differences in their physique seemed to become, Xie Shang even wondered if he might break her if he used his full strength.

So, he needed to be careful with her, before the thought of breaking her ever crossed his mind.

The mischievous Little Black was barking again, baring its teeth at every passerby that walked past its home. But Little Black never showed his teeth to Xie Shang, Wen Changling thought that with Xie Shang around, Little Black should behave, so this time, as they approached the kennel, she didn’t stomp her feet to intimidate Little Black.

Then—

Little Black suddenly leaped out towards her. Her reflexes kicked in, and she reacted instantly: she forcefully let go of Xie Shang’s hand and ran off on her own.

Those who’d been chased by a dog probably all shared this reflex.

Wen Changling ran a good distance before stopping; Little Black had stopped barking. She caught her breath for a moment before belatedly looking back.

Xie Shang was looking at her with a cool gaze.

Ah.

This made the already awkward romance even more so.

Having run too fast, Wen Changling’s previously poorly cut bangs were sticking up from the running. She pressed down her hair on both sides and, gathering her courage, walked back but didn’t dare get too close, to avoid Little Black biting at her trouser legs.

“Why didn’t you run?” she asked, knowing it was a silly question.

Xie Shang didn’t answer.

With a sense of shame, Wen Changling lowered her head, cursing a dog in her heart for the first time. It was actually quiet now, the nerve!

“Who was it that said they would be nice to me that night.” Xie Shang wasn’t harsh, he leisurely fluttered his lashes, straightening his face that was both desirable and upright, staring intently at her.

Wen Changling: “...”

The situation resembled when she was in school and had made a major mistake, caught red-handed by the teacher.

She defended herself, “The dog—it would bite me.”

“So you just let go of me and ran off by yourself?” Xie Shang’s tone was light, not aggressive, as though merely stating facts.

“Little Black really likes you, it wouldn’t bite you,” Wen Changling insisted confidently.

Little Black sat behind Xie Shang, wagging its tail.

See, it wouldn’t bite at Xie Shang’s trouser legs, which makes it less reliable than the mosquitoes on Lotus Pond Street.

Xie Shang was only interested in the outcome, “You let go of my hand.”

“It wouldn’t bite you.”

“You let go of my hand.” Xie Shang began to understand why Gu Yihuan liked to repeat meaningless words, because they had a disagreement and it couldn’t change the outcome.

Wen Changling took a moment to think.

Then apologized, “Sorry.”

After a moment of silence from Xie Shang.

He stepped forward, taking hold of Wen Changling’s hand, this time with more force, and spoke to her gently but firmly, “I’ll forgive you this time, but not next time.”

Wen Changling hurriedly nodded like a well-behaved student. Xie Shang was hard to please, but his mood was stable, and he was easy to mollify.

After this incident, Little Black was put on a leash, because its owner was sought out by Xie Shang.

Like Little Black, its owner was a big shot on Lotus Pond Street.

Like Little Black, its owner also judged people by their looks.