The Lady’s Facade was Ruined - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Shen-Huo Couple 

Shen Wanying didn’t know how to describe it. She always thought the way Huo Cheng spoke this sentence seemed to have some meaning behind it. Yet, she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. 

Perhaps she was just overthinking. 

Huo Cheng then started to rearrange the desks and chairs which Shen Wanying had bumped into. After he had finished, he went to the front seat and picked up his bag, “We’ve more or less finished. Let’s go.” 

“Yes.” Shen Wanying grabbed her schoolbag, following Huo Cheng. They left the classroom together. 

Around this time, almost all the students had already left. The school was empty and quiet. Shen Wanying walked beside Huo Cheng and occasionally laughed with him. This scenery appeared as if they were a young couple in love. 

“Do you think Lady Shen and Huo Cheng are dating???” Asked a girl who also went back late that evening. 

The voice that answered her snarled, “You, shut up! Don’t tear apart my turkey shipping1!”
 

“… …But doesn’t Lady Shen and Huo Cheng also seem very good together?” 

“… …” After quite a while the other voice answered. “You are right.” 

Huo Cheng and Shen Wanying in the distance had walked out of the school gate. Because they came out late, there were not many cars left at the school gate. Shen Wanying saw her car that had come to pick up. She stopped following Huo Chen, “My car is over there, I’ll go first.” 

“M-hm.” Huo Cheng nodded. 

“See you tomorrow.” 

“See you tomorrow.” Huo Cheng said, looking at Shen Wanying’s car. He walked to his own car. 

That night, Shen Wanying had a nightmare. 

She didn’t know whether she was frightened by the wasp during the day, or if it was because of what Huo Chang said had subconsciously affected her. That night, Shen Wanying was dreaming about a huge wasp. 

The wasp was chasing her around the school, and she was trying to escape. It sprayed a poisonous fluid that dissolved the school building and burned the flower garden. Shen Wanying had nowhere to hide. 

After that, she awakened in a slight panic. Shen Wanying’s heart was pounding “ba bum”. It took awhile for her to calm down.
 

Because of the nightmares she had, Shen Wanying was very tired and lethargic during the day. She yawned when she was on the bus to school. Fortunately, today’s first two classes were reading classes, so she could relax a bit. 

The Chinese teacher specially reserved two classes every week for everyone to read in the reading room. Although the library and the reading room in the school weren’t as good as those in a University, they were still very pleasing. Moreover, as long as there was no class, students would be happy with anything. 

Under the organization of the representative, in the end, everyone arrived at the reading room and quietly began to select books. Shen Wanying stood in front of a row of bookshelves and looked for a while before deciding which one to take. Then, Shen Wanying saw Huo Cheng taking a copy of Maugham’s “veil”. 

In the reading class, many students would bring their own books. Those who didn’t bring their own books, were unlikely to seriously pick a masterpiece to read. Indeed, there weren’t many people who were like Huo Cheng. 

“Do you like Maugham2?” Shen Wanying asked. 

Huo Cheng looked at her and said, “To say I like it is an understatement. My mother liked to read me this book when I was a child.” 

Shen Wanying was a little surprised. Do parents usually read this book to their children? 

“Your mother is quite different hm..” Shen Wanying smiled at Huo Cheng. “Most parents would choose [The Moon and Sixpence].” 

“At that time, my mother was recuperating in the villa. I went to see her. She had this book on her desk.” Huo Cheng deliberately lowered his voice, but as the reading room was very quiet, the voice that Shen Wanying heard was clearer than ever. She was stunned and asked Huo Cheng, “Is your mother sick? Is it severe?” 

Huo Cheng: “Actually, she was getting better…” 

When he came home the other day, he heard his grandfather and aunt mention his mother. However, he had been busy with school affairs for a few days since he returned to China, and he hadn’t had time to visit his mother. 

In the middle of his speech, he opened his book and read out a paragraph in a low voice: “I know you are silly, frivolous and empty-minded, yet I love you. I know your intentions, your ideals, your snobbish and obnoxious side, yet I love you. I know you’re second rate, yet I love you.” 

Shen Wanying beside him, maintained a smile on her face, “That is a famous sentence.” 

She understood the meaning of the paragraph. Nevertheless, if someone confessed to her openly with that, she wouldn’t feel happy. 

“The idea of this book is actually quite avant-garde, can it be regarded as a feminist pioneer?” Shen Wanying said, “Although the ending of the story is a tragedy, the heroine realized the awakening of female self-awareness and was redeemed.” 

Huo Cheng inadvertently hooked his lips and looked at Shen Wanying: “It’s just like you.” 

Shen Wanying: “… …” 

Is Huo Cheng joking with her? Did he laugh just now? 

“Ha.. ha..” She laughed with a flat tone and took a book, then returned to her seat. Zhao Yimeng was sitting beside her. When she came back, Zhao Yimeng put an angry face in front of her. 

Shen Wanying who didn’t understand the reason why, asked. “What’s going on?” 

Zhao Yimeng: “You… speak honestly. Are you or are you not in love? You were chatting with Huo Cheng about a book like that for a long time. Really you ahhh!” 

Shen Wanying: “… …” 

Isn’t she busy shipping Huo Cheng and Ji Yao? How come she still has the time to try and ship me as well? 

“Let’s read, okay?” Shen Wanying lowered her head and opened up her book that was in front of her on the table. 

Zhao Yimeng pouted and stared at the book on the table in front of her. 

After two reading lessons, Shen Wanying’s energy was much better than in the morning. She had finished the rest of the morning class more lively. After lunch, she went back to her bedroom to make up for her lost sleep the other night.