Chapter Seventy-Eight: I See You’re Trying to Make Things Difficult for Me, Fat Tiger!

The next morning at breakfast, Liu Ruoxi happily sipped her porridge while Nan Zhiyi watched her, hesitant to speak.

“Ruoxi… sis~” Nan Zhiyi held back for a long time but couldn’t help herself.

“Hm?” If she’s calling me for no reason, it can’t be anything good!

“Don’t you think you need someone to keep your bed warm? How about I move in?” Nan Zhiyi asked, testing the waters.

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Liu Ruoxi retorted immediately. Besides, she already had someone to keep her bed warm!

Nan Zhiyi quickly finished the porridge in her bowl, tossed her bowl aside, and ran over to Qin Xuan, who was sitting on the sofa. She sweetly began massaging his shoulders. “Forget it then, you don’t have to be mean~”

Liu Ruoxi was stunned. Was that supposed to be a green tea remark?

“In any case, it’s not going to happen! Just keep dreaming,” Liu Ruoxi replied and ignored her, heading straight back to her room.

Qin Xuan turned curiously to Nan Zhiyi, meeting her wide-eyed gaze. “Why do you want to move in?”

“I want to keep you warm at night, is that not allowed?” As soon as Liu Ruoxi left, Nan Zhiyi leaned in to try and hug Qin Xuan around the neck. Luckily, Qin Xuan was prepared and shifted aside, causing Nan Zhiyi to lunge into thin air.

“Hey! Can’t you just let me hug you for once?” Nan Zhiyi protested, indignant. Even this you have to dodge?

Qin Xuan seemed helpless but still didn’t let her succeed; instead, he got up and went to wash the dishes. Nan Zhiyi and Qin Lin’er, who was clearly enjoying the show, looked at each other.

Sprawled dejectedly on the sofa, Nan Zhiyi felt like a salted fish. “Lin’er! How do I win over your brother?”

“That’s easy,” Qin Lin’er had thought this through long ago. “Just get rid of Ruoxi and you’re good to go.”

Nan Zhiyi: I see you’re trying to make things hard for me, little tiger!

“Let’s forget about it.” Nan Zhiyi was well aware of her own limitations.

“Coward!”

Nan Zhiyi glared at her, speechless. Was this about being cowardly? It was about not being able to win, plain and simple!

...

Since the rain had stopped the night before, the air was especially fresh in the early morning, so the group decided to go out for a rare stroll.

There weren’t many people out today; probably because it was Sunday and everyone was sleeping in.

Walking along the riverside path, Liu Ruoxi and Qin Xuan walked ahead, sharing a pair of headphones and listening to music together.

Qin Lin’er glanced at Nan Zhiyi, who was kicking pebbles with her head down.

“Getting jealous, aren’t you?”

“How could I possibly… Fine, I am!” Nan Zhiyi tried to act tough, but seeing how close the two in front were, jealousy made her grind her teeth.

The more Nan Zhiyi thought about it, the more envious she became. She strode forward, went to the other side, and clung to Qin Xuan’s arm.

Qin Xuan was chatting and listening to music with Liu Ruoxi when suddenly Nan Zhiyi grabbed his left arm.

“What are you doing?” Before Qin Xuan could speak, Liu Ruoxi glared at her and asked angrily.

“Even dogs guard their food! Why can’t I?” Nan Zhiyi’s answer left Liu Ruoxi speechless. What kind of analogy was that?

“You’re unbelievable…” Liu Ruoxi gave up arguing with her. Fine, be shameless all you want!

At that moment, Qin Lin’er felt completely abandoned. If she’d known, she wouldn’t have teased Zhiyi—now she’d lost out big time!

Sitting on a bench by the river, the group chatted idly about funny stories from school.

“Where’s Qin Jie? Let’s invite her out,” Liu Ruoxi suddenly thought of Liu Qin. She must be bored alone.

“I’ll ask her,” Qin Lin’er took out her phone and messaged Liu Qin.

