Chapter 118: Use It Sparingly...

It was not until Qin Xuan and the others had finished their meal that Nan Zhiyi emerged, her hair a tangled mess.

"Have you guys eaten? I’m a little hungry..." Nan Zhiyi looked at the group on the sofa and spoke to Qin Xuan in a melancholy tone.

Qin Xuan turned around and brought out the food he had kept warm under a pot lid in the kitchen, placing it on the dining table with a gesture. "It’s still warm."

Nan Zhiyi held her rice bowl and stared blankly at the massive portion of meat. "Are you... feeding a pig?! There’s so much."

In the end, Nan Zhiyi only managed to eat half; it was simply too much.

"How did hosting the program go?" Qin Xuan handed her a napkin and asked casually.

Nan Zhiyi gave him a look of disdain. "With me on the job, of course it went perfectly!"

"Alright, alright," Qin Xuan said, busy clearing the table, quickly calling for a truce. He figured he’d just been tactless!

Once everything was tidied up, Qin Xuan lay in bed scrolling through his phone, bored, while Ruoxi went to Zhiyi’s room to chat.

A moment later, Qin Lin’er snuck into the room, holding a few pieces of clothing.

"Qin Xuan~ Do you think I look better in this dress or this T-shirt?" Qin Lin’er stood by the bed, holding up the two outfits, looking at him curiously.

This caught Qin Xuan off guard.

"Either is fine, you look good in anything..."

"That’s way too dismissive. When Sister Xi asks you that and you give the same answer, doesn't she punch you?" Qin Lin’er tossed the clothes onto Qin Xuan’s quilt and kicked off her shoes, preparing to climb into bed.

Qin Xuan watched her movements without stopping her. "I don’t know if she’d punch me, but I’m certain she’ll punch you the moment she gets back."

Qin Lin’er had already lifted a corner of the quilt with one hand; there was no way she was stopping now.

Qin Xuan looked at her with a helpless expression but tucked the quilt around her anyway.

Shortly after, Liu Ruoxi pushed the door open and returned. Fortunately, Qin Lin’er had tucked the clothes under the quilt in advance and hidden behind Qin Xuan. Thanks to her slim frame, she wasn't spotted by Ruoxi.

As soon as Ruoxi returned, she turned off the lights and dove into bed, lying down right next to Qin Xuan.

"Hold me," Ruoxi said, noticing Qin Xuan hadn't reacted. She tilted her head to look at him as he lay on his side.

"Wait? Did I just notice you’ve gained some weight?"

Qin Xuan felt a bit weary at this; Qin Lin’er was still tickling him from the side.

"No, how could I have gained weight?"

"Is that so?" Qin Lin’er reached out and felt Qin Xuan’s waist; it really didn't seem to have any extra fat.

Qin Lin’er watched the hand that had just stolen her spot, and in a flash of inspiration, reached out and grabbed Sister Xi’s hand.

"Hmm!" Liu Ruoxi sensed something peculiar about the small hand she had grabbed.

"Qin Lin’er! Are you looking to die?" That familiar, icy touch could only belong to Qin Lin’er!

Liu Ruoxi switched on the light, yanked the hand, and pulled her over. Seeing Qin Lin’er sprawled over Qin Xuan made her want to punch her.

"Sister Xi, take it easy, take it easy..." Qin Lin’er was filled with regret; if she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have stirred up trouble...

Seeing her reaction, Liu Ruoxi let go of her hand and sat up, staring at her. "What are you doing here?"

Qin Lin’er rubbed her wrist, smiling sheepishly at Sister Xi. "Sister Xi~ I just missed you and wanted to sleep next to you."

*Stop telling lies!* Liu Ruoxi thought to herself coldly.

"Go back to your own room to sleep, don't force me to punch you!"

"Oh, come on, Sister Xi, it’s just for one night..." Qin Lin’er held up a finger.

"No! You can’t even wait a few days?" Liu Ruoxi was annoyed; she hadn't even had that many nights to be near Qin Xuan this week!

