Chapter 75: Humiliated
The two walked one after the other toward the parking lot. Xia Lingying kept frowning and didn’t say a word. Xiao Moyan glanced at her a few times but didn’t think much of it. In fact, she even felt a bit happy inside. After all, jealousy wasn’t a bad thing—it meant Xiaxia cared about her, right?
They had been apart for so long and gone through so much before getting back together. That gap between them needed time to be filled. Even Xiao Moyan herself sometimes doubted if she still had the charm to attract Xiaxia. In the entertainment circle, there was no shortage of handsome men and pretty women, not to mention that annoying Gu Yuan who always stuck close to her. She couldn’t help but overthink it.
But after seeing Xia Lingying’s reaction today, that little pout of hers made Xiao Moyan realize she really still cared. Her heart was full of joy, and her face wore a bright smile. As for how to comfort Xia Lingying and make up for everything afterward, she had already planned it all out.
For couples, a bit of jealousy was actually good for the relationship. Situations like this had happened before too, and based on past experience, she just needed to coax her a little tonight and everything would be fine... Thinking of this, Xiao Moyan’s face flushed red, and she peeked at Xia Lingying with a guilty look, only to see that Xia Lingying wasn’t even looking at her. Her brows were still slightly furrowed.
Not caring whether Xia Lingying agreed or not, Xiao Moyan stubbornly reached out and held her hand.
A warm, smooth touch came through her hand, and Xia Lingying’s body trembled slightly. But right after, the sour feeling in her heart only grew stronger. She bit her lower lip, lowered her head, and walked on by herself without looking at Xiao Moyan.
They got into the car in silence. Xiao Moyan, out of habit, leaned over to fasten Xia Lingying’s seatbelt. Then she looked up and smiled at her, but what she saw was a face full of sorrow and frustration. Her chest felt tight. Xiao Moyan pouted slightly and said nothing, then stepped on the gas.
So you're really ignoring me now? Hmph!
Staring blankly out the window at the scenery, Xia Lingying watched the rows of poplar trees slanting past one by one. Her thoughts slowly drifted. She remembered that strange tension earlier between Fang Ruoxi and Xiao Moyan when they met—how their eyes kept avoiding each other—and her heart started to ache.
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Xiao Moyan. She just didn’t trust herself... First love, what a deeply etched word. Even if they were young and foolish back then, even if they didn’t truly fall in love, that person would still leave a mark in Xiao Moyan’s heart, wouldn’t they? And that meaningful smile Fang Ruoxi gave before leaving made her even more uneasy.
Her heart began to feel restless for no reason. Xia Lingying looked up and squinted at Xiao Moyan.
That well-shaped nose bridge, those small earlobes, tender red lips, skin as smooth as milk, and those charming eyes—everything felt so familiar. Xia Lingying quietly stared at her. She looked at the slight curve of Xiao Moyan’s lips, the sparkle in her eyes because of her gaze, and that terrible acting of hers. The irritation in Xia Lingying’s heart seemed to ease a little. She lowered her head and suddenly remembered what Mrs. Xu had once told her, and she let out a soft laugh.
The Miss is just a shameless little rascal. Give her a bit of sunshine and she’ll start howling. You must whip her hard, whip her until she gives in!
Xiao Moyan sat up straight, pretending to drive seriously, but her eyes kept sneaking glances at Xia Lingying. Seeing all the twists and turns written all over her face, and now that lingering mischievous smile, a chill ran down her spine. She’s not thinking up some wicked trick again, is she?
“Turn right. We’re not going to this supermarket.”
Just as Xiao Moyan was wondering about it, Xia Lingying spoke and gestured toward the right.
“Why?”
For the sake of self-preservation, Xiao Moyan immediately shot back a question, turning her head to glare at her. Xia Lingying had long expected this. She said nothing and looked at her with a half-smile. After a moment, she reached out, hooked her arm around Xiao Moyan’s neck, gently closed her eyes, and placed a light kiss on her lips. Softly, she said,
“What are you looking at? Focus on driving~”
“Uh…”
Xiao Moyan’s face turned red in an instant. She looked at Xia Lingying in disbelief, stiffly turned her head back, then raised her right hand to touch her lips, dazed. If she remembered right, this was the first time Xia Lingying had ever kissed her on her own. Could this be… the legendary honey trap?
Gone was her usual cleverness and cunning—Xiao Moyan, completely defeated by a beauty’s kiss, willingly fell into the trap. Following Xia Lingying’s directions through twists and turns, she finally parked the car at their destination. But the moment she got out of the car, she froze.
“Green vegetables, twenty cents a pound——”
“Big white radish, going cheap as we close——”
“Forty cents, only forty cents——”
The noise of the crowd rushed into her ears. Xiao Moyan was still wearing her sunglasses, her mouth wide open as she looked around. The uncles and aunties buying vegetables nearby also looked up at the two stylish, glamorous beauties. Especially Xiao Moyan—people were wondering, What’s with this girl? Is she so rich she’s bored? Why's she wearing sunglasses to buy vegetables?
Feeling the stares around them, Xiao Moyan awkwardly took off her sunglasses, turned her head, and bared her teeth at Xia Lingying.
“Xiaxia, you call this a supermarket?”
“Did I say it was a supermarket?”
“Then let’s go somewhere else.”
“Xiao, Mrs. Xu specially said the vegetables have to be fresh. She’s going through her second menopause. Can’t you cut her some slack?”
“Fresh? At a wet market?”
“Of course. Come on, stop nagging.”
“…”
Pulling Xiao Moyan by the arm, Xia Lingying happily strolled into the market. This place wasn’t unfamiliar to her—back when she and her mom lived alone, they came here often. But today, having Xiao Moyan by her side, the feeling was completely different. So happy! So sweet! So satisfying!
