Inside the barbecue joint, waves of heat carried the fragrant scent of cumin and chili pepper through the crowd, dispelling much of the winter night’s chill.
Everyone gathered around the table, quickly digging into their skewers.
“Jiang Xiao, what’s wrong?”
Seeing Jiang Xiao staring silently at the grilled pig brain without eating, Song Qiuyu tilted her head, her beautiful apricot-shaped eyes blinking a couple of times, feeling a bit puzzled.
Come to think of it, when the pig brain was placed on his plate earlier, Haji Xiao seemed like he wanted to say something.
But in the end, he only mentioned that Jiang Xiao had told her before that he was allergic to seafood.
Whether Jiang Xiao had told Song Qiuyu that himself, she wasn’t quite sure after so much time had passed.
The only certainty was that he had told Shen Xi.
Just like Song Qiuyu was unsure, Jiang Xiao probably didn’t remember clearly either.
Jiang Xiao lowered his eyes, picked up some pig brain with his chopsticks and tasted it.
He quietly commented it was good, then pushed another foil-wrapped portion aside—right in front of her.
“You should have some too.”
Jiang Xiao looked at her with a faint, meaningful gaze and spoke softly.
Song Qiuyu paused briefly, then suddenly understood the reason behind Jiang Xiao’s strange behavior—he wasn’t thinking she was calling him a pig brain!
She hadn’t insulted him at all.
From beginning to end, she had only been thinking about getting through the situation without exposing her true identity.
Besides, since the brain was where it was eaten, and Jiang Xiao had used so much brainpower today, a little brain nourishment wouldn’t hurt.
“Sure, definitely nourish the brain!”
She smiled and took the pig brain, picking up a bite with her chopsticks without feeling the need to explain further.
She trusted Jiang Xiao wasn’t the petty type who would fuss over something without solid proof.
In Jiang Xiao’s view, she seemed to be cautious of the heat, puckering her lips and blowing on it several times before daring to stretch her neck forward and eat the pig brain.
After finishing, she licked her lips like a little greedy cat, her eyes curving into crescent moons with a smile.
“So tender, so smooth. Too bad it’s not spicy enough, but still delicious. I recommend everyone try it!”
Watching Song Qiuyu keep eating, Jiang Xiao recalled for a moment before suddenly saying, “Your stomach isn’t good. How can you want to eat something spicy?”
“Cough, cough!!”
Song Qiuyu almost forgot that detail.
Lying came at too high a price, especially when she had a roommate who constantly cared about her health…
She didn’t know whether to laugh or not at Jiang Xiao’s concern.
Her heart was warm, but also filled with powerless sadness.
“That’s right, our Jiang God is really thoughtful! Qiuyu, your stomach isn’t good, so just a little chili is enough.” Xie Zhuran took a big bite and casually added, “If you mess up your stomach again, next time… well, there probably won’t be a next time. Jiang God won’t let you eat barbecue anymore.”
“Hmm.”
Song Qiuyu didn’t know how to respond.
Her situation seemed like she was under strict husband control, though luckily, her stomach ailment was fake, and Jiang Xiao wasn’t her husband.
Still, she felt embarrassed and helpless, forcing a weak smile to change the topic, hoping it would just pass.
Jiang Xiao was different.
Seeing her embarrassment only confirmed his suspicion and lifted his mood; a faint smile curved the corner of his mouth.
At least, Song Qiuyu didn’t seem to have a stomach problem.
By now, he could barely tell how much of what she said was true or false.
Liars and those who toy with others always pay for their deeds.
Not being able to eat spicy was just the beginning.
“Ha…”
Song Qiuyu’s expression soured slightly as she accidentally choked on a piece of pig brain, her throat uncomfortably tight.
Looking for water, the person next to her had already skillfully poured her some milk and handed it over.
After the painful lesson from last time when she drunkenly wanted a hug and Jiang Xiao helped her bathe, she was determined not to drink alcohol this time.
On the entire table, only she had a bottle of peanut milk.
Without stopping to thank Jiang Xiao, Song Qiuyu raised the bottle and drank it down in one gulp.
Drinking quickly, a bit of the milky white liquid spilled from the corner of her mouth, making her chili-oil-stained lips and the steam-heated, slightly flushed cheeks even more striking.
Jiang Xiao silently watched her finish the bottle, then she placed the empty cup down and naturally licked the milk residue from her lips with her tongue.
But the milk that dribbled below her chin was out of reach.
“Wipe it.”
