Just as the two were arguing about whose card to use, Shi Li spotted two familiar figures.
Following Shi Li's gaze, Wei Yi first saw Liang Rongrong, with Feng Yunhe following not too far behind.
Wei Yi knew that Shi Li liked Feng Yunhe and was a bit worried she might be upset.
Seizing this opportunity, Shi Li quickly swiped her card and entered the PIN.
Wei Yi was shocked, "I was worried you'd be heartbroken, but you're pulling a sneak attack instead!"
Shi Qiuyu had gone upstairs to buy milk tea. When she returned with three cups in hand, she saw Shi Li and Wei Yi huddled close together, their body language and Wei Yi's wide-eyed expression of anger painting quite a picture.
To Shi Qiuyu, who didn't know the context, it looked like the two were about to fight.
Especially with Liang Rongrong and Feng Yunhe not far away.
The saleswoman broke the tension, saying, "Ma'am, here are your items and receipt. Please take them."
Shi Qiuyu seized the chance to squeeze between the two, handing each a cup of milk tea. "Quick, try it while it's still hot."
In front of her crush, Shi Li reined in her seemingly erratic behavior.
Holding her milk tea, Shi Li walked gracefully up to Feng Yunhe and greeted him, "Brother Yunhe, are you out shopping too?"
Before Feng Yunhe could answer, Liang Rongrong turned her doll-like face towards him and said, "Yes, big brother is accompanying me shopping."
When reading the novel, Shi Li had quite liked the female lead.
[Seeing her make that face, my hand itches. I want to slap her.]
Wei Yi and Shi Qiuyu: !
The two looked at each other in horror, then simultaneously linked arms with Shi Li on either side.
This way, even if Shi Li suddenly decided to act, they could stop her in time.
Liang Rongrong's face lit up with a dependent smile, "Big brother is helping me buy clothes."
Feng Yunhe was indeed accompanying Liang Rongrong to buy clothes, but only under strong insistence from his father.
As Shi Li's good friends, Wei Yi and Shi Qiuyu had only one thought.
Drama!
Too much drama!
Worried that Shi Li might start a brawl right there, Shi Qiuyu spoke up first, "We have some errands to run, so we'll be going now."
As if on cue, Wei Yi and Shi Qiuyu exerted their strength in unison, dragging Shi Li away between them.
Thanks to the mirror-smooth floors of the mall, the two physically unimpressive girls managed to drag Shi Li away.
When they reached another floor, Shi Li looked at the two with slight exasperation, "What are you two doing?"
Wei Yi had a flash of inspiration and said, "Qiuyu mentioned that the cake shop on the second floor is having a limited-time promotion that's about to end. I really want to eat some, let's go check it out quickly!"
Shi Qiuyu: I didn't say that.
Shi Li, puzzled, asked, "When did Qiuyu tell you that?"
Surprised that she could still spot the logical flaw, Shi Qiuyu covered for her, saying, "When I went upstairs to buy milk tea. I remembered Wei Yi likes cake, so when I saw the promotion, I told her right away."
Wei Yi, who actually doesn't like cake: ......
Then, with Shi Li still sandwiched between them, they circled the second floor again and again, without finding a single cake shop, let alone one having a promotion that Wei Yi would like.
Shi Qiuyu was a delicate young lady, which was evident in all aspects of her life.
Even when shopping, she was incredibly weak, running out of energy after just two laps of the second floor.
She collapsed ungracefully onto a nearby massage chair, "I think I must have remembered wrong, or maybe I saw it wrong."
Wei Yi also said, "Actually, I don't really want cake that much. Let's just continue looking at clothes and accessories."
Shi Qiuyu, who felt like she'd lost half her life, refused and threw them a glare.
She suggested finding a place where they could lie down and rest, or better yet, go eat something.
Both Shi Li and Wei Yi had eaten lunch at home before coming out and weren't in the mood to eat anything.
The now combat-ineffective Shi Qiuyu was mercilessly lifted up. Since they were out, they might as well buy more clothes.
Like a drained goose, she was dragged along listlessly by the other two.
First it was Shi Li, now it was her.
Heaven truly spares no one.
As they passed by a high-end watch store, the previously lifeless Shi Qiuyu suddenly said, "I think I just saw Gao Yun."
Wei Yi and Shi Li thought she was making excuses to avoid more shopping, "How is that possible? Didn't she say she had plans today?"
Shi Li even looked back. It was a store mainly selling men's watches, and Gao Yun had no need for such things.
As for buying for Gao Yun's male relatives, that was even less likely.
The men in Gao Yun's family wouldn't wear watches of this caliber; they all opted for custom-made pieces from abroad.
"No, really, I saw her," Shi Qiuyu insisted.
Shi Li patted Shi Qiuyu's head affectionately, "Alright, let's take a look."
Just one look, that's all it was supposed to be.
But Gao Yun was indeed in that store, and beside her stood a figure Shi Li knew all too well – tall, thin, wearing black-rimmed glasses.
Who else could it be but Qiao Shan?
[I'm going to faint]
[Someone catch me]
[Quick, pinch my philtrum]
As Shi Li's inner thoughts rang out, Gao Yun, who was facing the counter with her back to the door, immediately knew Shi Li was nearby.
Wei Yi and Shi Qiuyu, hearing these thoughts, were startled.
They thought Shi Li was really about to faint and prepared themselves to pinch her philtrum or perform CPR if necessary.
Turning to look at Shi Li, they saw she was fine, just wearing an expression of shock.
After hearing Shi Li's thoughts, Gao Yun turned around, searching.
As soon as she turned, she came face to face with her good friends.
She had just refused Shi Qiuyu's invitation to go shopping that morning, claiming she had no time, and now she'd run into them at the mall in the afternoon.
Gao Yun's eyes flickered, showing a hint of guilt.
As the saying goes, you may lose the battle, but never lose face.
Gao Yun's gaze quickly became determined, and she greeted her friends casually, "You're shopping here too?"
With the expression Shi Li was wearing, there was no hope for normal social interaction.
Shi Qiuyu's expression was equally unfriendly, "So you did have time to shop, just not with us."
Shi Li mentally added, [We're just not good enough]
[In the end, she thinks men are more important than us]
Shi Li's comments were like adding fuel to the fire of Shi Qiuyu's anger.
Gao Yun, who also heard Shi Li's snarky thoughts, felt her panic rising.
"That's not it. You all are very important to me, but I had already made plans with him earlier. Based on the principle of first come, first served, that's why I said I had something to do today and couldn't join you."
[Good friends should have the privilege of cutting in line]
Facing Shi Qiuyu, who was about to burst into flames, Shi Li continued to add fuel to the fire. Gao Yun was dying of anxiety; she wished she could rush over and cover Shi Li's mouth.
But then she realized that Shi Li wasn't actually saying these words with her mouth, so covering it wouldn't help.
It seemed like only a few words had been exchanged, but the expressions of the three girls in front of her kept changing.
Especially when each of them spoke, it was as if they were communicating through brain waves.
Qiao Shan thought to himself, I should break this eerie silence.
He spoke up to introduce himself, "Hello, I'm Qiao Shan from Class 3 next door. I'm Yun Yun's boyfriend."
When the word "boyfriend" was uttered, Gao Yun felt like she saw the most disbelieving look she had ever seen on Shi Li's face.
Gao Yun couldn't understand the meaning behind that look, but soon Shi Li's inner thoughts rang out.
From her inner voice, Gao Yun understood what that look meant.
[This is ridiculous. She's gotten involved with this scumbag again]
