Chapter Seventy-Two: Physical Assessment

Qin Xuan looked at Nan Zhiyi, who was determined to eat enough to get her money’s worth, and felt utterly exasperated. Was she treating his place like a buffet?

After finishing the last sip of pork rib soup in her bowl, Nan Zhiyi patted her stomach with satisfaction. Liu Ruoxi began to wonder if she had broken Nan Zhiyi somehow.

“I’ll head back now…” Nan Zhiyi lay there for a moment, considered her options, and finally decided to return home to nurse her “injuries.”

Qin Xuan had just finished washing the dishes and came out wiping his damp hands, only to meet Nan Zhiyi’s resentful gaze.

“Take me home!” Nan Zhiyi forced the words out through clenched teeth. Liu Ruoxi, who heard it as well, glanced at Qin Xuan. He immediately understood, pretended not to hear, and turned back to his own room.

Nan Zhiyi glared fiercely at Liu Ruoxi—fine, you win this round!

Watching Nan Zhiyi storm off and slam the door in a fit of pique, Liu Ruoxi’s face revealed a satisfied smile.

…

A few days passed, and Liu Ruoxi found it strange that Nan Zhiyi hadn’t stirred up any trouble. She was almost unused to the peace…

But that week, the school faced the event that annoyed the likes of Qin Xuan most—fitness testing!

Two sessions a week to complete all the required activities—just the thought was despair-inducing.

Though university life mostly turned everyone into slackers, even among slackers there are differences!

Qin Xuan finished the thousand-meter run, panting, and looked at the few overweight students still trailing at the end of the track. It seemed he was the best among the slackers!

When it was Qin Lin’er and Liu Ruoxi’s turn, Qin Lin’er frowned visibly. She’d never been good at sports, probably because of her health. Physical activity had never been her strong suit; after all, she believed human evolution depended on intelligence, not stamina. Physical strength… better left aside.

Standing at the starting line, her face was full of gloom. Liu Ruoxi, knowing Lin’er’s weakness, patted her shoulder encouragingly.

Qin Xuan watched from the finish line as Qin Lin’er struggled to keep moving. The 800 meters were just two laps, but seeing Lin’er barely able to persist tugged at his heart.

For Liu Ruoxi, the exercise was simple—she was only a little out of breath.

Qin Lin’er staggered across the finish line and collapsed directly onto Qin Xuan.

Holding the limp Qin Lin’er, Qin Xuan was speechless and helped her over to sit down.

Qin Lin’er leaned against Qin Xuan, feeling miserable, while Liu Ruoxi handed her a bottle of water. She had no mood to drink—her throat was unbearably sore.

“Hey! You over there, just finished running, don’t sit down! Walk around,” called the PE teacher, a responsible man in his thirties. Seeing the students’ miserable state after running, he frowned. With this constitution? Even his grandmother was healthier!

So, the exhausted Qin Lin’er was hoisted up between the two…

“I told you to exercise more! Now look at you,” Liu Ruoxi teased Qin Lin’er mercilessly.

—Page 1/3—

“Sigh! But I really don’t want to…” Qin Lin’er was as limp as a dumpling.

“Stand straight! Are you trying to take advantage of Qin Xuan?” Liu Ruoxi saw Qin Lin’er leaning almost entirely on Qin Xuan and grew annoyed. Anyone watching might think she was his girlfriend!

“But I genuinely have no strength left!” Liu Ruoxi’s words only made Qin Lin’er decide to give up entirely.

“Oh, come on!” Liu Ruoxi was about to reach out and prod her, but seeing her genuinely weak appearance, she relented. Fine, she’d let her off this time.

Qin Lin’er noticed Liu Ruoxi’s lack of action—was that permission?

Qin Xuan immediately felt Qin Lin’er’s grip on him strengthen. Didn’t she say she had no energy?

Since it was the last class of the morning, no one forced them to reconvene. Qin Lin’er insisted on going home to rest, so the three left the school together.

On the way, Qin Lin’er started acting up.

