Shu Rou thought she must have misheard for a moment. “What did you say?”
Xiao Fen repeated herself clearly, “The girl standing in the middle of those three over there—the prettiest one—is from No. 1 Middle School. Her name is Shu Er, and she’s really popular right now.”
Shu Er? The campus goddess of No. 1 Middle School? And very popular?
Could it really be who she thought?
Xiao Fen continued excitedly, “Oh, and five hundred years ago, you two were from the same family. She also has the surname Shu. It’s quite a unique surname, don’t you think?”
Shu Rou silently corrected in her heart: It wasn’t five hundred years ago—they are a family now.
So Shu Er didn’t lie to her before? The campus goddess of No. 1 Middle School, the one who had outshined the one and only Zhang Beibei, really is her second sister?
For a moment, Shu Rou felt as if the world was completely surreal. Was the big shot who spent lavishly on Shu Er crazy?
At that moment, Shu Er also spotted Shu Rou. However, feeling that she had nothing to say to her estranged older sister, she simply followed Jiang Xici and Ning Meng toward the nearby DIY ice cream shop.
After seeing where Shu Er was heading, Shu Rou asked Xiao Fen in confusion, “Is that tall, thin boy next to her the legendary rich second generation?”
The boy is handsome, sure, but he looked too thin, and his clothes didn’t seem expensive.
Xiao Fen shook her head, “No, I’ve seen pictures on No. 1 Middle School’s students’ phones, and he’s not the same guy.”
Not the same guy?
Did she switch to someone new already? Her younger sister was truly remarkable. Is she playing the big boss in the palm of her hand?
Shu Rou quickly took out her phone and snapped a picture of Shu Er and the boy’s backs. After taking the photo, her instincts told her that something interesting was about to unfold. She and Xiao Fen followed them but didn’t go inside. Instead, they found a coffee shop across the street and sat down.
From their seats, they had a perfect view of everything happening across the street.
The moment Shu Er entered the ice cream shop, several employees greeted Jiang Xici enthusiastically.
“Xiao Jiang is here?”
“Today is not the weekend. Are you here to work part-time?”
“Oh, Xiao Jiang brought friends?”
Jiang Xici politely responded to each of them, “No, I’m not here for part-time work. I brought my classmates to make ice cream.”
“Oh, well, have fun with your classmates.”
One of the older employees leaned in close to Jiang Xici, smiling mischievously. “Is the girl with the twin ponytails your girlfriend?”
In the eyes of the employee, the cheerful and lively girl seemed like a perfect match for the quiet and reserved Jiang Xici. With both of them being so good-looking, they looked like a well-matched pair.
Jiang Xici was momentarily stunned. The girl with the twin ponytails is Shu Er. He quickly denied it, saying, “No, Brother Zhang, she’s just a regular classmate. Don’t say that.” With his situation, how could he even consider having a girlfriend? That would only bring trouble to the other person.
The older employee sighed upon hearing this. “Xiao Jiang, you… never mind. Go ahead and have fun with your classmates.” He understood Jiang Xici’s mindset—his family situation was tough, and he’d taken on heavy responsibilities at such a young age. The employee guessed that Jiang Xici was afraid of holding someone else back, which was why he avoided romantic entanglements altogether.
‘What a pity.’ The employee thought. ‘Xiao Jiang is such a good kid.’
Since it wasn’t the weekend, the shop wasn’t very busy.
Although Shu Er acted carelessly around Huo Chao, she was more restrained with others. She wasn’t truly spoiled—she only put on such airs in front of Huo Chao. So when Jiang Xici put on an apron and started preparing to make the ice cream, Shu Er politely stepped forward and asked, “Do you need any help?”
“No need. You can just watch me make it.” After a moment, Jiang Xici added, “But if you’d like to try making it yourself, that’s fine too.”
Shu Er shook her head, declining. She wasn’t good at hands-on tasks, and, more importantly, she wasn’t all that eager to try making it herself.
While Jiang Xici was busy making the Green Tongue ice cream for Shu Er, Ning Meng stood by, excitedly learning how to make it. Meanwhile, Shu Er was chatting with Huo Chao on WeChat.
It was rare for Huo Chao to take the initiative to send her messages first.
[Brother: Are you home?]
[Xiao Er: No.]
[Brother: Where are you?]
[Xiao Er: I’m at the DIY ice cream shop next to the vocational high school. Brother, are you coming over?]
[Brother: Yes.]
Shu Er’s beautiful eyes narrowed with delight. Huo Chao is coming? Is he coming to make the Green Tongue ice cream for her?
She could end up with lots of Green Tongues today. Even if she couldn’t finish them all, she could take some home and enjoy one a day. Just the thought of it made her happy.
Shu Er swung her legs comfortably as she watched Jiang Xici and Ning Meng make the ice cream.
She knew it—no matter how simple the instructions looked on paper, the actual process was much more complicated. There were so many steps, and she found it overwhelming just watching.
But for the academic master Jiang Xici, it didn’t seem difficult at all. Plus, he had worked part-time here before and was familiar with all the procedures.
Shu Rou sat in the coffee shop, her cup of coffee nearly empty, and the anticipated drama still hadn’t unfolded. She was getting impatient.
Shu Er was at the DIY ice cream shop with a good-looking young man, seemingly making ice cream together. And yet, the big boss who had spent so much money on her was still nowhere to be seen?
From any angle, this scene made it seem like the big boss was being played for a fool.
But then again, maybe the big boss was completely unaware of this? If he didn’t know, how could he come storming in?
Xiao Fen looked at her in surprise. “The boss’s contact info? How would I know that?” If she knew, would she still be sitting here with Shu Rou?
Shu Rou sighed softly. “Poor boss. He probably doesn’t even know he’s being two-timed.”
