Chapter Sixty-Seven: Even If You Don’t Fight for the Bun, You Must Fight for Your Pride!

When Nan Zhiyi woke up clutching her throbbing head, she looked around at the room’s decor. Wasn’t this Ruoxi’s room? It seemed she had gotten drunk. No wonder her head hurt so badly.

She pulled off the quilt draped over her and stepped out, only to find the room empty. Where was Qin Xuan? Scratching her head, she wandered about, and soon caught sight of Qin Liner sprawled on the bed just as she herself had been moments ago. Zhiyi vaguely recalled that before she passed out, Liner had mentioned wanting to practice boxing—a shame she’d missed it.

“Hey?” Nan Zhiyi walked to the bedside and shook Qin Liner, but seeing no response, she left the room, planning to go home and take a shower to rid herself of the stench of alcohol.

But just as she reached the door, Qin Xuan and Liu Ruoxi pushed it open and came in. Seeing Nan Zhiyi, Liu Ruoxi teased, “Well, well, sobered up, have you?”

“Obviously!” Nan Zhiyi replied irritably, eyeing the bags they carried. “Where have you two been? Shopping for groceries again?”

Liu Ruoxi waved the items in her hand. “That’s right. There’s still so much left from lunch, might as well have another feast for dinner!”

Nan Zhiyi swallowed nervously, a little apprehensive.

Noticing her reaction, Liu Ruoxi smirked. “Relax, I didn’t buy any more alcohol!”

Nan Zhiyi’s face fell; she knew she was being mocked. She refused to dignify it with a response, took the bags from Qin Xuan, and headed back inside.

Liu Ruoxi glanced around and, not seeing Qin Liner, guessed she was still asleep. Her video was ready; now all she needed was for Liner to wake up and enjoy her handiwork.

It wasn’t until after five that Qin Liner finally staggered out of bed.

“Well, Liner’s finally up!” Liu Ruoxi exclaimed excitedly, helping her to the sofa before pulling out her phone. “Come, let me show you a little treasure!”

Qin Liner leaned in curiously, only to find a video of herself performing a broadcast gymnastics routine on the sofa...

What the—? Had she really done that?

Qin Liner looked utterly incredulous. So she acted out when drunk? Now she truly understood the meaning of “social death.”

“Ruoxi, delete the video and I’ll tell you a secret about Qin Xuan!” Forced into a corner, Qin Liner resorted to a tempting offer.

At this, Qin Xuan, who was fiddling with his phone nearby, tensed up.

“Hey! Qin Liner, have you no sense of honor?”

“What are you panicking about?” Liu Ruoxi asked, amused by Qin Xuan’s sudden anxiety.

“You tell me first, then I’ll delete it!” Liu Ruoxi bargained with Qin Liner.

“No, you delete it first! Otherwise, I won’t say a word!” For the sake of her dignity, Qin Liner stood her ground.

Liu Ruoxi stared at her for a while, but seeing she wouldn’t budge, finally relented. “Alright, alright.”

She fiddled with her phone and deleted the video.

Only then did Qin Liner lean in and whisper something secretive in her ear.

Liu Ruoxi’s expression shifted rapidly as she processed the revelation. Wait—so that’s what kind of person Qin Xuan was?

“Hey, don’t believe a word she says!” Qin Xuan was flabbergasted. She actually told her?

…

That evening, the group cheerfully enjoyed another barbecue. Although Ruoxi kept offering him slices of meat, Qin Xuan couldn’t help feeling there was something odd in the way she looked at him… No, for the sake of his reputation, he’d have to explain himself tonight!

Watching their intimacy, Nan Zhiyi was plagued by a strange, inexplicable emotion—was it… jealousy?

She could only poke at the chicken drumstick in her bowl with her chopsticks, then casually glanced at Qin Liner, who wore a similarly glum expression.

“Liner, even if you don’t want the bun, at least you should fight for your pride!”

Qin Liner turned her head, still groggy from the alcohol. “What bun? I don’t want to eat.”

Nan Zhiyi: Seriously? I’m trying to talk sense here!

“Never mind, forget it,” she sighed, resigned. With a teammate like this, what could she do?

An hour later, their little weekend gathering came to an end. Nan Zhiyi left, rubbing her overstuffed stomach.

Qin Xuan and Liu Ruoxi lay sprawled on the bed, trying to ease their discomfort. For once, Qin Xuan had no desire to play games; for the first time, he found that lying beside Liu Ruoxi, each fiddling with their phones, was rather pleasant.

“So, what did Liner tell you?” Qin Xuan ventured.

“She said…” Liu Ruoxi trailed off, then smiled slyly. “Kiss me and I’ll tell you.”

A few minutes later, Liu Ruoxi pushed the limp Qin Xuan off her, her face flushed red as she gasped for breath. Ah Xuan, you’re taking this too seriously!

Qin Xuan licked his lips, as if savoring a newfound sweetness, and leaned in as though to continue.

But Liu Ruoxi was having none of it—she kicked him away. “Get lost! Are you addicted now?”

“Mmm…” Qin Xuan rubbed his sore chest and nodded.

“Don’t give me that!” Liu Ruoxi calmed herself, then asked, “So, are those things in your computer real, the ones Liner mentioned?”

“They’re fake! I’d never!” Qin Xuan denied outright.

Liu Ruoxi looked a little disappointed. “I was hoping we could research them together.”

Research? How does one research that? Qin Xuan was baffled.

Suddenly, a realization struck him—what Qin Liner had told Ruoxi might not be what he’d thought. Oh no!

“So… what exactly did Liner tell you?”

“She said you have the complete Ultraman collection on your computer! I was curious to watch it.”

Ultraman? The complete collection?

Qin Xuan was dumbfounded. He’d never even watched it himself!

“You don’t?” Liu Ruoxi asked, puzzled.

“I really don’t! We could try searching online, but it might be hard to find all of them,” Qin Xuan replied, thinking that some of the older episodes were probably lost to time.

“Let’s try! I’ve never watched it with you before,” Liu Ruoxi said, reminiscing. When Qin Xuan used to visit her as a child, he would always play games with her father, while her own childhood memories were just of watching them play.

Qin Xuan was interested now, too. Without further ado, that night the two of them pulled an all-nighter watching Ultraman.

By noon the next day, when Qin Liner, awakened by hunger, called Qin Xuan to make lunch, she found the two of them sprawled across the bed, with Ultraman still playing on the screen. She was speechless—she’d only mentioned it in passing, but they’d watched it all night?

Left with no choice, Qin Liner decided to eat out. She picked a local homestyle restaurant, and just as she sat down, Liu Qin wandered in absentmindedly.

“Sister Qin!” Qin Liner called out.

“Oh?” Liu Qin looked up and, seeing Qin Liner, sat across from her. “You’re alone? Where are Ruoxi and Qin Xuan?”

“They’re still sleeping! Like pigs,” Qin Liner replied indignantly.

Liu Qin chuckled and shook her head, though she couldn’t help but envy the closeness among the group.

Soon, the food arrived—two simple stir-fries and a soup.

As they ate, Qin Liner noticed Liu Qin seemed troubled. “Sister Qin, is something on your mind?”

“Huh?” Liu Qin looked up, startled, unable to meet her eyes.

“It’s nothing, I’m just tired from the start of the new term,” Liu Qin offered casually.

It was clear Qin Liner didn’t believe her, but she let it go. If Sister Qin didn’t want to talk, so be it.

After their meal, Qin Liner trudged home, only to smell something delicious wafting from inside as she reached the door.

Opening it, she found Qin Xuan and Liu Ruoxi each clutching a bowl, attacking a massive pot of fish at the table.