Thirty-Seventh Slice of Blood Orange

For most people, the weekend lasts two days. Liao Xue got up early and prepared an elaborate send-off breakfast for Shen Qiancheng, watching with a smile as she ate.

Shen Qiancheng, oblivious to the fuss, dug in heartily.

Indeed, once Liao Xue was appeased, good things followed.

After the meal, Liao Xue tied on an apron, cleared the dishes into the dishwasher, pressed start, and while waiting, gathered yesterday's laundry into the automatic washer.

Passing the bathroom, Shen Qiancheng was seated on a stool in the living room.

Coming out of the bathroom, Shen Qiancheng was still there.

The dishwasher finished its cycle, and Liao Xue put away the dishes. Shen Qiancheng remained glued to the stool.

The clock on the white wall read 8:30 in the morning.

Shen Qiancheng was absorbed in her PAD when she felt eyes on her. Puzzled, she looked up to find Liao Xue watching her with an unreadable expression.

Shen Qiancheng: ?

On screen, flashy effects blazed—a level-clear animation.

Shen Qiancheng straightened up, extended her hand, and said, "Pull me up. How about we go for a run outside?"

Liao Xue, always cooped up at home, was bound to want a stroll together.

Liao Xue pursed her lips, untied the apron, and nodded. "Sure."

Shen Qiancheng added, "And not to the vegetable market!"

Liao Xue recalled how Shen Qiancheng, at the market, had acted like a mouse facing a cat—always hiding behind her.

"Fine. We'll just run in the neighborhood."

Since it was a weekday, the leisure area downstairs was nearly empty. The young had gone to work, the kids to school, and the elderly were busy with chores at home.

Shen Qiancheng took a deep breath. Fewer people meant fresher air.

Facing the rising sun, they jogged side by side.

Out of nowhere, Liao Xue asked, "Don't you have something to tell me?"

Shen Qiancheng replied, puzzled, "Do I?"

Their words didn't align. Liao Xue stopped, grabbed Shen Qiancheng's wrist, and said seriously, "Why aren't you at work? Did you get fired?"

Liao Xue shouldn't worry about that; wasn't it enough that Shen Qiancheng had time to spend with her?

Shen Qiancheng smiled. "The Shen Corporation can fire anyone, but not me. Don't worry about my job. What do you want to do today?"

The late-morning spring sun had a mild warmth. Liao Xue thought for a moment. "I need to visit the welfare home today."

Shen Qiancheng raised an eyebrow. Liao Xue wasn't an orphan—why connect with a welfare home?

"The welfare home?" she asked.

###

Under Liao Xue's insistence, Shen Qiancheng finally agreed to go home and change.

Shen Qiancheng grumbled, "It's just a welfare home. Why so formal? For our outings, you never..."

Liao Xue put her hands on her hips. "Just wear this."

Shen Qiancheng tugged at the collar, unimpressed. "This is too plain... It won't highlight my stunning beauty at all."

In truth, it wasn't as bad as she made out. The simple white dress reached her ankles, the high waist accentuating her figure. Though plain in color, the fabric was top-notch, lending a softness to her otherwise sharp features.

Liao Xue patted her shoulder. "You look great."

Shen Qiancheng asked, "Really?"

Liao Xue nodded vigorously. "Absolutely."

Tang City Welfare Home sat in the suburbs with red roofs and white walls, peeling paint, and overgrown weeds—evidence of its neglect and poverty.

People filled the entrance. The dean, dressed in spotless black, stood among children in faded clothes. The girls wore new hair ties, their faces clean and bright. There were no boys.

A little girl with a red-and-white polka-dot bow at the end of her braid, wearing a red floral dress, stood beside the dean.

Little Flower tilted her head. "Dean Mom, why hasn't Sister Xue come yet? I miss her so much. I have so much to tell her."

The dean had spoken with Liao Xue the previous night, agreeing to meet at ten.

But it was now half past ten, and there was still no sign of her.

The dean bent down, pinching Little Flower's cheek. "Sister Xue has changed jobs, moved closer to work, so she's farther away now. Let's wait a little longer, okay?"

Little Flower nodded, clutching the dean's hand, and craned her neck toward the intersection.

A luxurious car approached, sleek and opulent.

Wealthy people had come to adopt before, and they usually wanted boys.

But the splendor of this car exceeded anything the dean had seen.

She didn't recall any boys left unadopted.

Little Flower released the dean's hand, eyes bright. "Is that Sister Xue?"

The dean looked up as the luxury car pulled to a stop at the gate.

The door, seemingly gleaming, opened, and a woman in a striped plaid skirt stepped out from the passenger side. With rosy lips and fair teeth—who else could have such a face but Liao Xue?

Shen Qiancheng emerged from the driver's seat, in the simple white dress and French heels, standing behind Liao Xue like a wealthy patron keeping a mistress.

The dean's brow furrowed subtly.

The two were intimate in demeanor, and their clothes and car were worth a fortune.

Little Flower and the children swarmed toward Liao Xue, grabbing her arms, legs, and waist, causing her to stagger back a few steps, only to be supported at the small of her back by Shen Qiancheng.

Little Flower looked up, laughing. "Sister Xue, we missed you so much!"

Liao Xue poked Little Flower's nose. "I missed you all too!"

She turned to a little girl missing a tooth. "Xiao Hu, any tummy aches lately? Lost a tooth? Did you throw the lower tooth onto the roof?"

Little Flower showed off her new braid. Liao Xue touched it. "Little Flower, your hair tie is really pretty."

Shen Qiancheng crossed her arms, unable to join the conversation, and could only stare impassively at the dean.

The dean smiled. "Hello," she said, then asked Liao Xue, "And who is this, Xue?"

