Chapter 112: A Man of Contradictory Words and True Feelings!

Not long after, Liu Ruoxi returned. Seeing Qin Xuan sitting in front of the computer getting it started, she felt a sudden surge of irritation.

"Aren't you going to wash your face?" Liu Ruoxi said, clenching her fists. "The thought of it is just bizarre!"

Qin Xuan: ...

Obediently heading toward the kitchen, Qin Xuan felt a bit awkward.

Seeing him leave, Liu Ruoxi thought to herself that this couldn't go on; she couldn't possibly force Qin Xuan to wash his face every single time, could she?

After returning, Qin Xuan sat down in his chair and started a game of chess.

It wasn't until after four o'clock that Nan Zhiyi emerged, rubbing her eyes groggily, and headed straight for Qin Xuan’s room without a second thought.

"Oh, you're all here..." She had originally intended to chat with Qin Xuan, but upon entering, she saw Liu Ruoxi sitting on the bed.

"Ruoxi? Want to go out for a stroll?" Nan Zhiyi shifted her tone instantly.

"What did you call me?" Liu Ruoxi tilted her head, looking at the confident Nan Zhiyi.

"...Sister Xi," Nan Zhiyi thought for a moment before saying it, feeling a bit aggrieved.

"Hmm!" Liu Ruoxi nodded in satisfaction. Not bad—at least she knew who was in charge!

Qin Xuan watched them, speechless. What is this...

Shortly after, Liu Ruoxi hopped off the bed and linked arms with Nan Zhiyi as they left. At that moment, they actually seemed "like sisters."

Shrugging, Qin Xuan returned to his game, determined to reclaim his eighth-place ranking.

It wasn't until Liu Ruoxi and Nan Zhiyi returned with snacks that they found Qin Xuan still glued to his chair, playing games.

"Why are you playing games again? You homebody!" Liu Ruoxi said, walking over to him while sipping her milk tea.

She held her milk tea out to Qin Xuan’s lips, and he didn't stand on ceremony, taking a large gulp.

"Hurry up and make dinner; I'm tired from walking," Liu Ruoxi said, pinching Qin Xuan’s arm.

"I’m about to win the match!" Qin Xuan swallowed the tea, feeling a bit stubborn. Could he really not manage a single win all afternoon?

Liu Ruoxi ignored him and took the snacks and milk tea she had bought for Lin'er into her room.

"Sister Xi?" Qin Lin'er was lying in bed playing on her phone. Seeing her enter, she called out obediently—though mostly because she had spotted the items in her hand.

Liu Ruoxi had sharp eyes. She set the things on the nightstand and scanned the room. Seeing clothes hanging on the rack, she curiously walked over, took them down, and inspected them. Then, looking at Qin Lin'er, who was bundled up, she seemed to understand something.

"You really are..." Liu Ruoxi awkwardly tossed the clothes onto Lin'er’s head and turned to leave.

"Hey~ Sister Xi..." Qin Lin'er suddenly called out.

Half an hour later, Liu Ruoxi walked out of the room with a look of utter awkwardness on her face.

Sighing, what was she supposed to do? Liu Ruoxi rubbed her forehead in frustration, but then caught the scent of food coming from the kitchen and, putting aside her gloom, headed toward Qin Xuan.

At the dinner table, Qin Lin'er kept her head down, stealing glances at Qin Xuan and signaling to Sister Xi, but both of them ignored her, leaving her feeling quite awkward.

After dinner, when Qin Xuan went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, Qin Lin'er leaned in and whispered in Liu Ruoxi’s ear.

"Sister Xi? Have you thought it over?"

Liu Ruoxi felt her ear tickle and pushed away the breathing Qin Lin'er, letting out a sigh.

"One night a week, that’s all you get. Make the most of your opportunity..." Liu Ruoxi didn't want it to be this way, but after seeing Lin'er’s eyes turn red during their talk, she couldn't help but soften.

"I knew Sister Xi was the best!" Qin Lin'er grabbed Liu Ruoxi’s hand and shook it happily.

Liu Ruoxi pulled her hand away. She didn't want to be hugged by her! Being hugged by Qin Xuan felt much better.

...

