Chapter 71: Lin Xian’er’s Scheme

A little past nine in the evening, Lin Mo had just returned from the courier station and was about to enter the dormitory building when his phone buzzed.

Lin Xian’er: “Thanks, Lin Mo. I got the package.”

Lin Mo replied: “No problem.”

He sent the message and was about to head upstairs.

His phone buzzed again.

Lin Xian’er: “Are you free now? Let me buy you milk tea?”

Lin Mo paused. He checked the time. 9:30.

He typed: “It’s late. Some other day.”

Lin Xian’er: “Then how about a walk? I need to go to the supermarket anyway.”

Lin Mo thought it over. She had just helped him, so refusing seemed rude.

“Alright.”

The two of them walked from the dormitory area toward the supermarket.

Under the streetlights, they walked side by side, keeping a small distance—Lin Mo purposely left some space to avoid any misunderstanding, but he could still smell Lin Xian’er’s fragrance.

She walked next to him, hands in the pockets of her hoodie, looking quite relaxed.

“Lin Mo,” she suddenly spoke.

“Hmm?”

“About tonight… you didn’t tell anyone, did you?”

Lin Mo shook his head. “No.”

Lin Xian’er nodded. “Good. This kind of thing spreading would be bad.” She paused.

“Do you know how dangerous tonight was for you?”

Lin Mo looked confused. “What danger?”

“Women’s bath. A guy like you—what would happen if someone found out?” A chill went down Lin Mo’s spine. “I’d probably… be expelled?”

Lin Xian’er laughed. “Expulsion is the lightest punishment. You’d make the news, go viral, get cursed out by the whole internet. Wherever you go, people would point and gossip.”

Lin Mo’s face turned pale. His mind had been blank last night; he really hadn’t thought about any of this.

“So,” Lin Xian’er looked at him, “you owe me a big favor.”

Lin Mo thought for a few seconds, then nodded.

“…Mm.”

Lin Xian’er smiled. “Since you admit it, I won’t be polite. Actually, you owe me three favors.”

Lin Mo was stunned. “Three?”

“Right. Keeping it a secret for you—that’s one. Then, how you woke up—you didn’t notice it yourself, you were unconscious—that counts as one. And where your clothes came from—that’s also one.”

Lin Mo opened his mouth.

‘How did I wake up? I only know I passed out from suffocation. It was Su Qianqian holding her breath underwater, but when I came to, she was already gone. Could it be that Lin Xian’er saved me? That makes sense—Su Qianqian saw me, so killing me would be too good for her, let alone saving me. Then that lip touch I felt… artificial respiration… was it also Lin Xian’er? And the clothes?’

When he woke up, his clothes were indeed beside him. He thought…

“What’s wrong?” Lin Xian’er tilted her head. “Too many?”

“N-no.” Lin Mo said quickly.

Lin Xian’er nodded. “Then three. You owe me three conditions, or rather three things.” They continued walking. Lin Mo felt a bit uneasy. ‘Three conditions… sounds like an indenture contract.’ But she had indeed helped him, so he had nothing to complain about.

“Then what’s the first condition?” he asked.

Lin Xian’er thought. “Haven’t decided yet. Let it hang for now.” Lin Mo said nothing. Owing was worse than just getting it over with.

When they reached the supermarket entrance, Lin Xian’er stopped. “Oh, by the way, I already used the first condition.”

Lin Mo was taken aback. “When?”

“Getting the package for me.”

Lin Mo: “…That was just a favor, wasn’t it?”

Lin Xian’er blinked. “A favor is also a kind of condition. What, you want to give me another one?”

Lin Mo quickly shook his head. “No, no.”

Lin Xian’er laughed. “Good. Two left. I’ll call them in later.”

She turned and went into the supermarket. Lin Mo stood at the entrance, watching her back. ‘This senior… why does she seem off? Can’t put my finger on it. Just off.’

After a while, Lin Xian’er came out. She was holding a bag of snacks.

“Let’s go, heading back.”

They turned around and walked back. The streetlight was the same, they were still side by side, but this time Lin Xian’er deliberately leaned closer, narrowing the gap between them.

“Lin Mo,” Lin Xian’er spoke again.

“Hmm?”

