His leisure time had turned him into something akin to an internet café manager, and he always loved to check in in the middle of the night.
“Mom, why aren’t you asleep yet?” Xie Zhuran wiped away his cold sweat.
“It’s all because of your seven aunts and various relatives dragging me into a game of mahjong—no, don’t try to change the subject! You’re playing games this late. Are you carrying some girl?” his mom asked.
Xie Zhuran denied it repeatedly, claiming he had been studying hard all semester and striving for progress every day. Playing so late today was purely a one-time indulgence.
“You brat, are you really not going to date anyone in college? Look at how capable your sixth aunt’s son is. He married a classmate right after graduation, and your aunt already has two grandsons this year! You better bring a girlfriend back for the Lunar New Year to give me some face, you hear?” His mom’s voice was full of disdain for her own son.
“Mom, the signal is suddenly getting bad. Let’s talk when I get back!” Xie Zhuran tried to hang up.
“If I don’t see a girlfriend during the Lunar New Year, I’m taking all your New Year’s money! Not a single cent left. Your allowance for next semester? Cut in half! You figure it out!” His mom, however, predicted her son’s move, unleashed her final threat, and hung up first.
“Wait, Mom! You’re my biological mother, don’t hang up, I beg you—” Xie Zhuran looked at the dead screen of his phone with a look of utter despair and sighed deeply.
‘Why am I being pressured to find a girlfriend when I’m only in my freshman year?’
With a complicated mood, he even wondered if he should kidnap his roommate, Song Qiuyu, and take her back to pretend to be his girlfriend.
If Song took the lead, dealing with his mom and those relatives would probably be a breeze.
‘Sigh, but I can’t imagine any possibility of Song agreeing. After all, he’s so resistant to cross-dressing…’
Suddenly, he envied Jiang Xiao.
If Jiang were in this situation, Song would definitely help him without a second thought! Speaking of which, Song’s stomach was acting up again tonight.
He wondered if he was feeling any better…
With a *ping*, Jiang Li sent another message.
[Li: Brother Zhuran, am I causing you trouble? If so, I apologize. Just pretend I didn’t reach out to you today.]
‘Is this girl at it again?’
Xie Zhuran scratched his head.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to speak plainly.
“Stop acting, Jiang Li. You clearly have the ability to take your younger brother back yourself. What exactly are you thinking? Can you just be direct? I’m in no mood to play guessing games with you.”
Seeing this message, Jiang Li pondered for a moment, a smile curling at the corners of her lips. Consequently, Xie Zhuran quickly received a seven-word reply: “I know that you like me now.”
Xie Zhuran almost suffered a heart attack.
‘What the…?’
‘Holy crap! Jiang, what is wrong with your little sister!’
Xie Zhuran did not reply to Jiang Li for the rest of the night. He suffered from insomnia until dawn.
Time moved forward slowly.
The promotional video successfully passed review the next morning.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the video’s statistics began to skyrocket the moment it was approved.
This was undoubtedly related to Aider’s “Great Author” effect!
Once the collaboration video was released, several authors who were on good terms with Aider also began to help push its popularity. In just half a day, it had already squeezed into the top twenty of the weekly best-selling list.
“Teacher Lemon, did you see this?” Aider looked at the data and spoke to Song Qiuyu excitedly.
“Everyone is very satisfied with this collaboration! The comments are full of praise for your acting. It seems we can collaborate often in the future!”
“This is the result of everyone’s hard work,” Song Qiuyu replied with a smile.
After speaking, she continued to scroll through the comment section.
However, the comments were refreshing so quickly that it was impossible to read them all.
Fortunately, everything she saw so far was positive. There wasn’t a single bad review.
The comment section was still refreshing feverishly.
[Where is this hot spring hotel? Is it too late to go and check in with the teachers now?]
[I haven’t watched it yet, but I blindly guess that Lemon’s partner is still That Man.]
[Today’s wife is beautiful beyond belief!]
[Lord Aider, please make sure to film my wife more. Collaborate with my wife more often!]
[Aider’s eye for talent is still as sharp as ever. Basically everyone in the shot is a handsome guy or a beautiful girl. I’m licking the screen~]
She kept refreshing the comments, finding it quite addictive. After every video post, this was always the happiest time.