Jiang Xiao’s gaze darkened slightly as he took a tissue from the pile on the table and handed it to her.
“Thanks, Jiang Xiao.”
Song Qiuyu accepted the tissue readily and wiped at the milk.
When the four heated gazes from the goddess group suddenly swept over her, she tried hard not to notice, but her eyes involuntarily flickered away with a hint of guilt.
How to put it? Between her and Jiang Xiao, it wasn’t that nothing existed, but it also wasn’t that everything existed.
Let’s just say it was fortunate the slash fan girl wasn’t here. With that girl’s imagination, these two straight guys would surely be riding the hundreds-of-thousands-word train tonight.
Once the bromance filter was on, everything looked like passionate bromance.
Even if they only breathed the same air in the same world without knowing each other.
“By the way, we’ve all watched your short videos. We’re all your fans too!”
A cool girl raised an eyebrow, speaking with a nonchalant tone.
“Are you guys going to do that Tender Catgirl business order next?”
As soon as she said this, the boys’ group fell silent briefly, while the weak girls blushed and lowered their heads.
Cool Sister’s question was so direct! Even Xie Zhuran, the thick-skinned one, became embarrassed.
Tender Catgirl—could that phrase easily slip from a girl’s lips?
“To be honest, I’ve always been curious about something. We’re adults, so some questions can be asked directly, right?”
Cool Sister’s follow-up caught everyone off guard.
“Lin Lin, what do you want to ask?”
Sang Tian asked.
“Not gonna lie, I often see Tender Catgirl in many game videos, and I’ve been curious—how often do you guys use it? And do you ever use it openly in the dorm?”
Cool Sister’s curiosity as an eighteen-year-old lifelong singleton was nearly overflowing.
Hearing this, Song Qiuyu gave an awkward but polite smile. It wasn’t the first time a girl asked her such a question.
Well, that was normal—curiosity about the opposite sex…
Thinking of this, she sighed silently.
She probably didn’t need to be curious anymore.
But really, why were university students these days so preoccupied with this stuff?
It was a common-sense question easily solved by a quick deep search.
With Cool Sister this proactive, if she had a boyfriend, she’d probably become a succubus, draining him dry!
No, she couldn’t let Jiang Xiao fall into this guest’s hands!
Lights out!
Then the sweet-looking girl followed the topic, smiling as she said, “I saw online that it’s at least twice a day, sometimes three to five times.”
She acted shocked, “Occasionally ten times or even nine! And in the dorm, guys help each other openly and even watch little movies together.”
Seeing Sweet Girl’s eager curiosity, Song Qiuyu silently turned off her light too.
This was too much for pure little Jiang Xiao. These wolves would eat him bone and all!
No, it wasn’t just Jiang Xiao.
Her three godsons were all in danger—exhausted to death, sudden-death risk!!
“Xie, it’s your turn, go for it.”
Lin An adjusted his glasses, patted his roommate’s shoulder, and smiled.
Though Lin An said this, to Song Qiuyu’s ears it translated automatically to “seize the chance and show yourself.”
This was a huge trap.
But Xie Zhuran jumped in without hesitation.
“Twice a day would kill you. Once is already a lot, no more. As for dorm stuff, no way. We’re all abstinent folks, no way we do that in the dorm, let alone helping each other watch little movies.”
Xie Zhuran pushed up his non-existent glasses and spoke seriously.
Upon hearing this, the three roommates showed varying degrees of shock on their faces.
He was giving a very serious science lesson!
Only…
Song Qiuyu suddenly recalled the past, glanced sideways at Jiang Xiao beside her—who was the very person who did that in the dorm!
Only, Tender Catgirl had no stage to appear on…
The Five-Finger Girl was the eternal unchanging faith.
Though most likely, Jiang Xiao didn’t even know what Tender Catgirl was.
Maybe in recent years, Five-Finger Girl had become a model soldier with perfect attendance.
Thinking like this, she felt increasingly guilty and moved. Even if Jiang Xiao didn’t approach it himself, his parents would generally guide him…
What kind of family environment was he living in?
From the messages Jiang Xiao left for Shen Xi, the economic situation should be at least middle class.
Other aspects were unclear; Jiang Xiao never mentioned his family.
Forget it.
Song Qiuyu stopped herself from thinking further.
Don’t worry, Haji Xiao, the secret in the bathroom—she’d take it to the grave, not tell a third party.
Besides, she had too many secrets already; this one wouldn’t make a difference.
She nonchalantly withdrew her gaze, thinking this to herself.
Yet Jiang Xiao caught her look.