Chapter Eighty: How Could I Not Be Anxious When I Miss You?

The next day, Qin Xuan watched as the red spots on Liu Ruoxi’s face faded somewhat, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Before leaving, he applied ointment to her once more, but seeing Ruoxi walking down the street with her head lowered, trying to hide her face, left him feeling uneasy.

He squeezed Liu Ruoxi’s hand a bit harder than usual; she noticed, looked up at him, and gave him a wide, cheerful smile.

...

That evening, as Qin Xuan descended the stairs, he found Nan Zhiyi waiting obediently for him at the bottom.

“Qin Xuan~” Nan Zhiyi hurried forward and wrapped herself around his arm.

“You don’t really need to wait for me,” Qin Xuan said, helplessly trying to move his arm, but immediately sensed something was off. Nan Zhiyi’s face flushed bright red, and Qin Xuan dared not move again.

“It’s okay... I’m happy to wait,” Nan Zhiyi murmured, struggling to keep her emotions in check.

Hearing this, Qin Xuan said no more. Upstairs, Liu Ruoxi lay on the balcony, propping her head up, watching the two from behind, lost in thought.

“Ruoxi?” Qin Lin’er asked, noticing Liu Ruoxi deep in contemplation. “You’re not going to hassle Zhiyi tonight?”

Liu Ruoxi raised her head, a little resigned. “Forget it. I’ll give her Monday nights from now on...”

“Huh?” So easygoing? Qin Lin’er thought for a moment and tentatively asked, “What about me?”

“What?” Liu Ruoxi only reacted after a moment. “What does it have to do with you? Get lost!”

Qin Lin’er: Ruoxi, you’ve changed!

Elsewhere, Nan Zhiyi led Qin Xuan by the hand to the classroom. After last time’s surprise, far fewer people stared at them, though plenty still cast deadly glares at Qin Xuan.

Nan Zhiyi and Qin Xuan sat in their usual spot, and soon enough, Nan Zhiyi couldn’t resist stirring things up, boldly playing with Qin Xuan’s hand.

Until—

“You two! Please behave yourselves in class!” The elderly professor at the podium finally couldn’t take it anymore. Last time it was you two—I let it slide. This time? Still?

“Ah!” Nan Zhiyi instantly realized she was being called out, quickly released Qin Xuan’s hand, and sat quietly, cowed.

Seeing this, the professor resumed his lecture.

But, before long, Nan Zhiyi couldn’t hold back. Her heart felt like it was being clawed by a kitten—she just had to hold his hand, just for a moment!

Qin Xuan was still listening to the lecture, when his hand was once again stealthily molested.

This time, Nan Zhiyi’s movements were subtler; she simply held his hand, savoring its warmth.

Finally, when class ended, Qin Xuan threw his book into his bag, exasperated. Damn it, another class wasted!

Nan Zhiyi, meanwhile, took no responsibility at all!

The pair wandered through the night market, bought some grilled skewers and the chicken drumsticks Lin’er craved.

When Qin Xuan opened the door, Liu Ruoxi and Qin Lin’er were still on the couch playing on their phones. Liu Ruoxi glanced at them as they entered, then ignored them.

Nan Zhiyi placed the barbecue on the coffee table, looked at Liu Ruoxi, and called sweetly, “Ruoxi~ Come eat.”

“Mm...” Liu Ruoxi was caught off guard; the stern facade she’d painstakingly maintained was shattered in an instant.

Watching the three eating barbecue together, Qin Xuan felt, for once, a harmonious scene. He grabbed a few skewers and retreated to his room.

“Zhiyi? Want to move in with us?” Liu Ruoxi bit into a slice of potato and looked at Nan Zhiyi.

“Really?” Nan Zhiyi swallowed her meat, surprised and delighted.

“Yes,” Liu Ruoxi had barely nodded before Nan Zhiyi lunged at her, making her hastily move the barbecue skewer out of the way.

