QTIMP -Chapter 320 Character Persona – Vain (Part 14)

“Dad, I love you!”

“Alright, when are you coming back?”

“I’m also staying for another day because of the other participants’ events. I’ll go back the day after tomorrow, so I can go out and look around a bit.”

“Okay. Make sure you bring Shen Yue with you and pay attention to your safety.”

The two of them chatted for a few more minutes. Si Qiu waited for the results of the remaining two competitors. Once their scores were confirmed, she stood up.

She took the five-star red flag that the coach had draped over her shoulders, stepped onto the ice wearing her skates, and skated one lap around the rink.

Afterward, she returned backstage, changed into casual clothes, and prepared to go on stage to receive her award. Meanwhile, Shen Yue’s phone had already been bombarded with calls.

This was not the first time Shen Yue had helped Si Qiu deal with such matters. She had gone from being stiff and inexperienced at the beginning to handling everything with ease now.

As for Si Qiu, she was busy accepting interviews. She had never refused these kinds of interviews before. She was happy to show the public all of her best sides.

“Alright, go back and get some proper rest.”

Seeing the two of them preparing to return to their rooms, the coach reminded them.

When Shen Yue passed by him, the coach teasingly added, “Oh, right. You have a day off tomorrow, and you’re leaving the day after. Are you going shopping with that little girl again?”

Shen Yue’s body stiffened for a moment. She didn’t understand why, despite going through such rigorous training, she still couldn’t beat a little girl when it came to shopping. Every time they came back from shopping, it felt like she had gone through a devilish, extra-long endurance workout.

The coach received a glare from Shen Yue and gave an awkward laugh.

After Si Qiu and the others finished training and returned to the hotel to rest, the next morning, after completing their warm-up exercises, Si Qiu first stayed in her room to work on practice papers.

Then she went to the competition venue to cheer for the other athletes. At noon, she ate the training meal together with everyone else.

After the lunch break, as expected, Shen Yue was dragged out shopping by her.

Shen Yue had always known that her job was easy, the salary was high, and her employer had a very good temper.

Whenever she contacted her former comrades, she couldn’t help but brag a little about it. But this definitely did not include accompanying her employer on shopping trips.

This was a period of economic growth, and most clothing styles were focused on bright, vibrant colors, with designs becoming increasingly bold.

Keeping up with fashion trends, Si Qiu wore a small camisole paired with a cropped long-sleeved sports jacket. On the bottom were tight-fitting jeans.

The weather was still cold right now; otherwise, she would have liked to try wearing a camisole with short hot pants.

Her hair was tied into a high ponytail, with a silk scarf in the same color as her outfit tied around it. The “death Barbie pink” lipstick on her lips didn’t look out of place at all.

Instead, it made her look incredibly youthful and lively.

The same leather belt with tassels hung around her waist, adding even more of a wild and stylish feeling.

This was the first time Shen Yue had seen her dressed like this. It was completely different from her usual obedient and sweet appearance, but with her outstanding looks, the style was surprisingly eye-catching.

However, seeing the large bags in her hands made Shen Yue feel even more speechless.

Under the shop assistants’ ninety-degree bows, the group had just stepped outside when Si Qiu blinked at Shen Yue.

“Sister Shen Yue, take some of the things back to the car we rented first. Then we’ll go straight to Shinjuku’s Golden Gai.”

She didn’t know whether she had visited this place in another world before, but her memories were somewhat blurry. Now she wanted to experience Kabukicho here again.

Shen Yue sighed.

“Let’s go together. I don’t feel comfortable leaving you here alone.”

Si Qiu had also gotten quite tired from shopping and really didn’t want to walk even a few extra steps, so she said,

“I’ll just wait right in front of this shop. Sister, you go put the things in the car, then drive over here. We’ll leave together. It’ll only take a few minutes, okay?”

Shen Yue helplessly nodded and carried the large and small shopping bags toward the parking area.

Si Qiu had noticed the snack stall at the corner of the intersection early in the morning. After all, because they had to participate in competitions, their diet had to be strictly controlled.

Si Qiu was someone who loved strong flavors.

She had endured restrictions for a long time already, so she immediately walked over there with cheerful steps.

She quickly bought a portion and hurried back, absolutely unable to let Sister Shen Yue fail to find her.

Who would have thought that when she passed by the entrance of a narrow alley, she only intended to throw the packaging bag into the trash can there.

But someone suddenly grabbed her ankle.

Si Qiu’s reflexes were incredibly fast. She immediately turned around and kicked the person hard.

The other party might have been injured, or perhaps he simply hadn’t expected it. Either way, he took the kick squarely.

But even then, it wasn’t over.

Si Qiu pulled out the leather whip disguised as a belt around her waist, intending to let this person experience just how formidable she was.

A muffled groan sounded.

The suppressed cry of pain carried a hint of a husky, strangely alluring voice.

Si Qiu followed the sound and saw a man wearing a black shirt, black trousers, and black leather shoes, leaning against the wall beside the trash can.

Their eyes met.

The man had sharp, three-dimensional features, a high nose bridge, and thick, sword-like eyebrows. His lips were slightly pale at the moment, but he didn’t look weak at all. Instead, a wild, masculine beauty rushed toward her.

Si Qiu silently gave him a judgment in her heart:

At first glance, he clearly didn’t look like a good person.

Perhaps noticing that Si Qiu had seen him, the man slowly leaned against the wall, trying to sit up straighter.

But he was too weak to do so. In the end, he could only collapse there again, lying half-curled on the ground.

Si Qiu looked around.

The entire street was almost empty. Only occasionally, far away at the large intersection, did people or vehicles pass by.

Most of the time, there was hardly anyone around, making the place seem strangely eerie.

Great, no one saw anything.

That meant no one could testify if this guy tried to accuse her of something later.

So she cleared her throat and hummed:

“Sending you off beyond the little village, there’s one thing I must tell you. Though flowers are blooming everywhere now, don’t pick the wild flowers by the roadside. Don’t, don’t pick them…”

Then she lifted her feet and prepared to continue walking.

Who would have thought that the moment she raised her foot, that large hand grabbed her again.

Si Qiu’s singing stopped.

The man’s weak voice came: “Help me.”

Ah, this guy was speaking Chinese, but Si Qiu replied in sweet Japanese:

“失禮ですが、先生、何をおっしゃっているのですか？”

(Excuse me, sir, what are you saying?)

The man helplessly replied in Japanese as well: “I mean, I’m Chinese.”

Si Qiu’s expression changed, and she immediately said another sentence:

“미안해요, 알아듣지 못했어요.”

(Sorry, I don’t understand.)

That guy actually responded in Korean: “I know you’re Chinese too. I really am Chinese.”

Si Qiu angrily put one hand on her waist.

“Do you know that people who know too much are easily silenced?”

Wen Ji was almost amused to the point of laughing by this girl.

“I really am Chinese. My phone was lost. Please help me contact my people. I’m begging you.”

Si Qiu had of course already determined that he really was Chinese. Otherwise, why would she have stayed here talking nonsense with him?

But she knew very well that when abroad, the people who trick fellow Chinese people were often Chinese themselves.

The man’s breathing was unstable, and his words came out intermittently. Clearly, he was truly very weak.

Si Qiu had always followed the principle of: don’t pick up random men from the roadside.

She should have simply walked away.

However, after hearing him say that he was Chinese, she felt a little bit of sympathy.

Only a tiny bit, though.

At that moment, Shen Yue drove over and stopped by the roadside. She got out of the car and ran toward them.

“Qiuqiu, Qiuqiu, why did you run all the way here?”