Married to the Protagonist

“…” Chen Jinyao, “I want to do my nails.”

Yan Cheng swept a glance at her. “After you change your shoes.”

She suddenly laughed. She looked back at the state of her feet and said half-jokingly, “Actually, I did that on purpose. I was just hoping since I was so tired I couldn’t move anymore, maybe you could carry me on your back. I didn’t think you would try and end it once and for all, tsk tsk tsk.”

At that, Yan Cheng did not even raise his eyes. His words were half covered in honey, but the other half was covered in knives. “You can just ask me to carry you anytime, no need to mutilate yourself.”

Chen Jinyao rolled her eyes. “I can’t talk with you anymore.”

Yan Cheng, “…”

But coincidentally, Xu Ting was also in this store.

But they only greeted each other and never said anything apart from that.

The stuff sold in the shops opened on the campus was all affordable and is similar to the products sold on Taobao. The price tags all linger around the seventy to eighty dollar price point.

The soles were stiff and they weren’t actually that comfortable to wear.

But compared to the heels, it was much better.

She was just looking for a pair of shoes to replace her heels.

Chen Jinyao sat on a small sofa at the side, trying on the shoes, not really picking and choosing too much. Yan Cheng picked out a pair of white shoes for her, but it was all up to her decision.

After she was almost done, he sat next to her and rested his elbows on his knees. Turning his head sideways, he narrowed his eyes and stared at her ankles.

Xu Ting was still browsing but she kept on throwing glances at them.

There weren’t many customers at the store at this hour.

The owner was still standing at the side, strongly recommending the new designs this year.

Chen Jinyao faced Xu Ting’s scrutiny with openness and ease. Before long, she turned her head to Yan Cheng and whispered into his ear. “Can you get me a bottle of water from the supermarket?”

After a pause, he bent down and touched her ankle that was raw from the friction. “And two bandaids.”

Yan Cheng examined the quality of the shoes, slender hands rubbing the back of the shoe a few times before commenting, “Nice.”

Then, he handed the shoes to Chen Jinyao, “These look good.”

After that, he turned and left.

The supermarket was at the end of the road, which was some distance away.

Chen Jinyao didn’t dawdle too long either. She just took the pair that Yan Cheng thought was good and put it on before saying to the owner, “How much for these?”

The owner responded, “Eighty-nine.”

“I’ll wear them out. Pack up my old ones for me, please.”

The owner agreed and led her to the cashier.

While scanning the payment code, Xu Ting suddenly appeared beside her and asked, “Aren’t you going to wait for your husband to come back and pay for that”

At that, Chen Jinyao turned around and looked at her in disbelief, expression confused. “Why? It’s not like I’m not working.”

Immediately after that, Chen Jinyao felt grateful.

Grateful that she had asked Yan Cheng to go buy water at the supermarket.

If Yan Cheng was still around and she was still the one to pay, that might give her a pitiful impression of her.

Staring each other down, Xu Ting was the first to admit defeat. She laughed dryly and turned around, continuing to browse the shoes with another classmate.

Chen Jinyao left the store and rushed straight for the nail salon.

While passing a fruit store, she saw Gu Ci leaning against one of the pillars holding up the balcony on top, eyes half-shut.

He only put out his cigarette when he saw her approaching.

After greeting each other, he tried his best to organize his words.

“Ahem, it’s nothing really, and I don’t mean anything by it either. I just wanted to ask, is your husband the one you said you had a crush on during our time at university?” He did let her go, but his other emotions may be caught up in it still.

If he gets an answer, then he would be able to let go.

The incessant chirping of robins could be heard.

Other than that however, it was quiet all around with only a few students passing them by occasionally.

The sunlight above was blocked by the balcony, but some of it still illuminated the two of them.

Chen Jinyao’s pupils flickered slightly and she looked at him with her head held high.

She had no idea what the meaning of this question was.

A moment of silence.

Chen Jinyao licked her lips and said, “He’s not.”