“Shen Ji, what are you playing at? Why did you give up so suddenly?”
Ye Xi stared at Shen Ji with a suspicious expression, leaning forward as she spoke.
Shen Ji hurriedly blocked her path, looking solemn as he said, “I have something to say, though I am not sure if I should.”
Ye Xi stomped her foot in frustration and demanded impatiently, “If you have something to say, just say it.”
“Actually, I…”
“Actually, what?”
Shen Ji sighed and shook his head, saying, “Sigh, it is all in the past now, like smoke; better not to speak of it.”
Ye Xi narrowed her eyes and stomped down hard on Shen Ji’s foot.
Shen Ji clenched his teeth to keep from making a sound, while casting a subtle glance outward.
Upon confirming that Jiang Jianyue was still sitting in her original seat, the anxiety in Shen Ji’s heart finally dissipated.
“A gentleman uses his words, not his fists. Can’t you be a little more gentle, Ye Xi?”
As soon as he said this, Ye Xi quietly pinched the soft flesh at Shen Ji’s waist, a fake, sweet smile on her face as she cooed, “Brother Shen Ji, can you please tell me what is really going on?”
Goosebumps rose across Shen Ji’s skin, and the sharp pain at his waist caused his facial expressions to twitch uncontrollably.
“I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you! Just let go of my waist.”
Ye Xi scoffed, and though she eased her grip slightly, her fingers remained pinched on his side.
“Speak.”
“Actually, well, you see, it’s just that.”
Shen Ji scratched his head, frantically trying to think of an excuse; pulling Ye Xi over had been a stalling tactic, and he had absolutely nothing prepared to say!
Seeing Ye Xi’s expression darken as her grip began to tighten again, Shen Ji had a sudden flash of inspiration and blurted out, “I have a small, desperate request.”
“Go ahead!”
“I just want to know how to make sure that after Xiao Wan recovers, she can spend a whole day here playing happily.”
Ye Xi’s brows softened, but her tone remained serious as she asked, “What does that have to do with you dragging me over here?”
“Since you are a girl too, I thought I would come here to learn a bit more so that I can accompany Xiao Wan in the future.”
Ye Xi crossed her arms and looked up, asking, “You’ve never been here to catch dolls before?”
Shen Ji gave a bitter smile, his eyes dropping.
“When I was little, we were poor. Having enough food and clothes was the greatest pleasure, let alone coming to a place like this.”
“It was the same for Xiao Wan. Ever since she was diagnosed, she has never lived like a normal, happy girl.”
“It’s all my fault. It is my incompetence that has made Xiao Wan suffer…”
Ye Xi’s expression softened completely.
She squeezed Shen Ji’s hand to comfort him.
“It is not your fault. You have already worked very hard.”
Shen Ji shook his head and replied, “The past is in the past. Let’s not talk about that anymore; at least we are all fine for now.”
Ye Xi smiled brightly and agreed, “You are right. All of that is behind us, and there must be a way to solve Xiao Wan’s problems. When that time comes, all three of us will come together.”
Just as the situation between the two seemed to be going well, a loud exclamation came from the Little Fat Boy nearby.
“Whoa! White-dressed Sister, you are actually this strong? You don’t even need me to teach you?”
Ye Xi was about to look over, but Shen Ji acted quickly to pull her attention back.
“Ye Xi, which one do you like? Let me catch it for you.”
Ye Xi pursed her lips and pointed at a round, stuffed pig doll.
“Let’s go with that one. It looks as cute as you.”
Shen Ji’s mouth twitched as he pointed at himself and then at the doll.
“It? Me? May I ask what similarities you see between me and it?”
“You are just as dim as it is.”
Before Shen Ji could retort, Ye Xi pushed him aside and skillfully manipulated the joystick, muttering to herself, “Let me do it.”
Ye Xi dropped the claw, and it instantly grabbed the doll, holding it in mid-air.
Just as the claw approached the drop chute…
The doll suddenly fell, landing firmly right next to the opening.
Ye Xi looked dejected; the Game Coins had been mostly depleted by Shen Ji earlier, and they had left some for the Little Fat Boy as well.
As things stood, they did not have enough Game Coins left to try again.
Just as Ye Xi was about to take a step to get more coins, Shen Ji stepped forward.
“Let me do it.”
He could not let Ye Xi run into Jiang Jianyue at a time like this, or all his efforts would be for nothing.
“You?”
Shen Ji quietly flicked his hand, and a Barrier silently manifested inside the machine, forcefully nudging the doll into the chute.
Ye Xi pouted, unappreciative.
“What is the fun in that? It wasn’t caught by real skill.”
Shen Ji scratched his head awkwardly and argued, “I just saw that you liked it, so I had to resort to desperate measures.”
Ye Xi didn’t look at Shen Ji; she simply picked up the doll and began to walk away.
Shen Ji knew that if he stopped her now, he would reveal his own flaw.
However, as long as he didn’t show his face, even if they ran into each other, perhaps nothing would happen?
Without hesitation, Shen Ji ran off in a hurry, calling out, “I’m going to the Restroom.”
Ye Xi frowned and whispered, “How strange.”
But Shen Ji did not notice that Jiang Jianyue had caught a glimpse of his retreating figure, and she instinctively stopped her game to follow in his direction.
The Little Fat Boy waved his hand and shouted, “Big sister, where are you going?”
Ye Xi asked suspiciously, “Little Fat Boy, who are you yelling at?”
“My second disciple, obviously. Forget it, you wouldn’t understand a woman like you.”
Ye Xi gently tugged on the Little Fat Boy’s ear, feigning anger as she said, “Little brat, what does that mean? Do you really think I am easy to bully?”
Held by his ear, the Little Fat Boy felt like his lifeline was being pinched.
He first showed a flattering smile, then replied, “Pretty sister, please spare me! I was just joking with you.”
Ye Xi’s lips curled slightly upward; it was clear she enjoyed being called “pretty.”
She clapped her hands and said, “You’re a smart kid. Go play.”
The moment he was released from Ye Xi’s grasp, the Little Fat Boy made a face and ran far away, fearing that Ye Xi would bully him again.
Ye Xi chuckled and shook her head.
Thinking of something, she muttered to herself, “If only it could stay like this with him forever.”
“It will. You certainly will.”
The deep voice of Ye Hai suddenly came from behind Ye Xi.
“Why are you here?!”
Ye Xi was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on; she arched her back and turned around to glare at Ye Hai.
Ye Hai shook his head without answering and said, “Xiao Xi, I never had enough time to accompany you when you were young. I wonder if it is too late now?”
Ye Xi did not give him a pleasant look.
She stepped back, her tone icy.
“You know how to say that now? When I was little, you wouldn’t even spend the effort to paint me a picture of a better future.”
Ye Hai’s weathered, bearded face sagged as he heard her words, and his entire posture slumped as if he had aged several more years.
“I’m sorry, Xiao Xi. I hope the person you have chosen can make up for the regrets of your past.”
“Ye Hai, what on earth do you mean?!”