Chapter Thirty-Eight: So You Really Know Him

The private room was quite pleasant, with a window facing the door. Through the window, one could see a courtyard, likely belonging to Uncle Li himself, brimming with flowers, plants, and trees. Who would have thought that Uncle Li had such a fondness for these things?

Nanzhiyi invited the three to sit down. “The claypot chicken here at Uncle Li’s is unmatched—it’s absolutely delicious.”

Soon, the table was filled with dishes, and Qin Xuan began to worry whether the four of them could possibly finish it all.

After serving the last dish, Uncle Li closed the private room door, picked up his phone, and opened a group chat called “Has the Young Lady Eaten Today?”

“You little rascals! The young lady brought friends to eat at my place!”

In no time, the previously quiet group became lively.

“The young lady actually has friends?”

“How many? Boys or girls?”

Uncle Li saw the questions and quickly typed, “Two girls and one boy—and I even saw the young lady smile!”

“Brother Li! Aren’t you going to take a photo?”

“They’re eating right now. I’ll try to snap a candid later and hope I don’t get caught, or I’ll be done for.”

“What are you afraid of? Just take the shot. Last time I snapped a pic of the young lady and got caught, and she just made me delete it. The young lady is very kind.”

“Are you sure? Last time I accidentally picked up a photo she dropped, I was docked three months’ salary!”

“What kind of photo?”

“What kind of photo?”

“A boy’s. If you ask me, I bet he’s the one the young lady likes!”

“Oh?”

“Oh!”

Reading this, Uncle Li’s heart skipped a beat. Could it possibly be that boy? The way the young lady looked at him seemed… a little unusual.

Meanwhile, inside, Qin Lin’er and Liu Ruoxi were eating with great relish and practically demolished the entire pot of chicken between them. Qin Xuan couldn’t help but shake his head—his earlier worries were clearly unfounded…

Nanzhiyi, seizing moments when the other two weren’t paying attention, would occasionally put food on Qin Xuan’s plate, leaving him rather stunned.

Fortunately, Qin Lin’er and Liu Ruoxi were too focused on eating to notice; otherwise, he’d have been in trouble.

An hour later, Qin Xuan looked at the spotless plates and fell into contemplation. You all really have an appetite! Though, to be fair, he hadn’t held back himself.

Even Nanzhiyi rarely ate this much, and Liu Ruoxi and Qin Lin’er were so full they clutched their stomachs, unable to move.

After resting for a while, the four tidied up and left.

Passing by the entrance, Nanzhiyi greeted Uncle Li.

Uncle Li, grinning broadly as he watched their departing backs, quietly took out his phone.

Click! The sound wasn’t loud, but to the four of them, it was unmistakably clear.

“Damn!” Uncle Li fumbled to stash his phone, glancing about guiltily.

Nanzhiyi saw through him immediately but said nothing. After all, they’d be seeing each other often; perhaps it was best for them to find out sooner.

Once they’d gone, Uncle Li retrieved his phone and sent the photo to the group chat.

“So it’s true!”

“Oh no, look at the young lady and that guy! They’re practically walking side by side!”

The four of them strolled past the park, sitting down on a bench to digest their meal.

“Ruoxi, don’t forget about training tomorrow morning,” Nanzhiyi said, patting her stomach.

“I know, I know,” Liu Ruoxi replied lazily.

“When’s the freshman evening gala?” Qin Xuan asked curiously.

“Hmm…” Nanzhiyi thought for a moment. “It should be New Year’s Day, combined with the New Year’s Gala.”

“Huh? That’s over a month away—so long!” Qin Lin’er was shocked.

“Yeah, better to be prepared early.”

Sunlight bathed the four of them. Qin Lin’er, feeling drowsy after eating, couldn’t resist and leaned against Qin Xuan’s shoulder, dozing off.

Qin Xuan checked the time—it was nearly three o’clock. Liu Ruoxi and Nanzhiyi decided to head home, too.

Qin Xuan tried shaking Qin Lin’er awake, but she didn’t stir. Left with no choice, he carried her on his back.

At a crossroads, Liu Ruoxi asked instinctively, “Zhiyi, want to come over to our place for a bit?”

“Sure!” Nanzhiyi agreed cheerfully.

Wait, I was just being polite! Liu Ruoxi thought, but it was too late to take it back.

As soon as they entered, Nanzhiyi spotted the photo album on the table.

“Wow, can I take a look at this?” she asked.

“Of course,” Liu Ruoxi replied, blaming herself for not putting it away earlier.

Nanzhiyi made herself comfortable on the sofa and began flipping through the album from the beginning. Maruko, the cat, hid in a corner, tilting her head curiously at the newcomer.

Looking at the childhood photos of Qin Xuan, Nanzhiyi was moved—she didn’t even have any pictures from her own childhood! Seizing the chance while Qin Xuan carried Qin Lin’er into the room and Liu Ruoxi went to fetch a glass of water, Nanzhiyi whipped out her phone and snapped several shots of Qin Xuan’s solo photos.

Perfect—she could photoshop herself in later!

If Liu Ruoxi had seen this, she’d have thought: You really did come to steal from the family!

Liu Ruoxi returned with a glass of water for Nanzhiyi, and Qin Xuan came out of the room to find her leafing through the album.

Finally, Liu Ruoxi recalled something crucial and asked tentatively, “Zhiyi? Did you know Qin Xuan before?”

“Hm?” Nanzhiyi, mid-sip, choked a little, glancing between Qin Xuan and Liu Ruoxi before replying, “Yes… the friend I mentioned last time was him.”

Liu Ruoxi was stunned—so they really did know each other?

“I never knew you two were acquainted! Can you tell us about it?”

“When I was five, I spent the summer at my grandmother’s in Peng City. I was such a mischievous kid, always running about, and I got lost. I ran into Qin Xuan, who offered to take me home, but we both ended up lost together…” Nanzhiyi smiled at the memory. Looking back, it was quite funny—two little kids who only managed to make it home with the help of the police.

“After that, we played together sometimes, but I left soon after, so it’s normal that Qin Xuan doesn’t remember me.”

As Nanzhiyi spoke, vague memories began to surface in Qin Xuan’s mind. It did sound familiar.

“You were the Snot Monster?” Qin Xuan asked, puzzled.

“That was me!” Nanzhiyi grinned, and at last, Qin Xuan remembered her.

“Wait! Wasn’t that a boy? How come you’re a girl?” Qin Xuan distinctly remembered his playmate as a short-haired, even more mischievous child than himself. It was summer, hot, and she looked a bit scruffy. He’d never even asked her name—he’d only ever called her “Snot Monster.”

Hearing this, Nanzhiyi felt awkward. “I had short hair back then!”

So, after all this time, the one he’d played with was actually a girl. Qin Xuan had always assumed girls were like Liu Ruoxi—cute and chubby. He’d misjudged completely.

“So you came here looking for Qin Xuan?” Liu Ruoxi suddenly interjected.

“Don’t get the wrong idea—I only realized Qin Xuan was here after I arrived!” Nanzhiyi certainly wasn’t foolish enough to admit her real reason. A home invasion must be carried out quietly, after all.

“No wonder you wanted to be friends with us,” Liu Ruoxi exclaimed, enlightened. She turned to Nanzhiyi and said, “Zhiyi, come with me—we need a private chat.”

She shot Qin Xuan a fierce glare and whisked Nanzhiyi off to her own room.

Qin Xuan sat alone on the sofa, sorting through his thoughts. Snot Monster, huh? What was wrong with his eyes back then—not even able to tell a boy from a girl!