Chapter Twenty-Five: The Infant Care Manual

“I came up here to enjoy the scenery,” Qin Xuan replied to Sister Qin’s question. “What about you, Sister Qin?”

“The same reason,” Liu Qin lifted her head, facing the sun, squinting against its dazzling light. With Liu Ruoxi chasing after Qin Lin’er and leaving them alone, she spoke slowly.

“See, no matter how passionate the sun is now, it’ll set in a few hours,” Liu Qin sighed, sounding a bit pessimistic.

Qin Xuan thought for a moment. “The warmth left after sunset is something worth remembering, but if you keep longing for the sun, you might miss the moon at night.”

Liu Qin only lowered her head and gazed into the distance.

“Qin Xuan, cherish it well. You and Liu Ruoxi will have a good ending—I’m truly envious,” Liu Qin turned to Qin Xuan and said.

“Me and her… honestly, I can’t say for sure. We’ll just take it one step at a time.” Qin Xuan glanced at Liu Ruoxi, who was busy chasing and hitting Qin Lin’er, and smiled.

“By the way, is Qin Lin’er really your sister? Somehow, I don’t feel she is.” Liu Qin voiced the doubt she’d been holding in for a while.

“Yeah, I suppose…” To Qin Xuan, although he and Qin Lin’er didn’t always seem like siblings, they truly did grow up together.

“I see.” Liu Qin covered her mouth and laughed. “It’s up to you! Childhood friends are wonderful—keep it up!”

“Mm…” Qin Xuan felt like he was being urged to get married by an elder at a New Year’s gathering. On second thought, Sister Qin could be considered an elder to him.

They lounged at the mountain’s summit for half a day, nearly roasted by the sun, just short of flipping themselves over for even tanning.

During this time, Qin Xuan brought up the issue of Li Wentao bribing classmates, but Liu Qin said revoking his position wasn’t suitable; they’d have to wait for the new semester elections. Since the matter was settled, so be it. After all, being the sports monitor wasn’t a big deal—perhaps only class president or the youth league committee mattered in university, Qin Xuan mused.

By 4 p.m., everyone descended the mountain. Qin Lin’er coquettishly insisted Qin Xuan carry her, claiming Liu Ruoxi had beaten her so badly she couldn’t walk.

Qin Lin’er’s persistence wore him down, and he finally relented. Luckily, they were going downhill; if it had been uphill, he might have lost half his life.

But as soon as they reached the foot of the mountain, Qin Lin’er dashed off, making Qin Xuan want to smack her.

On the bus ride home, Qin Xuan sat next to Liu Ruoxi as usual. Likely exhausted, Liu Ruoxi leaned against him the moment she boarded, resting her head. She even hooked her little finger around his, and Qin Xuan, shameless as ever and perhaps more open-hearted, grasped her hand in return, causing Liu Ruoxi’s cheeks to flush.

Not to be outdone, she squeezed his hand tightly. Unconsciously, a faint sheen of sweat appeared between their palms—not clear whose it was.

As the bus swayed along, Liu Ruoxi gradually drifted into sleep. Qin Xuan watched her settle quietly, a smile tugging at his lips. He couldn’t help but grin, reaching out to gently tap her petite nose. Their hands remained clasped until they got off the bus.

The bus stopped outside the school, and the three rarely visited the supermarket together—mainly because Qin Lin’er wanted to buy snacks, having depleted the chips at home.

Qin Lin’er walked ahead, while Qin Xuan pushed the cart behind her. Upon entering the supermarket, Qin Lin’er couldn’t contain her restless genes, picking out all kinds of chips with excited commentary about their flavors and whether they were tasty.

At checkout, the total was two hundred yuan, with at least one hundred fifty’s worth of snacks belonging to Qin Lin’er.

“That’s why you never grow taller—you eat nothing but junk food every day,” Liu Ruoxi liked to taunt Qin Lin’er every time she bought piles of snacks.

Qin Lin’er refused to be outdone. She pulled out her phone, scrolled to her photo album, and held it up to Liu Ruoxi.

“Guess what I found on your bed?” Qin Lin’er grinned wickedly.

“What?” Liu Ruoxi steadied herself and looked at the screen.

The photo showed several books she’d hidden: “How to Keep Him Wrapped Around Your Finger,” “A Hundred Signs He Loves You,” “Details to Enhance Feminine Charm”… and, at the very center, “The Infant Care Manual”!

Swiping to the next photo, Liu Ruoxi stared blankly at the pile of special clothing and certain toys on the bed—oh heavens, how did Qin Lin’er dig those out!

Actually, these were just random prizes Liu Ruoxi had won online. She tossed them in a bag upon arrival and never touched them again; she meant to throw them away but forgot. The books, though, she really had bought…

In that instant, Liu Ruoxi tasted the agony of social death. She looked at Qin Lin’er, burning with embarrassment.

“Qin Lin’er! Who let you into my room?” Liu Ruoxi gritted her teeth, agitated.

“Hmph! Don’t worry about it. Deleting them won’t help—I’ve backed them up!” Qin Lin’er whispered in her ear, “If you ever hit me again, I’ll send these to Brother and see how he reacts!”

“No! Lin’er, I’m sorry—please don’t!” The thought of Qin Xuan seeing those and possibly giving her strange looks sent chills down Liu Ruoxi’s spine.

“Be good!” Qin Lin’er spoke to Liu Ruoxi in this tone for the first time, finding it rather enjoyable.

Ignoring Liu Ruoxi’s constipated expression, Qin Lin’er ran to Qin Xuan’s side and clung to his arm.

Just when Liu Ruoxi had made progress in her relationship with Qin Xuan, she got threatened by this little troublemaker? Infuriating.

Fuming, Liu Ruoxi followed them home. Qin Xuan noticed her dazed state and asked with concern what was wrong.

Liu Ruoxi was stumped. Should she say, “Your sister discovered my shameful secrets and is blackmailing me”?

In the end, Liu Ruoxi just shook her head; she couldn’t bear to lose face like that.

She turned and retreated to her room, took out those items, packed them up to throw away, but, compelled by some whim, kept one piece she thought looked nice…

Quietly, she carried the package out and back in, fortunately unnoticed.

She knocked on Qin Xuan’s door, found him playing games at his desk, and plopped down at the edge of his bed, watching him for a while.

Qin Xuan felt her gaze prickling his scalp and asked, “What’s up? You’ve seemed off since we got back.”

“I… Nothing!” Liu Ruoxi replied, pouting, then changed the subject: “What are your plans for our birthdays this month?”

Both Qin Xuan and Liu Ruoxi were born in October—on the 19th and 20th, with Liu Ruoxi a day older.

“Um… Go out somewhere?” Qin Xuan suggested.

“No. Let’s celebrate here, just the three of us,” Liu Ruoxi knew Qin Xuan disliked crowds.

“That works. I’ll make your favorite dishes.”

“Great! And let’s have a cake!”

For eighteen years, Qin Xuan and Liu Ruoxi had always celebrated on the night of the 19th, essentially sharing one birthday—for convenience.

“So, what do you plan to give me?” Liu Ruoxi asked curiously.

“Your gift… You’ll know then.” He hadn’t decided yet, but that wasn’t something he could admit.

Seeing his response, Liu Ruoxi assumed he’d chosen already and said, proud and stubborn, “Then I won’t tell you mine, either!”

Meanwhile, Qin Lin’er scratched her head. She’d chosen Ruoxi’s gift, but what to give Brother for his birthday? Hmm… Maybe a pair of socks—worn ones!