Chapter Eighty-One: The Totoro

From that day on, Qin Xuan felt more and more like a zookeeper—three whole girls! Did anyone realize just how much they could eat? Yet, watching them devour their lunch brought him a sense of satisfaction. Had he been a pig feeder in a past life?

In the evening, Liu Ruoxi and Qin Lin’er went off to class, leaving Nan Zhiyi sitting on the sofa, sipping milk and gazing toward Qin Xuan’s room. Wasn’t this the perfect opportunity?

She pushed open his door, discovering a rare sight—Qin Xuan wasn’t gaming tonight. A miracle!

“Qin Xuan!” Nan Zhiyi launched herself onto the bed, making it shake.

“If the bed breaks, you’d better figure out how to explain it to Ruoxi!” Qin Xuan heard the groaning frame and felt a pang of fear.

“No problem! I’m not afraid of her!” With Liu Ruoxi absent, Nan Zhiyi was utterly bold.

Qin Xuan had nothing to say, continuing to play with his phone, but seeing Nan Zhiyi nearly crawling onto him…

“Can’t you behave yourself?” Qin Xuan was baffled—how did the quiet Nan Zhiyi outside turn into this?

Nan Zhiyi simply smiled, “I can’t help it. I can’t control myself around you.”

“You… can you not say such things?” Qin Xuan helplessly threw down his phone and pushed her away as she teased his face.

“Will you go out with me?” Nan Zhiyi, pushed aside, grew a bit sullen.

“What do you want to do?” Qin Xuan sensed trouble.

Nan Zhiyi didn’t answer, instead stubbornly shoving Qin Xuan off the bed.

Reluctantly, he allowed her to push him out.

…

At the nearest bus stop downstairs, Nan Zhiyi clung to Qin Xuan’s arm, looking around curiously.

“So, where are you taking me?” Qin Xuan followed her onto the bus, bewildered.

“You’ll see soon enough,” Nan Zhiyi replied, holding his hand confidently as if she were used to it.

After a few stops, Qin Xuan noticed they hadn’t gone far. Surely she wasn’t trying to sell him off?

He stared at the unfamiliar shopping mall, asking Nan Zhiyi, “Where is this?”

“Arcade!” Nan Zhiyi squeezed his arm tighter. “I’ve wanted to come for ages, but it felt awkward alone…”

“Let’s go, it’s been ages since I last played,” Qin Xuan perked up at the mention. He’d frequented arcades as a child, always with Uncle Liu. As he grew older, his interest faded, but seeing the place now made his fingers itch.

…

Nan Zhiyi watched as he let go of her hand.

Wait—what? Just like that?

She stared at her empty hand. Was he abandoning her? Yet she hurried after him, watching Qin Xuan dart from machine to machine, and wondered if bringing him had been a mistake.

Once Qin Xuan started playing, he was unstoppable, paying no attention to her at all.

“Huh?” Qin Xuan suddenly remembered he’d lost someone. Turning back, he saw Nan Zhiyi standing nearby, watching him with a look of grievance.

He quickly put down his things and walked over.

“Hehe, sorry, sorry, I forgot!” Qin Xuan’s apology only made it worse—Nan Zhiyi, who hadn’t been that angry, turned her back and refused to speak.

“Zhiyi~ I was wrong!” Qin Xuan tugged at her shoulder.

Seeing this wasn’t working, Qin Xuan glanced up and spotted a claw machine across the room—his eyes lit up.

Nan Zhiyi waited for his comfort, but when she looked up, he’d dashed off again!

“Qin Xuan!” Nan Zhiyi stomped over, just as he grabbed a plush Totoro.

“Here, don’t be mad,” Qin Xuan handed her the Totoro, trying to pacify her.

“Hmph!” Nan Zhiyi wasn’t particularly interested in such things, but since it was from Qin Xuan, she hugged it tightly.

She still warned him, “If you do that again, I’ll really get angry!”

“I promise I won’t!” Qin Xuan laughed, ruffling her hair.

Nan Zhiyi clasped his hand, fingers interlaced—now he couldn’t escape!

After a while, perhaps bored or frustrated by the games, Nan Zhiyi lost interest, and Qin Xuan likewise felt no urge to continue.

Leaving the arcade, Qin Xuan suggested catching a bus home, but Nan Zhiyi insisted on walking, gripping his hand tightly. Though he’d abandoned her once, overall she was satisfied—she’d earned a Totoro plush, not bad! And a late-night snack awaited; she’d struck gold!

Meanwhile, Liu Ruoxi and Qin Lin’er opened the door and found the empty room. No need to guess—Nan Zhiyi had dragged Qin Xuan out. He’d get a beating when they returned!

When Nan Zhiyi pulled Qin Xuan back home, Liu Ruoxi was waiting at the door, a stick in hand—a clear sign of trouble.

Nan Zhiyi quickly released Qin Xuan’s hand and offered her milk tea in a gesture of appeasement.

…

Liu Ruoxi, seeing Nan Zhiyi so cooperative, was momentarily at a loss. At least she knew how to behave!

“What were you two up to?” Liu Ruoxi asked, sipping her milk tea.

“We… went to buy milk tea for you!” Nan Zhiyi adamantly avoided mentioning the arcade.

“Oh, well, thanks!” Liu Ruoxi put away the stick, took the milk tea, and settled onto the sofa.

Qin Xuan was about to return to his room when Nan Zhiyi called him back.

“How about we go camping this weekend?” Nan Zhiyi suggested. Since she’d moved in, she intended to tick off all the things she’d always wanted to do.

“Camping? Sure, you pick the place,” Liu Ruoxi, unfamiliar with the area, delegated the task to Nan Zhiyi.

“Alright!” Nan Zhiyi hurried to her room, took out the Totoro plush, and sniffed it—nice, it now carried her scent!

…

Qin Xuan lay in bed, absentmindedly scrolling through videos. Waiting for Liu Ruoxi to join him had become a habit.

Soon, Liu Ruoxi climbed into bed, resting on his arm. Qin Xuan reached to embrace her, but she slapped his hand away.

“Don’t touch me. What did you do tonight?”

Qin Xuan wasn’t surprised by her intuition—of course he couldn’t hide from Ruoxi. He answered honestly.

“We went to the arcade.”

“I knew Nan Zhiyi lied to me! That’s it, she’s getting a beating!” Liu Ruoxi threw off the covers and ran out.

Moments later, Nan Zhiyi’s startled cry echoed from the next room.

Qin Lin’er heard Nan Zhiyi’s voice and shrugged helplessly—getting beaten was inevitable. But at least it meant she herself would get off lightly! Qin Lin’er seemed to spot a loophole!

Once Liu Ruoxi finished, she looked at Nan Zhiyi sprawled on the bed, rubbing her backside, and nodded in satisfaction. All her fatigue vanished.

“I’m leaving now, I’ll be back next time!” Liu Ruoxi cheerfully closed the door, not forgetting to leave a parting remark.

Nan Zhiyi was infuriated—so annoying!

Fortunately, there was still Totoro to keep her company. Lin’er was right; Qin Xuan really couldn’t be relied upon!