Chapter 5

Shen Youwei hadn’t expected Xu Kairai to step up and clarify, but thinking about how she and Chen Qing were back together, it made sense that she was in the mood to play peacemaker.
The forum was technically real-name verified, but with only screen names visible, no one could tell who was who. The rumor-monger immediately insisted that the “Xu Kairai” posting was just Shen Youwei’s alternate account, because their IP addresses matched.
Shen Youwei almost laughed out loud. Right, so by that logic, everyone in City A with the same IP was her alt account too?
The forum couldn’t verify real identities, but Xu Kairai’s verified Weibo account could. When people questioned her, she confirmed on Weibo that she had indeed made the clarification post.
That shut the rumor-monger up for good.
He quietly deleted his original post in the middle of the night and made a public apology thread instead.
When Shen Youwei saw it the next morning, she could only shake her head.
She’d actually preferred him when he still had some bite.
Since he’d already kneeled and surrendered, she didn’t bother suing. After checking in with her lawyer, she finally got up to wash and get ready.
The festival at Lize Park started at nine-thirty, so by eight-thirty, she stepped out of her room. For a flower-viewing day with photo ops, a dress would’ve been ideal, but given how crowded the event would be, it wasn’t the most practical choice.
She picked light blue cuffed jeans paired with a white lace puff-sleeve blouse, and to add a touch of effortless French charm, she tied her hair with a silk scarf in a loose braid.
Just as she reached the dining room, Guan Shanyan arrived too.
Unlike his usual work attire, today he wore a white V-neck cable-knit sweater with caramel trousers, exuding the air of a refined college aristocrat.
Coincidentally, his style was also French and subtly elegant.
The essence of French fashion lies in looking casual while being anything but, like her cropped jeans that revealed a flash of ankle, or the glimpse of collarbone showing beneath his V-neck.
“You two actually match today,” Xie Mingqiu said as she set breakfast on the table. “Is this what they call sibling telepathy?”
Neither answered. They simply took their seats.
Breakfast was lavish today. Even though there was one more person in the house now, the spread still surprised Guan Shanyan. “You made this much food?”
Xie Mingqiu smiled as she sat down. “All of this was bought by Youwei yesterday afternoon. There’s plenty more in the fridge, we won’t be running out anytime soon.”
“Ah, if you can’t finish it all, just eat slowly. It won’t go bad in a short time,” Shen Youwei said, lifting her glass of milk for a sip. “I was going to buy more snacks, but there’s no way I could carry them all.”
“Good thing you didn’t.” Xie Mingqiu called Guan Su, who was still busy in the kitchen, over and reminded Shen Youwei, “When you go out later, just a shirt won’t be enough. Bring another layer.”
“Mm, I’ve got a jacket ready,” she replied, secretly glancing at Guan Shanyan. Dressed so nicely, could it be that he planned to go flower-viewing with her?
Indeed, Guan Shanyan walked out with her. Lize Park was right next to their neighborhood, only a twenty-minute walk away.
Shen Youwei didn’t forget her mask, and the two of them walked silently side by side. The sunlight was pleasant, but the breeze made it slightly chilly, thankfully she had her jacket on.
The street trees were blooming, with petals scattered on the ground. When she was young, Shen Youwei often came to the park with Guan Shanyan, walking this very route. Though the scenery had changed a little, it still brought back memories of their youth.
They walked one behind the other, keeping a half-step distance. Suddenly, Guan Shanyan stopped and glanced behind him.
A few people were walking in their direction, seemingly headed to Lize Park. He stood there for a moment, and Shen Youwei finally stopped too, asking, “What are you doing?”
Guan Shanyan turned back and asked instead, “Have you upset anyone recently?”
Without hesitation, Shen Youwei said, “Chen Qing.”
Guan Shanyan paused, as if thinking. “Anyone else?”
“I don’t know. Celebrities tend to have plenty of haters.”
“…” Guan Shanyan said no more and continued walking toward the park with her.
Shen Youwei was popular now; having haters wasn’t surprising. But the address leaked online was her old one, nobody should know she’d moved here.
So was it just his imagination? He had the sense that someone had been watching them.
When they reached Lize Park, the sound of the event could be heard from afar. The announcer’s voice blared from the speakers, making it easy to locate the activity without asking anyone.
The peach blossoms inside the park were far more abundant and beautiful than outside. Seeing the Peach Blossom Festival poster, Shen Youwei quickened her pace.
It was only nine-thirty, yet a crowd had already gathered, mostly adults with children. Registration was required before entering. Shen Youwei and Guan Shanyan waited in line until it was their turn.
“Are you two from the same family?” the staff member asked.
