Chapter Ninety: A Great Tonic...

After thinking it over, Nan Zhiyi picked up the other chicken leg from the plate and gave it to Qin Xuan, only for Qin Lin'er to snatch it away again.

"Oh, I was just worried one wouldn't be enough for me. Thanks, Sister Zhiyi!" Before she had even finished the first one, Qin Lin'er took a delighted bite out of the second.

"Qin Lin'er! Don't push your luck!" Nan Zhiyi glared furiously at the girl, who was pretending to be innocent.

Qin Lin'er paused mid-bite, then clung to Qin Xuan's arm.

"Brother~ look, she's yelling at me!"

What the hell? Nan Zhiyi immediately wanted to roll up her sleeves and smack her. Putting on that coy act, were you? Just wait till we get home; you'll be begging for mercy!

"?" Seeing Qin Lin'er's behavior, Qin Xuan was itching to hit her too. "Behave yourself!"

"Hehe." Even Qin Lin'er found it awkward and let go of Qin Xuan's arm, going back to gnawing on her chicken leg.

After lunch, the group wandered aimlessly around campus. Qin Lin'er had not gone far before complaining that she was tired, so in the end they ended up sitting in the spectator stands to rest.

Fortunately, the sun was mild that day, and the pleasant temperature made Qin Lin'er sleepy. She simply collapsed across Qin Xuan's lap, while the other leg stretched over to Nan Zhiyi's side. No one was around anyway.

Looking at the foot on her leg, Nan Zhiyi very much wanted to toss it aside, but the girl was lying there so comfortably... Fine. I'll endure you one more time.

...

When Qin Xuan woke Qin Lin'er, she dazedly pulled out her phone and checked it. She seemed to have slept only a little over half an hour, but there were already a few people scattered around them. Concerned about her image, she still withdrew the foot resting on Sister Zhiyi's leg.

The afternoon was much simpler. The competition had basically ended, and only the speeches from the school leaders were enough to wear everyone down.

Nan Zhiyi had no choice but to go up and act as host. There was no helping it; in situations like this, she was the one who had to step in.

After enduring that ordeal, school let out early around four. On the way back, the group was still wondering what to do over the weekend, when just as they stepped out of the elevator they saw Aunt Yang standing by the front door.

"Mom? What brings you here?" Nan Zhiyi's eyes lit up, and she hurried over curiously to cling to her mother's arm.

"I happened to be passing by, so I brought you all something and came to have a look," Yang Ying said with a smile, patting Nan Zhiyi on the head.

Qin Xuan quickly took out the key and opened the door. As soon as they went inside, Yang Ying noticed the photo album standing on the table.

Seated on the sofa, Maruko was not shy at all. It leaped up and began meowing at Yang Ying.

"This is for you to make soup with. Good stuff!" Yang Ying handed the large bag in her hands to Qin Xuan. Qin Xuan took it a little awkwardly and thanked her repeatedly.

"We're family. No need to be so polite," Yang Ying said carelessly, petting the cat as she waved it off.

Nan Zhiyi, seeing her mother being so indiscreet, quickly dragged her back to her room.

"What are you doing?" she asked after closing the door.

Yang Ying paid her no mind, instead scanning the room. When she saw the raccoon cat on the bedside table, she said, "Oh? So you like things like this too? Qin Xuan gave it to you, didn't he!"

"Obviously. Why are you here, exactly?" Nan Zhiyi stepped forward and hid the raccoon cat under the blanket, then sat on the bed and looked at Yang Ying.

"I'm really here to bring you something good... and to see how things are going. Have you won him over yet?" Yang Ying sat down in the chair and absentmindedly flipped through the things on the desk.

"Assuming nothing unexpected happens... soon!" Although Nan Zhiyi was not entirely sure, it did not stop her from sounding confident.

"You still haven't won him over? How embarrassing." Yang Ying took out a blue item and tossed it to her. "Keep this. Be careful!"

"What?" Nan Zhiyi curiously picked up the small box that had fallen into her lap. Hm?

"Don't be so old-fashioned," Nan Zhiyi said, tossing it back to her in return.

"Don't throw it away. Back when your father and I were young, it was because we weren't careful that we had you, and wasted several years of our youth!" Yang Ying kindly reminded her when she saw how unconcerned she was.

