Chapter Sixty-Nine: This Is Exactly My Favorite Kind of Drama!

Unfortunately, when Nan Zhiyi tried to tell Qin Xuan about the matter, Qin Lin’er and Liu Ruoxi found out anyway. The two of them clamored to go together, and there was nothing Nan Zhiyi could do but agree. It should be fine if they all went together, right? Mom hadn’t said it wasn’t allowed, so it should be okay.

On Monday, Qin Xuan slipped out during a break to go to the restroom. Not far from the door, he saw Sis Qin talking to someone. After what happened with Yang Sheng last time, Qin Xuan thought for a moment and decided to walk over.

“Qin Jie!” Qin Xuan approached and patted Liu Qin on the shoulder. She turned around, saw it was Qin Xuan, and greeted him with a smile.

Only then did Qin Xuan take a closer look at the person standing across from Sis Qin. He was quite good-looking, with black-rimmed glasses that gave him a somewhat serious air, and he was even wearing a suit and tie. Who was he trying to impress?

The man, in turn, was eyeing Qin Xuan with curiosity.

Liu Qin moved what she was holding behind her back and said to Qin Xuan, “Qin Xuan, you… should go back to class.”

“Alright,” Qin Xuan replied, figuring there was nothing to worry about. As he left, he didn’t notice the man casting a wary glance his way.

Once Qin Xuan had gone, the man finally spoke. “I didn’t expect you to get along with your students so easily, Qin Jie.”

“Zhou Mo!” Liu Qin’s tone was tinged with annoyance. “Don’t forget you used to be my student, too!”

“So what? You said it yourself—'used to be.'” Zhou Mo forced a smile and raised his eyebrows at her.

“That’s exactly why there’s nothing possible between us! I can’t accept it!” Liu Qin shoved the roses she’d hidden behind her back into his arms and turned on her heel.

Zhou Mo watched her disappear around the corner, sighed helplessly, and, after a moment of frustration, followed her downstairs, still holding the bouquet.

Back in class, Qin Xuan recounted the events to Liu Ruoxi.

“So what is this? Some cliché CEO and teacher romance?” Ruoxi asked, full of curiosity.

“How should I know? You should ask Sis Qin yourself,” Qin Xuan encouraged her.

Ruoxi opened and closed Qin Jie’s chat window several times, hesitating. “Forget it, that doesn’t seem right…”

Qin Lin’er shot her a disdainful look. “Coward! I’ll ask.”

Qin Lin’er went ahead and messaged Liu Qin. At that moment, Liu Qin was still in the office, thinking about how to escape at lunchtime. When she saw Lin’er’s message, inspiration struck—this was her chance!

“How about we have lunch together at noon? I’ll tell you all about it, and maybe you can give me some advice!” she replied.

Lin’er was left dumbfounded. Was it really that complicated? We’re just curious!

Sure enough, when Qin Xuan and the girls left the school at noon, they found Liu Qin lurking suspiciously by the gate.

“Sis Qin? Who are you hiding from?” Ruoxi asked, curious about her anxious glances.

“Shh! Let’s go first—I’ll explain later!” Liu Qin whispered, quickly pulling Ruoxi along to block someone’s line of sight as they made their escape.

It was only after they’d settled into the Sichuan restaurant that Liu Qin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“So, who were you hiding from?” Lin’er asked while perusing the menu.

“Who else? That weirdo from this morning!” Liu Qin took a sip of the restaurant’s buckwheat tea, exasperated.

“Weirdo?” Lin’er exclaimed, reaching for her phone. “Should we call the police?”

“No, no, no!” Liu Qin nearly spat out her tea. “It’s just a figure of speech!”

“So, who is he?” Qin Xuan couldn’t help asking.

Liu Qin frowned, unsure where to begin. After a pause, she finally said, “His name is Zhou Mo. He was my student when I first started my internship.”

“Oh-ho!” Lin’er and Ruoxi’s eyes lit up with mischief.

