You lost your innocence with me long ago

"Mm-hm, listen to me explain properly. Don't be angry yet—anger is bad for your health."

Ruan Mingyi racked her brains and said every nice thing she could think of before finally soothing Shen Qingling.

Seeing Shen Qingling's frosty expression finally soften, she secretly let out a breath of relief.

There was no doubt Shen Qingling had done it on purpose.

He absolutely could not let Ruan Mingyi treat him like one of those male companions she used to toy with at will. If she did, she would inevitably look down on him, and what contempt bred was arrogance, never love.

He wanted Ruan Mingyi to understand that some boundaries could not be crossed, and some words could not be spoken carelessly. She had to learn to respect him.

Ruan Mingyi cautiously tested the waters. "Then... shall we go buy clothes?"

Her heart tightened when Shen Qingling looked over. Blinking, she continued, "You don't need to blind the whole place with your brilliance. As long as you like it and it feels comfortable to wear, that's enough."

Ruan Mingyi had finally changed a little. Shen Qingling nodded. "All right."

Ruan Mingyi took Shen Qingling to a custom suit shop.

She told the shop manager to make everything according to Shen Qingling's preferences and did not interfere in the slightest.

The manager took Shen Qingling's measurements and could not help praising him. "Is Miss Ruan's friend a model? He has such a great figure."

"No. I think he's even more handsome than a model."

"That's true, haha. This gentleman is handsome and well-built. Miss Ruan, you're really blessed."

With that, the manager went into the back room to fill out the order form.

Ruan Mingyi's heart tightened. Afraid that Shen Qingling would misunderstand, she hurriedly explained, "I've never taken a man shopping for clothes before. You're the only one."

Shen Qingling found her a little amusing. He lowered his eyes. "I didn't say anything."

"I'm just afraid you'd misunderstand. I've never put any thought into them. The manager is my dad's friend, so..."

"Mm. You don't need to explain so much. I'm not your boyfriend."

"I still have to explain. Otherwise, if you get angry, you're really hard to coax."

"So you mean I'm troublesome?"

"No! Ah, why are you misunderstanding me again?"

"You don't need to explain."

"That's really not what I meant! I truly didn't mean that!"

Seeing Ruan Mingyi grow flustered, Shen Qingling found it funny.

When she saw the slight curl at the corner of the young man's lips, Ruan Mingyi realized Shen Qingling was deliberately teasing her. She bit her lip. "I never thought you had this kind of bad taste too."

Shen Qingling raised a brow. "You're allowed to tease me, but I'm not allowed to tease you?"

It was the first time Ruan Mingyi had seen this side of Shen Qingling, and that raised brow instantly took her breath away.

077: "Ruan Mingyi's heart-flutter value increased by 5."

Ruan Mingyi truly was a woman who was honest about a pretty face.

She leaned close to Shen Qingling's eyes. "I never said that, but seeing you like this is giving me ideas again."

She did not dare imagine how handsome Shen Qingling would look in a suit... She licked the corner of her lips.

Shen Qingling pressed his index finger against her forehead, refusing to let her come closer. "Don't think about it. Leave me a little innocence."

Ruan Mingyi curled her lips, rose onto her tiptoes, and whispered softly into his ear, "You lost your innocence with me long ago. Everything worth thinking about, dreaming about, and doing—I've already done it."

Shen Qingling pushed her away, his ears so red they looked ready to drip blood.

This woman really was...

Ruan Mingyi laughed until she could barely contain herself.

Why was he so easily embarrassed?

He was surprisingly innocent.

Was this the fun of dating a college boy?

Just then, the manager came out and interrupted their flirtation.

"The clothes will be ready tomorrow. When will Miss Ruan be available? I'll deliver them right to your door on time."

"Before two in the afternoon. I still have styling to do in the afternoon, so later won't work."

"Of course, of course. Take care, you two."

After settling the matter of the clothes, Ruan Mingyi smiled. "It's almost evening, and we're already out. How about we have dinner together?"

Ruan Mingyi had already prepared herself to cling to Shen Qingling before getting an affirmative answer.

Who would have thought Shen Qingling would agree outright? "All right. I'll treat you to dinner today."

Ruan Mingyi was utterly surprised. She had not expected Shen Qingling to offer to buy her dinner.

Why did it feel like she had won the lottery?

When a cold and aloof person showed even a hint of softness, it made people feel overwhelmingly favored.

077: "Ruan Mingyi's heart-flutter value increased by 3."

Ruan Mingyi asked with a beaming smile, "Sure! What shall we eat, then? French food, Japanese food, or something else?"

Shen Qingling said, "The Shaxian County place outside our school is pretty good."

It was Ruan Mingyi's first time hearing of it, and she gave him a puzzled look. "What is Shaxian County? A local specialty cuisine?"

"Fast food."

Ruan Mingyi froze for a moment. "Huh?"

Shen Qingling smiled faintly. "You're allowed to joke, but you can't tell when I'm teasing you?"

Ruan Mingyi tossed her hair. "Even if we really were eating fast food, I'd be willing. After all, with such a feast for the eyes as you before me, I'd be thoroughly satisfied."

Shen Qingling said, "Where did you learn all these things you say? I've never seen a rich young lady like you."

Ruan Mingyi said, "Being absurd is a talent flowing through my blood. Other people couldn't learn it even if they tried. You should be secretly delighted that a rich young lady like me is pursuing you."

As she spoke, Ruan Mingyi made up her mind. She really was going to Shaxian County with Shen Qingling!

"Come on, Shen Qingling. We're eating at Shaxian County today."

"Miss Ruan, I was joking."

"It's fine. If you can eat it, so can I. We ate at the cafeteria last time, so this time we'll try Shaxian County."

Under Ruan Mingyi's insistent demands, Shen Qingling could only take her to Shaxian County.

Most of the people eating there were Jiang University students. Fortunately, it was not the weekend, so there were not many people.

At a table by the door, four girls were chatting.

One girl propped up her chin and said, "Mumu, do you think it's possible that one day in the future, Shen Qingling will suddenly walk into this Shaxian County place and fall in love at first sight with me, the girl who loves chicken leg rice?"

Roommate 1 said, "What's wrong? Did today's chicken leg rice have mushrooms in it?"

Roommate 2 said, "Looks like you stuffed yourself silly."

Roommate 3 said, "You ate too much and got carb-drunk, didn't you? How is this any different from The Overbearing CEO Falls for Me After Menopause? How could Shen Qingling possibly—"

Before the roommate could finish, her eyes went blank.

"What's wrong?"

"Y-you, turn around."

"!!! Holy shit, Shen Qingling!"

Her voice was not quiet, instantly drawing the attention of Shen Qingling and Ruan Mingyi, who had just entered.

Shen Qingling looked over, and the girls at that table hurriedly lowered their heads to stare at the chicken leg rice in front of them.

"Today's chicken leg is especially chicken-leg-like, right, Mumu?"

"Yes, and the soup is really handsome... no, I mean, it's really tasty too."

The girls amused Shen Qingling, and he smiled before walking to the counter with Ruan Mingyi to order.

The girls were still a little dazed.

"Holy shit, did Shen Qingling just smile at me?"

"He was probably amused because we embarrassed ourselves so badly."

"So handsome! Was that the smile of an icy, aloof male god melting like an iceberg? I'm practically drooling."

"I'm putting 'made Shen Qingling laugh' on my résumé as an achievement!"

"Then I'll have it carved onto my tombstone after I die."