“Let go! Your hands are all greasy!” Liu Ruoxi scolded as Nan Zhiyi wiped her hands all over Ruoxi’s clothes.

“Oh, thank you, Ruoxi~” Nan Zhiyi finally got up, grinning as she returned to Liu Ruoxi.

Liu Ruoxi rolled her eyes and resumed eating, while Qin Lin’er paused her chicken drumstick, thinking: Ruoxi, you’re inviting trouble!

But Liu Ruoxi paid no mind to her gaze.

“I’ll go pack my things!” Nan Zhiyi was so excited she didn’t even want to eat anymore.

“What’s the rush? Move when you have time. I’m not about to change my mind!” Liu Ruoxi said, exasperated.

“Oh... alright!” Nan Zhiyi sat back down, happily munching away.

After Nan Zhiyi left, Qin Lin’er curiously asked, “Ruoxi, why are you letting Zhiyi move in?”

Liu Ruoxi left a few skewers for Lin’er and answered naturally, “Just giving her a chance!”

“Huh?” Qin Lin’er blinked. “I want a chance like that too!”

“Get lost!” Liu Ruoxi replied mercilessly, stood up, and patted her stomach. Still not full!

“Remember to clean up,” Liu Ruoxi said, then slipped away in her slippers to shower.

Qin Lin’er finished eating slowly, even saving a chicken wing for her big brother.

After tidying up, she took the chicken wing and slipped into Qin Xuan’s room.

“Qin Xuan!” Qin Lin’er entered and found Qin Xuan gaming, held the chicken wing to his mouth in offering.

Qin Xuan took a bite, munching contentedly.

“What are you still doing here?” Liu Ruoxi emerged from her shower and found Qin Lin’er watching Qin Xuan play.

“You let Zhiyi move in, and I can’t even watch?” Qin Lin’er retorted.

Liu Ruoxi was at a loss.

“Fine, watch if you want,” Liu Ruoxi waved her hand and returned to her own room.

Qin Lin’er noticed Ruoxi didn’t come out again—had she left her big brother to herself for the night?

Qin Lin’er relished the rare chance, so much so that she didn’t want to get up the next morning; her brother’s bed was just so comfortable!

But she was woken by knocking. Qin Xuan, spatula in hand, opened the door to find Nan Zhiyi, breathless and lugging a suitcase.

“Why are you in such a hurry? I was going to help you move after breakfast,” Qin Xuan said. He’d heard about it from Qin Lin’er last night, felt a bit awkward, but said nothing.

“How could I not be excited to see you?” Nan Zhiyi winked at him, utterly shameless!

“Hold on! You haven’t eaten yet, right?” Qin Xuan took her suitcase.

With fewer classes that day, Qin Xuan and Nan Zhiyi went to move her things after breakfast. He had to admit, Nan Zhiyi owned a staggering amount of clothes! Liu Ruoxi’s emptied wardrobe was filled in an instant.

As for Liu Ruoxi... she naturally moved into Qin Xuan’s room! After all, his room was spacious enough to accommodate both of their belongings.

Liu Ruoxi even handed her key over to Nan Zhiyi. Sitting on the bed, Nan Zhiyi stared at the key and grinned—she’d just gotten one step closer to Qin Xuan!

She hurried to tell her mother the news, but Yang Ying responded with a dismissive “oh,” leaving Nan Zhiyi’s heart bruised.

“Look at Zhiyi, she’s so excited just to move in! It’s embarrassing!” Yang Ying pointed at the message on the screen, speaking to Nan Zhengyi.

“Yeah, unlike you! Took you only a few days to climb into my bed,” Nan Zhengyi teased.

“Oh, and who was it, later on, who waited for me every night under the covers?” Yang Ying, recalling her own boldness, grew animated.

“Enough, enough,” Nan Zhengyi remembered those days and couldn’t handle it. He reached out to cover Yang Ying’s mouth, only for her to stick out her tongue and lick his palm!

“Ugh~” Nan Zhengyi instantly let go, wiping his hand on her clothes...