[5]
“Only five?”
Lan Yucheng was surprised, yet she felt it was far better than nothing. While she didn’t know the exact conversion rate, the mere existence of an allowance meant her favorability had increased.
Her efforts had not been in vain.
[How much more did you expect? If you want those items now, there’s a daily quest.]
Lan Yucheng’s eyes lit up.
“Tell me about it.”
[Kiss Qing Xinxue once.]
“Just to be clear, I can kiss her anywhere, right?”
[Mhm.]
Little Sprite responded, adding a quick supplement.
[If you kiss Qing Xinxue in certain places that cause her favorability to skyrocket, your allowance will also increase significantly!]
“Alright, I understand.”
Lan Yucheng waved her hand, dismissing the system.
Once time returned to normal, she lifted Qing Xinxue’s hand to her own. Without any warning, she gently pecked the back of it.
“Sister Cheng! You… what are you doing!?”
Qing Xinxue immediately pulled her hand back, her face flushed crimson, as if it might start bleeding.
‘Why did Sister Cheng kiss my hand?’
“Well… you’re just too adorable.”
Lan Yucheng spoke the truth, then promptly summoned the system again.
“Can I exchange it now?”
Without lingering, Little Sprite touched her finger to Lan Yucheng’s brow, then vanished silently.
Having obtained the item, Lan Yucheng quickly brought up the favorability panel to check.
[Favorability 50%]
“Only 50?”
Lan Yucheng frowned slightly. By her estimation, it should have been at least 70%.
“If 50% makes her like this, then 100% must be…”
Imagining Qing Xinxue clinging to her like a human koala later on, Lan Yucheng felt a slight chill. If she became too clingy, how would Lan Yucheng ever conquer other characters?
****
Meanwhile, as Lan Yucheng pondered deeply, Qing Xinxue was also lost in thought.
As for what she was thinking…
‘Could Sister Cheng’s actions mean she has a little interest in me?’
‘How many children should we have in the future…’
‘Will they be boys or girls…’
‘What names should we choose for the children?’
****
“Hello again, it’s good to see you.”
Not far away, Su Yiyi approached them, holding a bento box.
“Sister Su Yiyi!”
Upon seeing Su Yiyi, Qing Xinxue naturally cried out with excitement.
Su Yiyi nodded and smiled in response, then turned to Lan Yucheng and asked, “Are you two heading home now?”
“Not yet. Our car is still parked at the amusement park, we haven’t driven it back,” Lan Yucheng replied, a hint of helplessness in her voice.
“Then let me give you a ride.”
Su Yiyi walked to her car and placed the bento box on the passenger seat.
“Won’t that be troubling Sister Su Yiyi again?” Qing Xinxue said, somewhat reluctant to get in.
“I don’t have anything planned today. Consider it a chance for us to chat,” Su Yiyi smiled, pulling open the car door. “Get in. Keep me company.”
“Sister Cheng, should we go?”
Qing Xinxue left the decision to Lan Yucheng.
“Let’s go,” Lan Yucheng said naturally, stepping towards the car.
“Sister Cheng, wait for me!”
Qing Xinxue’s legs were short. Even with Lan Yucheng slowing her pace, she still had to jog to keep up beside her.
Lan Yucheng entered the backseat first, leaning against the car door. She rolled the window halfway down and closed her eyes to rest.
She had always been prone to motion sickness, and it was no different now.
“Sister Cheng, aren’t you a little cold like this?”
Qing Xinxue leaned closer, hesitating slightly before gently resting her head on Lan Yucheng’s shoulder. “Will this make it a bit warmer?”
Lan Yucheng opened her eyes, turned her head to look at her, then silently turned back, closing her eyes to rest once more.
To Qing Xinxue, this was a silent acquiescence.
Her face was faintly red. She dared not move an inch while resting on Lan Yucheng’s shoulder, fearing that even a slight movement might disturb Lan Yucheng’s rest.
From the mirror, Su Yiyi watched. First, she smiled with delight at the ‘couple’, then a hint of disappointment flickered across her face.
If only, she too could have someone lean on her shoulder like that.
“Sister Su Yiyi,” Qing Xinxue called out softly.
“What is it?” Su Yiyi looked at her through the mirror.
“Could you drive a little more smoothly? Sister Cheng gets a little motion sick.” As Qing Xinxue spoke, she anxiously glanced at Lan Yucheng’s face, as if confirming something.
“Of course,” Su Yiyi downshifted, driving steadily along the road.
****
The journey passed in silence. Su Yiyi had wanted to chat with Qing Xinxue, but each time she looked in the rearview mirror, she could only shake her head.
There was no way. Qing Xinxue’s gaze was practically glued to Lan Yucheng. Su Yiyi had no good reason to ask a Qing Xinxue like that to engage in small talk.
‘She really likes her a lot,’ she mused inwardly, thinking of giving Qing Xinxue a push later to help them solidify their relationship faster.
After all, Lan Yucheng didn’t seem to dislike Qing Xinxue.
“We’re here! Our car is still here!”
At the amusement park entrance, Qing Xinxue pointed to the black motorcycle still parked in its original spot, gently nudging Lan Yucheng.
Lan Yucheng opened her eyes, looked at the motorcycle, and couldn’t help but smile. At present, her favorite thing was racing.
That thrill was irreplaceable!
“Little Xue, do you want to experience it again?”
“Ugh… I think I’ll pass. Sister Cheng, why don’t you let Sister Su Yiyi try it!”
It wasn’t that Qing Xinxue was deferring to Su Yiyi. It was simply because Lan Yucheng’s speed had traumatized her.
Even if she were given a hundred times more courage, she wouldn’t ride a motorcycle driven by Lan Yucheng again. However, she also harbored a slightly darker thought.
She wanted to sit in the spot Lan Yucheng had just occupied, imagining herself sitting on Lan Yucheng’s lap.
However, Su Yiyi was unaware of Qing Xinxue’s thoughts. She simply believed that Qing Xinxue had taken her teasing remarks seriously. She still thought Su Yiyi wanted to steal her Sister Cheng. But that was fine; it gave Su Yiyi an opportunity to talk to Lan Yucheng about Qing Xinxue, to see if she could foster their relationship.
Perhaps even directly set them up!
Lan Yucheng, on the other hand, didn’t have many particular thoughts. She also felt it was a good chance to talk with Su Yiyi, allowing her to make a friend.
Thus, with each of them lost in their own thoughts, Lan Yucheng and Su Yiyi exited the car. Qing Xinxue remained inside, waving to them.
“I should call you…”
“Lan Yucheng. Just call me Little Cheng.”
Lan Yucheng ran her hand over the motorcycle. Due to the effects of the pill, she felt an indescribable sense of safety and familiarity from the bike beneath her touch.
“Then Little Cheng, what’s your relationship with Qing Xinxue?”
Su Yiyi didn’t beat around the bush, getting straight to the point.
“She and I… I suppose we’re childhood friends.”
Lan Yucheng wasn’t entirely sure how to define her relationship with Qing Xinxue. Best friends? It didn’t quite feel right. Sisters? A little, but she didn’t fully agree.
“Childhood friends, huh?”
Su Yiyi pondered for a moment. “Do you want to know what kind of joke I played on her this morning?”
Upon hearing this, Lan Yucheng immediately grew interested. She removed her hand from the motorcycle, looking at Su Yiyi with anticipation. She truly wanted to know what kind of joke could make Qing Xinxue cry so much.
“Oh? Do tell.”