After washing the dishes, Qin Xuan returned to his room and looked at Liu Ruoxi, who had occupied his computer.

"Ruoxi? I'm going to Zhiyi's tonight," Qin Xuan said as he changed into his pajamas. Seeing her nod, he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek before turning to walk out.

He completely failed to notice the look Liu Ruoxi gave him, as if she wanted to punch him.

When he reached Nan Zhiyi’s room, she was sitting at her desk flipping through a photo album.

"Huh? When did you take this?" Qin Xuan asked, pointing curiously at a photo of Zhiyi sitting on his lap.

"Just yesterday," Nan Zhiyi tilted her head and smiled at him. "It’s a good shot, isn't it?"

Qin Xuan stroked Zhiyi’s hair and nodded with a smile. "It's alright, much better than the ones I take..."

"With the way you take photos... I’d be embarrassed to show anyone!" Nan Zhiyi thought about how he had made her look yesterday—it was garbage! He should just uninstall the camera app from his phone! Qin Xuan had already argued with her about this yesterday.

"Hey, hey, hey! That was because you were running yesterday! That’s not my fault!" Qin Xuan pinched her cheek, feeling indignant.

Nan Zhiyi swatted his hand away. "Still refusing to admit you're bad at it? That’s no different from your gaming skills..."

Qin Xuan: You can insult me, but you cannot insult my gaming skills!

Furious, Qin Xuan picked up Nan Zhiyi and threw her onto the bed.

"Just wait until I pummel you!" Qin Xuan said, planting a fierce kiss on her face.

"Don't... my wound still hurts..." Nan Zhiyi said, pressing against his face, looking a bit awkward.

"What are you thinking? I really just meant I was going to pummel you!"

...

A short while later, Liu Ruoxi, hearing the startled cries from across the hall, shook her head.

But lying alone in bed, she couldn't fall asleep; it was a bit cold.

After tossing and turning, Liu Ruoxi finally sat up.

She walked out of the room cautiously and stood in front of Nan Zhiyi’s door. Lost in thought, she placed her hand on the doorknob but couldn't bring herself to turn it.

After standing there for a long time, she turned back. Forget it; she couldn't overcome that mental barrier after all.

She would just have to give them a good beating tomorrow.

In contrast to Liu Ruoxi’s thoughts, Qin Lin'er, lying in bed, was having a different experience. A flurry of ideas flooded her brain, and despite several deep breaths, she couldn't shake them off, eventually pulling the blanket over her head in frustration.

The next morning, Qin Xuan and Nan Zhiyi couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of a dazed Liu Ruoxi and a slumped-over Qin Lin'er.

"What did you two do last night..." Qin Xuan peeled an egg for each of them and asked curiously.

Liu Ruoxi looked up at him and sighed helplessly. How was she supposed to help it if she couldn't sleep?!

Thinking about how she hadn't felt Qin Xuan’s breath as she fell asleep for two nights in a row, she felt quite depressed.

Qin Lin'er didn't respond at all, as she had already drifted off into a groggy slumber. Qin Xuan reached out and tapped her shoulder.

Forced to "reboot," Qin Lin'er leaned against the chair with a bun still in her mouth, her head drooping, saying nothing.

Seeing her like that, Liu Ruoxi took the bun from her mouth and shoved it back in...

After some effort, she finally brought Lin'er to her senses; after all, if she didn't wake up, she was going to choke.

On the way to school, Liu Ruoxi and Nan Zhiyi each took one of Qin Xuan’s arms. It was finally Qin Lin'er's turn to walk behind them alone, listening to the song "A Thread of Plum Blossoms" playing in her ears—the poor girl.

Qin Lin'er felt it was a bit difficult to deal with, but she took out her phone, snapped a picture of the scene, and sent it to their group chat.

After a moment's thought, she sent a batch of locked photos to Qin Xuan. Qin Xuan heard the notification and checked his phone.

The group chat looked normal, but "Lin'er, why did you attach a selfie of yourself?"

Then he looked at the photos she had sent him privately! Oh boy, things were starting to look wrong...

It was a collection of his most embarrassing moments, the kind that couldn't be hidden. "How did you... I didn't even know you were taking these! Are you keeping them for your own private amusement?!"