Xiao Moyan followed Xia Lingying with a sullen face. She had been here before, but she always sat in the car and waited for Mrs. Xu to finish shopping before leaving. It was never like today. She turned her head and looked at Xia Lingying beside her. Seeing her smug look, she felt so angry that her teeth itched. She didn't understand why Xiaxia became more and more sinister? Where did the cold and simple Xiaxia go?
"Hey, Xiao, go over there and buy a cabbage—"
Xia Lingying stretched out her arm and tapped the sulking Xiao Moyan beside her, smiling warmly.
"I'm not going!"
Xiao Moyan refused straight and sharp. What? Buy cabbage?! Right now, she seriously suspected that Xia Xia had teamed up with that old lady at home to bully her together!
"Are you really gonna become a useless person who can't even tell grains apart?!"
Xia Lingying spoke with righteousness, her face full of seriousness, but her eyes were full of laughter she couldn't hold back. Xiao Moyan curled her lips and ignored her.
"A dignified President Xiao doesn't even dare to buy a cabbage?"
"I feel like it!"
"Ai, looks like I really trusted the wrong person, just like you, how can we live a whole life together, a woman who can't even touch a cabbage..."
Xiao Moyan stretched her neck, the veins on her forehead slightly popped. Those words got to her. She raised her head and glared at Xia Lingying fiercely.
"How much for one?"
She changed her attitude so fast that Xia Lingying was stunned for a second, then her face bloomed with a big smile.
"One yuan is enough."
"That cheap?"
Xiao Moyan narrowed her eyes at Xia Lingying, clearly doubting her words.
"Enough, stop squinting, cabbage is cheap this season. Hurry up, Mrs. Xu is waiting for it."
Xiao Moyan blinked and stared at Xia Lingying for a while, then reached into her pocket, frozen on the spot.
"Can I use a card?"
"You think so? Buying cabbage with a card? President Xiao, did your brain get cooked?"
"... Have no cash."
Xiao Moyan was completely pissed off. She yanked her neck and shouted.
Xia Lingying sighed, looked at her reluctantly, took out her little purse, searched and searched, and finally found a one yuan coin from the innermost pocket. She handed it to Xiao Moyan very seriously.
"Here, go on. Be good."
"..."
Xiao Moyan stared at Xia Lingying for a long while, big eyes glaring at smaller ones. Why did it feel like Xia Xia was coaxing a child? The hawking around them rang in her ears again. Wanting to leave this noisy place as soon as possible, Xiao Moyan swallowed hard, raised her head, and walked toward the vegetable lady all proud and mighty. Without saying a word, she slammed the coin on the counter, picked up the biggest cabbage, and was about to leave. The auntie took one look and got mad. Her eyes widened as she shouted:
"Girl, you’re stealing vegetables!"
That shout had real power. The auntie’s spit flew everywhere, and the bustling market suddenly went silent. Everyone stared wide-eyed at Xiao Moyan. She stood frozen with the cabbage in her hands, her fair face turning blood red like it had been splashed with dye.
The auntie still had the vegetable knife raised high in her hand, glaring with her big round eyes as she looked Xiao Moyan up and down. She shook her head.
"Girl, you’re dressed so nicely. How can you not even afford a cabbage? One yuan for a big one like that? You think this is the old society?"
Xiao Moyan’s face burned red, her teeth clenched on her lower lip. She glared at Xia Lingying across from her, who was shaking with laughter.
Okay. Xia Lingying, you really learned from that old lady. You even dare to bully me now?
"Girl, say something. Did you forget your money? Or did you see the price wrong?"
The auntie waved the vegetable knife and wouldn’t let it go. A crowd had already gathered. Xiao Moyan’s face grew even redder. She lowered her head and didn’t say a word. She bit her lip and quietly put the cabbage back, not knowing what to say.
Xia Lingying, who had laughed enough, walked over with shaking shoulders, cleared her throat, looked at the auntie, and pointed at her own head as she softly said,
"Auntie, sorry. This is my little sister. She’s... a little off here."
With a loud boom, Xiao Moyan’s brain exploded like fireworks. She looked up, eyes wide, staring at Xia Lingying, her face completely dark.
Xia Lingying ignored Xiao Moyan’s fierce glare. She lowered her head and very gracefully took ten yuan out of her bag, grabbed Xiao Moyan’s hand, stuffed the money into it, and smiled as she said,
“Be good. Just do what big sister taught you—give the money to the auntie.”
“Oh, so her head’s got problems, huh? What a shame. Such a pretty girl, wasted.”
The auntie looked at Xiao Moyan with pity as she spoke. Xiao Moyan’s arm froze midair, still stuck in the same pose from the beginning. The auntie saw her like that, shook her head, reached out, took the money herself, made change, and handed it to Xia Lingying. She even asked,
“This little sister of yours must’ve caused you no end of trouble, right?”
Xia Lingying bit her lower lip, her whole body shaking as she replied,
“Not too bad.”
Xiao Moyan, who had been pretending to be a zombie, finally came to his senses. He looked at Xia Lingying with a red face and gritted teeth. Without saying a word, he grabbed her hand and ran out of the vegetable market.
"Xia-Ling-Ying!"
Breathing heavily, Xiao Moyan, who had been enduring for a long time, finally got angry. He dragged Xia Lingying to the front of the car, pushed her with his hand, put his hands on the car body, locked Xia Lingying in his arms, and looked down at her.
Xia Lingying blushed, shrank her neck, and said softly
"Xiao..."
Author's Note:
It’s already January. It has been a year since Yezi started writing... hehe, thank you all.