Chapter Seventy-Four: Brother... My Stomach Hurts!

Originally, Qin Xuan had intended to sit in the middle, but Nan Zhiyi pulled him straight into a corner. Qin Xuan could only sigh in resignation—Dog, how did you become like this!

In any case, Qin Xuan didn’t absorb a word during the first period, mainly because Nan Zhiyi kept “bothering” him. She held his hand the entire time, never letting go. Thankfully, the desk shielded them from others’ eyes...

By the end of the period, it was impossible to tell whether it was Qin Xuan or Nan Zhiyi who’d broken out in a sweat—their palms pressed together were completely damp.

At long last, when the bell rang at half past nine, the two of them walked out of the school hand in hand, entirely unaware of the two pairs of eyes observing them from the crowd at the gate...

“Qinlin, want me to go teach her a lesson?” Qin Lin’er eyed Liu Ruoxi, who was clenching her fists tightly beside her, and made the suggestion.

“There are too many people now, let’s save her some face! We’ll deal with her when we get back,” Liu Ruoxi released her fists; at this moment, the person she wanted to hit most was Qin Xuan!

However, instead of heading straight home, Nan Zhiyi dragged Qin Xuan to the night market.

At the barbecue shop, Nan Zhiyi finally let go of Qin Xuan’s hand and sat across from him, gleefully devouring skewers.

Outside, the smell of barbecue wafted over, and Qin Lin’er suddenly felt hungry again...

She turned to see Liu Ruoxi swallowing her saliva. “Ruoxi? What now?”

“What else? We eat!” Watching Qin Xuan and Nan Zhiyi eat so heartily, Liu Ruoxi simply could not resist any longer.

Qin Xuan was startled when Liu Ruoxi and Qin Lin’er plopped down beside them—where did you two come from?

But Nan Zhiyi seemed to have anticipated their arrival; she wasn’t surprised at all and even ordered more skewers...

“Nan Zhiyi, are you deliberately trying to provoke me?” Liu Ruoxi said disdainfully as she bit into a perfectly grilled chicken wing.

“How could I? Am I that kind of person?” Before Nan Zhiyi could finish, Qin Lin’er quietly nodded. Nan Zhiyi nearly reached out with her greasy hand to smack the girl’s head!

The late-night snack ended on a relatively pleasant note. When they got home, Qin Xuan had just launched his game when Liu Ruoxi pounced on him, pinning him to the bed. He watched, helpless, as the system assigned him a belt...

“You’re my boyfriend! Why are you so close with Zhiyi?” Liu Ruoxi, cheeks puffed in anger, sat astride Qin Xuan, leaning in so close her hand rested on his shoulder.

“All right, all right, let me up first,” Qin Xuan gave her a quick peck on the cheek—he was about to lose to the jungle monsters!

Liu Ruoxi, seeing his perfunctory gesture, immediately understood why. She casually bought him a hero in-game. Watching her operate, Qin Xuan could only think—what a clever little devil...

“Remember! If I catch you again next time—hmph!” Liu Ruoxi made a few threatening gestures at his waist, and Qin Xuan instantly became obedient!

Once Liu Ruoxi went for a shower, Qin Xuan finally got up, rubbing his hair in exasperation.

Meanwhile, Nan Zhiyi sprawled contentedly on her sofa at home, sipping a bottle of soda as she replayed the evening’s progress—hee hee hee!

She laughed out loud without meaning to. Who knew a palm could get so warm? Single people would never understand!

After some thought, Nan Zhiyi decided to video call her mother. But Yang Ying was still working out and hung up on her, only calling back after a while.

Seeing her mother’s sweaty face on the screen, Nan Zhiyi was a little dumbfounded.

“Mom! Latest news! I held his hand for the entire night!” Nan Zhiyi excitedly shared the update.

But Yang Ying wiped her sweat and shot her daughter a look of disdain. “That’s it? What happened after?”

“After that... we just went home,” Nan Zhiyi replied, confused.

“Tch, I thought you’d already made your move.” Yang Ying was speechless—this was all it took to get her so excited? Clearly, her daughter hadn’t inherited any of her mother’s skills!

