Chapter 129: Another Mission?

At noon, Nan Zhiyi returned home, hoping for a meal cooked by Qin Xuan. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Liu Ruoxi sprawled out on the sofa like a ragdoll, her face flushed with a telltale glow. Nan Zhiyi saw exactly what had transpired at a glance and gave her a look of disdain.

"Can you two please try to have some sense of propriety?" Nan Zhiyi changed into her slippers and sat down on the sofa next to Liu Ruoxi. As she caught the scent lingering in the air, she felt an inexplicable blush creep up her own cheeks.

"Well, about that," Liu Ruoxi said, suddenly pointing at Qin Xuan as he emerged wearing his slippers, "it’s all his fault!"

Qin Xuan, who had just taken a sip of water, looked confused: "???"

"That’s enough of that. What do you want for lunch?"

"Meat!" Nan Zhiyi replied, simple and direct.

Qin Xuan rummaged through the refrigerator and found the tenderloin he had bought earlier. "Sweet and sour pork it is!"

After a satisfying lunch, the group tidied up and headed to school. By midday, the sun was beating down, and Lin'er insisted on getting milk tea. Watching Lin'er and Zhiyi fret over the sugar content, Liu Ruoxi looked on with contempt. What was there to worry about? Wouldn't it all be burned off by a little exercise anyway?

Throughout the afternoon, Lin'er was listless, slumped over her desk during class. Even Qin Xuan was curious about what had gotten into her. Lin'er tilted her head and noticed Qin Xuan watching her with interest.

"What are you looking at?" Lin'er managed to prop up her head to meet his gaze.

"Looking at how cute you are," Qin Xuan said casually.

Lin'er suddenly remembered the last time he said she was cute because of... she immediately turned away, wanting nothing to do with him, and drank her milk tea with a pout. Eventually, unable to finish it, she instinctively held the tea out toward Qin Xuan, only to realize a moment later that she was supposed to be ignoring him.

But Qin Xuan had already taken it and had a sip. Qin Lin'er shot him a glare.

"Alright, alright, I’ll buy you chicken drumsticks tonight. Two of them!" Qin Xuan reached out and held her hand.

"Deal!" Qin Lin'er’s eyes lit up.

"Hey, you two," Lin'er said, feeling the warmth of Qin Xuan’s palm and lowering her voice in admonition, "don't be doing that stuff during the day... it’s distracting! You need to take care of your health, don't just..."

Qin Xuan felt the conversation taking a strange turn. If they weren't in class, he would have teased her for it. "My health is perfectly fine!" he said, squeezing her hand a little harder. "If you don't believe me, ask Ruoxi!"

"Eh?" Liu Ruoxi, who had been watching the scene unfold from the side, was suddenly pulled into the conversation. Seeing Lin'er’s curious gaze, she gave a slight nod.

Lin'er’s eyes went wide. I don't believe it! Unless you prove it to me!

***

The afternoon passed quickly. On the way home, Qin Xuan carried a drowsy Lin'er on his back, while Liu Ruoxi occasionally waved a chicken drumstick under her nose to tease her.

Lin'er was truly sleepy, but just as Ruoxi dangled the drumstick in front of her again, Lin'er suddenly opened her eyes and bit down on it, giving Liu Ruoxi quite a start.

"You..." Liu Ruoxi thought with a heavy heart, her plan backfired.

Lin'er hummed while biting the drumstick, but not wanting to get her hands greasy, she decided to just carry it home that way. Seeing this, Liu Ruoxi couldn't resist pulling out her phone and snapping a few photos. Think you're quick on your feet? Fine, here’s a social suicide package as a reward!

Lin'er realized she’d been had and stared at Liu Ruoxi’s movements with wide eyes.

Back in the room, Lin'er put on gloves and dejectedly removed the drumstick from her mouth.

"Sister Xi~ can you delete them, please?" Lin'er asked pitifully, still chewing on a piece of chicken.

"Of course not. I’m going to have them printed and framed tomorrow," Liu Ruoxi said with a beaming smile and a shake of her head.

