Chapter Forty-Two: Is It Sweet?

Time drifted by like an unhurried old man, moving so slowly it was almost imperceptible, yet before anyone knew it, New Year’s Day was approaching. The school and the streets had been adorned with decorations, casting a peaceful and festive atmosphere.

Strangely enough, during this period, Qin Lin’er behaved herself unusually well—perhaps it was due to Liu Ruoxi’s threats. Aside from occasionally sneaking into her brother’s room to pester him, her antics remained within Qin Xuan’s tolerance.

It was Liu Ruoxi who barely had any time lately. With training sessions consuming her weekends and sometimes even her weekday evenings, she had no choice but to set aside her plans to win over Qin Xuan for the time being.

Two days before New Year’s, the freshman gala and the New Year's Eve party were scheduled for the night before the holiday—tomorrow, in fact.

After dinner, the three of them collapsed onto the sofa.

Qin Xuan glanced at the unhurried Liu Ruoxi beside him. “Don’t you two have training today?”

“Not today,” she replied, finally exhaling a breath she’d been holding. “It starts again tomorrow. Today we got a whole day off to rest. Finally—it’s almost over!”

“Ugh…” Qin Lin’er couldn’t help but sigh softly, though the sound escaped her lips before she could stop it.

“What are you sighing for?” Liu Ruoxi teased.

Qin Lin’er sheepishly covered her mouth and shook her head.

“Can I skip it?” Qin Xuan asked after a moment’s thought.

“What? My first time hosting and you’re not coming?” Liu Ruoxi shot him a fierce look. “Are you looking for trouble?!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll go!” Qin Xuan replied helplessly. He’d hoped to spend the evening gaming.

“Oh, by the way, Mom invited us out for New Year’s—and she especially asked for you,” he remembered from his call with her the night before.

“Of course,” Liu Ruoxi replied. As if she had any choice in the matter.

After dinner, Qin Xuan hid away in his room to play games, thoroughly enjoying himself when suddenly—

Click! The noise at the door startled him. Turning, he saw Liu Ruoxi grinning at him, keys in hand.

“It’s been a while. Miss me?” Her playful words were almost too much for Qin Xuan to handle.

“Oh? Ignoring me? Take a look at what I’m wearing tonight.” She leaned against the door. Qin Xuan glanced at her pajamas and commented, “Aren’t you cold?”

The weather in Shudu changed quickly, and lately the chill was unmistakable. He eyed her thin sleepwear with genuine concern.

Her pose faltered. “You really are hopeless,” she muttered.

Qin Xuan was at a loss—well, it did look cold.

Liu Ruoxi hopped onto the bed and pulled the covers over herself obediently. Qin Xuan had just finished his game and was about to start another, but seeing her like this, he realized he wouldn’t get the chance.

He lifted the blanket, but was instantly blinded by Liu Ruoxi’s appearance.

“Liu Ruoxi!”

“Can’t you sleep in your own bed?” Qin Xuan averted his gaze, embarrassed.

“It’s been so long since I slept here. My own bed isn’t comfortable,” she lied without the slightest blush.

Qin Xuan shut down his computer and lay down as well—after all, he was in pajamas too.

“Isn’t this a bit inappropriate?” he asked, glancing at her composed face.

“It’s fine, I don’t mind. You’ll be mine sooner or later anyway,” she declared boldly.

Qin Xuan: What kind of nonsense is that?

“Can you be serious? Let’s at least have a proper conversation!” he protested, exasperated.

“Conversation? About what? I came here to sleep, not to talk,” she shot back.

“Well, then sleep,” Qin Xuan said, turning off the light.

In the darkness, Liu Ruoxi obviously didn’t intend to sleep. Her small hand crept over and, finally, she succeeded in holding Qin Xuan’s. Feeling the warmth of his palm, her cheeks flushed, though he couldn’t see in the blackness.

Qin Xuan lay there like a salted fish, resigned to whatever she wanted. He thought holding hands was manageable—but Liu Ruoxi was not so easily satisfied. After a while, she moved his hand under her neck as a pillow, turning to gaze at his profile, lost in thought.

“Qin Xuan?”

“What?” It was his first time holding her like this, and his heart was in turmoil.

“What exactly are we?” The question that two lifelong singles could no longer avoid.

“Uh… brothers?” he teased.

Liu Ruoxi’s face darkened. “Get lost! Who’s your brother?!”

“My mom did say she considers you her daughter-in-law,” she retorted, borrowing the authority of his mother.

“Then… fiancée?” he guessed.

“That’ll do,” she replied with a satisfied smile. “So what are we now?”

“Boyfriend and girlfriend?” he ventured, then hesitated. “But I haven’t confessed yet. Isn’t that not right?”

“Oh? So you’re capable of confessing? I thought you didn’t have that skill,” she huffed, making Qin Xuan a little embarrassed.

“Say that again!” he growled, pinching her cheek.

She slapped his hand away, glaring at him—at least for half a minute, before her expression softened.

As her face drew closer, Qin Xuan grew increasingly tense, until—at the critical moment—he turned his head away.

Liu Ruoxi stared at the back of his head, dumbfounded.

Damn it! After all this, he still rejected me! The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She struck a merciless blow to his waist.

“Ow! Ow, ow, ow!” Qin Xuan yelped, shoving her hand away and rubbing his waist, which was already bruising.

“Are you violent? Maybe I need to reconsider,” he complained helplessly.

Unable to swallow her anger, Liu Ruoxi rolled on top of him, straddling his waist, her hands resting on his shoulders. “I’ll give you another chance to think,” she declared.

Qin Xuan wisely kept silent, focusing on the sensation of her weight. Suddenly, she lowered her head.

It happened quickly—before he could react, he felt her warm lips on his.

It was a long while before they parted. Liu Ruoxi pushed herself up, gasping for breath.

Both of them were stunned, especially Qin Xuan—Was that really my first kiss? That’s it?

Dissatisfied, he reached behind her head, gently pulling her back. Still dazed, Liu Ruoxi felt his lips pressing against hers again, closer this time.

“Mmm!” She was just beginning to enjoy it when she suddenly noticed his wandering hand.

She broke away at once, sitting up to see him licking his lips. Her face burned, unsure where her sudden courage had come from.

She slapped away his mischievous hand and shot him a glare.

Flopping back onto the pillow, Liu Ruoxi tried to steady her breath.

“You’re the brave one,” Qin Xuan sighed.

“I had no choice—someone never makes the first move! I was afraid he’d be snatched away one day,” she muttered. She always worried—what if Qin Xuan fell for someone else? Someone like Nan Zhiyi, or Lin’er… It was safer to strike first.

Qin Xuan: There’s nothing I can say to that…

After savoring the moment, Liu Ruoxi turned to him with a bright smile. “Was it sweet?”