Chapter 21 Too Blunt, Too Obvious

Su Niansheng kept adding sweet, sour, even bitter melon to his plate—he took it all without reaction.
…Seems he’s really mad, lost his sense of taste.
Who angered this pampered young master?
Thinking he hadn’t eaten all day, she stopped teasing, adding his favorites.
Jian Yan watched their odd interaction, smiling and shaking her head.
She didn’t get the fun between these childhood sweethearts.
“After dinner, I’ll come find you.”
Su Niansheng leaned closer, whispering.
She’d planned to tell him she’d stay at the Shens’—they could live and go to school together like before.
But he was so moody, probably wouldn’t listen—better to comfort him first.
Shen Junxi froze, thinking she’d rush to share “good news”—her hand-fed food suddenly tasted bland.
“I’m busy.”
He refused coldly.
“Oh.”
Su Niansheng nodded indifferently.
Busy? Fine—won’t stop her from finding him.
After dinner, she entered the music room, choosing an instrument.
Before, when she was down, Shen Junxi sang off-key to make her laugh. Now she played herself—much more reliable!
Picking a ukulele, she heard noises outside. Peeking out, servants were hauling packages to the third-floor activity room.
“Uncle Li, what’s this?”
“No idea—young master ordered them online, wants them up now.”
“?”
Curious, she went upstairs. In the activity room, Shen Junxi was there—Legos spread like mountains, the manual read “Aircraft Carrier”!
“…”
When did he like Legos? And dare tackle hell difficulty right away!
Knock knock knock
Hesitating, she knocked.
Afraid he’d call her to build together.
She really disliked this.
“Shen Xiaoxi, go out for fresh air? I’ll play for you!”
“Busy.”
Shen Junxi focused on the blocks, not looking back.
“Busy building a carrier?” She raised an eyebrow. He heard amusement in her tone. “Don’t believe I can do it?”
“Um…” Su Niansheng glanced at the thousands of blocks. “Kinda hard?”
“One night.”
“Huh?”
She laughed—he was bragging. The manual said 2 weeks max.
But he seemed insulted, brows dark with stubbornness. “What? Others build a ship in one class—can’t I build a carrier in one night?”
Su Niansheng: “?”
Who? Built a ship in one class?
And why did that matter to him? He was picking a fight.
She looked confused. “Even if you can, it’s boring.”
This thing—she’d fall asleep after 30 minutes. Last time, she struggled to build a butterfly for homework.
Her Light and fluttering “boring” made him clench the blocks—fingers white, creaking.
Fully consumed by jealousy, his handsome face twisted, words slipping out. “Sure—ships are more fun, you like them!”
She cared not about ships or carriers—but who built Legos for her.
Some treasured them, some found them pointless.
Looking at the Legos, he felt like a clown.
“What?”
Hearing his suppressed, sarcastic tone, she sensed—his anger today was at her!
Why?
She hadn’t provoked him lately—even if she did, he wouldn’t be passive-aggressive.
Irritated, she put down the ukulele, grabbed his collar, forcing eye contact. “Shen Xiaoxi, explain—ships, liking or not?”
Her bright, charming face suddenly filled his vision—so close, warm breath on his face, shocking him.
His dark pupils dilated—body frozen, mind mush.
Only “beautiful” and “so beautiful” circled.
“Hm? Talk.”
“Aren’t you and Shiyu Bai exchanging gifts—you took his ship?”
Dazzled by her beauty and flustered, he blurted it—corner of his eye reddening, as if complaining: You said you’d stop chasing him.
Instant regret.
Too blunt, too obvious.
Would Xiaoqian see his feelings? Would she hate the childhood friend hiding such thoughts, distance herself?
He couldn’t take it—about to backtrack when she frowned, thinking hard, then looked at him strangely. “Who told you that?”
“Does it matter?”
His voice—sour again.
“Of course! I need to know who’s spreading rumors.”
Rumors?
Shen Junxi froze. “It’s not true?”
“That’s from the ‘Craftsmanship and Practice’ elective—teacher had us build models, handed out randomly. Shiyu Bai’s happened to be mine—threw it in the trash.”
“Trash?”
“Else? Trash belongs in the trash can.”
Hearing this, the tension in Shen Junxi’s mind snapped. “Then what news did you want to tell me?”
“I’ll stay at your place for a while.”
“What?”
She didn’t exchange gifts with Shiyu Bai—AND she’d live with him.
These two amazing pieces of news hit him—he froze, chest sparking with joy, eyes ablaze.
The jealousy-lost soul parts of the past two days slowly returned.