However, as she scrolled, she came across comments from a Great Scholar debating scripture for her and Jiang Xiao.
[Everyone, stay calm. Lemon and That Man are not a couple in reality. They’re just classmates, friends, and roommates. Their relationship is pure and innocent. Don’t believe in rumors, and don’t spread them!]
There was more than one such Great Scholar, but she strongly suspected they were all alt accounts belonging to a certain someone…
‘He’s really working hard.’
“Song, now that the promotional video is finished, when are you planning to go home?” the Great Scholar spoke up.
“I’ve already booked a flight for this afternoon!” Song Qiuyu answered almost instantly.
“A flight?” Xie Zhuran’s eyes widened. He had never been on a plane in his life. He grabbed a peanut, shelled it, and joked, “Why are you in such a hurry to get back? Are you rushing back to get married or have a kid?”
Lin An was already habitually mourning for Xie Zhuran.
Song Qiuyu didn’t pick a fight with Xie Zhuran this time. Instead, she said very seriously, “How is that possible? I’m just taking Jiang Xiao back to pick up something, and then I’m going to Jiang Xiao’s home for the Lunar New Year.”
As soon as these words came out, everyone fell silent for a few seconds.
Jiang Li even choked on the tea she had just sipped, and even Jiang Yu’s eyes went wide.
‘Is this big brother coming home for the Lunar New Year too?’
‘But Brother said before that he was bringing a sister-in-law home. How did it turn into a big brother?’ Jiang Yu didn’t understand.
“Why? Song, why are you going to Jiang’s house for the New Year?” Xie Zhuran threw up his hands, also failing to understand. “Does your family know?”
Hearing this, Jiang Xiao narrowed his eyes.
To be honest, he hadn’t expected Xi’er to be so direct.
But after thinking about it, it seemed easy to understand. It was probably to avoid suspicion.
Instead of explaining after being discovered, it was better to make it clear from the start that she was going as a friend.
“My family isn’t coming home for the New Year. But you’re right, I should let Mom know.” Song Qiuyu remained unfazed.
Unless it was something particularly important, her mom rarely contacted her, and she rarely contacted her mom.
She always felt like she would be bothering her mom at work.
Xie Zhuran instinctively wanted to ask why she only mentioned her mom, but before he could speak, the peanut he had just shelled was snatched away by Jiang Xiao.
The expression on Xie Zhuran’s face was one of complete shock, even disbelief. ‘Jiang, you’ve completely broken character, do you know that?’
Seeing Jiang Xiao eat the peanut with a cold face, Xie Zhuran completely forgot what he was going to say.
He reached for another peanut. Before his hand could reach it, the plate of boiled peanuts on the table vanished.
Jiang Li had picked up the entire plate and placed it in front of Jiang Yu!
Xie Zhuran felt his teeth itch with frustration. ‘What is up with these Jiang siblings?’
After some more idle chatter, it was nearly time for the flight.
Song Qiuyu and Jiang Xiao pushed their luggage and said their goodbyes to the others, being the first to leave the hot spring hotel together.
They headed to the airport chatting and laughing, then boarded the plane. The aircraft traced a beautiful arc across the afternoon sky.
By the time they arrived at their destination, Ice Mist City, it was already evening.
“You can stay at my place for tonight. As for dinner… maybe we should go out to a restaurant later?” Song Qiuyu looked at Jiang Xiao and asked.
“The food outside isn’t that good. Let’s go to the store, buy some groceries, and come back to cook ourselves!”
Jiang Xiao said with a smile. After speaking, he looked at the luggage she was pushing and reached out his hand.
“Give me the suitcase. I’ll take it for you. You should rest more for now.”
“Are you looking down on me?” Song Qiuyu frowned.
Jiang Xiao smiled but said nothing.
“Once we get home, I’ll give you those materials first. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied!” Song Qiuyu said, quickening her pace.
She walked toward home with great anticipation.
She had already sent a message to her mom, but her mom was probably still busy, as she hadn’t replied yet. She couldn’t help but sigh.
As she reached the front door, she looked up and was surprised to find that the lights in the house were actually on…
Song Qiuyu: “?”