“Are you really sure?” Bai Liu asked, though she didn’t press the matter further after hearing Chu Xin’s words.
“Well, it’s just a family business anyway…” she mumbled the latter half of her sentence softly, before heading to the kitchen to start preparing their ordered dishes.
Watching Bai Liu depart to prepare their meals, Chu Xin finally let out a sigh of relief, knowing that even a moment’s inattention might have resulted in the card being forced upon him.
Ji Yue Xuan pinched Chu Xin once more.
She let out a soft huff.
Chu Xin turned to her. “What is it now, my Lady?”
Hearing Chu Xin’s somewhat doting address, Ji Yue Xuan’s mood brightened considerably.
“Nothing! But Darling, why didn’t you take that card? Is it because you’re planning to stay at my place instead?”
Chu Xin choked slightly, then gently tapped Ji Yue Xuan’s forehead.
“We’re still so young; why are you always thinking about such things?”
Ji Yue Xuan, completely undeterred, wrapped her arms around Chu Xin’s arm, deliberately brushing her soft chest against him. With a seductive expression, she purred,
“Could it be… Darling doesn’t want to?”
Chu Xin stiffened at Ji Yue Xuan’s movements.
“Cough, cough, of course I do… No, wait, such things should definitely be saved for when we’re married…”
Still a pure-hearted Darling, isn’t he? But I can’t wait that long… Still, I need to cultivate him for a while, let Darling slowly accept it.
So Ji Yue Xuan changed the subject.
“Alright then~ Let’s not talk about that. By the way, Darling, would you like to join our club?”
Chu Xin paused, surprised.
“Huh? Can you join two clubs?”
Ji Yue Xuan also froze.
“Darling, do you belong to another club?”
Hearing Ji Yue Xuan’s equally puzzled voice, Chu Xin finally realized his oversight. He slapped his forehead.
“Sorry, I forgot to tell you, my withdrawal from the club wasn’t successful.”
“Why?” Ji Yue Xuan’s tone instantly turned cold.
The first person that came to her mind was Chu Xin’s young “neighbor” from school, or rather, the “childhood friend” who liked to call herself Darling—Jiang Qianhe.
It must have been her who prevented Darling’s withdrawal. She’s clearly just a newcomer…
Moreover, she had always strongly disapproved of Chu Xin joining a club that involved physical confrontation.
Even though he joined it right after he arrived… his usual absence, followed by his sudden attendance today, felt inherently suspicious.
Chu Xin was momentarily stunned, thinking, Don’t just switch to this state all the time… it’s truly terrifying.
Yet, outwardly, he obediently replied,
“The club is going to disband. It will likely be dissolved after the third-year president graduates. They just asked me to think about it carefully.”
Ji Yue Xuan offered no further reply, merely nodding thoughtfully.
The meal was a pleasant affair. Both were accustomed to such playful banter, and the recent shift in their relationship added a layer of anticipation to their time together.
After the meal, Bai Liu brought over the items Chu Xin wanted to take away.
“It’s in an insulated box. Just warm it up for your sister when you get home tonight, and she can eat it.”
After paying the bill, Chu Xin took the box.
“Thank you, Sister Bai.”
Bai Liu smiled warmly.
“It’s nothing. Just be good to little Yue Xuan. But… I do have one piece of advice: make sure you manage the relationship between your sister and your girlfriend well.”
Though puzzled, Chu Xin still nodded in agreement.
Ji Yue Xuan, meanwhile, remained lost in thought, her mind seemingly elsewhere.
After bidding farewell to Sister Bai and the Meow Meow Restaurant, the two departed.
Chu Xin slung his own backpack over his shoulders, then took Ji Yue Xuan’s bag in one hand and the meal for little Su Jin in the other.
Even then, Ji Yue Xuan linked her arm through the one holding her bag.
A sense of helplessness washed over him; he could already envision his future life, akin to caring for a child.
Chu Xin had already subconsciously embraced the idea of a “live-in husband” lifestyle.
Seeing Chu Xin sighing, Ji Yue Xuan poked his cheek.
“What’s wrong, Darling? To me, you’re currently overflowing with boyfriend power.”
Sometimes, it’s good to compliment your partner appropriately~
Chu Xin shook his head.
“Nothing. Let’s go, I’ll walk you home.”
“Eh~ Aren’t we going to play a little longer? It’s only four or five o’clock, still early, Darling~” Ji Yue Xuan said, a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice.
