Chapter Seventy-Five: Zhi Yi's Birthday

When Liu Ruoxi and Qin Lin’er returned from their classes and opened the door, they were met with utter astonishment as they saw two people eating fried chicken at the coffee table.

“Nan Zhiyi! Why are you here again?” Liu Ruoxi was completely exasperated.

Nan Zhiyi was enjoying her meal and replied helplessly, “Should I leave then?”

“Good!”

“Let me finish first,” Nan Zhiyi glanced at the table, which still had heaps of fried chicken untouched.

“I’ll help you!” When it came to food, Qin Lin’er was always the first to jump in!

Liu Ruoxi looked on in distaste as Qin Lin’er snatched the fried chicken from Qin Xuan’s hands—couldn’t she be a little more restrained?

But watching Qin Lin’er eat so happily, Liu Ruoxi found herself unable to resist…

Nan Zhiyi noticed and handed a drumstick to Liu Ruoxi, who felt a bit embarrassed as she looked at it… she put on a glove—delicious!

Once they’d eaten their fill, Liu Ruoxi lay sprawled on the sofa, licking her lips. She had to admit—it really was tasty.

“What are you still doing here!” Liu Ruoxi turned to Nan Zhiyi, her meaning clear as day.

Nan Zhiyi was still digesting. Was she really being kicked out right after eating? Shouldn’t she be allowed to stay a few nights at least?

“I’ll go rest for a bit,” Nan Zhiyi said, heading toward Qin Xuan’s room.

Before Liu Ruoxi could react, she saw Nan Zhiyi push open Qin Xuan’s door… Unbelievable! So brazen—she dared to do this right in front of her?

Liu Ruoxi hurried forward to push the door, but Nan Zhiyi locked it from inside! Qin Xuan, watching the two tussle, thought for a moment and decided gaming was more important.

“Nan Zhiyi! If you don’t open the door, you’re dead meat!” Liu Ruoxi shouted angrily.

After some time with no response from inside, Liu Ruoxi went to fetch the keys.

A few minutes later, Liu Ruoxi stared at the broken handle of the key in her hand, lost in thought…

“Huh?” Nan Zhiyi noticed the silence outside.

“Zhiyi, open the door! The key broke inside!” Liu Ruoxi said, half laughing, half crying.

Nan Zhiyi: What luck!

“No! I’ll open it when I’m done having fun!” Nan Zhiyi ignored Liu Ruoxi, who was so furious at the door she wanted to hit someone!

Nan Zhiyi skipped over to Qin Xuan, watching him play games, and even rubbed his shoulders in an unusually gentle manner. Qin Xuan felt an unfamiliar emotion at being treated so tenderly.

An hour later, Nan Zhiyi finally unlocked the door and came out. Finding the living room empty, she guessed Liu Ruoxi and Qin Lin’er had gone to their rooms, so she tidied up the coffee table and slipped out.

When Liu Ruoxi heard the commotion and came out, she discovered Nan Zhiyi had already left, and could only sulk as she headed to Qin Xuan’s room.

Seeing Qin Xuan still gaming, she was relieved—at least Nan Zhiyi hadn’t eaten everything!

“You never help out!” Liu Ruoxi huffed, punching Qin Xuan.

“You two always drag me into your antics,” Qin Xuan lamented—it was just too much.

“We’re not dragging you in! It’s all because of you!” Liu Ruoxi was even more annoyed by his innocent look—pretending not to know anything!

Qin Xuan quickly caught Ruoxi’s restless fist.

“Alright, alright. Why can’t you all get along for once?”

“Get along? What else do you want!” Liu Ruoxi bit her lip, lost in her own thoughts.

“What?” Qin Xuan was utterly confused.

“Forget it, I’m going to bed! Let go,” Liu Ruoxi turned her face toward the flowers on the windowsill, not wanting to look at him.

Qin Xuan understood, and knew better than to let go. After months of friendship with Ruoxi, he had developed some emotional intelligence—he felt a sudden sense of pride.

Qin Xuan pulled Liu Ruoxi onto his lap, and when she struggled, he simply wrapped his arms around her waist.

