July in Tianbei City was becoming increasingly stifling. The entire city felt like a massive furnace, baking everything until people couldn’t help but feel irritable.
Even so, the heat was not enough to dampen the college students’ enthusiasm for going home. The station was so crowded that not even a drop of water could trickle through.
However, this did not have much to do with Lin Xinyuan. Although the holidays had already begun, she did not plan on returning so early, nor did she want to be apart from that Yellow-Haired Brat.
Besides… she had already made a promise with Qin Nanfeng to go out and play during the summer break. ‘If I go home, I don’t even have to think about it; it will definitely be boring…’
‘I’ll go back in August instead…’
Lin Xinyuan thought to herself.
“Xinyuan, are you really not going back to Zhannan?”
In front of the door to 505 Dormitory, Li Tang pulled her suitcase and looked at Lin Xinyuan expectantly, as if the other girl had committed an unpardonable sin.
Lin Xinyuan looked speechless, but she still shook her head. “No, I’ll go back next month.”
“Hmph, Xinyuan has completely fallen. You won’t even go home anymore.” Li Tang puffed out her cheeks in feigned anger and grumbled, “Tsk, tsk, tsk, you’ve really forgotten your roots!”
“Oh…”
Seeing the girl’s indifferent attitude, Li Tang became even more frustrated.
She let out a series of deep sighs as if she were profoundly disappointed, but then she remembered that her beloved Zeng Yan was waiting for her downstairs.
She decided to leave; she couldn’t keep him waiting for too long.
So, she looked up and bid a reluctant farewell to the two of them. “Then, goodbye! Xinyuan, Qingyan!”
「See you in two months, Li Tang!」
Liu Qingyan stood beside the girl and waved at Li Tang with a bright smile.
“Goodbye…”
After seeing Li Tang off, the two girls returned to the room.
However, Lin Xinyuan also prepared to pack some things, as she did not intend to stay in the dormitory overnight.
After all, the school had regulations. Even if students could stay during the holidays, the dormitory Auntie had to come by for inspections every night to prevent anything from happening.
If something went wrong, it would be difficult for the school to explain it to the parents.
“Qingyan, you don’t plan on going back either?” Lin Xinyuan asked with some confusion while packing her luggage. She looked up at the girl who had sat back down in front of her laptop to watch a drama series.
Hearing this, Liu Qingyan’s expression instantly became very complicated. However, when she turned around, she was still smiling.
「Yes.」
Moreover, Sun Ce had decided to stay and keep her company. She… really didn’t want to go back…
“I see…”
Lin Xinyuan nodded. She assumed that the other girl also thought staying at home was too boring, so she didn’t think much more about it and continued with her business.
After finishing her packing, she went out for lunch with Liu Qingyan. In the afternoon, she spent some free time writing.
Since her flight was booked for tomorrow morning, she said her goodbyes to Liu Qingyan near evening and went to the school gate to wait for Qin Nanfeng to pick her up. She planned to head to the rental apartment.
She would sleep there for one night and set off early tomorrow morning.
However, before returning to the rental apartment, Qin Nanfeng first drove the girl to Fulai Restaurant to take her out for dinner.
Speaking of which, it had been a while since she had eaten the dishes made by Uncle Ming… She was starting to crave them…
“Oh, Xinyuan is here?”
Auntie Ping had known they were coming through the Green Bubble for a while. So, while hosting other guests, she had been keeping an eye on the restaurant’s entrance.
The moment she saw the two of them walk in, she instructed a newly hired employee to take over with the other guests while she came forward herself, warmly taking the girl’s hand.
“Auntie Ping, long time no see,” Lin Xinyuan greeted shyly. She kept her other hand behind her back, her body swaying slightly from side to side in a manner that was both bashful and cute.
“It has been a while. The last time you came was half a month ago, right? Xinyuan has become even more beautiful!” Auntie Ping’s gaze was gentle as she laughed. She especially thought the girl looked radiant and lovely in her floral maxi-dress today.
“Eh, is… is that so…” Lin Xinyuan’s face turned red instantly. She lightly bit her pink lip, looking incredibly embarrassed.