Anyone witnessing the scene earlier would naturally assume the worst, right?
Xiao Fen hesitated before speaking truthfully, “Not really, though. Shu Er and Mr. Huo aren’t in a confirmed relationship, so there’s no such thing as cheating here. And from the looks of it, Shu Er and that boy seem to be just ordinary friends.”
Shu Rou rolled her eyes at Xiao Fen. “You don’t get it. The boss spent so much money on Shu Er; obviously, he has feelings for her. Now, seeing her make ice cream with another guy? If he knew, don’t you think he’d have some thoughts about it?”
Xiao Fen bit the straw and said vaguely, “They’re not alone, though. There’s another girl with them too.” That girl just had such a low presence that she was easy to overlook.
Shu Rou scoffed, “That’s just a cover to fool people. See, you’ve already been fooled.”
Xiao Fen shrugged. She was just here to eat melon¹. Whether she was fooled or not didn’t really matter to her.
However, she truly felt there wasn’t any romantic spark between Shu Er and that boy. Shu Rou was likely overthinking it.
Shu Rou waited a little longer, but the scene she was hoping for never materialized. By now, her mom had sent her a WeChat message, asking when she was coming home. It was getting late, and she was genuinely tired of waiting.
At least she wasn’t leaving empty-handed—she had taken a photo! So it wasn’t a wasted effort.
Shu Rou sent her mother a WeChat message back, saying she’d be home soon.
Just as she stood up to leave, the unmistakable roar of a sports car engine echoed from a distance, growing louder and louder, the sound shaking the nearby streets. The engine’s thunderous roar caught everyone’s attention, stimulating their nerves.
Damn. That engine is impressive.
Shu Rou’s heartbeat quickened uncontrollably. Sitting by the window with Xiao Fen, she quickly leaned over to get a better look at the street.
She spotted a fiery red Ferrari making its way down the road, commanding attention as other cars hastily made way for it.
Then, the car came to a stop right in front of the DIY ice cream shop.
Stopped at the DIY ice cream shop?
Shu Rou rubbed her eyes and focused intently on the driver.
Behind the wheel was a young man wearing black sunglasses and a black D-brand t-shirt. His profile was strikingly handsome.
Once parked, he opened the car door and stepped out.
He looked tall—at least over 1.8 meters—and with his confident aura, he truly looked stunning! So cool!
But there was something familiar about that back as he walked toward the shop.
Where had she seen him before?
Shu Rou thought hard and suddenly recalled!
Wasn’t he the boy who rode a bicycle to pick up and drop off Shu Er every day?
So, this was the legendary Mr. Huo!
He really did come!
Now, this was going to be interesting!
In the shop, Shu Er and the others also heard the thunderous roar of the sports car, but she didn’t immediately think of Huo Chao.
Usually, Huo Chao rode his bicycle to school. Although that bike was quite valuable, it was still pretty low-key compared to a sports car.
When Huo Chao walked in, casually playing with his car keys and wearing his sunglasses, even Shu Er was taken aback.
At first glance, she almost didn’t recognize him.
When he wasn’t trying to show off, he had a certain understated charm, but now, with his aura fully unleashed, he exuded confidence and charisma, practically strutting into the shop.
Shu Er stood up with a bright smile and shouted, “Brother!”
Huo Chao responded, “Hmm?”
After he walked in, he noticed Ning Meng and Jiang Xicii.
He recognized Ning Meng, who was always following Shu Er around, eating and going to the restroom together as her good friend.
As for the boy, Huo Chao had never seen him before.
At first, he thought the boy was just some random passerby, but when he noticed what the boy was doing, he raised his eyebrows.
If he wasn’t mistaken, the ice cream the boy was making was green, standing out amidst the white cream and red strawberries.
So, this guy is making the discontinued Green Tongue ice cream?
Huo Chao clicked his tongue in disapproval.
He stepped forward and pulled Shu Er’s arm, saying, “Let’s go.”
Shu Er was taken aback, “Hey, brother, wait, wait for me! Don’t walk so fast!”
Ning Meng covered her mouth with her hands, suppressing her surprise.
What was going on? The moment Huo Chao arrived, he pulled Shu Er away.
She hurriedly shouted from behind, “Little Ear, Jiang Xici’s Green Tongue is almost done! Are you still going to eat it?”
Upon hearing this, Huo Chao paused for a moment, then quickened his pace.
With Huo Chao’s long legs, he took huge strides, making it hard for Shu Er to keep up. She was practically half-dragged along, complaining, “Brother, why are you walking so fast?”
Huo Chao smirked, “If we don’t hurry, the ice cream will melt.”
Huh? Did Huo Chao buy her ice cream?
But she only wanted the Green Tongue!
She quickly shouted back to Ning Meng, “Tell Jiang Xici to save it for me!”
Once Shu Er was in the passenger seat and buckled up, Huo Chao handed her a small, slightly cold box.
“Brother, what’s this?” she asked, still a bit bewildered.
Huo Chao turned the steering wheel with one hand and pressed the accelerator, causing the car to sped away like an arrow from a string.
After a couple of seconds, his deep and pleasant voice finally came through, “Why don’t you open it and see?”
Shu Er bit her lip, then opened the small box in her hands.
Inside, it was lined with foam and filled with several packs of ice cubes.
In the center of the box lay a piece of the legendary Green Tongue ice cream, which had been discontinued.
She checked the production date and saw that it was produced a year ago, but its shelf life was 18 months, so it was still good to eat.
So, where did Huo Chao find this year-old Green Tongue ice cream for her?
Notes:
¹Eat Melon – The phrase “吃瓜” (chī guā) is a metaphor commonly found in Chinese internet slang. When Xiao Fen said that she just wanted to eat melon, she basically meant that she was just there to watch or listen to gossip without getting directly involved. ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧
