{Chapter: 275 Poodle or Husky!}
Then, without warning, Lin Yuan reached over and pinched Yu Shanshan's soft, chubby cheek.
"You're still not full? Do you even realize how much the food you've devoured tonight costs? Look at yourself—you're rounder than a dumpling, yet you're still whining about not having eaten enough?" Lin Yuan teased with a smirk, his voice filled with playful mockery.
"Hmph! You're bullying me on purpose!" Yu Shanshan puffed up her cheeks in protest, trying to appear angry, but she only ended up looking cuter—prompting Lin Yuan to pinch her cheek again.
"Seriously, don't you feel any shame? You've been freeloading all night!" he continued, shaking his head in mock exasperation.
But Yu Shanshan wasn't about to let herself be defeated. With a triumphant air, she pulled something out of her handbag and held it up with pride. "Who says I ate for free? Look at what I brought to the table!"
Curious, Lin Yuan took the ticket she offered and squinted at the elegant characters printed across it. "Admission ticket to the Nancheng Calligraphy Exhibition?" he read aloud, a little surprised.
At the mention of the calligraphy exhibition, Chi Qian's eyes sparkled with unmistakable interest. Lin Yuan immediately understood why.
Chi Qian wasn't just a talented pianist—she had cultivated a love for the classical arts since she was young. In addition to music, she was genuinely passionate about chess, traditional painting, and calligraphy. More than that, she was exceptionally skilled in these areas, especially calligraphy, where her graceful brushwork had won her praise from professionals.
"You managed to get a ticket?" Lin Yuan asked with a raised eyebrow.
Chi Qian leaned in slightly, clearly curious as well.
Faced with the attention of both Lin Yuan and Chi Qian, Yu Shanshan grinned smugly. She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin proudly. "Of course! Who else would go out of their way for you two if not this amazing lady?"
Lin Yuan gave her a skeptical look. "Since when have you been into calligraphy? You don't even know how to write your name without a keyboard."
Yu Shanshan didn't even blush. "Well, maybe I don't understand it fully, but I know enough to appreciate it. Besides, I saw Qian Qian practicing calligraphy in our room one night, and she even asked me about the Nancheng Exhibition. That's when I knew she'd be interested. So I asked my mom to pull a few strings and get us a ticket. Not bad, right?"
She ended her explanation with a smug tilt of her head, clearly trying to prove that she had contributed something meaningful to the evening—and wasn't just a tagalong at dinner.
Lin Yuan was momentarily stunned. He had to admit, Yu Shanshan did surprise him from time to time.
After all, her family was well-connected and often involved in hosting or sponsoring high-end cultural events. It wasn't too far-fetched that she'd be able to secure tickets that even someone as resourceful as Chi Qian had failed to obtain.
Chi Qian's eyes softened with appreciation, and she smiled warmly. "Thank you, Shanshan. I really did try to get a ticket myself, but they were sold out too quickly. I didn't expect you'd go out of your way to get one for me. I'm truly touched."
She paused, then added gently, "But we don't need to go. It's just one ticket, and there are three of us. It wouldn't be right to leave anyone behind."
Yu Shanshan immediately shook her head and reclaimed the ticket from Lin Yuan's hand with flair. "Come on now, Qian Qian, don't be silly. You underestimate me! I, Yu Shanshan, am not just a pretty face—I'm the dragon and phoenix reincarnated into one being in the 21st century! You think I'd make such a rookie mistake as bringing one ticket for three people?"
Lin Yuan sighed. "Why do you always talk like you're the protagonist of a historical fantasy drama?"
Yu Shanshan ignored him and continued her speech with flair. "This ticket allows entry for the bearer, plus one friend… and one pet."
She grinned mischievously. "So, here's the plan—Qian Qian, you'll be my friend, naturally. And Brother Lin Yuan, well… you'll be the pet. Maybe a Shiba Inu or a corgi. We'll stroll in as a complete trio!"
"Pfft!" Chi Qian burst out laughing, covering her mouth with a napkin.
Lin Yuan was left speechless, blinking a few times before narrowing his eyes. "Are you serious? Let me see that ticket again."
Yu Shanshan proudly handed the ticket back to him, grinning like she'd won a battle of wits.
Lin Yuan studied the fine print for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Huh, it's actually true. One guest and one pet."
He slipped the ticket into his own pocket, grinning slyly. "Well then, I guess that makes me the ticket holder now."
Yu Shanshan's eyes widened. "Hey! Give that back!"
But Lin Yuan continued, unfazed. "Qian Qian, you'll be my accompanying friend, of course. And Shanshan… well, since you suggested it, you'll be the pet. But not a Shiba Inu or a corgi—those are way too cute for you. Let's go with something more chaotic. Maybe a husky. Or a yapping little poodle."
"Hahaha!" Chi Qian burst into laughter at Lin Yuan's words, especially after watching Yu Shanshan get completely outmaneuvered.
Her laughter was clear and melodious, like the ringing of wind chimes, and her smile radiated beauty, making her look as delicate and stunning as a blooming flower. Her jade-like face practically glowed, capturing attention with an effortless charm.
But Yu Shanshan wasn't one to accept defeat so easily.
With the spirit of a defiant tigress, she lunged toward Lin Yuan like a wildcat descending the mountain. Her eyes locked on the ticket, she made a dramatic attempt to snatch it back, aiming for his chest as if to claw it open.
Unfortunately for her, Lin Yuan was already prepared. With surprising agility, he reached under her arms, pinched her from both sides, and effortlessly lifted her into the air like a misbehaving toddler.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... Shanshan, you've really put on some weight again," Lin Yuan said with a teasing smirk, shaking his head in mock disapproval.
Yu Shanshan was stunned.
She couldn't comprehend how Lin Yuan had become this strong. One moment she was attacking, and the next she was dangling in midair like a doll. Her arms flailed, her legs kicked the air helplessly—but there was no escape.
What was worse was that the scene looked incredibly embarrassing. Around them, a few people were walking their dogs or cradling their cats, and Yu Shanshan, a proud young lady in her prime, had somehow ended up resembling a pet in her owner's arms.
Her cheeks burned bright red from the humiliation.
"Put me down! This is bullying!" she protested, wriggling in his grasp like a fish out of water.
Yu Shanshan prided herself as the 'Harem King' in her little world, and she had an image to maintain. Being picked up like a child in front of Chi Qian was humiliating enough—but if her 'wives' saw this, her dignity would be ruined. She would have no choice but to throw hands with Lin Yuan and go down fighting!
"I'll let you down... if you bark," Lin Yuan said, raising an eyebrow with a smug grin.
"Absolutely not!" Yu Shanshan's face puffed up in defiance. She tried to place her hands on her hips, but dangling in the air, her efforts looked more like a pouty child pretending to be a superhero.
"Then you'll just have to wait until I get tired," Lin Yuan replied calmly, showing no signs of weariness.
"You're getting worse and worse, Cousin!" Yu Shanshan shouted with mock anger, her words dripping with indignation.
Finally, Chi Qian, who had been laughing uncontrollably the whole time, stepped in with a soft voice of reason and managed to persuade Lin Yuan to let Yu Shanshan down.
Lin Yuan eventually released her, and she landed on her feet with a huff.
Of course, Lin Yuan already knew the truth behind this situation. The ticket allowed the holder to bring two additional guests—meaning all three of them could attend the calligraphy exhibition together.
Yu Shanshan's plan was obvious: she had deliberately made it seem like there was only one ticket, just so Lin Yuan and Chi Qian could have more alone time. For all her childish antics, she was thoughtful beneath the surface.
Still, she was too mischievous, and Lin Yuan couldn't resist teasing her.
Watching her fume, Lin Yuan bought a few skewers of Tanghulu—traditional Chinese candied hawthorn—from a street vendor. Holding one out, he handed it to Yu Shanshan.
At first, she turned her head away dramatically to show she was still angry.
But after a moment, she peeked out of the corner of her eye, grabbed the candied snack, took a bite, and mumbled, "Mmm… it's actually really sweet."
Lin Yuan then handed a skewer to Chi Qian, who accepted it with a graceful smile.
Watching Chi Qian nibble at the glossy red fruit, her soft lips parting delicately, Lin Yuan couldn't help but admire her even more. Her smile, her teeth, her lips—all looked more vibrant than the Tanghulu themselves. There was a quiet charm in the way she ate, elegant yet natural, captivating without trying.
Yu Shanshan, meanwhile, devoured her skewer quickly and returned to Lin Yuan with a grin, holding out her hands like a child demanding more.
Without saying a word, Lin Yuan gave her his half-eaten skewer.
"Since you've realized your mistake, I shall generously forgive you," Yu Shanshan announced proudly, puffing out her chest as if she were a benevolent queen bestowing mercy.
She didn't care in the slightest about sharing food. In fact, she finished Lin Yuan's half-eaten Tanghulu without hesitation, licking her lips with satisfaction.
After that little detour, the trio continued on their way toward the venue of the Nancheng Calligraphy Exhibition.
The exhibition hall came into view, and even from a distance, its grand scale was evident. It was massive—comparable in size to multiple sports fields combined. The structure itself looked stately and refined, with intricate decorations that gave it a classical air of scholarly elegance.
Though it was only a temporary rental space, the cost to organize an event of this magnitude was undoubtedly steep.
As they approached the entrance, Lin Yuan found himself deep in thought. Something about this place triggered a sense of familiarity.
Then it hit him.
The Nancheng Calligraphy Exhibition…
This was it. A key scene from the original novel!
It was here—at this very event—that the protagonist Ye Feng had a fated encounter.
Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly.
If the plot from the original story played out as expected, then Ye Feng might show up here too…
*****
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