“I’m hanging up! Don’t interrupt me when I’m busy!” Yang Ying ended the call before Nan Zhiyi could respond.

Nan Zhiyi stared helplessly at her phone. She’d wanted some advice!

Tossing the phone aside, she finally ambled to the bathroom. Soon, her singing echoed from inside—so smug that anyone listening might think she’d already stolen the prize.

...

After her bath, Liu Ruoxi lay on Qin Xuan’s bed playing with her phone, the atmosphere between them surprisingly harmonious.

Until Qin Lin’er poked her head through the door.

Ignoring Liu Ruoxi on the bed, Qin Lin’er turned to Qin Xuan, feebly saying, “Brother... my stomach hurts!”

Qin Xuan immediately dropped his mouse and went over, helping Lin’er back to her room.

“What’s wrong? Did you eat too much today?” Qin Xuan pressed his hand gently over her stomach through her clothes.

“No! It’s just that time of the month—it really hurts!” Qin Lin’er collapsed onto her cushions, looking utterly drained.

“Oh?” He thought about the timing and realized she was right, letting out a sigh of relief.

“Press harder, it still hurts...” Qin Xuan rubbed his hands together and lifted her shirt hem, placing his palm directly on her stomach.

Perhaps feeling the warmth from his palm, Qin Lin’er’s body inexplicably relaxed, and the pain eased a little.

Qin Xuan stayed in her room for a long time, only slipping out after she was nearly asleep.

Returning to his own room, he found Liu Ruoxi using his computer.

She glanced at him, asking, “Is Lin’er all right?”

“She’s fine. Every month there are a few days like this...” Qin Xuan replied, helpless.

“Oh, you never treat me like that,” Liu Ruoxi remarked casually, though there was a hint of envy in her voice.

“You don’t get this kind of pain. Lin’er’s different,” Qin Xuan replied, taking her hand in his.

Liu Ruoxi didn’t pull away, though she pouted. “I know! Well, next time my stomach hurts, I’ll come to you too.”

“All right!” Qin Xuan checked the time. “Let’s sleep.”

Lying in bed, Liu Ruoxi found herself unable to sleep, her mind wandering as she felt his arm around her waist.

...

The next evening, Liu Ruoxi and Qin Lin’er went off to their elective class, arms linked and mood sour. Before leaving, they warned Qin Xuan not to go anywhere—let him stay in and play games. That was for the best; better to keep him home than let some vixen turn his head!

But alas, vixens always find a way.

“Qin Xuan, want to go out to eat? I’ll take you somewhere good!” Nan Zhiyi sent a message as she bounded up the stairs.

Qin Xuan, gaming happily, saw the message: “No, I’m still playing.”

Nan Zhiyi stood at the door, knocking, but no one answered. “Humph! Open up, I’m right outside.”

Qin Xuan was about to get up, but remembered Liu Ruoxi’s warning and sat back down, messaging Nan Zhiyi.

“Forget it... I don’t feel like going out tonight.”

Nan Zhiyi, of course, knew exactly why, but refused to give in. “Then at least open the door! We don’t have to go out!”

Qin Xuan thought it over—Ruoxi only said not to run off...

He opened the door and was dazzled by the sight of Nan Zhiyi standing there in a white trench coat.

Nan Zhiyi spun around proudly, then squeezed past Qin Xuan into the apartment.

“Hey, hey, hey! You—” Qin Xuan watched as Nan Zhiyi flopped onto the sofa, acting as though she owned the place, and could only sigh in exasperation.

“What do you mean, ‘you’? You took advantage of me yesterday, and now you want to brush me off?” Nan Zhiyi shot back with a wicked grin.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Weren’t you the one taking advantage of me?” Qin Xuan closed the door, hearing her words.

Nan Zhiyi’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Pfft! Ask anyone if they’d believe that!”

Qin Xuan didn’t want to argue. “So why are you here?”

“To see you, of course!” Nan Zhiyi found herself unable to flirt as she’d planned. “Want to go out for food?”

“Not hungry,” Qin Xuan replied, still mindful of Liu Ruoxi’s warning.

“Then let’s order takeout,” Nan Zhiyi persisted, refusing to believe she couldn’t win him over. Was it really so hard to spend a bit more time together?