Chapter 85: Shen Shi, the Face-Blind

The outcome of the match was already decided; in the end, it was Yang Yao who emerged victorious. Regardless of whether she had employed some questionable means, the fact that Shen Mei was kicked off the stage was plain for all to see. People felt sympathy for her, but at the same time, were immensely relieved that they were not Shen Mei.

“Congratulations on your win,” said Qin Mengchun, rushing up to Yang Yao as soon as she stepped off the stage, her face alight with a smile. She congratulated Yang Yao for her victory.

Yang Yao’s gaze happened to fall upon Shen Mei, who was being carried away by others. No one could discern the emotion in her eyes—was it guilt? Was it pity? Or perhaps relief? Even Yang Yao herself could not say for certain.

“It’s truly tragic—betrayed by a once-close friend, left in such a miserable state. A champion of taekwondo reduced to someone who can’t even stand…” Qin Mengchun observed Shen Mei’s condition, crossing her arms and remarking coldly. She remembered clearly that this taekwondo champion had never shown her much respect.

It was a pity, she thought, that it wasn’t Qin Sheng who was kicked out. She had no idea when that useless girl had learned martial arts, but just as her mother had said, the old man of the Qin family must have secretly taught Qin Sheng quite a bit. As it turns out, her mother was right—everything had come true. That troublesome girl was not as easy to deal with as she had imagined.

Both Yang Yao and Qin Mengchun’s eyes lingered on Shen Mei, but their thoughts were worlds apart. Yang Yao couldn’t find the words to describe her feelings; they were tangled and conflicted. Every punch she landed had felt cathartic, yet seeing Shen Mei now, she felt a touch of regret.

“Are you regretting your actions? Have you forgotten what you promised Guo Ting?” Qin Mengchun, seeing Yang Yao silent, couldn’t help but ask with a sardonic tone.

Yang Yao reacted sharply, answering in a fierce voice, “Impossible! I don’t regret it!”

Qin Mengchun was surprised by the intensity of Yang Yao’s reaction and raised an eyebrow, continuing, “I was only reminding you. Why are you so defensive? Besides, you’ve already given her the medicine—regret won’t change anything now.”

Yang Yao didn’t respond, instead collecting the advancement badge from the staff and leaving the stage with determined strides. Qin Mengchun shook her head and returned to her seat; watching Yang Yao’s match had never been her true objective.

Her gaze now drifted toward the boy sitting at the far end of the front row. He wore a black tracksuit and a matching cap that hid his striking features. The boy was silent and indifferent, not even glancing at others’ matches. Only when the staff announced it was his turn did he stand up.

It was said he was Guo Ting’s cousin, but Qin Mengchun was skeptical. She had observed him these past few days: he barely spoke to Guo Ting, always reserved and quiet. Even Guo Ting, so prideful, would restrain her temper in his presence. His status couldn’t be inferior to hers.

Qin Mengchun’s target was him. He had a melodious name: Shen Shi. If she could win him over, she wouldn’t have to remain entangled with that useless Li Chengbin.

As she expected, Shen Shi’s skill was formidable. In barely a minute, his opponent was sent tumbling off the stage with a powerful kick.

“Well done!” Cheers erupted from the audience, both for his strength and his handsome appearance. The crowd seemed less like competitors and more like spectators.

Qin Mengchun was even more determined to pursue Shen Shi. As soon as he collected his advancement badge, she hurried after him. She had no fear of others trailing her; she had already checked—most of the spectators for Shen Shi’s match were competitors themselves.

“Shen Shi!” Shen Shi was about to leave the core base when a girl called out to him from behind. He stopped, and Qin Mengchun took a moment to fix her hair and clothes, putting on what she believed was her sweetest smile as she walked up to him. She was certain Shen Shi would be captivated by her smile. Why else would he have stopped and waited for her?

“Do you want something?” Shen Shi’s tone was icy, directly asking her purpose.

Qin Mengchun feigned shyness, casting him a coy glance. “I watched your match just now. You were amazing…”

Shen Shi listened as if hearing praise meant for someone else, his cold expression unmoved.

“So, what is it?” he asked, utterly indifferent.

His instinct told him that this girl’s calculated sweetness was far from genuine. Her smile, though sweet, contained more scheming than sincerity. Shen Shi had no desire to get involved with her.

Qin Mengchun was surprised her tactic hadn’t worked; her smile faltered for a moment. Noticing his displeasure, she quickly tried again, “Shen Shi, I really admire you and would like to get to know you. My name is Qin—”

Before she could finish, Shen Shi cut her off. “Who you are is of no concern to me, and I have no wish to know you.”