Qin Xuan heated up the leftovers for dinner. Afterward, the four of them squeezed onto the sofa to watch TV. It was already a small couch, and with all four of them piled on, Lin'er’s feet ended up resting right on Qin Xuan’s face.

Finally, Qin Xuan couldn't take it anymore. He tickled the soles of Lin'er’s feet a few times, stood up, and retreated to his room.

Watching his back, Lin'er leaned toward Liu Ruoxi’s ear: "Sister Xi~ should I have Qin Xuan prove it to me tonight?"

"Hmm?" Liu Ruoxi pulled away slightly. "Are you out of your mind?"

Qin Lin'er stared at Liu Ruoxi in silence for a moment before turning and heading to her own room.

"What are you two talking about? I don't understand," Nan Zhiyi asked Liu Ruoxi, curious about Lin'er’s sudden departure.

"She said..." Liu Ruoxi explained what happened that morning, and Nan Zhiyi’s face flushed a deep red.

"You two are really something," Nan Zhiyi thought about her own daily life with Qin Xuan. He wasn't the one struggling—she was the one who worked hard!

"Alright, time for bed!" Liu Ruoxi stood up and stretched, her midriff exposed.

When Ruoxi returned to her room, she found Qin Xuan playing video games at his computer again.

"Can't you play a little less?" Liu Ruoxi gave his back an annoyed pat.

"What's wrong? Didn't I complete the mission this afternoon? Another task already?" Qin Xuan turned back and teased her.

Liu Ruoxi paused. What mission? Have you lost your mind playing games?

"Can you stop with the double entendres! Who did you learn that from?"

Qin Xuan pulled out his phone and flipped to Nan Zhiyi’s social media feed: "Here, Zhiyi taught me."

***

"Hmm?" Liu Ruoxi curiously took the phone, only to be met with a stream of suggestive posts. Liu Ruoxi felt like the classic internet meme of the bewildered old woman on the subway.

"How come I never saw these posts?" Liu Ruoxi checked the profile picture, confused. Huh? Does Zhiyi have another account?

Liu Ruoxi thought for a moment, gripped the phone, and slipped into Nan Zhiyi’s room. Nan Zhiyi had just returned and hadn't even changed her clothes when she saw Liu Ruoxi storming in.

In an instant, Liu Ruoxi pinned her to the bed. "Sister Zhiyi~ I never thought you were that kind of person!"

"What?" Nan Zhiyi struggled to block Liu Ruoxi’s hands as she tried to pinch her cheeks, looking completely bewildered.

"Look at this!" Liu Ruoxi shoved the phone in front of her.

Nan Zhiyi focused on the screen, and her eyes widened.

"How could you go through Qin Xuan’s phone! Can you have a little trust?"

"Hey! Qin Xuan showed me this himself. I never knew your suggestive banter was so advanced. Care to teach me?" Liu Ruoxi lifted her chin and looked at her with a beaming smile.

"Just read it yourself!" Nan Zhiyi gave up, sprawling on the bed with a sigh.

"Tsk," Liu Ruoxi found it uninteresting and let go of her hands. Instead, she settled onto the bed, leaned against the headboard, and began slowly scrolling through Zhiyi’s feed.

So, this is what happens when someone discovers your secret suggestive posts and wants to discuss them with you.

"Aren't you going back?" Nan Zhiyi frowned, looking at Liu Ruoxi, who was lingering on her bed, and asked awkwardly.

"No, I’m here to learn from you, remember?" Liu Ruoxi raised an eyebrow at Nan Zhiyi.

Nan Zhiyi suddenly thought of something: "But Qin Xuan must be lonely sleeping by himself! I’ll go check on him..."

Liu Ruoxi grabbed her arm with lightning speed: "Get back here! Let Qin Xuan stay with his games; he’s terrible at them but loves to play anyway!"

Qin Xuan finished another match and checked the time—it was past eleven. Why hadn't Ruoxi come back yet?

He picked up her phone, unlocked it with his fingerprint, and finally saw the messages she had sent from his account. What? Sleeping alone? And not going to disturb them?

Qin Xuan suddenly felt something was off. Wait, does this mean I can play a few more games?!