Dating Lessons and Unexpected Revelations

“So, that’s it? We’re just… going?”

Bai Jingjing’s lips parted slightly, a hint of bewilderment in her eyes.

“Of course. Didn’t I just explain that you need to cultivate this feeling, to experience what a date is like?” Luo Xuan rattled off the words with newfound ease. “So, we’ll go wherever you wish, and consider this your dating experience.”

At first, Bai Jingjing found some logic in the explanation, but upon closer consideration, a sense of unease settled within her.

“But aren’t our roles a bit… reversed?” she ventured. “I mean, if this is about experiencing a date, shouldn’t we be going to the place *you* want to visit?”

After all, her intention was to eventually accompany Xia Chu to the places *Xia Chu* desired for their future dates.

Luo Xuan dismissed her concerns with a wave of her hand. “It’s all the same. Such matters are reciprocal. For two girlfriends, the essence isn’t about indulging one over the other, but simply having the other person’s presence by your side.”

The beautiful girl, in her newfound role of spinning tales, had initially been as clumsy as a light machine gun jamming, but with each uttered word, she grew increasingly adept. Soon, she wasn’t just speaking offhand; she was weaving intricate webs of logic, so convincing that Bai Jingjing found herself believing every word.

Indeed, the logic, as presented, seemed undeniably sound.

“For now, let’s just head back and get some rest,” Luo Xuan suggested, glancing cautiously around them. “You’re weary from the journey; it’s best to recuperate early.”

Fortunately, darkness had already fallen, ensuring no familiar faces would spot them.

Bai Jingjing wholeheartedly concurred.

Upon returning to Luo Xuan’s apartment, a place she had visited only days prior, Bai Jingjing found herself navigating with a comfortable familiarity.

After a refreshing shower, Bai Jingjing settled onto the bed and began to allocate the funds she had just acquired.

A portion of it would go towards settling half a year’s worth of debt, while the remainder was earmarked for tuition fees. With a month ahead as Xia Chu’s girlfriend, she would then have another one or two months to secure enough commercial commissions to cover the remaining costs.

Naturally, if another similar opportunity arose, her finances would be considerably more robust… especially if Luo Xuan still had new clients.

‘No, no, I shouldn’t dwell on it. It’s time to sleep.’

As drowsiness surged, Bai Jingjing’s eyelids fluttered shut almost instantly.

Just before succumbing to sleep, she didn’t forget to murmur to the girl beside her, “Good night.”

“Good—”

Luo Xuan’s mouth remained agape, utterly speechless for a prolonged moment.

‘Wait, that’s it? Just ‘good night’ and she’s out?

Even if you don’t need any new ‘techniques,’ a little conversation would have been nice!

But no, she just flopped onto the bed and immediately fell asleep!’

While Bai Jingjing slept soundly, enveloped by the faint aroma of coconut milk, Luo Xuan found sleep far more elusive. Typically, she would browse on her phone before bed, and with the hour still relatively early, tonight was no exception.

The moment she unlocked her phone and connected, a message from her best friend popped up.

[Chuxia: Are you there? Did she get home safely?]

‘Well, isn’t that something,’ Luo Xuan thought, a slight frown creasing her brow. ‘She immediately asks about Bai Jingjing, without even a thought for her best friend. If *I* hadn’t made it home safely, who exactly would be answering your questions?’

Yet, as the question lingered, a flicker of guilt momentarily touched Luo Xuan’s conscience.

[Eylla: Due to some rather unique circumstances, she’s currently staying with me. In short… everything is perfectly normal.]

[Chuxia: …]

Her best friend’s reply was a string of ellipses, their meaning inscrutable, leaving Luo Xuan to wonder about Chuxia’s mood.

[Eylla: So, the first weekend of the ‘experience’ is over. How did it go?]

Luo Xuan’s question was purely perfunctory, knowing full well that her best friend generally disliked discussing real-world affairs.

To her surprise, however, a reply actually arrived a few minutes later.

[Chuxia: She mentioned you bought her underwear. Is that true?]

‘Oh? She even mentioned *that*? But why would she bring it up?’

Luo Xuan, though perplexed, chose to respond truthfully.

[Eylla: Yes, I did. Why do you ask?]

