Song Qiuyu looked helplessly at the food on her plate, nudged her mask up a little so that only her lip-glossed lips showed, and silently ate.
This was like a holiday Jiang Xiao had granted her.
All she needed to do today was play, eat, and be the good girlfriend.
She didn’t even need to talk—just listen…
Actually, it was kind of hard.
She was very interested in this big deal and also looked forward to the hot spring trip.
If Xie Zhuran and Lin An had any objections, she might not be able to stop herself from speaking up!
Of course, she wasn’t unreasonable—she wouldn’t force them to agree.
She’d discuss things calmly.
Luckily, the discussion didn’t get heated.
Both Xie Zhuran and Lin An were obviously very tempted; after a few words, the decision was made.
The rest would be up to her as Leader of Dorm 602 to confirm the details with Aider that night.
Hearing this, Song Qiuyu saw Jiang Yu reaching his chopsticks toward the seafood on the table and immediately pulled the dish closer to herself.
At the same time, she shook her head firmly at Jiang Yu.
She had already confirmed with Jiang Xiao beforehand that the whole family was allergic to seafood.
Having stopped the child from snacking on dangerous food, she noticed that Jiang Xiao’s bowl was empty and habitually gave him more rice.
Jiang Xiao’s lips twitched at this.
His feelings were a bit complicated at this moment, but mostly it was the happiness of being cared for by someone he liked.
It was addictive—he couldn’t help but want to treat her even better.
Song Qiuyu’s busy, attentive manner reminded Jiang Li of someone—her brother’s good friend, Song Qiuyu.
Jiang Li said nothing, but glanced up to watch Xie Zhuran and Lin An’s reactions.
Sure enough, they both had that look of recognizing an old acquaintance.
“Lao Jiang, is your girlfriend from our school? Such a pretty girl, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her before?”
Xie Zhuran stroked his chin, pondering aloud.
“No.”
Jiang Xiao took the bowl of rice Song Qiuyu had filled for him.
As he spoke, he grabbed her small hand and squeezed it twice.
“She’s Shen Xi, my first love and my current girlfriend, from another school.”
Song Qiuyu’s heart sped up.
She instinctively picked up a few pieces of stir-fried meat and vegetables for Jiang Xiao, signaling him to eat more and talk less.
At this answer, four people had question marks pop up in their minds.
Jiang Yu stared blankly at his brother and sister-in-law, wanting to say something but hesitating.
He clearly remembered that his brother had a girlfriend he loved deeply, who had sadly passed away.
Her name was Shen Xi, and his brother had been calling his sister-in-law “Xi’er” all morning.
Wasn’t it just a homophone?
Jiang Li frowned, growing even more curious about her brother’s girlfriend.
She’d vanished for three years, made a mess of their brother, turned the whole family upside down, and then suddenly showed up again?
And now she was dating their brother again?
Huh?
Xie Zhuran and Lin An both gasped.
This time, it must really be Xi Xi herself!?
Good news.
The two of them secretly decided to go post a candid photo of Jiang Xiao and Shen Xi on Nanshi Forum with their alt accounts.
Great—now Jiang Xiao and Song Qiuyu could finally be together openly, without anyone misunderstanding their relationship!
“Not bad, Lao Jiang—you really managed to win your first love back.”
Lin An adjusted his glasses, congratulating the three of them.
Song Qiuyu quietly pouted.
He didn’t win me back, thank you very much.
She lowered her head and took a few bites of rice.
The food was delicious, but suddenly, her face changed—a familiar warmth was spreading out!
Her period had come a day early this month.
Crap.
She hadn’t brought a sanitary pad.
Thinking this, she pursed her lips, glanced at Jiang Xiao beside her, and couldn’t hesitate for long.
She quickly leaned close to his ear and whispered, so only the two of them could hear: “Jiang Xiao, I think my period just started. Can you help me…”
But Jiang Xiao didn’t even let her finish.
He immediately unzipped his backpack and, from under the table, placed a package in her hand.
Song Qiuyu’s heart thudded hard.
She looked down at the package of regular sanitary pads he handed over…
Without Jiang Xiao needing to explain, she knew he’d packed it especially for her.
