Chapter Twenty-Three: Since Our Hands Are Already Entwined

“Hey, class monitor, I didn’t manage to get any vegetarian dishes. How about we share? You can have some of mine,” Liu Ruoxi picked up a few pieces of sweet and sour pork from her plate and placed them on Li Liping’s, then took a few leaves of cabbage from Li Liping’s plate for herself.

Li Liping realized what was happening; she might be a little slow, but she wasn’t foolish.

Qin Lin’er, seeing this, also swapped a few chunks of braised pork for some cauliflower from Li Liping’s plate. She nodded in satisfaction, looking as if she was thoroughly enjoying the meal.

Qin Xuan, seeing the two girls exchange food, felt awkward just sitting there, so he reached for the twice-cooked pork on his own plate.

“Stop! All your saliva’s on it!” Liu Ruoxi had been watching Qin Xuan closely and quickly stopped him.

Qin Xuan was exasperated: I haven’t even taken a bite yet!

But since Liu Ruoxi had spoken, he could only withdraw his hand, feeling a bit embarrassed, though Li Liping, Qin Lin’er, and Liu Ruoxi continued their conversation and laughter, keeping the mood light.

“Hey, Liu Ruoxi’s here? The class monitor is here too,” came the voice of someone intent on ruining the atmosphere. Li Wentao, with his head of yellow hair and a plate of what looked like custom stir-fry from the cafeteria, walked over, followed by a few cronies.

Qin Xuan couldn’t understand why these “show-offs” always liked to bring their lackeys along.

Liu Ruoxi ignored him, but Li Liping invited Li Wentao to join them.

Li Wentao glanced at the two vegetarian dishes on Li Liping’s plate and sneered, “Class monitor, why are you just eating this? If you don’t have money, just tell me. I’ll cover it for you!”

His seemingly generous offer only made the three feel more uncomfortable. Li Liping was unsettled by his words, but didn’t dwell on it, forcing a smile and saying nothing.

Finding himself unwelcome, Li Wentao left with his plate, telling his followers as he walked away, “Pretentious!”

He didn’t say it loudly, but Qin Xuan and the others heard it clearly. Qin Xuan frowned.

“You!” Liu Ruoxi, hot-tempered as ever, stood up to confront him, but Li Liping reached out and pulled her back, shaking her head.

Liu Ruoxi sat down reluctantly, still fuming. “Hmph! And he’s supposed to be a class committee member?”

“Him? I heard he went around to every dorm the day before the vote,” Li Liping, who lived on campus, knew more than Qin Xuan and the others. “He wanted to be class monitor, but I took it from him, so he’s probably unhappy.”

“Tsk!” Liu Ruoxi finally understood why he’d gone out of his way to insult Li Liping.

“Forget it, his words can’t hurt me. It’s fine,” Li Liping said, letting it go.

After lunch, Li Liping went to find Liu Qin to discuss weekend plans, leaving Qin Xuan and the other two to wander around campus.

“Qin Xuan, you’re close with Sister Qin. Why don’t you tell her about Li Wentao bribing classmates?” Liu Ruoxi grew angrier the more she thought about it.

Qin Xuan nodded, “That’s doable. Li Liping probably won’t mention it to her.”

“And Li Wentao—the more I look at him, the more I can’t stand him!” Liu Ruoxi said fiercely.

“Because his company is called Lida.”

“Huh? Is that the company your dad suppressed?” Liu Ruoxi vaguely remembered Qin’s father mentioning it earlier that year.

“Yeah,” Qin Xuan began, then paused. “Hey, wait, why are you calling him dad?”

“Aunt Wang told me to call her mom, so naturally I call him dad!” Liu Ruoxi replied easily, not noticing Qin Lin’er’s darkening expression behind her.

Qin Lin’er tiptoed quietly behind Liu Ruoxi, raised her hand, and slapped Liu Ruoxi on the backside.

“Ouch!” Still lost in her own world, Liu Ruoxi was caught off guard by Qin Lin’er’s sneak attack—it really stung.

She reached out angrily to grab Qin Lin’er, but Qin Lin’er wasn’t foolish; she darted away after the slap. Qin Xuan watched as the two girls hopped around clutching their backsides, unable to hold back his laughter.

In the end, Qin Lin’er couldn’t escape Liu Ruoxi’s grasp and was pinned down, used as a cushion. If they weren’t on campus, Qin Lin’er’s backside would surely be in trouble.

The poor girl appealed to Qin Xuan for help, but under Liu Ruoxi’s predatory glare, Qin Xuan could only offer an apologetic look.

...

In college, time seemed to pass fastest. Amid the repeated swelling and recovery of Qin Lin’er’s backside, the first weekend after National Day arrived.

The entire class—thirty-five students plus Liu Qin—took a special school bus to the chosen “Sister Wang’s Farmhouse.”

Wait, not thirty-five: Li Wentao drove his sports car, bringing along a girl from class. She claimed they were a couple, but Li Wentao denied it. Their relationship was a hot topic among the students, but Qin Xuan and his friends paid no mind, treating it as idle gossip.

On the bus, Qin Xuan sat next to Liu Ruoxi, while Qin Lin’er was beside the class monitor, Li Liping.

Liu Ruoxi always felt sleepy in vehicles, so as soon as she boarded, she leaned against Qin Xuan and closed her eyes.

When the bus started, Liu Ruoxi gradually drifted off, her head resting on Qin Xuan’s shoulder. Qin Xuan smiled and gently stroked her hair, watching the flutter of her lashes under the sweep of her long hair. He realized Liu Ruoxi was especially adorable when asleep. Wait—adorable? Why use that word?

Perhaps sensing Qin Xuan’s touch, Liu Ruoxi unconsciously gripped his hand.

Qin Xuan was startled, wanting to pull away, but afraid to wake her. In the end, he placed their clasped hands between their seats.

Feeling the softness in his palm, Qin Xuan’s thoughts drifted further, and he too slowly fell asleep.

When he awoke, the bus was still moving, but he turned to meet Liu Ruoxi’s bright eyes, startling him.

Liu Ruoxi, seeing him awake, lifted their joined hands as if to show him.

Qin Xuan tried to let go, but found Liu Ruoxi holding tight, unable to escape.

“Let go now!” Qin Xuan whispered in her ear.

“Hmph, you held my hand while I was sleeping, but you don’t dare now that I’m awake?” Liu Ruoxi teased.

“It was you who grabbed mine!” Qin Xuan protested.

But Liu Ruoxi shook her head. She had no memory before falling asleep, so it must have been Qin Xuan’s doing!

Qin Xuan realized he couldn’t explain himself, sighed, “So can we let go now?”

“Nope, nope, not listening to your excuses!” Liu Ruoxi feigned resignation. “Since we’ve already held hands, I’ll give you a little treat. Next time you want to, just ask. I’ll definitely agree.”

“No, you... this is... I...” Qin Xuan gave up. There was no winning against Liu Ruoxi’s arguments; better to keep quiet.

Another half hour passed before the bus stopped by the roadside—their destination had arrived. Unable to shake free from Liu Ruoxi’s grasp, Qin Xuan had no choice but to lead her off the bus.

As soon as they got off, Qin Lin’er stared at their joined hands in confusion: You just sat on a bus for an hour, right? What else did you do behind my back?

Liu Ruoxi, noticing Qin Lin’er’s angry gaze, deliberately raised their hands in front of her.

No, no, must act ladylike in front of others! Liu Ruoxi! Tonight, you’re doomed!

Though she couldn’t win in a direct confrontation, Qin Lin’er’s clever mind began recalling the 999 prank methods she’d read about before.