Shen Youwei and Guan Shanyan both stayed silent. The staff member, seeing no answer, glanced again. “Is this question difficult to answer?”
“…” Shen Youwei chuckled awkwardly. “Does it really matter if we say yes or no?”
“If no, register separately. If yes, one registration is enough,” the staff said, pointing at the form. “Write your name and neighborhood here.”
“I’ll do it,” Guan Shanyan said, picking up a pen and filling out the form.
While he did, the staff handed Shen Youwei some festival coupons. “Each person gets two food vouchers. Two of you get four, pick whichever you want.”
Shen Youwei looked down. All the foods her godmother had mentioned were there. But she could only choose four, so she needed to decide carefully.
Sugar painting and spicy hot pot were must-haves. Egg cakes couldn’t be skipped. Popcorn, forget it, go with the sugar-fried buns instead.
After deciding, she took the vouchers for sugar painting and spicy hot pot. Just as she reached for the third, she paused.
The remaining two were Guan Shanyan’s. She could have taken them all before, but now that things between them weren’t as close, she wouldn’t take advantage.
Hmph.
After Guan Shanyan finished registering, Shen Youwei pointed to the remaining vouchers. “You pick the other two.”
He looked down at the table and took the egg cakes and sugar-fried buns.
Shen Youwei’s eyes flickered, she distinctly remembered Guan Shanyan didn’t like egg cakes that much.
“This is a stamp card. Complete games to collect stamps and get small prizes,” the staff said, handing them the cards as well and calling the next people forward.
Shen Youwei examined her stamp card. The mini-games were plentiful, ring toss, hoop throwing, and more.
“I’ll go get food first,” she said, heading toward the spicy hot pot stall with her vouchers. The games could wait, but if the food ran out, her trip would be wasted.
Guan Shanyan glanced at her back and queued at the egg cake stall.
The spicy hot pot line moved quickly. Each person could only pick four skewers, just enough to whet the appetite before they were gone.
Shen Youwei tossed her bowl into the trash, put her mask back on, and went to queue for sugar painting.
When Guan Shanyan arrived with the egg cakes, Shen Youwei hadn’t reached the front. A small child was sitting nearby, crying.
Guan Shanyan raised an eyebrow. “You made the kid cry?”
Shen Youwei quickly defended herself. “What? He tried to cut in line. I wouldn’t let him, and then he started throwing a tantrum!”
The little boy’s crying intensified. “You’re an adult, and you’re arguing with me?”
Shen Youwei stood her ground. “There were so many kids behind me. They wouldn’t have let you cut either.”
“Exactly! You were wrong for cutting in line, and now you’re crying!” another kid in line chimed in.
“See?” Shen Youwei crossed her arms, triumphant, looking at Guan Shanyan.
Guan Shanyan: “…”
“Excuse me!” the child’s mother came rushing over, scooped him up, and quickly left.
“Looks like his mother was embarrassed,” Shen Youwei remarked, watching them go.
“Hmm, yet you don’t feel embarrassed arguing with a kid,” Guan Shanyan said.
“So what? Who isn’t still a kid at heart?” Shen Youwei raised her mask. “Besides, I have a mask on.”
“So your face is particularly thick?” Guan Shanyan handed her the egg cakes and dropped the subject. “Eat first.”
Shen Youwei glanced at the egg cakes in his hand but didn’t take them. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
“I don’t like them.”
“Then why pick them?”
Still, free egg cakes were too good to waste, so Shen Youwei reached for them.
She liked spicy foods normally, but for egg cakes, she preferred sweet.
These were perfectly sweet.
Shen Youwei pursed her lips silently, removed her mask, and took a bite.
After getting the sugar painting, she felt full and decided to try the games.
Her first stop was the ring toss, aiming for the prize.
Each player got five arrows. Hitting one allowed a draw; hitting all five earned a hidden grand prize, a cat plushie.
Shen Youwei came for the plushie, but she couldn’t hit a single arrow.
“Excuse me,” she coughed lightly. “If you don’t hit any, what do you get?”
“Just my consolation,” the staff said.
“Thanks then.”
She left in disappointment. Next up was Guan Shanyan.
Being an artist with a delicate constitution, Shen Youwei hadn’t expected much from him. But in a blink, he hit three arrows in a row.
“Oh my god, you’re amazing!” Overcome with excitement, Shen Youwei momentarily forgot their strained relationship. “One more and you get the cat!!!”
She really wanted it!
The kid watching also tensed. Seeing Guan Shanyan about to throw the fourth arrow, he shouted, “Wait!”
Guan Shanyan paused, raising the arrow.
Embarrassed, the boy stammered, “You, as an adult, shouldn’t you give kids a chance?”
Guan Shanyan smiled lightly. “Sorry, my sister’s a kid too.”