Chapter 40

“Qinglan, let me pay for the scarf. Take it as me buying from you,” said Fang Tong. She could afford a scarf, but Qinglan on the other hand…

Yu Xiaoxuan nodded in agreement, “That’s right, Qinglan. You’ve spent a lot on the local products. We can’t possibly put you to too much expense. The scarves must be expensive. Do tell us how much they cost. We’ll pay you back.”

Shen Qinglan peered at Wu Qian from the corner of her eyes, whose face had flushed because of their words.

“There’s no need. I’ve been on a scholarship all these years and I don’t usually spend much, so I have some money to spare. We’re all one year away from graduation, so think of it as an early graduation gift from me to you.”

“But graduation gifts don’t have to be this expensive,” Yu Xiaoxuan mumbled. She insisted on paying her.

Shen Qinglan grew frustrated. You idiot.

Fortunately, Fang Tong responded to the situation. They had been talking about it so matter-of-factly that they had failed to consider Wu Qian, who came from a less privileged family background. They bragged about paying back, hardly realizing they were making Wu Qian feel bad.

Fang Tong eyed Yu Xiaoxuan, hoping that she would get the hint. When the girl finally realized her error, she promptly clammed up.

Fang Tong chuckled, “Qinglan, then I’ll graciously accept it.”

Shen Qinglan nodded happily.

Holding the gift box, Wu Qian whispered her gratitude to Shen Qinglan with mixed feelings.

She thought that, in the dorm room, she and Shen Qinglan were equals because both of them were not financially well-off. Even though Shen Qinglan was regularly on good terms with Fang Tong and Yu Xiaoxuan, Wu Qian did not envy her.

But Wu Qian had suddenly realized that she was the poorest among her roommates. Although she managed to get a scholarship every year to cover her tuition fees, she had to work part-time for her own living expenses.

On the other hand, for the past three years she had never seen Shen Qinglan taking on part-time jobs. Although the clothes she wore were quite ordinary, her everyday life seemed worry-free. She could even save up her scholarship.

At that moment, Wu Qian was deeply aware of the gap between herself and the other girls. She glanced at the exquisite gift box in her hand, complex emotions swirling in her eyes.

“Right, didn’t you apply for the position at Junlan Group? How did that go?” Shen Qinglan asked, undoubtedly changing the subject.

“Fang Tong got the job, not me,” Yu Xiaoxuan said, looking rather upset. “I can’t meet my Prince Charming. How terrible.”

So it seemed she was upset not because she did not get the job, but because she could not meet the man of her dreams. Shen Qinglan was quite impressed by Yu Xiaoxuan’s justification.

“Wu Qian, how’s the job hunt?” Yu Xiaoxuan merely wept for two seconds before returning to normal.

Wu Qian’s features dimmed, “I haven’t found one yet, but I’ve submitted my resumes to several positions. There should be news soon.” She did not mention that she was also disqualified from the position offered at Junlan.

Junlan’s interviews extended over several days, so she had avoided Fang Tong and Yu Xiaoxuan. That was why the other two did not know that they had applied for the same position at the same company.

“Qinglan, I’m going on a trip to Jinning in a few days. There’s a large film set I plan to check out. Do you want to go with me? We might even run into a film crew shooting,” Yu Xiaoxian exclaimed excitedly after eating a piece of osmanthus cake.

“No. I plan to take a few days’ rest, then look for internship positions.”

Upon hearing that, Yu Xiaoxuan did not force her.

Having completed her task, Shen Qinglan went home right away—not to her apartment, but to Jiangxinya Court, the one she shared with Fu Hengyi.

The house still looked the way it did when she had left. Nothing had changed, which was expected. Fu Hengyi had not returned from the army, and no one was living there. What could be different?

Shen Qinglan neatly unpacked her luggage, especially the painting she had completed in Hangcheng. She picked up the sketchbook and placed it in an obscure corner on the shelf.

After that, she rolled up her sleeves and began to clean up the place. She removed the bedsheets, replaced them with fresh ones, and washed the old ones.

It was dusk by the time she finished all the chores. She remembered she had to deliver gifts to Grandpa Fu and Grandpa Shen so, after changing into a different set of clothes, she set off.

She did not call home. When she arrived at the Shen household, the family was having dinner.

“Qinglan, you’re back,” Aunt Song opened the door.

“Aunt Song, where’s Grandpa?”

“He’s eating.”

Shen Qinglan went straight to the dining room.

“Grandpa,” she greeted and, seeing there were others present, added, “Mom. Brother.” She disregarded Shen Xitong.

Grandpa Shen’s facial features softened when he saw his granddaughter, “Have you had your dinner?”

Shen Qinglan nodded, “Yes, I have. Grandpa, I’ve brought Longjing tea for you all the way from Hangcheng. I’ve tasted it and thought you’d like it, too.”

Grandpa Shen happily accepted the tea his granddaughter had bought for him.

“Lan Lan, you have a present for Grandpa, but what about me?” Shen Junyu looked at her with a spurious smile.

“Yours is at home. I didn’t bring it with me, but I’ll have it delivered to your company tomorrow.”

Shen Junyu was pleased to hear that.

Shen Qinglan took out another two boxes and handed one each to Chu Yunrong and Shen Xitong. “Mom, this is for you.”

She did not refer to Shen Xitong as her sister—the whole family was accustomed to it. Shen Xitong did not mind it at all as she happily accepted the gift, “How wonderful of you to get everybody a gift on your trip.”

“It’s just a side errand,” Shen Qinglan blurted casually.

“Grandpa, I’m heading to the Fu’s, so I’ll drop by to visit some other time.”

Grandpa Shen’s hand stiffened at her words, the look he gave her filled with complexity. Alas, a grown woman could not be kept at home indeed. She just got married to the Fu family and barely spent time at home then.

Shen Qinglan left the house just like that, without noticing Shen Xitong’s resentment when she mentioned she was going to the Fu household.

For the past few days, Grandpa Shen had been urging Shen Yunrong to arrange blind dates for the young woman. She had been forced to meet all sorts of unfamiliar men every single day. It irked her to no end.

Even her interest for the personal concert Chu Yunrong had planned for her was minimal.

Shen Qinglan went to the Fu’s to visit Grandpa Fu. She had dinner with the old man before returning home. It was ten o’clock at night by the time she left. That time, instead of hailing a cab, she took the red Ferrari sports car that Shen Junyu had given her as a birthday present the previous year.

When she got home, Shen Qinglan took a shower and went to bed. Fu Hengyi’s scent still lingered in the air. She thought she would lose sleep that night, as usual, but she actually drifted off pretty soon.

At one past midnight, Shen Qinglan, who had been snoozing soundly on the bed, suddenly opened her eyes and gazed sharply at the bedroom door.

In the dead of night, she could clearly hear the sounds of light footsteps outside the door.

The visitor stopped in front of the bedroom door. Shen Qinglan sat up, got down from the bed quietly, and walked barefoot to the door.

The bedroom was carpeted—her footsteps were nearly silent.