With that, Shen Shi strode away from the core base, leaving Qin Mengchun standing there, her carefully crafted plan utterly wasted.

She watched Shen Shi’s retreating figure, stomping her foot in anger and brimming with frustration.

“Mengchun? I finally found you! Has your friend finished her match? Why are you standing by the door?” Li Chengbin, who had arrived at the core base sometime later, happened to run into Qin Mengchun.

Qin Mengchun had told him she would be supporting her friend’s match that afternoon, so he’d been waiting, and when she hadn’t come out, he decided to wait at the entrance.

After all, picking up his girlfriend was a romantic gesture.

Caught off guard by Li Chengbin’s sudden appearance, Qin Mengchun quickly forced an awkward smile. “Chengbin? Why were you waiting for me at the core base?”

Li Chengbin smiled, putting an arm around her waist. “I thought I’d take you home after the match. I can’t let anyone steal my beautiful girlfriend…”

His words reminded Qin Mengchun of her true purpose for coming to the core base that day. Worried Li Chengbin might have seen her talking to Shen Shi, she sweetly probed, “When did you get here? I’m so surprised!”

Li Chengbin didn’t notice the caution and calculation in her eyes. “Just now. As soon as I entered, I saw you standing by the door,” he answered honestly.

Not wanting Li Chengbin to suspect anything, Qin Mengchun quickly grabbed his hand and acted spoiled. “I was wondering, Yang Yao just finished her match and you showed up. Let’s go home.”

“Don’t you want to wait for your friend?” Li Chengbin asked politely.

Unexpectedly, Qin Mengchun let go of his hand, feigning anger. “What, you think Yang Yao’s good-looking and want to go home with her instead?”

Li Chengbin quickly shook his head in protest.

Qin Mengchun deliberately brushed his hand aside and walked out of the core base. Seeing her upset, Li Chengbin hurried after her, doing his best to placate her.

Neither of them noticed the figure lurking in the shadows above. Qin Sheng had come to check on Shen Mei’s match, but unexpectedly witnessed a stroke of luck. It appeared Qin Mengchun had already shifted her target.

Qin Sheng’s lips curved in a faint smile as she recalled that cold, distant figure—none other than Shen Shi.

“Excuse me, have you seen a tall, slender girl in a brown coat come to compete?” Qin Sheng entered, unable to find Shen Mei. She guessed Shen Mei had finished her match, but still asked.

“You mean the girl just now who looked sick?” came the reply.

Sick? Qin Sheng frowned at the news. Shen Mei had left home perfectly fine; it was impossible she’d suddenly fallen ill.

“She’s finished her match and is likely at the hospital now. You should hurry; her injuries seem quite serious…”

After thanking them, Qin Sheng rushed out of the core base, searching everywhere for the location of the safe zone hospital.

“Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the hospital in the safe zone?” Passing an unfamiliar building, Qin Sheng spotted someone nearby and stopped them without hesitation.

Coincidentally, the person she stopped was none other than Shen Shi—the very target of Qin Mengchun earlier.

For Shen Shi, being stopped twice in one day was irritating enough; that both times it was the same person was even more infuriating.

“You again? What is your purpose?” Shen Shi’s gaze was icy as he stared at Qin Sheng. Strangely, where earlier he had seen calculation in her eyes, now he saw only ambition and innocence.

He didn’t know why those were the words that came to mind when looking into her eyes, but he was not mistaken: pure goodness and ambition.

Qin Sheng was bewildered. She had met Shen Shi before, but for him, this was their first encounter.

What did he mean by “you again”?

“I’ve already said I’m not interested in you.”

Qin Sheng arched an eyebrow and retorted without hesitation, “I’m not interested in you either. I’m just asking for directions. Don’t be so narcissistic.”

Shen Shi clenched his fist, unable to restrain himself.

Qin Sheng continued, “This is the first time I’ve seen you, so there’s no ‘again.’ Will you just tell me how to get to the hospital?”

Shen Shi hesitated, realizing he had mistaken her for someone else.

“Go straight for five hundred meters, then turn right,” he replied curtly, before striding away.

Qin Sheng watched his hurried, retreating figure and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

He truly was as cold as he seemed.

Most likely, he was face-blind. That would explain why he mistook Qin Sheng for Qin Mengchun. The two wore similar outfits that day, and shared the Qin family bloodline. For someone with face blindness, distinguishing between them would indeed be a challenge for Shen Shi.