Chapter Ninety-Five: You’re So Strange!

Qin Xuan watched as Liu Ruoxi stormed off to her room in a huff and scratched his head helplessly. Well… After a brief moment of thought, he finally picked up a skewer of chicken wings and walked into her room.

Qin Lin’er and Nan Zhiyi exchanged glances. Never mind, eating is more important!

“Ruoxi?” Qin Xuan hid the chicken wings behind his back and called out to Liu Ruoxi, who was sitting at her desk playing on her computer.

“Don’t touch me!” Liu Ruoxi snapped impatiently.

Qin Xuan: Huh? I haven’t even touched you yet…

He stood beside her, and watched as Liu Ruoxi’s little nose twitched.

“Hand it over!” The delicious aroma was making Liu Ruoxi crave it already!

With a chuckle, Qin Xuan brought out the chicken wings and held them near her mouth.

“Hmph! That’s more like it!” Liu Ruoxi grabbed the skewer and began munching happily.

Qin Xuan thought for a moment—she can’t handle spicy food, but she should be able to eat some chips.

So he turned and headed straight for Qin Lin’er’s room.

Seeing Qin Xuan making for her room, Qin Lin’er, who was still busy eating barbecue, hurriedly got up, a bit flustered—she hadn’t cleaned up her stuff yet!

Qin Xuan pushed open Lin’er’s door and saw the bed still covered in clothes—the same ones as last time…

Is she hosting a party in here?

Glancing at the bed, Qin Xuan walked over to the nightstand and pulled open a drawer. Sure enough, the small drawer was packed with snacks: chips, cookies, beef jerky, marinated eggs… heaps of them.

He was about to grab something when Qin Lin’er walked in and caught him raiding her food stash. What little squirrel could tolerate this?

“Put that down!”

Qin Lin’er’s sudden appearance startled Qin Xuan.

“Ruoxi didn’t get enough to eat, so I’m grabbing a little for her,” Qin Xuan explained.

“Oh, then go ahead, just not too much…” Qin Lin’er, hearing Qin Xuan’s explanation, reluctantly gave in, but hurriedly tried to cover up the things on her bed.

In the end, Qin Xuan took only two boxes of bear-shaped cookies and left. He didn’t feel like lingering either. If they hadn’t grown up together, seeing all those clothes piled up, he might have thought Lin’er was a weirdo!

Then again, maybe she was!

Back in the room, Liu Ruoxi saw the cookies Qin Xuan brought and immediately knew they were Lin’er’s stash.

“You took Lin’er’s snacks and she didn’t get mad?”

Qin Xuan smiled. “No, I told her you were hungry, so she let me have some.”

“Oh? Looks like she’s learning. I’ll spare her a beating next time.” Liu Ruoxi tore open the package and tossed a couple of bear cookies in her mouth.

After Qin Xuan left, Nan Zhiyi sneaked over to Qin Lin’er’s door.

She saw Lin’er still tidying up the clothes on her bed, curiosity piqued. She pushed open the door and stepped inside.

“Lin’er~ what are these?” Nan Zhiyi sat on the bed, curiously picking up one of the garments. Whoa! So see-through!

“You!” Qin Lin’er’s cheeks turned crimson as she snatched the item from Zhiyi’s hands. “Get out!”

“Not until you tell me what this is!” Nan Zhiyi picked up another piece. “I can’t believe you have this kind of hobby, besides snacking? You’re so weird!”

“Ugh! Give it back!” Qin Lin’er lunged for it, but Nan Zhiyi reacted quickly and hid it behind her back.

“This one is pretty, I’m taking it back to study!” Nan Zhiyi said, and dashed out the door.

Standing there, Qin Lin’er’s face was burning with embarrassment and she was shaking with anger. All because she forgot to put it away after trying it on last night…

Back in her own room, Nan Zhiyi finally pulled out the item to examine it. How was this even supposed to be worn? She’d never tried it herself.

Well, it was already evening. Nan Zhiyi locked her door and decided to give it a try.

After a while, she walked awkwardly back and forth—so strange! Why did Lin’er buy this thing?

But standing in front of the mirror, she had to admit—it did look pretty good!

…

Elsewhere, Liu Ruoxi lay contentedly in Qin Xuan’s arms, munching on little cookies.

