Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

"Qing'er, I know you love me and are eagerly waiting for me to marry you, but I can't lie to you, nor can I lie to myself. During the time I've been away from you, I've met the love of my life. Only after meeting her did I realize that my relationship with you before was just playing around."

"I don't want to hold you back. The main reason I'm here is to make things clear to you that I can't marry you. From now on, I can treat you like my own sister. If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to come to me."

The words were so hypocritical that Shen Qing instantly understood that she had been cheated on.

She raised her eyes, a hint of disdain on her lips: "I'm in trouble right now, give me two hundred taels of silver."

Upon hearing the word "silver," Song Wenqian's face instantly turned ugly.

He thought Shen Qing would cry and beg him to change his mind, but unexpectedly she directly asked him for money.

He was just saying those things casually, so why is Shen Qing so ungrateful and asking for it so readily?

Shen Qing knew he was poor.

"I don't have any money. Tell me, if you encounter any other difficulties..."

"All the difficulties I've encountered are basically because I'm short of money. Otherwise, you could return the cash value of the things I bought for you before, as well as the silver I secretly slipped to you before," Shen Qing said.

The original owner used to buy a lot of nice things for this Song Wenqian and also gave him a lot of money.

Now it seems that both money and sincerity have been wasted.

"You—" Song Wenqian pointed at Shen Qing, his defenses crumbling.

"You bought those willingly, what does it have to do with me? Besides, those things are long gone, and the money's all spent!"

"Let me tell you, Shen Qing, we're completely over now. If you ever run into me again, don't try to make excuses or say anything!"

Shen Qing snorted: "You should take a good look at yourself in the mirror first. You're not good-looking, yet you're narcissistic. You're poor and useless, and all you do is live off women. I don't know who's so unlucky to have you entangled with."

After saying that, she pushed the cart away without giving Song Wenqian a single extra glance.

The original owner's judgment was really poor; talking to someone like Song Wenqian was simply a waste of time.

She had only asked for money as a test, but she hadn't expected Song Wenqian to break down so easily.

That's outrageous.

Song Wenqian stood still, his eyes dark and menacing as he stared intently at Shen Qing's retreating figure.

"Pah! They're so poor they have to set up a stall on the street, yet they act like spoiled rich girls. Aren't they ashamed?"

"Just you wait. Once I'm rich, let's see how you'll beg me then. I wouldn't even want to be your concubine!"

......

After returning home, Zhao Wan couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

She promised to take Song Lang to try the crystal soup dumplings, but Song Lang didn't get to eat a single bite, and she had to avoid her family.

Song Lang has lofty ambitions, yet he is often self-conscious. Today's events will likely cause him much more to ponder.

Zhao Wan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. After a while, she decided to crawl through the dog hole to find Song Wenqian.

Song Wenqian's residence was not far from the Zhao residence; in Ping'an County, it was considered a very nice house.

The courtyard features pavilions, terraces, rockeries, and gardens, with each step revealing a new and exquisite scene.

The house is registered under Zhao Wan's name and was a birthday gift from her older brother, Zhao Cheng.

After meeting Song Wenqian, she couldn't bear to see him suffer, and in order to allow him to concentrate on his studies, she let him live in this house.

Normally, Song Wenqian would be studying diligently at this time, but today Zhao Wan searched the entire house and couldn't find him anywhere.

"Where could Song Lang have gone so late?" Zhao Wan was completely puzzled.

All I could do was sit in the chair and wait.

After waiting for a full half hour, footsteps finally came from outside.

"Song Lang!" Zhao Wan called out happily.

Song Wenqian stiffened, his eyes widened, and he was filled with panic.

Why is Zhao Wan here? Did she discover something?

No, no, he only dared to show up and end their previous relationship after Shen Qing had finished her business. By then, Zhao Wan should have already returned home with her family.

People with guilty consciences are always flustered.

Song Wenqian forced a smile: "Awan, what brings you here?"

"Where did you go? Why did it take you so long to come back? I've been waiting for you for ages. Why is there so much sweat on your forehead? What happened?" Zhao Wan asked a barrage of questions.

Song Wenqian raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead and explained guiltily, "I was just chatting with my classmate for a while. As for the sweat, it's probably because it was too hot walking back."

Zhao Wan nodded. Song Lang must have gone to study with his classmates.

"Song Lang, about what happened today... it's not that I don't want you to meet my parents... it's just..."

"I understand, Awan, I understand. When I pass the imperial examination with flying colors, I will go to your house to propose marriage in grand style. Right now, I don't have the courage to meet your parents."

Song Wenqian had a gentle expression, but his hands, hanging at his sides, were clenched into fists.

Zhao Wan immediately felt relieved: "Song Lang, I'll wait for you. You will definitely pass the imperial examination with flying colors!"

"Um!"

"Song Lang, the crystal soup dumplings are absolutely delicious! It's a real shame you didn't get to try them today. Let's go earlier tomorrow and buy some; we definitely won't run into my family there. You absolutely have to try them!"

Thinking of the taste of crystal soup dumplings, Zhao Wan became excited again.

Song Wenqian frowned. Damn it, why did Zhao Wan insist on buying steamed buns from Shen Qing?

"Ah Wan, I don't like steamed buns, why don't you go get some yourself..."

"Oh my, Madam Shen's crystal soup dumplings are different from ordinary dumplings, and they even have a jade shrimp filling! Besides, didn't you rave about the pork filling crystal soup dumplings last night?"

"Let me tell you, they're even better fresh out of the steamer! Absolutely amazing! It's no exaggeration to say that Madam Shen's crystal steamed buns are the best things in the world!"

When talking about crystal xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), Zhao Wan's tone was cheerful and happy.

But Song Wenqian wanted to slap himself. He shouldn't have said the steamed buns Zhao Wan brought last night were delicious.

Now we can't even find an excuse.

Struggling to suppress her resentment, she forced a gentle smile: "Awan, I want to study at home..."

"It won't make a difference if we just pay for the seats directly. We won't have to wait in line, and it won't take up much of your time."

Zhao Wan interrupted Song Wenqian directly.

It wasn't that she was domineering, but rather that she genuinely wanted Song Wenqian to try the freshly steamed crystal soup dumplings; they were truly delicious and amazing.

It has a blissful and pleasant taste.

That's just how she is; when she eats something really delicious, she can't help but want the people she likes to try it too.

"Ah Wan..."

"It's settled then. It's getting late, I'll head back now!" Zhao Wan waved her hand, not giving Song Wenqian a chance to refuse.

Song Wenqian's brows were so furrowed they could have trapped a fly, and he stared at Zhao Wan's retreating figure with a face full of resentment.

All you ever do is eat, eat, eat!