In that moment, her thoughts were racing, but she didn’t dare linger.
She immediately tucked the pads into her pocket, greeted the others, and left her seat.
Her heart pounded violently, her whole attention focused on the sanitary pads in her pocket.
She was so excited that she’d forgotten, but Jiang Xiao remembered…
Damn it!
She was distracted for the rest of the afternoon.
And just like that, the chaotic first day of the New Year holiday came to an end.
After changing clothes and removing her makeup, Song Qiuyu returned to her rented place; it was already past nine in the evening.
Naturally, she wasn’t alone.
Jiang Xiao, under the pretense of walking his girlfriend back to school, had stayed with her all the way.
“Good thing I wore dark pants, and my coat’s dark too,” Song Qiuyu muttered softly, tossing her dirty pants into the washbasin.
Jiang Li and Jiang Yu should be asleep by now, so she needed to keep quiet.
“Let me do it.”
Jiang Xiao grabbed the edge of the washbasin.
“Hm? Let you do what?”
Song Qiuyu blinked, confused.
“I mean, your pants—let me wash them for you. When girls have their period, they should avoid cold water, or they’ll get cramps easily.”
Taking the chance, Jiang Xiao took the washbasin from her.
“?”
Song Qiuyu was stunned for a second, then came back to herself and tried to snatch the washbasin back.
“What nonsense, how can I let you wash my stuff?”
“Why not? You’ve washed mine before.”
“But…” There’s underwear in there.
Of course Jiang Xiao knew what she was worried about.
He cleared his throat, let go of the washbasin, then took her small shoulders and turned her toward the sofa.
“When girls have their period, you really need to take care of yourself.” “Uh…”
Feeling a bit flustered, Song Qiuyu finally understood what he meant.
She remembered how, during her last period, Jiang Xiao kept coming up with excuses to eat chicken and make chicken soup.
So now that everything was out in the open, he could openly take care of her?
Thinking back, she realized she hadn’t noticed it at all—was she really that oblivious?
No…
It’s just that Jiang Xiao was too sly.
After he sat her down on the sofa, she looked at the pants he was about to wash, clenched her hands, blushed, and said, “I’ve always used cold water and it was fine. Just leave it—”
“I’m insisting!”
Jiang Xiao held her down so she couldn’t get up.
Song Qiuyu tried to argue, but suddenly a sharp, pulling pain flared in her lower abdomen, making her gasp.
She immediately lost the strength to speak and held her stomach.
“See? What did I tell you?”
Jiang Xiao sighed, released her shoulders, and squatted down to look at where her hands were pressing, frowning.
“What are you doing?”
Watching Jiang Xiao rub his hands together and blow on them, Song Qiuyu pouted, her voice weak.
“I heard that warming your hands and covering the area that hurts will make it feel much better.” Jiang Xiao earnestly rubbed his hands a few more times.
“But you might need to lift your shirt, or I can do it over something thin.”
Hearing this, Song Qiuyu stared at his reddened palms for a couple seconds, her gaze growing complicated.
“Where’d you hear that from? I’ve never heard of it.”
Muttering, she bit her lip, pulled her coat’s zipper down, and rolled her sweater up, revealing only the thinnest inner shirt.
“I think it works.”
Jiang Xiao rubbed his hands hot again and then gently placed his palms on the spot she’d been pressing.
“Is it here? How does it feel—comfortable?”
“Mm…”
Song Qiuyu looked away, biting her lip, only daring to steal a few glances at him.
Seeing him repeatedly rub his hands warm and place them there, her heart filled with mixed feelings.
He was hopeless. How could she ever save a guy like Jiang Xiao?
After a second of hesitation, she shamefully admitted, “It’s really comfortable.” “Hm?”
Jiang Xiao looked up at her when he heard this and broke into a brilliant smile.
“That’s good. I’ll do it a few more times, then go wash your pants…”
As he spoke, in Jiang Xiao’s view, Song Qiuyu, not sure what she was thinking, turned her face back, closed her eyes, and gently pressed her lips to his forehead.
Jiang Xiao froze.
Just then, with a creak, a bedroom door opened.