Meanwhile, Liu Qin was awkwardly sitting in a café. Seeing Qin Lin’er’s message, she thought for a moment and replied, “I have something at school, you guys go ahead.”

“She says she’s busy,” Qin Lin’er raised her phone.

After a short rest, they decided to find somewhere to eat.

By coincidence, when they opened the door to a café, Qin Xuan immediately spotted Liu Qin in a corner, facing her student Zhou Mo. Since Liu Qin was sitting sideways, she didn’t notice them come in.

“Shh!” Qin Xuan signaled the others and led them to a table right next to Liu Qin’s. The privacy in this café was pretty good—they could barely hear voices but couldn’t see anyone, which was perfect.

On the other side, unaware she was being spied on, Liu Qin sat dejectedly with her head down. Zhou Mo stirred his coffee, watching her with great interest.

“Zhou Mo! We’re really not suitable for each other, just let me off the hook, will you?” Facing this boy four or five years younger—her junior?—Liu Qin was at a loss. She simply couldn’t accept a teacher-student romance!

“How do you know we’re not suitable if you haven’t tried?” Zhou Mo took a sip of coffee and replied slowly.

Liu Qin: I feel like you’re flirting with me, and I have proof!

“Can you be serious for once?” Liu Qin leaned back in her chair, exasperated. “I’m trying to talk to you seriously!”

“My parents already agreed. Remember, you’re coming home with me next month to meet them,” Zhou Mo said with a smug grin.

“Zhou the Black Dog! Are you insane? Younger brother and teacher-student, is that your thing?” Even someone as even-tempered as Liu Qin was losing her patience—she really wanted to dump her coffee on him!

Zhou Mo didn’t react at all to the nickname. He knew she couldn’t escape; he’d deal with her slowly in due time.

“Why do you care?” Zhou Mo, seeing Liu Qin flustered, became even more brazen.

Liu Qin was speechless. Why should I care about you at all!

Another ten minutes passed, during which the group next door could hear nothing but endless bickering—almost a fight, but not quite.

Eventually, Liu Qin, fuming, grabbed her bag to leave. The moment she stood up, she saw Qin Xuan and the others next door, all with gossipy expressions.

“You… What are you all doing here?”

“Pure coincidence!” Qin Xuan hurried to explain, then teased, “Weren’t you at school, Qin Jie? What are you doing here?”

Liu Qin was at a loss for words, but Zhou Mo, shameless as ever, pulled Liu Qin’s hand and announced, “She’s on a date with me!”

“With you? Keep dreaming!” Liu Qin shook her hand but couldn’t get free. Afraid of being misunderstood, she tried to explain.

Yet seeing the knowing looks on Qin Xuan and Liu Ruoxi’s faces, she knew any explanation was useless.

“We’ll be going now, got things to do,” Zhou Mo said, pulling Liu Qin away. The group left behind found it all quite amusing—the ever-so-principled Qin Jie, so contrary!

Outside, Zhou Mo bundled Liu Qin into the car.

“What are you doing? Where are you taking me? I haven’t finished my work!” Liu Qin sat in the passenger seat, indignant, and gave him a light punch.

“Taking you home,” Zhou Mo replied helplessly.

“Oh… But don’t do this again! I have no dignity left in front of my student!” Just thinking about their odd looks made Liu Qin feel her image was ruined.

Zhou Mo ignored her, started the car, and drove off.

“Did you hear me?” Liu Qin was a little annoyed when he didn’t reply.

“I’m driving. If you keep fussing, I’ll sell you off!” Seeing her act so childish at her age, Zhou Mo threatened her.

Liu Qin knew he was just trying to scare her, so she turned away to look out the window, sulking.

“Is it just me, or is something odd about their relationship?” Qin Xuan watched the car drive away, puzzled.

“You don’t get it! Just wait for the wedding sweets,” Liu Ruoxi replied, her eyes sparkling with the wisdom of someone who’d seen it all.