Qin Lin’er reluctantly climbed out of bed and found her shoes, which had been kicked into a corner. Still feeling resentful, she muttered, "I’m coming back tomorrow then!"

Liu Ruoxi had been satisfied that she was being sensible, but her expression darkened at those words.

"You dare come back? I’ll beat your bottom until it’s black and blue!"

Qin Lin’er reached the door, turned around, and made a face at Ruoxi. "Hmph!"

Once she had closed the door and left, Liu Ruoxi turned back to Qin Xuan.

"You two are in this together!"

"Aren't we all in this together?" Qin Xuan reached out, pulled her into his arms, and leaned down to kiss her.

"You’ve ruined my mood!" Liu Ruoxi held Qin Xuan’s hand, her eyes sparkling, deep in thought.

Qin Xuan paused, met her gaze, and seemed to understand something. He silently reached out and turned off the bedroom light.

Qin Lin’er had just returned to her room when she heard the commotion from next door. She was completely bewildered—so impatient? It was definitely Sister Xi!

*Could you save some energy for him?!*

Lying in bed, Qin Lin’er pulled out her phone to search for hotels. It was perfectly reasonable to find a hotel after getting tired from a weekend outing, right? So if something happened, it would just be a natural progression of events, right? And as his girlfriend, Qin Xuan wouldn't dare have any objections, right?!

Qin Lin’er drifted off to sleep, blissfully immersed in her own plans.

The next morning, Qin Lin’er watched Qin Xuan constantly yawning at the dining table. She gave Sister Xi a resentful look—*take it easy on him...*

It was already Thursday, and the day Qin Lin’er was looking forward to was drawing closer. She even ate an extra half-bowl of noodles!

"Oh right, Zhiyi," Liu Ruoxi said after finishing her noodles, looking at Nan Zhiyi. "Are we going out this weekend too?"

"I’m fine with whatever," Nan Zhiyi replied, startled, then nodded. *It’s not like it’s up to anyone but you, Sister Xi...*

Qin Lin’er heard this and immediately frowned, sensing disaster!

Liu Ruoxi saw Qin Lin’er’s expression and knew what she was thinking, so she reached out and draped an arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry, I won't disturb you and Qin Xuan."

Qin Lin’er looked at Sister Xi suspiciously. *That’s what you said last time when you stole my lollipop!*

...

The last two days of the school week always dragged, but for Qin Xuan, having people around made the time pass quite quickly.

That night, Qin Lin’er lay in bed unable to sleep. On one hand, she was thinking about going out alone with Qin Xuan; on the other, the room next door was a bit noisy.

Qin Lin’er, who hadn't exercised in a long time, couldn't help but click on...

*Knock, knock, knock!* The sudden knocking startled Qin Lin’er. Fortunately, everyone in the house was used to knocking.

Qin Lin’er helplessly threw off the quilt and opened the door.

"Sister Zhiyi~ What’s the matter?"

Nan Zhiyi stood at the door in her pajamas, smiling as she looked at the slightly flushed Qin Lin’er.

"Just came to chat with you," Nan Zhiyi said. As she walked into the room and closed the door, she saw the phone screen still lit up on the bed, displaying...

"Lin’er, you should watch less of this stuff..." Nan Zhiyi patted her little head, acting like someone with experience.

Qin Lin’er quickly reached over and turned off the phone. *Thank goodness it was Sister Zhiyi; otherwise, I would have died of embarrassment...*

"I was just looking, I wasn't doing anything else!" Qin Lin’er argued.

Nan Zhiyi smiled. "You should probably wipe your hands first."

"Huh?" Qin Lin’er looked at her hands in confusion. *Oh...*

She grabbed a tissue from the bedside table and wiped her hands, her face turning so red it felt like it might drip.

"It’s okay, it’s okay," Nan Zhiyi said, pinching her cheek comfortingly. "I won't laugh at you."

As she spoke, she pulled out her phone and snapped a photo of Qin Lin’er’s current expression.

"Look, aren't you cute right now?" After taking the photo, Nan Zhiyi didn't just stop there; she showed it to Lin’er, making the girl want to snatch her phone away in anger!