Chapter 20: She Never Plays by the Rules

"Di Yunshen! Moo! She’s your peach blossom, and you’re her bad luck! Isn’t that prophecy coming true a little too quickly?"

"..."

Di Yunshen felt as if something was stuck in his throat, words he couldn’t quite articulate. Su Qingli actually made a bit of sense, yet—something still felt off!

How coincidental, yet not.

When Di Yunshen turned around, he realized Su Qingli had disappeared again!

He searched for a while and finally found her in a corner.

"Just give me one first! I really do have money! I just didn’t bring it! Someone will definitely pay you soon!"

"Little girl, you can’t just freeload at my stall!"

Di Yunshen wanted to step in, but then paused.

He just stood nearby, watching Su Qingli argue her case with the candied haw vendor.

"Old man! You don’t trust me? My husband is Di Yunshen! How could he possibly be short on money?"

"I don’t know any Di Yunshen! Are you buying or not? If not, don’t block the way!"

Seeing the two about to quarrel, Di Yunshen stepped forward and scanned the payment code.

"See! I told you someone would pay!"

"Fine, fine, pick what you want."

"Pick? I’ll take them all! You, pay up!"

Though exasperated, Di Yunshen still bought them for her.

"I really am your ultimate fool."

Su Qingli shoved a strawberry into his mouth, "Just shut up, will you!"

"..."

Di Yunshen didn’t want to eat it, but then he realized—it was the first time Su Qingli had ever fed him. So he forced himself to chew and swallow a couple times.

"Hurry up and eat, and put your mask back on."

Su Qingli was eating happily. "As long as you’re masked, no one would ever guess that someone important would be hanging around with a bumpkin like me."

"..."

Her self-awareness was actually quite accurate!

"Hey? Isn’t that Di Tingxiao?"

Just as she spoke, Di Tingxiao was already coming their way. Noticing Su Qingli holding the candied haw, he casually took a stick.

"Su Qingli bought candied haw? It’s not too much to ask for one, is it?"

Su Qingli glanced silently at Di Yunshen. Seeing that he kept quiet, she pulled out a QR code. "One hundred."

Di Tingxiao didn’t argue; he paid up without hesitation.

"My dear brother, are you two out shopping? It wouldn’t be too much to take me along, would it?"

Di Yunshen couldn’t be bothered to waste a single word on him, not even to tell him to get lost.

Seeing Di Yunshen’s cold expression, Di Tingxiao grinned shamelessly, took a bite of the candied haw, and said, "Even the candied haw Su Qingli buys tastes sweeter."

Su Qingli’s mouth twitched, "Are you sick?"

"I never eat sweets."

"Diabetes?"

"..."

Hearing this, Di Yunshen’s expression changed as well. He’d known this girl’s mouth never said anything pleasant.

"You’re quite interesting. If I married you, life would never be boring, right?" Di Tingxiao asked with a smile.

Su Qingli swallowed a strawberry, actually considering the question seriously. "Shouldn’t you ask him? Hey, Di Yunshen, is life with me interesting?"

"..."

Only then did Di Tingxiao realize she really didn’t play by anyone’s rules.

"Qingli, don’t girls all like lipstick? Here, this is for you. After I went home last time, I had someone prepare it for ages. There’s only one like this."

Su Qingli examined the lipstick in her hand but just couldn’t muster any interest.

"Next time, you might as well bring me some cinnabar and yellow paper."

"Huh?"

"Do you see me with makeup? Do I use this stuff?"

Only then did Di Tingxiao notice—Su Qingli’s face really didn’t have a hint of makeup!

He had always just noticed how striking she looked, but never realized she went barefaced.

"Only now do I see—Su Qingli, you’re not wearing any makeup at all. Your skin is truly flawless; the more I look, the more I like it."

Su Qingli looked up and said without hesitation, "Funny, the more I look at you, the more annoying you get."

"..."

"Qingli, why don’t you marry me?"

Su Qingli sized up Di Tingxiao from top to bottom, then couldn’t help laughing at herself. "Forget it, Di Yunshen is still a bit more handsome."

With that, she looked over at the man behind her, gave him a quick once-over, then nodded seriously. "Not bad, not bad."

Su Qingli grabbed Di Yunshen’s arm and headed inside, handing the candied haw to a bodyguard.

Behind them, Di Tingxiao chased after them. "Don’t get all handsy in public! Let him go—where are your manners?"

"My rules are the only rules! Get lost!"

Su Qingli strode confidently onward with Di Yunshen in tow.

Although Di Yunshen’s face was icy as ever, inside, he was secretly smug!

Soon enough, the two of them ditched Di Tingxiao and found a quiet corner to eat.

"Don’t like him, Xiao Li?"

"Not at all, thank you."

"Why?"

"Di Yunshen, don’t tell me you’re fooled by his current look? Sure, he seems well-behaved now, but have you forgotten the feng shui trap he set back then? Listen, you’ll never understand how dangerous that setup really was—he’s a truly sinister person."

Di Yunshen knew all this, but he was surprised—maybe this little fool Su Qingli wasn’t so foolish after all.

"Di Yunshen, I miss my master. I’m planning to go visit tomorrow."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No need, I’ll go by myself!"

Di Yunshen fell silent for a moment, then spoke again: "The mountain road is rough. If I don’t take you, you won’t make it. Were you planning to walk all the way?"

Only then did Su Qingli realize! She was used to going on foot, but now she had options!

"Then you can take me!"

"Alright." Outwardly calm, inwardly delighted.

"Di Yunshen, I’m full now."

"Di Yunshen! That unlucky kid is coming!"

"Who?"