“Brother! Carry me, I can’t walk anymore!” She squatted on the ground, head lowered, clutching a freshly purchased chicken drumstick—Orleans flavor!

Qin Xuan looked helplessly at Qin Lin’er, who was throwing a tantrum on the ground.

“Alright, alright,” Qin Xuan obediently squatted in front of her.

“Hehe!” Qin Lin’er, who had claimed to have no strength moments before, jumped onto Qin Xuan’s back and let out a satisfied sigh—so comfortable!

Liu Ruoxi watched the sibling pair as if she were an outsider, wanting to smack her.

Qin Xuan carried Qin Lin’er all the way home; she didn’t even get off in the elevator.

Thrown onto the sofa by Qin Xuan, Qin Lin’er wasn’t angry—she’d gotten her way!

She reminded her brother not to forget the braised pork she wanted, claiming she needed to replenish herself.

Liu Ruoxi sat nearby, her gaze toward Qin Lin’er full of ill will.

“Ruoxi… Sister Ruoxi, what are you doing?” Qin Lin’er eyed Liu Ruoxi’s fist-rolling gesture nervously.

“Nothing, just keeping accounts!” Liu Ruoxi relaxed her hand, pulled out her phone, and tapped away at the screen.

Qin Lin’er was puzzled: keeping accounts? What accounts?

She didn’t ask, and Liu Ruoxi didn’t explain—she’d find out eventually.

…

After dinner, Qin Xuan stayed in his room playing chess. With only one class in the afternoon, he could enjoy a few hours of freedom!

At that moment, Qin Lin’er quietly opened the door and slipped inside.

—Page 2/3—

Qin Xuan watched as she sprawled naturally onto his bed.

“What tricks are you up to now?” Qin Xuan hadn’t even started his game, worried she was about to cause trouble again.

“Qin Xuan~” She never called him “brother” when she wanted something! Qin Xuan had learned this recently.

“What is it?”

“Massage my legs! They’re so sore,” Qin Lin’er pressed her thighs, genuinely aching.

“Well… you can just rub them yourself!” Qin Xuan awkwardly glanced at her feet propped on his chair. This wasn’t right!

Qin Lin’er pouted, “Do you not like me anymore?”

Qin Xuan: Is that ‘like’ even proper?

In the end, Qin Xuan moved his chair to the bedside, placed Lin’er’s legs across his lap, and began massaging with a look of disdain. There wasn’t even a hint of flesh—no sensation at all!

Qin Lin’er felt the rough kneading and wondered if he’d ever massaged Liu Ruoxi—was he trying to send her to the hospital?

Her legs were already sore, but now they were both sore and aching! Well done!

Meanwhile, Liu Ruoxi was bored and decided to visit Qin Xuan. As soon as she pushed open the door, she saw Qin Xuan massaging Qin Lin’er’s legs, with Lin’er’s cheeks flushed. They were up to something behind her back again!

“Sister Ruoxi! Don’t misunderstand!” Qin Lin’er quickly withdrew her legs and hid under the covers.

“Yes, yes, I was just giving her a massage,” Qin Xuan hastily explained.

“Massage?” A light sparkled in Liu Ruoxi’s eyes. “Let me massage you instead!”

She squeezed beside Qin Xuan and eyed Qin Lin’er threateningly, raising her brows.

The two hesitated, but ultimately, under Liu Ruoxi’s gaze, Lin’er lowered her head, trembling as she placed her left leg on Liu Ruoxi’s lap.

Liu Ruoxi saw the slender leg before her and felt a touch of envy, but still pressed tentatively on the thigh. Qin Lin’er’s eyes widened instantly.

“No, no, no! Sister Ruoxi, I was wrong!” Qin Lin’er feared she wouldn’t be able to walk for days if this continued.

“Tsk, coward,” Liu Ruoxi, seeing her reaction, put aside her mischief, tossed Lin’er’s leg back onto the bed, and said, “Alright, go take a bath—you look so miserable.”

—Page 3/3—