[Chuxia: (#Angry)]

[Chuxia: I told you, no ‘lewd’ activities. Buying her *that kind* of underwear won’t change a thing.]

‘What? *That* kind of underwear?’

A thoughtful expression crossed Luo Xuan’s face as she turned to gaze at the sleeping girl beside her, then quietly lifted a corner of the blanket.

‘Oh, so fair, so perfectly rounded.’

She quickly pulled the covers back up, shaking her head. ‘No, no, I mustn’t look anymore. If I do, I’ll never fall asleep.’

[Eylla: Actually, there’s a whole story behind this, and it’s largely a misunderstanding…]

When she’d purchased the underwear for Bai Jingjing, she had enlisted the help of the store manager. The manager, at the time, had mistakenly assumed Bai Jingjing was Luo Xuan’s girlfriend, and consequently… selected a few ‘practical’ pieces.

Only now did Luo Xuan truly understand why the store manager had described them as ‘useful.’

[Chuxia: Explanations are useless. The deed is done; what good is an explanation now?]

[Chuxia: Whatever you try, it’s futile. I’m not some hormonal, unsatisfied teenager like you anymore. Regardless, if I said no ‘lewd’ activities, then there will absolutely be no ‘lewd’ activities.]

Mature adults possess self-control!

Upon reading that last sentence, Luo Xuan’s blood pressure surged instantly.

‘What does she mean? Just because she’s a few years older, she thinks she can treat me like a child?’

‘So what if she’s a few years older and a few cup sizes larger? Does that really give her the right to be so self-righteous?’

Luo Xuan fumed. She eagerly anticipated the day Xia Chu would finally succumb and engage in ‘lewd’ activities with Bai Jingjing. The moment it happened, Luo Xuan vowed to immediately send a gift in their game, emblazoned with four bold characters: ‘Still talking tough!’

‘This calls for some serious ‘education’ for Bai Jingjing!’

Setting her phone aside, she closed her eyes, willing sleep to finally claim her.

The Mingzhu residential complex was exceptionally quiet at night. In this stillness, Luo Xuan’s mind settled, and she began to ponder a few questions.

The two places Bai Jingjing had most wished to visit were the Provincial Art University and the Provincial Central Hospital. These locations were, to put it mildly, not only far from being considered romantic dating spots but were, in fact, entirely disparate.

‘Why these two specific places?’

‘I’m getting sleepy. Never mind, I’ll stop thinking about it. I’ll find out once we go, anyway.’

Just before drifting off, Luo Xuan recalled something else: there was apparently a teacher from the Provincial Art University within her social circle. If they were indeed going there tomorrow, she could contact them in advance, effectively securing a guide.

Zzzz

****

Monday dawned.

For those who enjoyed the freedom of working from home, it was merely another unremarkable day amidst countless others.

But for Xia Chu, this marked the first day since Bai Jingjing’s departure.

Xia Chu had awoken quite early that morning, yet lacked the motivation to rise. She remained in a state of semi-sleep until past ten, finally, and reluctantly, dragging herself out of bed closer to eleven.

Primarily, she was hungry and craved food.

With Bai Jingjing gone, there was no one to cook. Gazing at the empty kitchen, Xia Chu felt an equivalent emptiness in her heart.

‘No, wait, what am I thinking? I’m a mature adult! I can’t possibly starve just because a teenage girl with large breasts isn’t around, can I?’

Xia Chu picked up her phone and ordered takeout.

The restaurant was nearby, the food prepared swiftly, and a delivery rider quickly accepted the order, arriving at the community gate not long after. Xia Chu knew her food had arrived because the app showed the rider was only dozens of meters away.

‘I’ll just wash my face, then I can open the door and grab it.’

Several minutes passed, however, and nothing stirred outside her door. Xia Chu checked her phone again; the distance was still showing as dozens of meters.

She typed a message into the delivery platform: [What’s going on? You arrived at the complex a few minutes ago, why haven’t you delivered it?]

[Delivery Rider: I’m at your complex gate, having my temperature checked and scanning the venue code. Please wait a moment.]

‘Huh?’

Xia Chu was utterly bewildered.

‘Wait, since when did my complex have a venue code?’