“Haha… Of course!” Auntie Ping nodded decisively. “You’re much better looking than those flashy young ladies outside nowadays. Last time, one came into the shop with so much powder on her face… Oh my… I was worried it would fall off and mix into her rice while she was eating!”
At this point, Auntie Ping became very expressive, even gesturing with her hands.
Her serious yet exaggerated manner didn’t just make Lin Xinyuan burst into laughter, thinking Auntie Ping had the talent to be a comedian, but even Qin Nanfeng couldn’t help but chuckle.
“By the way, did you come here because you missed Uncle Ming’s cooking again?”
Hearing this, Lin Xinyuan nodded somewhat sheepishly. “Mm… Yes…”
It was true that Uncle Ming’s cooking really suited her taste…
“Alright then. Knowing you were coming, I specially reserved a private booth for you! The same one as last time.” As Auntie Ping spoke, she pulled the girl further inside. “Eat in there.”
“Won’t that be a problem… You’re so busy as it is…”
Lin Xinyuan couldn’t help but look back at the fairly large number of guests in the main hall. She was worried they would affect Auntie Ping’s business.
“It’s fine! The guests like eating out here; rarely does anyone want the private booths! Besides, I’ve hired two more people for the shop now! Everything is under control. Your Auntie Ping is actually bored out of her mind.”
“Uh… I see. Okay then…”
Only after hearing this did Lin Xinyuan feel a bit more at ease.
“Auntie Ping, you’re only asking about Xinyuan. Have you forgotten about me already?”
Qin Nanfeng, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. He raised an eyebrow at Auntie Ping, appearing quite dissatisfied.
Auntie Ping rolled her eyes with a smile and joked, “You come here every day. I’m already tired of seeing you. You’re so much trouble!”
Qin Nanfeng didn’t look disappointed or angry at all. Instead, he turned to look at the girl and couldn’t help but tease her. “Fine, fine. I’m the annoying one, but as long as Xinyuan likes me, it’s fine.”
“Hmph… I hate you the most…”
They had already entered the private booth. Perhaps because she had become familiar with Auntie Ping, Lin Xinyuan actually hummed softly in front of her.
The girl’s face was slightly flushed. While her words were meant to express dislike, anyone listening would think the two were just flirting.
Auntie Ping was delighted by the sight. She watched the loving couple with a smile and waved her hand. “Alright, you two sit down. I’ll go tell your Uncle Ming to start cooking for you.”
With that, Auntie Ping hurried away.
Following the sound of the door closing, only the two of them were left in the private booth.
“You hate me?”
The moment Auntie Ping left, Qin Nanfeng looked over with an unfriendly gaze, staring at the girl with a gentle smile.
Before Lin Xinyuan could even react, he pulled her down. She ended up sitting on his lap, confined within his warm embrace by his arms.
He lowered his head, resting it lightly on his girlfriend’s slender shoulder, and blew softly against her.
“Ah…”
Lin Xinyuan was startled and began to push against him, trying to break free.
“Go… go away!” She twisted her body in a panic, her expression frantic. “Auntie Ping will be back in a moment!”
Doing this in front of an elder made her feel incredibly embarrassed…
“Does Xinyuan still hate me then?” Qin Nanfeng asked unhurriedly, his tone sounding quite indifferent. “And what are you afraid of? I’m not going to eat you here…”
“No!” Lin Xinyuan felt as if her ears were being scorched by the young man’s breath. She didn’t even process the latter half of his sentence; she only wanted to escape this embarrassing posture as quickly as possible.
“Hmm?”
Qin Nanfeng wasn’t quite satisfied with that answer. The girl seemed to understand what this guy wanted, so she gritted her teeth. “I like you! Is that enough?”
“Mm…”
Qin Nanfeng smiled. Only then did he loosen his arms, allowing Lin Xinyuan to break free.
She indignantly scrambled away, both ashamed and annoyed, but she didn’t dare say much more. Fearing that the Yellow-Haired Brat might try something again, she could only mutter weak complaints like a bullied child.
“Hmph… Bastard…” —