“Do you need water tonight?” Liu Ruoxi teased, grinning at Qin Xuan.

“Are you looking for trouble?” Qin Xuan gave her a look. “Tomorrow, maybe…”

“Aren’t you supposed to feel sorry for me and let it go?” Liu Ruoxi pouted, popping a cookie into Qin Xuan’s mouth.

Qin Xuan was unmoved. “And whose fault is it for being so loud?”

“Oh, hush!” Liu Ruoxi clamped a hand over Qin Xuan’s mouth. You and your shameless words!

“All right, enough. Let’s sleep,” he said, pulling her hands away and gathering her into his arms.

“I haven’t brushed my teeth yet—carry me,” Liu Ruoxi said, wrapping her arms around his neck and giggling.

“What’s the point of brushing? I’ll do it for you.” Qin Xuan leaned down and kissed her.

The next morning, Liu Ruoxi sipped her porridge, scalding her lips until they swelled… definitely from the heat!

At least her body didn’t ache anymore—maybe tonight…

Back at school, after the excitement of the sports meet, the students’ enthusiasm had faded, the recent feverish energy cooling along with the weather.

“Something’s odd about Ruoxi today!” Qin Lin’er observed, watching Liu Ruoxi walk hand in hand with Qin Xuan, her face lit with a smile that never faded.

Maybe it was because Liu Ruoxi felt different now—the person beside her wasn’t just her childhood companion, but her future partner.

“There’s nothing odd, I’m perfectly fine!” Liu Ruoxi was unaware of the smile radiating from her eyes.

Nan Zhiyi and Qin Lin’er, of course, knew what was going on, but their teasing soon turned into a hint of melancholy. She just moved faster than us!

The day drifted by. After dinner, because Nan Zhiyi and Qin Xuan had electives, Liu Ruoxi sat on the sofa, watching as Nan Zhiyi slipped her arm through Qin Xuan’s—and didn’t even say a word. Nan Zhiyi even waved cheerfully at her.

“Ruoxi? What’s going on between you two?” Qin Lin’er gaped at the display. Since when did Ruoxi let Zhiyi act like that?!

“There’s a prior agreement,” Liu Ruoxi replied offhand, then went back to her room to read.

Leaving Qin Lin’er scratching her head. And what about me? What about me?

As for Nan Zhiyi, it was because she’d gotten a certain someone’s approval that she clung so brazenly to Qin Xuan’s arm, even snuggling up to him, making Qin Xuan’s heart flutter with confusion.

“Qin Xuan~ I want some milk tea too,” Nan Zhiyi said, hanging onto his arm.

“Let’s go,” he replied. There was a shop just outside campus anyway. But when they got there, Nan Zhiyi wouldn’t say what she wanted and insisted Qin Xuan choose for her. With no other choice, Qin Xuan thought about her usual preferences and ordered her a Four Seasons Milk Green with half sugar.

She was a bit annoyed that Qin Xuan hadn’t picked up on her hint, but still delighted that he’d gotten her favorite drink.

“So, does this mean you care about me?” Nan Zhiyi asked, sipping her milk tea, her eyes searching Qin Xuan’s.

“No, I just have a good memory!” Qin Xuan’s gaze darted away.

But to someone as clever as Nan Zhiyi, that evasive look said everything.

She smiled contentedly, hugging his arm even tighter.

Because they dawdled a bit, by the time they reached the classroom, the old professor had already arrived and was calling roll at the podium.

“Nan Zhiyi.”

“Here…” Nan Zhiyi entered, still holding onto Qin Xuan’s arm, under the professor’s gaze.

The professor gave them a look but said nothing more.

“Qin Xuan!”

“Here!” Since when was his name right after Nan Zhiyi’s?

“Do you know you’re late? Stand outside!” The professor snapped his book onto the table and reprimanded Qin Xuan.

Qin Xuan was stunned. Wait, Zhiyi, why aren’t you saying anything?

That thought flashed by, but he still let go of Nan Zhiyi’s hand and went to stand outside, while Nan Zhiyi returned to her seat.

Seeing that, the professor put down the roll call list. “All right, let’s begin. Last time we discussed…”

Qin Xuan, standing outside: Are you kidding me?