Liao Xue, surrounded by children, beamed. "My... boss."

The dean smiled knowingly.

A boss wouldn't look at an employee with such possessiveness and intensity.

What exactly had Liao Xue been through out there?

With guests arriving, they had prepared some refreshments to welcome Liao Xue, but with Shen Qiancheng as an extra, they felt short.

Liao Xue instructed people to unload items from the trunk—grain, oil, snacks, games, toys, and clothes for the children.

Shen Qiancheng tapped her left foot impatiently.

That such a shabby welfare home existed was dragging down the city's image.

While Liao Xue handed out clothes and toys, Shen Qiancheng stood under the corridor with a cold expression, watching Liao Xue jump rope and play hopscotch with the children—games Shen Qiancheng dismissed as childish.

The dean stood nearby, observing Liao Xue's changes.

"Shen, hello," the dean said. "Xue is a girl who tends to hide her feelings."

Shen Qiancheng's enjoyment was interrupted. She said irritably, "What do you want to say? I don't want to hear it. Could you just be quiet?"

The dean opened her mouth, but pressed on.

"Since Xue started working with you, both her physical and mental health have improved greatly," the dean said, bowing deeply. "Thank you for giving her a job."

Shen Qiancheng stared into the dean's eyes, finding them calm and deep, as if they had seen much sorrow.

Lunch was simple—a few light dishes and rice.

Shen Qiancheng, whose palate had been spoiled by Liao Xue's cooking, had no appetite.

The dean sat opposite the two, placing food in Liao Xue's bowl. "You called the day before yesterday about coming today, and I've been feeling uneasy."

Liao Xue took a bite and explained, "I was busy the day before yesterday, so I came today."

The dean smiled. "You look well—rosy cheeks, much better than when you first arrived in Tang City."

Liao Xue asked, "How's your health? What do the results from your last check-up say?"

"All normal, just the usual old-age issues, like high blood sugar."

"You should take that seriously..." Liao Xue, as if she were the elder who knew better, gave the dean detailed, nagging advice.

Shen Qiancheng finally lost patience with the silence. "Hey, how much would it cost to tear this down and rebuild?"

A full fifteen seconds of silence. Liao Xue and the dean exchanged glances, unsure of her intentions.

The dean was stunned. Liao Xue explained, "My boss just returned from abroad, so her phrasing isn't quite adjusted. She means she'd like to invest in rebuilding the welfare home."

No one in Tang City had ever heard of a wealthy benefactor offering to rebuild a welfare home; politicians and business tycoons usually favored mountain-area children with a good story.

The dean instinctively declined. "No need, no need. It's enough that you've given Xue a job..."

Shen Qiancheng slapped her chopsticks down in displeasure. Liao Xue placed a hand over hers and said, smiling, "My boss means what she says. Please accept."

Tears welled up in the dean's eyes. She choked out, "On behalf of all one hundred and twenty-three children here, I thank you."

Shen Qiancheng scratched her head. "No need to thank me!"

The dean thanked her again and again, seeing them off at the gate. The children played in the yard, their faces full of life.

Shen Qiancheng sat in the driver's seat, struck by a thought. "Did you bring me here on purpose?"

Liao Xue wouldn't admit it. "No."

The engine hummed, and a long silence made the air restless.

"What's wrong with me? How have I become so soft?" Shen Qiancheng's voice was faint, barely a whisper.

Liao Xue took Shen Qiancheng's hand, speaking firmly. "No, not soft. Kind."

###

Early the next morning was Shen Qiancheng's shareholders' meeting decision.

She felt a bit nervous. Hands trembling slightly, she brewed a dose of cold medicine and then went into the kitchen where Liao Xue was making breakfast.

Shen Qiancheng commanded, "Open your mouth!"

Liao Xue gave her an odd look but kept stirring the eggs as Shen Qiancheng spooned the bitter, herb-smelling powder mixture into her mouth.

Liao Xue tried to resist. "Mm... I'll drink it myself."

Downing it all at once would mean one moment of bitterness; sipping it spoonful by spoonful meant endless suffering.

Shen Qiancheng refused, but she did speed up.

Even after Liao Xue finished breakfast, a faint herbal bitterness lingered in her mouth.

Shen Qiancheng let out a long breath, picked up her bag, and stood by the door. Just as she was about to open it, Liao Xue called from behind, "Wait."

Shen Qiancheng turned. Liao Xue held out an insulated lunch box.

"Last night I noticed your voice was a bit hoarse. I happened to buy some pears."

Shen Qiancheng carried the pear soup to the company. Sui Shi approached with documents in hand. "This is your speech draft, and here's a project summary. Please review it in advance."

Shen Qiancheng shook her head. "I don't need it. Everything I need is right here." She tapped her temple.

Sui Shi's mouth twitched as she was handed the lunch box.

"Put it in my office. I'll drink it after the victory."

In the meeting room, shareholders who rarely showed their faces at the Shen Corporation building had all gathered. All eyes—whether disdainful, curious, or anticipating a scandal—were fixed on Shen Qiancheng.

The youngest and sole heir of the Shen Group handled the meeting with ease, neither overbearing nor servile, showing her potential and vitality.

All the groundwork Shen Qiancheng had laid with the shareholders had not been in vain—with Qiao Manbo and Lin Ruwen pulling strings behind the scenes, and Shi Jianren's blunder backfiring, Shen Qiancheng secured her seat on the board.

Shen Qiancheng stood out like a crane among a flock of balding, portly men. No matter how barren the soil, it couldn't conceal the vitality of a fire lily—her rise was a phoenix born of fire, her sacrifice for breaking through the earth.