“What are you two thinking?” Liu Qin swatted at each of them. “I mind this kind of thing a lot! But he just won’t give up, and it’s driving me crazy!”

“So, any suggestions?” Liu Qin poked at her phone, presumably replying to Zhou Mo.

Ruoxi: “Can’t help you!”

Lin’er: “Just say yes!”

“Get lost!” Liu Qin was clearly annoyed. She should have known these three were hopeless—none of them had any experience with relationships! Well, two of them were dating, but they were still hopeless.

To everyone’s surprise, after lunch, they found Zhou Mo sitting on a bench in the lobby, chatting happily with the restaurant owner. When he saw Liu Qin come out, he said something to the owner, then walked outside to wait for them.

Ruoxi nudged Liu Qin with her shoulder, but Liu Qin turned and bared her teeth in mock threat, making Ruoxi jump.

In the end, Liu Qin walked out with her head bowed like a scolded puppy. Lin’er wanted to follow, but Ruoxi grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

“What are you thinking? Why would you follow her?” Ruoxi said with exasperation.

“But Sis Qin said she minded…” Lin’er tried to break free from Ruoxi’s grip.

“She still went with him, didn’t she? That means there’s still hope!” Ruoxi declared, taking on the air of a love advisor.

“Really? Is that how it works?”

“Of course! You wouldn’t understand, being single.”

“I…” Lin’er decided not to argue. It wasn’t a battle she could win.

“Why are you laughing?” Ruoxi turned to see Qin Xuan grinning broadly behind her.

Innocent Qin Xuan: I was just laughing, that’s all!

…

Soon enough, Saturday morning arrived. The three of them rode a small bicycle over to Nan Zhiyi’s house, working up quite a sweat. If they’d known it would be such hard work, they would have taken the bus. Who was the unlucky soul who insisted on exercising in the first place?

When they arrived, Aunt Yang was watering the flowers in the yard. Seeing Qin Xuan with Ruoxi and Lin’er in tow, she looked a bit confused.

Didn’t I tell you to bring only Qin Xuan? This kid is really unreliable!

Still, she greeted them warmly.

Nan Zhengyi was not at home that day. When Nan Zhiyi saw them arrive, she took the girls upstairs to play at her mother’s suggestion, leaving Qin Xuan to help Aunt Yang in the kitchen.

“Qin Xuan, I heard you and Ruoxi are dating?” Aunt Yang asked casually as she chopped vegetables.

“Yes…” Qin Xuan thought it was just small talk, but then Aunt Yang continued, “What do you think of my Zhiyi?”

“She’s great—really outstanding and very pretty,” Qin Xuan replied, sensing something amiss.

Aunt Yang paused, giving him a sidelong glance. “If my daughter is so outstanding, why can’t she find a boyfriend?”

“Um…” Qin Xuan realized she was getting to the point.

“Qin Xuan,” Aunt Yang went on as she chopped, “Zhiyi likes you, you know. What about you? Or do you like her now?”

“I…” Qin Xuan steadied himself. “I’m with Ruoxi now, and I won’t let her down. Besides, Zhiyi is so outstanding that I don’t deserve her, so I’m sorry.”

“You know, hearing you say that actually puts me at ease,” Aunt Yang smiled at him. “But what about Lin’er? I know she’s not your sister! And she likes you. What will you do then?”

Aunt Yang: There’s nothing I love more than a bit of drama!

“What! How did you know about Lin’er…” Qin Xuan was so startled he nearly cut himself with the knife.

“Are you saying she’s not your sister? Of course your mother told me!” Aunt Yang paused. “As for her feelings for you, you can’t hide that kind of look from me—especially with my sharp eyes. That’s not the way a sister looks at a brother!”

Qin Xuan was stunned by her words. Neither of them noticed Lin’er, crouched at the turn of the stairs, lost in thought… It felt awful to have your secret bubble burst like this! She’d been so obvious, and yet it took someone else to spell it out.