“You…” As soon as Liu Ruoxi turned to look at Qin Xuan, he silenced her with a kiss. The words she wanted to say were swallowed back…

Ten minutes later, Liu Ruoxi lay obediently on the bed, not daring to say a word. Now she was completely subdued, her lips swollen.

Qin Xuan was still playing his game, looking utterly content—this trick always worked.

“Qin Xuan~ It’s bedtime!” Liu Ruoxi was bored with her phone, and missed the warmth of his embrace.

“Soon,” Qin Xuan was still hoping for a rescue in the game.

…

When Liu Ruoxi nestled into Qin Xuan’s arms, her cheeks inexplicably blushed.

“Qin Xuan?” Liu Ruoxi’s voice was so soft, Qin Xuan almost couldn’t hear it.

“What’s up?”

“I want… to try…” Liu Ruoxi mumbled, barely audible.

“Speak up, I can’t hear you.”

“Forget it! Sleep!” Liu Ruoxi suddenly grew flustered, turning her back to Qin Xuan.

Qin Xuan was baffled: What’s gotten into her?

Still, he wrapped an arm around Liu Ruoxi’s waist…

…

On Friday morning, March 10th, Qin Xuan got up as usual to make breakfast for the two little princesses, when he suddenly received a message from Aunt Yang.

“Qin Xuan, just letting you know it’s Zhiyi’s birthday today. Her father and I are out, so please celebrate for her.” Aunt Yang, lying in Nan Zhengyi’s arms, sent the message to Qin Xuan. Zhiyi had never liked telling others about her birthday, so it fell to her mother to help.

Qin Xuan scratched his freshly washed hair, bewildered—Zhiyi’s birthday? He hadn’t prepared anything…

At the breakfast table, when Qin Xuan mentioned it, Liu Ruoxi was very nonchalant.

“Then I won’t beat her up today.”

At that moment, Nan Zhiyi knocked on Qin Xuan’s door.

“Zhiyi! Happy birthday!” Qin Xuan greeted her, noting how she seemed to favor white, dressed in a white dress.

“Thank you!” Nan Zhiyi was surprised, but then realized it must have been her mother who told them.

When Nan Zhiyi entered, Liu Ruoxi and Qin Lin’er greeted her as well.

“Happy birthday, Zhiyi! No matter what you do today, I won’t hit you!” Liu Ruoxi said generously.

“Happy birthday, Zhiyi! May you stay forever young!” Qin Lin’er added.

Nan Zhiyi didn’t stand on ceremony, plopping herself onto a chair and scooping a bowl of porridge.

“Thanks, you two!”

Watching Nan Zhiyi’s familiarity, Liu Ruoxi was at a loss for words—Zhiyi was already a regular here, almost deserving her own key!

“Let’s have dinner together tonight,” Qin Xuan offered, glancing at Nan Zhiyi and adding, “Whatever you want to eat, I’ll cook it.”

“Great! I like everything you make!” Nan Zhiyi gave him a sweet smile.

…

Taking advantage of a free afternoon period, Qin Xuan took Liu Ruoxi and Qin Lin’er to the supermarket, ordering a birthday cake online—a bigger one, considering their appetites.

The birthday gift was a bit awkward; with such short notice, they promised to make up for it later. Nan Zhiyi didn’t care much for gifts, but agreed anyway.

Their hands full with groceries, they ran into Nan Zhiyi waiting at the entrance of the residential complex.

Back home, Liu Ruoxi and Qin Lin’er went to change clothes, and Nan Zhiyi deliberately approached Qin Xuan.

“Where’s my birthday present?”

“I’ll give it to you next time,” Qin Xuan didn’t understand her implication.

Then Qin Xuan began preparing ingredients for the evening hot pot.

Nan Zhiyi, seeing this, walked up and kissed him on the cheek!

“Alright, I’ve received my birthday present!” Nan Zhiyi smiled contentedly and ran off to Qin Xuan’s room.

Qin Xuan watched her disappear, unsure what to do next—wasn’t this a huge win for him?