Nan Zhiyi: So it's my fault? Serves you right!

After a few more casual remarks, Yang Ying finally left the room, but the thing she had brought ended up in the bottom drawer of the desk.

Qin Xuan came out carrying tea just in time. "Aunt Yang, have some tea. Stay for dinner tonight."

"Forget it." Yang Ying took the cup, blew on the hot steam, and drank a few sips. The more she looked at Qin Xuan, the more satisfied she felt. She did want to stay and mooch a meal, but when she thought of her husband at home with no one there to cook for him...

"I have to go back and make dinner for your Uncle Nan, or else he'll only have instant noodles tonight." Though she said it jokingly, Nan Zhengyi really had bought a case of instant noodles at home, and Yang Ying had several times wanted to throw them out. It made it seem as if she were shortchanging him on meals!

After staying a little while longer, Yang Ying glanced at the time. "All right, I should head back. You all stew that thing tonight; if you leave it too long, it won't work as well."

The others saw Yang Ying to the door, but she refused to let them escort her any farther. Watching her descend in the elevator, Nan Zhiyi turned back to ask Qin Xuan.

"What did my mom bring?"

Thinking of it made Qin Xuan feel awkward. "Go look for yourself."

Before long, Nan Zhiyi was staring at the turtle, black-boned chicken, and goji berries in the bag... this...

"What is that supposed to do?" Qin Lin'er asked curiously around her lollipop, looking at Qin Xuan.

"Very nourishing..." Qin Xuan was a little doubtful whether Qin Lin'er could even eat it. Wouldn't she end up with a nosebleed after a single bowl?

After thinking it over, Qin Xuan still took out a clay pot and got everything ready.

Nan Zhiyi and Liu Ruoxi found it boring and returned to their rooms, leaving only Qin Lin'er standing nearby, watching Qin Xuan curiously. Qin Xuan had never handled this sort of thing before, but since everything had already been cleaned and prepared, all he had to do was stew it.

Stewing took quite a while. Qin Xuan even went back to his room and played around for a bit, cheerful as ever.

Back in her room, Nan Zhiyi somehow found herself taking out the item from the drawer. She had seen something like it at Qin Xuan's place before, though she had not looked closely.

Driven by curiosity, she unwrapped it. There was a smell, rather strange too. How was this supposed to be used?

Forget it, forget it. After fiddling with it for a while, Nan Zhiyi simply tossed it into the trash. Ugh.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, they waited until night fell before the turtle and black-boned chicken soup was finally done. It had not even been served yet when Qin Lin'er came sniffing over at the aroma.

"Drink less of this stuff," Qin Xuan said, first pouring her a small bowl to let her taste it.

Qin Lin'er downed it in one gulp, smacked her lips, and said, "Another bowl!"

"Wait a bit before you have more." From the girl's expression, it was clear the flavor suited her well.

The large pot was brought to the table, and Qin Xuan called the others out to eat.

Qin Lin'er naturally took the lead, gnawing on a black-boned chicken leg. She liked those cuts with plenty of meat and little bone!

Before long, the pot was emptied by the group. Qin Lin'er was still disgruntled that she had eaten the least of all, while Qin Xuan kept being loaded up with meat and soup by Liu Ruoxi and Nan Zhiyi until he was stuffed. It seemed that if anyone was going to get a nosebleed tonight, it ought to be him...

After washing the dishes and returning to the room, he no longer felt like playing games. Seeing Liu Ruoxi in her summer sleepwear, Qin Xuan inexplicably felt a surge of heat and could not help but go take a shower. When he came back... it was even hotter!

"What are you standing there for? Aren't you going to sleep?" Liu Ruoxi asked, her face faintly red, as she looked at Qin Xuan, who was still standing there.

"Sleep!" Qin Xuan jumped onto the bed and pulled Liu Ruoxi into his arms. Before long, the heat between them only grew stronger.

After thinking for a long while, Qin Xuan leaned close to Liu Ruoxi's ear and said a few words.

"You! Shameless!" Embarrassed, Liu Ruoxi punched Qin Xuan twice.

But looking at the expectant light in his eyes, she still could not help but nod...