Chu Xin teased,
“You don’t usually stay out this late either, do you?”
Hearing Chu Xin’s words, Ji Yue Xuan grew bashful, making Chu Xin unable to resist poking her cheek.
“Well… that’s because our relationship wasn’t like this before…”
Chu Xin shifted the lunchbox and bag to one hand, then gently patted her head.
“We have school tomorrow, don’t we? Shall I walk you back?”
Seeing that Chu Xin had completely missed her hints, Ji Yue Xuan could only agree to his suggestion.
The two walked intimately to the subway station.
Chu Xin didn’t swipe his card to enter; instead, he handed her the bag and prepared to watch her leave from a distance.
The subway station was bustling with people: couples heading home to change for dates, or weary office workers with expressions that screamed, “Finally, off work!”
Seeing Chu Xin wasn’t going to escort her all the way home, Ji Yue Xuan stomped her foot, her golden hair trembling slightly, before preparing to enter the station.
However, she reversed her steps, looking at Chu Xin with renewed cheerfulness.
“Darling, don’t forget we’re going to school together tomorrow~ And my bento! Oh, right, didn’t I say I’d give you a gift? I’ll give it to you tomorrow morning~”
Chu Xin nodded.
“I definitely won’t forget, don’t worry.”
After watching Ji Yue Xuan enter the station.
Chu Xin decided not to go to the gym.
Although it wasn’t far from home, changing clothes and going back and forth felt too troublesome.
Moreover, for some inexplicable reason, he felt an overwhelming sense of fatigue.
This Monday felt much more exhausting than usual…
All he wanted now was to go home and get a good night’s sleep.
It was precisely for this reason that he had sent Ji Yue Xuan back; he didn’t want his weary mind to upset her.
Or rather, he didn’t want anything “special” to happen in his current state… anything he couldn’t control.
Still… a part of him was eagerly anticipating Ji Yue Xuan’s gift.
His face flushed, and he quickened his pace, trying to dispel the thoughts swirling in his mind.
The journey home was uneventful, but to avoid encountering Jiang Qianhe and Quan Zhu Meng, Chu Xin still chose the small path he had taken on Sunday.
He unlocked the door with his key and shook the insulated lunchbox in his hand.
“Little Su Jin, I’m back, and I brought you food.”
However, he then noticed Su Jin, who had been waiting in the entryway, hugging her knees.
Before he could speak another word, Su Jin suddenly embraced him.
Due to the height difference, Su Jin’s burgeoning chest gently pressed against Chu Xin’s stomach, nearly brushing against something it shouldn’t have.
Chu Xin was startled, but upon realizing it was Su Jin, he simply patted her head and said gently,
“Come on, let’s go eat, shall we? You haven’t eaten all day again, have you?”
Su Jin, still in his arms, only replied with a cool, simple “Mm.”
She then released him and walked upstairs first.
Chu Xin watched Su Jin’s retreating figure as she ascended the stairs, and he couldn’t help but sigh.
Although he knew there was something slightly off about Su Jin, he simply couldn’t bring himself to distance himself from his expressionless, academically brilliant adopted sister.
Especially yesterday, when he saw her only eat the food he brought, his heart had softened.
Sigh… I wonder what little Su Jin will get up to next…
And when will my adopted sister and adopted mother return from their trip?
With these thoughts in mind, Chu Xin changed his shoes and ascended to the second floor.
Upon reaching the second floor, he saw Su Jin sitting silently by the dining table, her face devoid of expression.
Chu Xin paused, a moment of confusion on his face, but then he asked,
“Little Su Jin, you haven’t been eating this whole time, have you?”
As for school, Su Jin often skipped it, so Chu Xin didn’t bother to ask about it.
Su Jin nodded, then spoke, a rare occurrence for her.
“Because… I was waiting for Big Brother… for you, Chu Xin, to come back.”
Chu Xin sighed helplessly.
“You still need to be a bit more self-sufficient in the future…”
But Su Jin wasn’t listening at all; instead, she was consumed by regret.
Why can’t I just say ‘Big Brother’… I really want to talk to Big Brother properly… Why can’t the words come out…
The thought of Big Brother smelling like that wretched woman made her sick to her stomach, and in the end, all her words could only converge into a simple “Mm.”
The hug just now had briefly dispelled some of those scents, but there was still so much left…
It seems I need to take other measures…
After all, it’s a sister’s duty to ensure Big Brother only carries the scent of ‘sister’, isn’t it~