Not Wanting to Let Your Hopes Fall Through

Lin Xingmian still said nothing, only blinking her innocent, wide eyes at him.

So obedient.

There was a contradictory kind of beauty about her. She was clearly a grown girl, yet she carried an innocence and docility that did not belong to her age.

Shen Qingling did not take the star from her hand. Instead, he smiled and said, "Mianmian, pick one yourself. Whichever one you pick, we'll go there."

Lin Xingmian shook her head in refusal.

She did not want to go out.

She had only wanted to help him fold the stars.

Shen Qingling did not force her. He smiled and said, "Then let's draw in the garden. The weather is nice today, and Mianmian can collect some new clouds."

Shen Qingling looked out the window. "Are there any pretty cloud shapes today? Let's draw them."

Lin Xingmian was a little surprised that he knew what she liked, but then she guessed that her sister had probably told him.

She lowered her eyes without speaking.

She did not want to draw with a stranger. It was strange.

Shen Qingling did not force her either. Rising to his feet, he said, "Then Mianmian can wait here. I'll go downstairs and draw. You can come look once I'm done."

Lin Xingmian watched Shen Qingling's departing back with a bewildered look in her eyes.

This new teacher... seemed very different.

And... his smile was beautiful, gentle.

The girl felt a tiny bit curious about him.

077: "Lin Xingmian's Heart-Throb Score increased by 2."

As Shen Qingling reached the door, he suddenly turned back and met the girl's curious gaze. Her eyes darted away as she clenched the white skirt at her side.

"Mianmian, may I borrow your art supplies?"

Lin Xingmian did not dare look at him. She gave a slight nod.

Shen Qingling carried the art supplies down to the garden to draw.

Lin Xingmian sat before the floor-to-ceiling window and watched him paint.

This new Teacher Shen looked like a painting himself. Even the way he painted was beautiful.

Whenever a stranger suddenly appeared in Lin Xingmian's quiet world, she could not help but pay attention to them.

Of course, that was only if she did not dislike them too much.

Time passed bit by bit.

Shen Qingling deliberately painted very slowly.

He had checked the weather forecast. It was going to rain later.

River City's weather was unpredictable, and this was the rainy season. Still, the rain often came quickly and went just as quickly.

Before long, the weather indeed changed. Dark clouds gathered overhead, but the young man painting in the garden did not move.

The girl's delicate brows drew together slightly.

It was about to rain. Why wasn't he coming back upstairs?

Shen Qingling was only wondering whether she would come down.

If she did, it would mean she had taken the first step.

If she did not, he would give her this painting. At the very least, he wanted her to see that he was serious.

A light rain began to fall, but Lin Xingmian did not come downstairs.

She was deeply resistant to going outside. Leaving this house was already an extremely difficult thing for her.

She did not want to face the wind and rain outside. Only by curling up in a small corner could she feel safe.

Though Shen Qingling was a little disappointed, he understood that this was not something that could change overnight.

Lin Xingmian's heart was soft, and she was easily moved.

When she saw Shen Qingling take off his clothes to shield the painting, her expression gradually changed.

Lin Xingmian bit her lip and walked out of the music room.

Shen Qingling returned to the first-floor living room, but he did not go up to the second floor.

The young man standing in the living room was drenched from head to toe. The only thing intact was the painting in his arms.

Shen Qingling took out the painting and smiled. "Mianmian, aren't you coming down to look? I've finished it."

Seeing his sincere, gentle gaze, Lin Xingmian felt as if something had touched her heart.

Her first reaction was an inexplicable sadness.

Why was he being so kind to someone like her? They were only strangers meeting for the first time.

Her sister had hired people before, but none of them had been like him. She could tell that they had not been sincere; they had only come because her sister had offered generous compensation.

But this Teacher Shen did not seem to be doing it for money.

Lin Xingmian was not stupid. She knew that Shen Qingling, like her sister, was an outstanding student at Jiang University. Her sister had said yesterday that he was a famous top student at Jiang University. If he were willing to tutor other people, he could earn much more money.

Yet he patiently stayed here, using all sorts of methods to coax her.

Even she herself had given up on herself, yet her sister and this person she had only just met still had not given up on her.

She stood there for three minutes before finally moving her feet and slowly walking downstairs.

She did not look at the painting first. Instead, she raised her eyes to look at the rainwater on Shen Qingling's face.

"Why did you stand in the rain? It's only a painting."

This was the first time Shen Qingling had heard Lin Xingmian say such a long sentence since meeting her.

He explained earnestly, "This was a promise I made to Mianmian. If I can't keep my promises as Mianmian's teacher, then how can I teach Mianmian well?"

She emphasized it again. "It's only a painting."

Shen Qingling shook his head. "It isn't only a painting. Mianmian was waiting for me upstairs. You must have been looking forward to it. Teacher Shen doesn't want to let your hopes fall through."

Lin Xingmian looked at him in surprise, as though light had begun to shine in her eyes.

Shen Qingling suddenly smiled gently again. "It was only a little rain. It's fine."

077: "Lin Xingmian's Heart-Throb Score increased by 20... Damn, Host, you're incredible."

By sheer luck, Shen Qingling had struck a certain chord in Lin Xingmian's heart.

"This year, Daddy will definitely spend Mianmian's birthday with her."

"Daddy has something to do this week, so he can't spend Mianmian's birthday with her."

"Mianmian got first place this time? Mommy will definitely attend the parent-teacher conference."

"Mommy has business to discuss tomorrow, so she won't be going to the parent-teacher conference."

"A newly opened amusement park? Sure, once Sister is on break, I'll go with Mianmian."

"Sorry, Mianmian, Sister still has tutoring. How about I take you to the amusement park next weekend?"

"Mianmian, I'm your new daddy. I'll treat Mianmian as well as your real daddy did."

"You're not my biological daughter. It's already good enough that I give you food to eat."

"Even with a new family, Mommy still loves Mianmian."

"Mommy has it difficult in this family too. Just give your younger sister whatever she wants. Don't make Daddy unhappy."

"New Sister is so pretty. I like this sister."

"You're trying to steal Daddy from me! I hate you! Get out of my house!"

"Why would Mommy ever abandon Mianmian?"

"Mianmian, you're already grown up. You can live on your own now. Go back to your country and find your father. If that doesn't work, there's still Grandma."

"Grandma will stay with Mianmian forever."

"Grandma has become a star in the sky."

Every single thing she had looked forward to had fallen through.

Countless disappointments filled the gaps of her childhood, hurting her down to the marrow.

Yet this person had said, over a painting, that he did not want to let her hopes fall through.

Seeing her standing there in a daze, Shen Qingling decided to give her some time. Making a good first impression on their first meeting was enough.

Shen Qingling gently set the painting on the table.

He smiled awkwardly. "I'm not really in a state to teach Mianmian like this, so I'll head back now."

Shen Qingling turned and walked toward the door.

Lin Xingmian finally could not hold back any longer.

"Teacher Shen."

Shen Qingling turned to look at her.

"Will you come again tomorrow?"