“Have you ever thought—if no one had found you last night, or if no one had saved you in time, what would have happened?”

Lin Mo was taken aback. He really hadn’t thought about it.

“I’d… drown.”

Lin Xian’er nodded. “Right. So I am your life savior.”

Lin Mo was silent. That was true enough.

“Should you agree to whatever a life savior asks?”

Lin Mo hesitated. “…Depends on what it is.”

Lin Xian’er smiled. “Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to kill or commit arson.” She paused.

“I’m just curious. What’s your relationship with Shen Qingyue?”

Lin Mo froze. “High school classmates in the same class.”

“Just classmates?”

“I really respect and am grateful to the Study Representative, and also… also…” Lin Mo suddenly stumbled over his words.

Lin Xian’er looked at him but didn’t press. “And Su Qianqian?”

Lin Mo thought. “She’s Shen Qingyue’s best friend. Not very close.”

Lin Xian’er nodded. “What about Zhou Duoduo? Li Tingting?”

Lin Mo was confused. “How do you know so many people?”

Lin Xian’er laughed. “This school is small. Everyone knows everyone.”

Lin Mo scratched his head. “They’re all classmates or senior schoolmates in the same school. Nothing special.”

Lin Xian’er looked at him, her beautiful eyes fixed on Lin Mo. After a moment, she suddenly smiled.

“Alright. I was just asking.”

When they reached the dormitory building, Lin Xian’er stopped.

“Lin Mo.”

“Hmm?”

“You owe me two conditions. Remember that.”

Lin Mo nodded. “Got it.”

Lin Xian’er smiled. “Good night.”

Lin Mo: “…Get some rest…”

She turned and went upstairs. Lin Mo stood there, watching her figure disappear. Then he slowly walked toward the boys’ dormitory.

His mind was still replaying the conversation.

‘Three conditions. Life savior. Shen Qingyue, Su Qianqian, Zhou Duoduo, Li Tingting.’

‘Why did she ask about them?’

—

He shook his head. ‘Forget it. I won’t think about it.’

On the fifth floor of the girls’ dormitory, Lin Xian’er pushed open the door to the room.

Cheng Xue was lying on the bed playing on her phone, and Ye Ling was applying a face mask.

“Back?” Cheng Xue looked up. “What took so long?”

Lin Xian’er tossed the snacks onto the table. “Chatted with Lin Mo for a bit.”

Ye Ling’s face mask nearly fell off. “You went to conquer him?? What did you talk about?”

Lin Xian’er smiled. “About how he owes me three favors.”

Cheng Xue and Ye Ling exchanged a glance.

“Three?” Cheng Xue asked.

“Yeah. Keeping his secret, saving him, and getting his clothes.”

Ye Ling frowned. “You saved him? And when did you get his clothes?”

Lin Xian’er blinked. “I didn’t. But I made him think I saved him and got his clothes.”

Cheng Xue was stunned. “Aren’t you afraid he’ll find out?”

Lin Xian’er lay down on the bed. “No. He’s confused himself. He doesn’t remember the details. You have to understand—he doesn’t dare to ask around or verify any of it.”

Ye Ling thought. “Then who put the clothes there?”

Lin Xian’er didn’t answer. ‘It was Su Qianqian.’ But she wouldn’t say.

Cheng Xue leaned over. “Xian’er, is it okay to trick him like this?”

Lin Xian’er patted her head. “I didn’t trick him. I said he owes me three favors, but I didn’t say for what. He filled in the gaps himself.”

Ye Ling: “…How is that different from lying?”

Lin Xian’er smiled. “Big difference. Lying is saying something false. I didn’t say anything. He himself thinks I saved him, and he himself thinks I got his clothes. I just asked him, ‘How did you wake up? Where did your clothes come from?’ But I never said I did the artificial respiration, and I never said I got the clothes. He assumed it himself.”

Cheng Xue and Ye Ling exchanged a look. They were speechless.

Lin Xian’er closed her eyes. “Alright, let’s sleep. There’s stuff to do tomorrow.”

Cheng Xue turned off the light. The room went dark.

Lin Xian’er lay in bed, the corners of her mouth curved upward.

Lin Mo owed her two conditions.

This round, she had it in the bag.