Chapter Eighty-Nine: So Long? Have You Been to the Hospital?

“Damn it! You’d better explain yourself!” Liu Ruoxi grabbed Qin Xuan and pulled him onto the bed, straddling him as she reached out to pinch his cheeks.

“Calm down, calm down!” Qin Xuan quickly tried to fend her off, but in the end, he was the stronger one; he simply pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.

He leaned close to Liu Ruoxi’s ear and told her about what he had discovered during the New Year, and then Qin Xuan noticed that Liu Ruoxi had stopped struggling. She was trembling... Was she laughing?

“No, I have to go tease Zhiyi!” Liu Ruoxi climbed off Qin Xuan, and sure enough, Qin Xuan saw her dimples show as she smiled.

She got up and headed straight for Nan Zhiyi’s room.

At that moment, Nan Zhiyi was still sitting at her desk, writing something with a fountain pen.

Hearing the door open, she turned around curiously, only to see Liu Ruoxi sniffing around the room with her nose wrinkled.

“Ruoxi, what are you doing?”

Liu Ruoxi looked at her. “I heard your feet stink, so I came to see for myself.”

Nan Zhiyi: Who started this ridiculous rumor?

“That’s nonsense! My feet don’t stink!” Nan Zhiyi retorted, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Liu Ruoxi said, “Is that so? Then smell your own feet.”

“I won’t! Get lost!” Nan Zhiyi snapped angrily.

“It’s alright, we won’t hold it against you,” Liu Ruoxi comforted, patting Nan Zhiyi’s shoulder.

On the other side, Nan Zhiyi’s little fist was clenched, trembling with rage! When will ‘smelly feet’ finally get its justice?

“Oh, don’t hit, don’t hit, I’m leaving!” Liu Ruoxi was chased out by an irate Nan Zhiyi. Looking at the tightly closed door, Liu Ruoxi, as if possessed, ran to the shoe rack at the doorway, found Nan Zhiyi’s socks, took a deep breath, and felt invigorated!

Returning to her room, Liu Ruoxi leaned in Qin Xuan’s embrace, playing on her phone.

For some reason, Qin Xuan’s hands became restless.

“Turn off the lights!” Liu Ruoxi pressed down on Qin Xuan’s hands.

Qin Xuan looked a bit awkward. “If I turn off the lights, I won’t be able to see…”

“No lights, no peeking!”

Having no choice, Qin Xuan reached over and switched off the bedside lamp. The room was plunged into darkness, with only a faint glow seeping in through the window.

“Hey, don’t drop things on the floor!”

...

The next morning, as they ate noodles, Qin Lin’er looked at Ruoxi in confusion, occasionally adjusting her clothes as if she felt uncomfortable.

Qin Xuan couldn’t help but stifle his laughter, and Liu Ruoxi shot him a vicious glare—damn him! He had no sense of restraint!

Nan Zhiyi hadn’t noticed Liu Ruoxi’s actions, still poking at the poached egg in her bowl with a look of frustration.

After breakfast, they headed to school. Nan Zhiyi didn’t go to her own class but joined Qin Xuan and the others, perhaps the privilege of being the host.

It was the final day of the competition, but it would only last for half a day, as most events were finals; the trouble was mostly in the awards and speeches.

Nan Zhiyi sat next to Qin Lin’er, still brooding over last night and unwilling to deal with Liu Ruoxi—or Qin Xuan! How could he tell Liu Ruoxi about that?

So Nan Zhiyi decided to ignore Qin Xuan—for half a day…

Qin Xuan had noticed since morning that Nan Zhiyi was ignoring him, but he hadn’t found a chance to apologize; it was indeed his fault.

Not long after sitting down, Nan Zhiyi said something to Qin Lin’er, who handed her a packet of tissues, and she got up to leave.

Qin Xuan hurried to follow.

Nan Zhiyi glanced back, saw Qin Xuan behind her, but said nothing.

Qin Xuan wondered why she was heading so far away, especially since no one was around. It wasn’t until they passed a small garden that he saw Nan Zhiyi sitting on a bench, looking at him, deliberately leaving half the seat empty.

