Chapter 86: The Hated Miss of the Dating Show (35)

Chapter 86 The Dating Show’s Universally Loathed Heiress (35)

Tang Qing came downstairs the next morning and the first person she saw was An Shenshen.

The sweet-faced girl seemed to be in a bad mood today, her brows knit together with unmistakable irritation. When she noticed someone coming down the stairs, An Shenshen quickly adjusted her demeanor, snapping back into her usual meek and fragile act.

The speed of this transformation had the system marveling. "No wonder she crushed you in the original storyline—a real pro at masking her emotions."

"An Shenshen is waiting for you. Her eyes haven’t left you."

Even without the system pointing it out, Tang Qing could tell. An Shenshen had clearly planted herself here—probably waiting for quite some time.

"Tang Qing, have you had breakfast yet?"

At those opening words, Tang Qing immediately thought of that cursed spaghetti disaster. "You’re not planning to make me breakfast, are you?"

"Trying to poison me?"

An Shenshen swallowed her words and pasted on a fake smile. "What kind of joke is that?"

She pointed to the food on the table and offered a tight-lipped smile. "I bought this earlier. Would you like some?"

On the surface, the sweet-faced girl looked gentle and approachable, but Tang Qing caught the calculating gleam in her gaze.

What was she scheming this time?

Instead of reaching for the food, the heiress crossed her arms and got straight to the point. "Spit it out. What do you want?"

"I... It's nothing, really..."

Still stalling with her usual hesitant routine, An Shenshen mumbled, "I just..."

Tang Qing wasn't in the mood for games. "Cut the crap."

"An Shenshen, you know I’m not a patient person."

Taking a deep breath, An Shenshen knew she couldn’t con her and finally got to the point. "I wanted to ask you to help me deliver a gift."

Only then did Tang Qing notice a fancy-looking gift box on the sofa—nicely wrapped.

The heiress raised an eyebrow. "For who?"

"Xiang Xiuran? Mi Yang? Or Su Chengwen?"

Dropping all three names in one go, Tang Qing smirked as An Shenshen’s expression darkened further.

"Ah, don’t blame me," the heiress added deliberately. "Weren’t you close with all of them?"

That jab made An Shenshen’s jaw tighten.

This again!

She was doing this on purpose! Since when were they ever close?

With these three men, where did she even stand anymore?

All thanks to this bitch—stealing everyone’s affection away from her...

Clamping down on her rage, An Shenshen forced herself to stay calm before replying, her voice wavering slightly. "It’s... for Dr. Xiang..."

"After my last date with Dr. Xiang, he..." An Shenshen hesitated for a moment before settling on the right words, "seems to have gotten the wrong idea about me."

"So you want me to be your delivery girl?"

Tang Qing wasn't falling for An Shenshen's poor-little-me routine and spoke bluntly, "Do you really think I'd agree to do that for you?"

"Tang Qing... please..."

An Shenshen's rehearsed tears welled up in her eyes at just the right moment, ready to spill over, "I really have no other choice..."

"I noticed... you seem to have a good relationship with Xiang Xiuran..." The delicate little ingénue cried and played her part perfectly, the very image of a damsel in distress.

One stood her ground defiantly while the other sobbed helplessly—at first glance, it looked like Tang Qing was bullying An Shenshen again.

"System, what exactly is that gift?" Tang Qing cut straight to the point, ignoring An Shenshen's performance.

If it were just a simple gift, anyone could deliver it.

That overeager little busybody Shi Jia would surely jump at the chance.

What could be so important that An Shenshen would stoop this low and beg Tang Qing to do it?

"It's a date coupon."

Hearing the answer, Tang Qing instantly caught on—An Shenshen was laying a trap.

Having her deliver An Shenshen's date coupon to Xiang Xiuran... Tang Qing could just picture his reaction.

This was clearly a scheme to stir up trouble between them.

"Tang Qing, we should refuse her!" The system also caught on to An Shenshen's game—this was obviously meant to create conflict between Tang Qing and Xiang Xiuran.

An Shenshen must have guessed Xiang Xiuran's feelings and was deliberately playing this game. If he received this gift, he wouldn't be happy—only angry.

"Why refuse?"

The young miss suddenly smiled, a wicked gleam flashing in her eyes, "Our dear Dr. Xiang could use a good... wake-up call."

"Fine, I'll deliver it for you." As if suddenly enlightened, the young miss sauntered over, took a few confident steps forward, and grabbed the gift from the sofa.

An Shenshen's tears were still wet when she abruptly stopped crying.

She gave Tang Qing a wary once-over—had she really agreed so easily?

"Tsk, An Shenshen, delivering this gift for you..." The young miss reached the doorway, turned around deliberately, and shook the gift box in her hand with a smile, "Let's see if this gift plays out like you're hoping."

It had better be the effect *I* want!

An Shenshen kept up her weepy act and managed a tight-lipped thanks, "Thank you, Tang Qing."

*Bitch!* She seethed inwardly.

Let's see how sweet Xiang Xiuran stays after receiving this gift.

The young miss found Xiang Xiuran in the garden, where he was watering the little flower beds.

The countryside air was fresh, and the sprayed water droplets glowed in the mist. With just a bit more sunlight, there might even be a rainbow.

Xiang Xiuran stood there, backlit by the sun, his handsome features framed by a sea of climbing ivy—truly a sight that could make any girl’s heart flutter at first glance.

No wonder An Shenshen is always scheming against Dr. Xiang—good looks really *can* mess with your head.

Xiang Xiuran spotted Tang Qing too and immediately set the hose aside, calling out warmly, "Tang Qing, looking for me?"

"Dr. Xiang, you really like this little garden?"

They'd run into each other here multiple times already.

He couldn't hide his happiness at seeing the person he liked—his eyes softened, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, I have some plants at home too. I'm used to taking care of them."

Need something?"

Tang Qing pulled out the box An Shenshen had prepared and smiled brightly. "Dr. Xiang, someone got you a present!"

At the word "present," Xiang Xiuran's eyes lit up. He automatically thought it was from Tang Qing and took it right away.

"Thanks."

Still smiling, she egged him on. "Aren’t you going to open it?"

"Now?" That seemed weird—Xiang Xiuran never opened gifts in front of people, but Tang Qing looked so excited...

Carefully peeling it open, he found a date coupon!

The moment he saw what was inside, he couldn't keep the grin off his face.

Tang Qing saw clearly how his smile widened uncontrollably—pure, unmistakable joy.

"You're inviting me on a date?" The usually calm Dr. Xiang’s voice was full of obvious excitement.

After all this waiting, finally—his chance had come.

Still buzzing with excitement, Xiang Xiuran heard Tang Qing speak again:

"Not from me..."

"Dr. Xiang, this is a gift An Shenshen had me bring over," she added awkwardly.