Chapter Forty-Four: Xi, Your Boyfriend Is About to Be Taken Away

Qin Xuan knew well that it was Nan Zhiyi who had helped him out, and upon learning that Nan Zhiyi wouldn’t be returning home for New Year’s Day, he decided to invite her over for a meal at his place. Nan Zhiyi didn’t refuse the invitation.

As soon as she got home, she changed her clothes while calling her mother.
“Mom! I won’t be coming home tomorrow.”
On the other end, her mother sounded puzzled. “Did you say you were coming home? Your dad and I are vacationing, so don’t bother us unless it’s important!”
With that, her mother hung up. Moments later, Nan Zhiyi received a photo: her mother sunbathing on a beach, wearing sunglasses.
Nan Zhiyi thought: So the joke’s on me after all?

Meanwhile, Liu Ruoxi was clutching her stomach and repeatedly complaining she was hungry. It turned out she hadn’t eaten before going on stage, worried it might affect her figure.

Qin Xuan, knowing his place, dutifully cooked her a bowl of egg noodles, which Liu Ruoxi devoured with relish.
“If only I had a drumstick,” she said, biting into the egg, nostalgia in her voice.

At first, Qin Xuan wanted to retort, but held back, reminding himself she was his own sister and needed to be spoiled.
“Wait here,” Qin Xuan said, changing his shoes and shooting Liu Ruoxi a glare.

Twenty minutes later, after Liu Ruoxi had finished the soup, Qin Xuan returned, carrying a bag.
“Here!” He handed her a large drumstick, saving the smaller one for Qin Lin’er.
“Hehe,” Liu Ruoxi grinned at Qin Xuan. “Thanks! Tonight I’ll climb into your bed!”

“That won’t be necessary,” Qin Xuan replied, knocking on Qin Lin’er’s door and handing her the drumstick before turning back.

“No way! It’s a reward from your girlfriend!” Liu Ruoxi bit into the drumstick to hide her blushing cheeks.

Qin Xuan was speechless; there was simply no way to respond to that.

Watching Liu Ruoxi nibbling at the drumstick, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction—like feeding a cute little animal at home.

“Why are you staring at me?” Liu Ruoxi, who was trying to maintain her lady-like demeanor, became embarrassed under Qin Xuan’s gaze.

“I think you’re adorable.”

“Ugh, stop talking! Gross.” Despite her words, her smiling lips betrayed her.

Just as Liu Ruoxi was feeling proud, she accidentally got oil from the drumstick all over her white host’s outfit, leaving several greasy spots.

She quickly grabbed some tissues to try to wipe it off, but it was clearly ineffective.

Qin Xuan comforted her, “It’s alright, go change. I’ll wash it for you tomorrow.”

“Fine…” Liu Ruoxi pouted and went to her room to change into her pajamas.

Qin Xuan’s eyes lit up when he saw the familiar sleepwear.

“Does it look good?”

Qin Xuan closed his eyes to compose himself.
“Yeah, looks great. Go to sleep now.” His perfunctory answer made Liu Ruoxi a little angry; she grabbed his shirt and pressed herself against him.

Suddenly, Qin Xuan saw Qin Lin’er peeking out from her room, glaring at him fiercely.

He hurriedly signaled to Liu Ruoxi, who turned around and met Qin Lin’er’s murderous gaze.

Remembering her promise to Qin Lin’er, Liu Ruoxi smiled, “I was just joking with your brother.”

“Hmph!” Qin Lin’er, annoyed, stepped forward to separate them and dragged Liu Ruoxi away by her arm.

As Liu Ruoxi watched Qin Xuan’s hand grow farther away, she suddenly felt lost.

Qin Xuan, on the other hand, watched Liu Ruoxi being dragged off and felt… happy? After all, no one would bother him while he played his games. Wonderful!

Qin Xuan didn’t know what those two were up to. The next day, after nine o’clock, when he went to wake them, he found the mattress on the floor and their arms and legs tangled together.

Annoyed, Qin Xuan smacked both of them on the backside. Since he was going to treat Nan Zhiyi to a meal, he needed to go buy groceries.

He had hoped they would help, but seeing them like this, he gave up; they were hopeless.

As he left, he happened to run into Nan Zhiyi, who was carrying gifts.

“Qin Xuan! Where are you off to?” Nan Zhiyi handed him the presents.

“I’m going to buy some groceries. Come in and have a seat,” Qin Xuan replied.

“Oh, where’s Ruoxi and the others?” Nan Zhiyi looked around but didn’t see them.

Qin Xuan felt awkward. “They’re still sleeping…”

“I see. Aren’t you going shopping?” Nan Zhiyi perked up. “Let me go with you! I’ve got nothing else to do anyway.”

“That’s not really appropriate; you’re a guest…”

“No worries, we’re all friends. No need to distinguish between guests and hosts,” Nan Zhiyi said, but secretly thought: Who wants to be your friend? If anything, I’d rather be…

“Alright then. This way I can find out what you like to eat and cook it for you,” Qin Xuan suggested.

...

At the market, the aunt selling vegetables greeted him warmly.
“What do you need, young man? Everything’s fresh.” She glanced at Nan Zhiyi behind him, surprised—he had yet another girl with him. That’s not good!

In the end, Qin Xuan and Nan Zhiyi went to the supermarket to finish their shopping. By the time they returned, it was nearly ten thirty.

Downstairs, unbeknownst to them, Liu Ruoxi and Qin Lin’er were glaring out the window at them.

“Ruoxi, your boyfriend is about to be stolen!” Qin Lin’er said deliberately, remembering how badly she’d been beaten last night.

“He’s your brother too!”

“I think we need to teach him a lesson. He’s not paying attention to you!” Qin Lin’er egged her on.

“Good idea.” Liu Ruoxi pulled out her phone. “I’ve already recorded it. Just wait to get beaten!”

“Huh?” Qin Lin’er was confused. “Aren’t we on the same side?”

Liu Ruoxi slapped away Qin Lin’er’s hand as she reached for the phone. “Who’s on your side? I’m with my boyfriend!”

Qin Lin’er: Shameless! What a pair!

When Qin Xuan returned home and saw the two of them watching TV on the sofa, he was surprised.
“Yo! Awake already? I thought you’d sleep for a decade.”

The two wanted to retort, but seeing Nan Zhiyi behind him, they held their tongues.

...

Qin Xuan slipped into the kitchen, but watching the three chatting outside, he sensed danger!

Fortunately, he was quick in the kitchen. As he brought out dish after dish, Qin Lin’er occasionally snuck bites.

At the dining table, Nan Zhiyi thought for a moment and asked, “Qin Xuan, do you have plans tomorrow?”

Qin Xuan wasn’t sure what she meant but replied, “I’m visiting my mom, so I probably won’t be free.”

“Is it Aunt Wang?” Nan Zhiyi suddenly asked.

“Huh? How do you know my mom?” Qin Xuan was puzzled.

“I… know her,” Nan Zhiyi replied naturally.

She didn’t notice the strange looks exchanged between Liu Ruoxi and Qin Lin’er. The two glanced at each other: Something’s off here!

After the meal, Nan Zhiyi even volunteered to help wash the dishes, looking every bit the ideal wife, except Qin Xuan caught her squeezing out a huge glob of dish soap… which made him doubt it.

As it turns out, even the prettiest women have their weak spots. Strangely, all the women around Qin Xuan seemed unable to cook! If not for concerns about unhealthy takeout, Qin Xuan would never bother cooking every day.