Qin Xuan got the hint and sat beside her.

“Why are you following me?” Nan Zhiyi crossed her arms, glaring at him coldly.

Qin Xuan organized his thoughts. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told Ruoxi about your smelly feet.”

Nan Zhiyi was furious just thinking about it. “You dare bring it up again!”

“I won’t, I won’t!” Qin Xuan quickly zipped his lips.

“So how will you make it up to me?” Nan Zhiyi counted on her fingers. “Compensation for emotional distress, and confidentiality fees.”

“Confidentiality fees? Shouldn’t you pay me instead?” Qin Xuan found the idea odd.

“Say one more word!” She raised a small fist, mimicking Liu Ruoxi, and punched Qin Xuan.

Nan Zhiyi’s tiny fist barely registered, but Qin Xuan still rubbed the spot, pretending it hurt.

“Close your eyes,” Nan Zhiyi thought for a long time but couldn’t find a good way to punish Qin Xuan.

“Hm?” Qin Xuan curiously tried to speak, but seeing Nan Zhiyi’s warning look, obediently closed his eyes.

Moments passed, and just as Qin Xuan thought she wouldn’t dare, something soft pressed against his lips. Unable to help himself, Qin Xuan opened his eyes, only to see Nan Zhiyi with her eyes closed, her cheeks flushed—so cute, what should he do?

Nan Zhiyi pulled away quickly, not daring to linger.

“Alright, I forgive you!” Nan Zhiyi leaned back in the chair. “Do you know how embarrassed I was? Who does that! It’s natural, what can I do about it?”

Qin Xuan scratched his head awkwardly. “I won’t ever mention it again!”

“Hmph!” Though she said she forgave him, Nan Zhiyi was still puffing with anger. Suddenly, she noticed a red mark below Qin Xuan’s neck.

“What’s this!” Although she hadn’t experienced it herself, she’d often seen her mother with the same mark at home. Her eyes went wide—Ruoxi really knows how to play!

“It’s nothing…” Qin Xuan pulled up his collar to cover it, but it was obvious that hiding it now was useless.

“Forget it. I’m not your girlfriend anyway, so I don’t have the right to interfere!” Nan Zhiyi’s words brought a hint of sourness to Qin Xuan.

He was at a loss for words. After a moment of awkward silence, Nan Zhiyi stood up.

Qin Xuan quickly asked, “Where are you going?”

“What do you think?” Nan Zhiyi waved the packet of tissues. “For half an hour!”

“That long? Have you seen a doctor?”

Nan Zhiyi rolled her eyes. “Get out!”

She didn’t bother with Qin Xuan any further and headed straight for the restroom.

Of course, telling Qin Xuan to leave was pointless; he sat outside on the bench, playing on his phone. Thinking of the kiss just now, Qin Xuan pursed his lips awkwardly. He’d better tell Ruoxi…

Sure enough, half an hour later, Nan Zhiyi finally emerged, immediately hooking her arm around Qin Xuan’s without caring about the gazes of passersby.

Back at the audience seats, Liu Ruoxi cast an unfriendly look at the pair, especially since Nan Zhiyi was holding onto Qin Xuan’s arm and even showing off to her. Liu Ruoxi saw her antics and wanted nothing to do with her. Really?

After watching the competition for a while, they waited for the morning events to finish. The group decided to eat in the cafeteria, too lazy to cook at home.

The four of them took their trays and found a corner to sit. Nan Zhiyi kept picking out meat for Qin Xuan, even giving him one of the two chicken legs.

Caught between the gazes of Liu Ruoxi and Nan Zhiyi, Qin Xuan felt as if he were sitting on needles—should he eat or not?

Luckily, Qin Lin’er eyed the chicken leg in Qin Xuan’s bowl and simply snatched it with her chopsticks, moving it to her own plate.

“My brother doesn’t want it; I’ll eat it. The cafeteria’s chicken legs are delicious!” Qin Lin’er said cheerfully, ignoring Nan Zhiyi’s longing looks at her chicken leg.