194: open and covert struggles

"Fine, then work hard at it. Anyway, I never expected him to belong only to me."

"I only need to ensure that I'm the one he loves most, and that's enough."

"Loves most? Based on what? Did you see the patek philippe on his wrist? I gave him that."

"I thought you were going to say something substantial, but this is it? If he'd love you most because of something like that, then I wouldn't want him."

Xia Mengling gritted her teeth inwardly. This woman seemed gentle and polite, but almost every word she spoke had a sting to it. What made her even harder to deal with than Tan Xinxin was that women like Tan Xinxin didn't really love him and just wanted someone to rely on, whereas this woman truly loved Shen Qian and possessed an annoying level of confidence.

"Are you angry? If you are, you can show it. After all, you call Shen Qian 'Brother,' so I suppose I'm your elder sister. It's only right for an older sister to care for her younger sister."

"Then Brother and I should both just call you 'Sister' together, since you're older than both of us."

"Being older isn't bad. After all, I can graduate before you. He's so wonderful; with our relationship, it wouldn't be hard to get pregnant a year earlier than you."

Xia Mengling's eyes widened.

"Are you joking? You think a child can tie him down!?"

"You dare use such a tactic!!!"

Xie Wan patted her lower abdomen.

"Who told you I'd use tactics? I've been with Shen Qian for so long, and I've never asked him for anything. I'm planning to save it all up for my senior year."

"Guess what I'll ask for. And guess if he'll agree?"

"If he doesn't want to be tied down by a child, then I won't tie him down. Although my family's situation might not be as good as yours, raising a child to grow up happy and healthy won't be a problem."

"You think you're the only one who can? I can too! At worst, I'll just take a year off from school!"

"Is that so? You just said your family's condition is good. A good family background is indeed a boost, but sometimes it's also a shackle. No matter how excellent Shen Qian is, your father would never allow you to have a child out of wedlock before you've even graduated."

"Even if you're willing, it won't work."

"Little sister, I was just joking just now. Don't take it seriously. After all, if a woman has a child, that child is for life. If the child fails to awaken Shen Qian's sense of responsibility and fatherly love, then for me, it would be a disastrous move."

The other woman said she was joking, but Xia Mengling knew that at least thirty percent of what she said was true.

After her father made his fortune, the temptations around him grew. Two years ago, a woman had even come to their house to make a scene, claiming she was pregnant. Her father had heartlessly abandoned that woman. At that time, Xia Mengling understood that her father was heartless because he still loved her mother and her.

If he had loved that woman, then the ones heartlessly abandoned would have been her and her mother!

Of course, maybe it wasn't just because of love, but also because everything her father owned now was marital property jointly managed by him and her mother. In the face of massive interests, her father's mind was always clear.

Xia Mengling was right; a privileged family background was indeed a boost, but also a shackle. Shen Qian had money—something even the uncles and elders of the Shen family didn't know. Looking at Shen Qian's parents, they also seemed to be kept in the dark.

In her father's eyes, Shen Qian was just a poor boy. Getting pregnant out of wedlock for a poor boy, and while still in university, was something her father would never agree to, nor would her mother! This was destined to be an option supported by no one.

This was why Xie Wan was so troublesome. Shen Qian wasn't just playing around; he liked her, just as much as he liked Xia Mengling. So, it was destined that Shen Qian would not abandon Xie Wan the way her father had abandoned that woman.

She could certainly hide it from everyone, but if she did, Shen Qian wouldn't support her either.

Even Xie Wan had only mentioned things for her senior year. She likely knew that Shen Qian himself wouldn't allow his woman to get pregnant while still in university.

"Heh, gambling your future on Shen Qian's character—you're being a bit too confident."

"Little sister, haven't you noticed? You sound a bit unsure of yourself. Were you scared by what I just said?"

"I was not!"

"If you weren't scared, you wouldn't be saying things like that. Saying that is just a roundabout way of proving that my tactic might actually work, isn't it?"

"It seems you intend to fight to the end."

"No, little sister. I've never thought of fighting with you or competing with you. On the contrary, I think we can coexist peacefully."

Xia Mengling didn't speak, her frustration only growing. Tan Xinxin was already hard enough to deal with, and now there was an even more difficult Xie Wan, who was also more beautiful.

The way she spoke, as if she were the one in charge, truly irritated this proud girl to no end.

But there was nothing she could do. She couldn't win; she really couldn't win.

Girls like this, who appeared gentle and soft, had so many schemes. After just a brief conversation, Xia Mengling realized that her mother had protected her far too well; she seemed too naive in front of them.

Knock, knock, knock.

There was a light knock on the door, and Shen Qian pushed it open and entered, looking at the two of them.

"Seems you've been awake for a while. Why haven't you come downstairs?"

Xie Wan gave Shen Qian a slight, playful roll of her eyes.

"You have the nerve to ask? You've put me and Little Sister through so much. Right now, the strength in our four legs combined isn't even as much as one leg's worth. And my waist is so sore right now."

"Brother, hold me~"

"Alright, alright, stop messing around. If your legs are sore and weak, I've already told Du Xixi to find two massage therapists for you to help you recover."

Also, as for the villa, I'll rent it for two more days. If you're tired, you can rest some more."

"Brother~ I want to go back to our place to rest. Can you take me back?"

Xia Mengling said coquettishly.

Shen Qian nodded and looked at Xie Wan.

"I'll take Lingling back first, then I'll come back to see you."

Xie Wan shook her head.

"I have Xixi to take care of me here. Lingling has no one with her, so you should look after her. After all, she's not at the same school as us, unlike me, who can see you every day."

The corners of Shen Qian's mouth curled slightly as he looked at Xia Mengling and then at Xie Wan.

"Why are you talking so strangely? Did you two just have a fight?"

"No, Sister is wonderful. She was just telling me that she wants us to get along peacefully. I'm sure she has my best interests at heart. Let's hurry back to our home."

Hearing the word "home," Xie Wan's smile faltered for a moment before returning to her calm expression.

"These two women..." Shen Qian didn't say anything more. If they wanted to compete, let them. Much like scholars looking down on one another, it wasn't easy for beautiful women to coexist in peace.

The fact that Xia Mengling hadn't exploded because of what Xie Wan said showed she cared about his feelings. What more could he ask for?